title: Determination of potential allergenic fungal flora and its clinical reflection in suburban elementary schools in Izmir.
abstract: In this research, in order to determine mean fungus counts, indoor and outdoor air samples were taken in five elementary school buildings located in the city center of Seferihisar, Izmir (45 km from Izmir) within a 1-year period between March and April 2004, and between January and February 2005 representing similar climatic characteristics. Five samples, three from three classes where 5-8, 10-12, and 12-15 age group students attended, one from the corridors, and one from outside the buildings in all the schools, were taken for each period. Within the period of the study, in indoor and outdoor air samples, 7,122 microfungus colonies were counted. Sixty-four species were identified that belong to 17 genera as a result of the identification of isolates obtained. Skin prick tests were applied to 55 out of a total of 117 teachers by the clinicians. According to these test results, 24 teachers were sensitive to at least one agent. Results revealed that, in terms of mold counts, the difference between the schools and the difference between the times (periods) were statistically significant (p < 0.05).
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science, Department of Biology,Basic & Industrial Microbiology Section,Ege University, 35100, Bornova, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Alev
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haliki-Uztan
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ateş
authors.forename: Özlem
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: Abaci
authors.forename: Okan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gülbahar
authors.forename: Nihat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Erdem
authors.forename: Özlem
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: Çiftçi
authors.forename: Hayal
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Boyacioğlu
mesh_terms: D000391:Air Microbiology; D000485:Allergens; D000946:Antigens, Fungal; D005178:Faculty; D005658:Fungi / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis; D012574:Schools; D012882:Skin Tests; D013383:Suburban Population; D014421:Turkey
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D000946:Antigens, Fungal