A study on Aspergillus species in houses of asthmatic patients from Sari City, Iran and a brief review of the health effects of exposure to indoor Aspergillus.
To study the distribution of Aspergillus spp. in outdoor and indoor air of asthmatic patients' houses, as well as a review on the health effects of exposure to indoor Aspergillus. Open plates containing malt extract agar media were used to isolate fungi from the indoor (n = 360) and outdoor (n = 180) air of 90 asthmatic patients' houses living in Sari City, Iran. Plates were incubated at room temperature for 7-14 days. Cultured Aspergillus spp. were identified by standard mycological techniques. All culture plates grew fungi, a testament to the ubiquitous nature of fungal exposure. Cladosporium spp. (29.2%), Aspergillus spp. (19.0%), and Penicillium spp. (18.3%) were most common inside the houses while Cladosporium spp. (44.5%), Aspergillus spp. (12.4%), and Alternaria spp. (11.1%) were most common outside the houses. Aspergillus flavus (30.1%) and A. fumigatus (23.1%) are the most commonly isolated species in indoor air. Aspergillus flavus (44.5%) and A. fumigatus (42.6%) were the most prevalent Aspergillus spp. outside. The most colony numbers of Aspergillus were isolated from kitchens (30.4%) and the least from bedrooms (21.1%). Aspergillus flavus was the most prevalent species in all sampled rooms except in the kitchen where A. fumigatus was the most common. Aspergillus flavus is the most prevalent species among the Aspergillus spp. in the indoor and outdoor of a warm climate area. In these areas, A. flavus can be a major source of allergen in the air. Therefore, minimizing indoor fungal exposure could play an important role in reducing allergic symptoms in susceptible persons.
Hedayati
Mohammad T
MT
Medical Mycology and Parasitology Department, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran. hedayaty2001@yahoo.co.uk
Mayahi
Sabah
S
Denning
David W
DW
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000391:Air Microbiology; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002947:Cities; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006798:Housing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000032:analysis* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2009 Jan 1;179(1):11-8
18948425
AIHA J (Fairfax, Va). 2002 Mar-Apr;63(2):135-40
11975648
Can Fam Physician. 2002 Feb;48:298-302
11889889
Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 1997 Jun;78(6):544-54; quiz 555-6
9207717
Occup Med. 1989 Oct-Dec;4(4):713-21
2690382
Appl Environ Microbiol. 2002 Apr;68(4):1743-53
11916692
Ann Allergy. 1976 Jul;37(1):18-25
782300
Arch Environ Health. 1995 Jan-Feb;50(1):38-43
7717768
Clin Microbiol Infect. 2006 Nov;12(11):1060-76
17002605
Nihon Koshu Eisei Zasshi. 2003 Oct;50(10):1017-29
14639963
J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1981 Nov;68(5):327-46
7028841
Arerugi. 2007 Feb;56(2):101-8
17347596
Cent Eur J Public Health. 2004 Mar;12(1):36-42
15068207
Indoor Air. 2007 Apr;17(2):153-63
17391238
Allergol Immunopathol (Madr). 2004 Jul-Aug;32(4):197-203
15324649
Med Mycol. 2007 Feb;45(1):1-9
17325938
Eur J Epidemiol. 1989 Jun;5(2):131-42
2670602
J Asthma. 2006 Dec;43(10):789-94
17169833
Food Addit Contam. 1993 Jan-Feb;10(1):17-28
8504870
J Occup Environ Med. 1998 Mar;40(3):241-9
9531095
Med Mycol. 2004 Apr;42(2):107-17
15124863
Transpl Infect Dis. 1999 Dec;1(4):229-36
11428994
Indoor Air. 2007 Aug;17(4):284-96
17661925
Mycopathologia. 1985 Nov;92(2):65-71
3935928
J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2001 Mar;107(3 Suppl):S430-40
11242604
Arch Environ Health. 2003 Jul;58(7):433-41
15143856
Asian Pac J Allergy Immunol. 2005 Jun-Sep;23(2-3):87-92
16252837
Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 1996;68(4):207-18
8738349
J Med Vet Mycol. 1992;30 Suppl 1:279-85
1474453
Med Mycol. 2005 May;43 Suppl 1:S49-58
16110792
Arch Environ Health. 1997 May-Jun;52(3):200-7
9169630
Microbiology (Reading). 2007 Jun;153(Pt 6):1677-1692
17526826
Clin Exp Allergy. 1999 Feb;29(2):186-92
10051722
Clin Infect Dis. 1998 Apr;26(4):781-803; quiz 804-5
9564455
Eur Respir J. 2006 Mar;27(3):615-26
16507864
Mycopathologia. 1997;139(1):23-33
9511234
J Environ Monit. 1999 Oct;1(5):445-52
11529162
J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2006 Mar;117(3):642-8
16522465