Diversity and prevalence of airborne fungi isolated from São Luis, Northeast Brazil

Airborne fungi are considerate the main agents related to allergy in patients that suffer from asthma and rinitis. The knowledge about the prevalence of these microorganisms and theis seasonal variation can be useful for human health by improving the diagnosis and treatment of respiratory allergic disease provoked by their inhalation. The present study has isolated and identified airborne funfi from São Luis city investigating their prevalence, biodiversity and seasonal variation. Samples were taken by the Petri plate gravitacional method in six urban areas. A total of 2993 fungal colonies were counted, 67,9% in the dry season and 32,1% in the rainy season. Statistical analysis showed that there are significant diference (p=0,0121) between the averages of spores in dry and rainy periods. Relative humidity, rainfall precipitation and wind speed can have influenced the diversity and concentration of fungal spores presents in the air. Among 24 genera isolated, the most prevalent ones were Aspergillus (38,7)%, Fusarium (13,90%), Curvularia (11,18%) and Penicillium (10,88%), major triggers of allergic process worldwide recognized. The data show the presence of a large number of airborne fungi spores in São Luis and all genera found are opportunistic and they may cause disease in susceptible patients.

Aeromicrobiologaa del archivo central de la uniersidad pedagógica y tecnológicca de Colombia (tunja-ooyacá) / Aeromicrobiology of The Central Archive of Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia (Tunja-Boyacá)

La calidad del aire de los ambientes internos puede estar influenciada por distintas partículas suspendidas en la atmósfera (polvo, polen, bacterias, hongos, virus) que pueden causar daños a documentos y presentar reacciones alérgicas en personas que trabajan con éstos. Con este trabajo, se identificaron hasta género los microorganismos presentes en el ambiente del archivo central, Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia, que podrían causar alergias respiratorias en los trabajadores de esta área. Para las muestras de ambiente se empleó el método de sedimentación en placa utilizando agar papa dextrosa y se midieron temperatura y humedad relativa durante cada muestreo. Asimismo, se aplicó una encuesta a los trabajadores con el fin de conocer sintomatología respiratoria sugestiva que pudieran presentar por el manejo de documentos y se tomaron muestras de fosas nasales a algunos de ellos. Se aislaron del ambiente 14 géneros entre hongos, levaduras y bacterias, y dos categorías de microorganismos no identificadas. Los géneros fúngicos predominantes fueron Mucor spp., y Penicillium spp., con un 36,6% y 27,5%, respectivamente, del total de colonias aisladas. Las formas levaduriformes principalmente del género Rhodotorula, y bacterianas con predominio de formas cocoides fueron aisladas en menor proporción. No se encontró correlación estadísticamente significativa entre el promedio de unidades formadoras de colonia con temperatura y humedad relativa del ambiente. Además, en las muestras de fosas nasales sólo se encontró microbiota normal de nariz, lo cual indica que los síntomas respiratorios sugestivos que presentan los trabajadores no estuvieron influenciados directamente por la presencia de esporas de hongos en el ambiente del archivo central.

Air quality of indoor environments can be influenced by different particles suspended in the atmosphere (dust, pollen, bacteria, fungi, and virus) that could cause damage to documents and induce allergic reactions in people working with these documents. In this work, we identified until genera the microorganisms present in the environment of the central archive of Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia; specifically those that could cause respiratory allergies to personnel of this area. For the environment samples, we used the open Petri dish sedimentation method using potato dextrose agar, and measured temperature and relative humidity during each sampling. Also, a survey was taken of the workers to record respiratory symptoms that could arise from handling documents. Samples were taken from the nostrils of some of these workers. Fourteen genera among fungi, yeasts, and bacteria, and two non identified categories were isolated from the environment. The predominant fungal genera were Mucor spp. and Penicillium spp. with 36.6% and 27.5% of the total of isolated colonies, respectively. Yeast, mainly Rhodotorula genera, and bacteria with prevalence coccus forms were isolated in smaller proportions. There was not statistically significant correlation among the average of colony forming units and the temperature and relative humidity in the environment. In addition, nostril samples yielded only normal microbiota of the nose, indicating that suggestive respiratory symptoms workers presented are not directly influenced by the presence of fungal spores in the environment at the central archive.

