Occurrence of Aspergillus and other molds in the outdoor air of Kuwait

Ref ID: 19333

Author:

Ziauddin Khan*, Suhail Ahmad, Ajmal Theyyathel, Leena Joseph, Numeer Kadungothayil

Author address:

Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, P. O. Box 24923, Safat 13001,
Kuwait

Full conference title:

Asian Mycological Congress 2013 and the 13th International Marine and Freshwater Mycology Symposium

Date: 19 August 2014

Abstract:

In recent years, Kuwait has undertaken a massive plantation derive which has resulted in
increased vegetable mass of soil. There is paucity of data on prevalence of pathogenic and/or allergenic
fungi that grow on decaying vegetable matter. The occurrence and distribution of Aspergillus and other
molds in the air was studied during a one-year (October, 2011-September, 2012) period. Six-stage
Anderson air sampler was used at fortnightly intervals at ground level and at a terrace (~50 feet above
ground level). Plates containing malt extract agar were exposed for 30 minutes, incubated at 30o C for up
AMC 2013 & 13th IMFMS August 19-23, 2013 Beijing, China
123
to 5 days and colony forming units (CFUs) were counted. The molds were identified by morphologic
characteristics and/or by DNA sequencing of ITS region of rDNA. A total of 4406 CFUs and 19 different
genera were obtained. Aspergillus spp. formed 21% of the fungal areospora with Aspergillus Section
Fumigati, Aspergillus Section Flavi and Aspergillus Section Terrei strains comprising 3%, 3% and 1% of
the isolates, respectively. Other molds included Cladosporium spp. (42%), Penicillium spp. (19%),
Paecilomyces spp. (6%), Alternaria spp. (4%), Bipolaris spp. (2%) and others (6%). The prevalence of
Cladosporium, Alternaria and Bipolaris spp. was higher at ground level, whereas Penicillium and
Paecilomyces spp. were more abundant in terrace air samples. Aspergillus spp. accounted for 21% of
the total fungal aerospora. The study has provided information about the prevalence and distribution of
pathogenic and/or allergenic fungi prevalent in the air of Kuwait. Supported by KURS grant MI01/09.

Abstract Number: P-48

Conference Year: 2013

Link to conference website: NULL

New link: NULL

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