engleski

Seasonal variations of airborne moulds in continental and mediterranean parts of Croatia (2002)

Many aeromycological studies showed the presence of airspora of different allergologicaly important fungi in the air of indoor and outdoor environment. The airspora concentrations of outdoor environments depend on numerous factors including time of day, meteorological factors, seasonal climatic factors, and type of vegetation. The aim of our study was to determine seasonal variations of the common airborne fungi, as potential allergens, of the outdoor environment in Continental and Mediterranean parts of Croatia. Samples were collected bimonthly during: February and March, April and May, June and July. In addition, sampling was done in the area of Velebit during June. Method employed in this study was exposure of Sabouraud agar plates (diameter 9 cm) to air for 1 hour, and total of 500 samples were collected. Results, expressed as CFU/h/plate, were statistically analysed by a one-way analysis of variance (repeated measures ANOVA) followed by a multiple comparison procedure (Bonferroni test). Probability values less than 0, 05 (P<0, 05) were considered significant. Higher levels of airspora were detected in June and July, with significantly higher concentration in Continental parts (43, 64 CFU/h/plate), than in Primorje (25, 66 CFU/h/plate) and Dalmacija (5, 9 CFU/h/plate) (P<0, 001). Lower airspora concentrations were found during April and May ; in Continental part (8, 18 CFU/h/plate) and Dalmacija (6, 9 CFU/h/plate), these were without significant difference, and significantly lower in Primorje (3, 3 CFU/h/plate) (P<0, 001). In June, in the Velebit area, significantly lower airspora concentrations were found (18, 36 CFU/h/plate), compared to those in Continental parts and Primorje (P<0, 05), but higher than those in Dalmacija (P<0, 001). In this study airspora belonging to 26 fungal genera were identified, and Cladosporium, Alternaria and Penicillium species dominated in all sampling sites, but with significantly higher concentrations in Continental parts (P<0, 05).

Airspora; Allergens; Moulds; Croatia; Velebit

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