Distribuição de esporos de Cladosporium sppno ar atmosférico de Caxias do Sul, RS, Brasil,durante dois anos de estudo / Cladosporium spp spores distribution in the atmospheric air of Caxias do Sul-RS, Brazil, during a two-year study

Os esporos de fungos estão distribuídos em grande quantidade naatmosfera e, alguns deles, apresentam capacidade de causar doençasem seres humanos, animais e vegetais. Dentre os variados táxons destaca-se Cladosporium spp, um dos fungos mais cosmopolitas e de maiorconcentração no ar. Esporos de Cladosporium spp têm sido caracterizadoscomo importantes alérgenos.Objetivos: Medir as concentrações de esporos de Cladosporium sppna atmosfera de Caxias do Sul, RS, Brasil, durante os anos de 2001 e2002 e avaliar a relação destas, com parâmetros meteorológicos.Métodos: Amostras diárias foram coletadas, utilizando um aparelhotipo Hirst (Burkard®).Resultados: Os resultados mostraram que Cladosporium spp tempresença constante no ar. Em 2001 foram contabilizados 133.586 esporos/m3, com valor máximo diário de 3.265 esporos/m3 e mensal de24.912 esporos/m3, no mês de março. Em 2002 o número total foi de118.766 esporos/m3 com máximo diário de 4.470 esporos/m3 e mensalde 29.816 esporos/m3, em janeiro. A análise com os parâmetrosmeteorológicos mostrou correlação positiva com temperatura média enegativa com a umidade. Os períodos de maior concentração ocorreramcom temperaturas médias mais elevadas, no entanto, a umidade altatem um efeito negativo na distribuição destes esporos por favorecer ahidratação dos mesmos, que sedimentam ao solo.Conclusão: Os dados obtidos podem ser úteis nas áreas da patologiahumana, especialmente nos processos alérgicos, na patologia animal evegetal, em trabalhos com finalidades de preservação de acervo cultural,no controle de infecções e na ecologia.

Fungal spores are distributed in large amounts in the outdoor air, andsome of them may cause diseases in human beings, animals, and plants.Among several taxa, Cladosporium spp is one of the most ubiquitous andmost widely distributed, being found in high concentrations in the air.Cladosporium spp spores have been classified as important allergens,and are, therefore, important to the study of allergies.Objectives: To measure the concentrations of Cladosporium sppspores in the outdoor air of Caxias do Sul, Southern Brazil, during 2001and 2002, and to evaluate the association of these concentrations withmeteorological parameters.Methods: Daily samples were collected using a Hirst sampler(Burkard®).Results: The results showed that Cladosporium spp spores are oftenpart of the air. In 2001, the total amount was 133,586 spores/m3; withmaximum daily and monthly concentration of 3,265 spores/m3, and24,912 spores/m3 in March, respectively. In 2002, the total amount was118,766 spores/m3; with maximum daily and monthly concentration of4,470 spores/m3 and 29,816 spores/m3 in January. The meteorologicalparameters showed a positive correlation with the temperature averageand a negative one regarding humidity. The highest levels were found athigher temperature averages, however, elevated humidity has a negativeeffect on the distribution of these spores, contributing to their hydrationand deposition on the soil.Conclusions: The data obtained can be useful in human pathologyarea - especially in allergy - animal and plants pathology, in studies ofcultural inventory preservation, infection control and ecology.

Prevalencia de asma y enfermedades atópicas en niños de Panamá. Estudio Nacional de Asma y Atopia en niños (ISAAC) fase III

Objetivo: Describir comparativamente la prevalencia del asma y enfermedades atómicas basado en el estudio ISAAC FASE 1 y FASE 111 en niños de 6-7 años y 13-14 años de edad en la República de Panamá Metodología : Se seleccionaron al azar 35 escuelas y colegios en la provincia de Panamá, Herrera, Chiriquí y Veraguas, de la República de Panamá. La información se obtuvo por un cuestionario elaborado usando el protocolo del Estudio Internacional de Asma y Alergia en la niñez (ISAAC). Todos los cuestionarios fueron revisados y los datos fueron transferidos a una base de datos en Epi-Info 6.0 , usando el formato y la codificación de ISAAC. El análisis estadístico de los resultados se efectuó obteniendo las frecuencias de las variables y aplicando la prueba de chi cuadrado. Resultados: Se estudiaron un total de 6155 niños de dos grupos etareos ,de 6-7 años (2941) y de 13 -14 años (3214). La prevalencia del asma en la República de Panamá puede estimarse en niños escolares de 6 a 7 años en 22.7% y de 13-14 años en 22.9% con una prevalencia general de 22.8% (p<0.001). La prevalencia de enfermedades atópicas relacionadas a asma se estimó en 52.6% para la rinitis, conjuntivitis 30.2% y eczema en 27.4% Conclusión: La prevalencia de asma en la República de Panamá comparando los resultados del estudio ISAAC 1997 y 2003 es de 22.8% en niños de 6-7 años y de 20% en niños de 13-14 años.

Objectives: Define the prevalence of asthma and atopic diseases in children 6-7 years and 13-14 years of age in the Republic of Panama according to ISAAC protocols FASE 1 and FASE 111 studies. Material and Methods: We randomly selected 35 elementary schools and junior high schools in the province of Panama, Herrera, Chiriquí and Veraguas of the Republic of Panama. The information was gotten by a questionnaire using the protocol of the International Study of Asthma and Allergy in Children (ISAAC). All questionnaires were reviewed and the data were transferred to a database in Epi-Info 6.0, using the format and the ISAAC code. The Statistical analysis of the results was made obtaining the frequencies of the variables and applying the chi-square test. Results: A total of 6155 children from two age groups, aged 6-7 years (2941) and 13-14 years (3214) were studied. The prevalence of asthma in the Republic of Panama can be estimated in school children from 6 to 7 years in 22.7% and 13-14 years in 22.9% (p<0.001)with a general prevalence of 22.8% (p <0.001). The prevalence of atopic diseases related to asthma was estimated at 52.6% (p<0.001)for rhinitis, conjunctivitis 30.2% and eczema in 27.4%(p<0.001) Conclusion: The data gotten in this study demonstrate a high prevalence of asthma in the Republic of Panama. These data be used in order to evaluate the present and future behavior of these diseases in Panama, and most call attention on the necessity of taking specific measurements for their prevention and management.

Gripe e resfriados e sua relação com alergias respiratórias / Influenza and common cold and their relationship to respiratory allergies

O trabalho analisa as importantes inter-relações entre a gripe, o resfriado e as patologias alérgicas das vias respiratórias, destacando em particular o problema do paciente alérgico portador de infecção viral. Descreve a etiologia, o quadro clínico, diagnóstico e tratamento dessas afecções, apresentando quadro diferencial entre a fisiopatologia da asma e da rinite alérgica.As estações do outono e inverno demandam do pediatra maior preocupação com o aparelho respiratório, que passa a ser alvo de doenças de elevadíssimas prevalências nesta época do ano, como a gripe e os resfriados. Um grupo especial de pacientes merece ainda maior atenção, os pacientes com alergias respiratórias, como asma e rinite, pois as crises se tornam mais freqüentes e a associação de quadros virais e atopia traz desafios diagnósticos e incremento da morbidade entre as crianças. Caberá ao pediatra diagnosticar de maneira adequada cada uma estas doenças e reconhecer a interação entre os quadros alérgicos e as doenças infecciosas.