ABSTRACT
Justificación y objetivo: las esporas fúngicas aéreas son consideradas agentes etiológicos de la rinitis alérgica y el asma. El objetivo del presente estudio fue analizar la contaminación fúngica ambiental en tres centros de enseñanza primaria del cantón Central de la provincia de Heredia, midiendo la concentración de esporas fúngicas aéreas por metro cúbico. Métodos: se utilizó el equipo para muestreo volumétrico aéreo Burkard Personal Volumetric Air Sampler durante las épocas seca y lluviosa. Los conteos de esporas se relacionaron con los factores meteorológicos y las características estructurales de los centros educativos analizados. Resultados: se encontró un total de 1391,89 ± 119,70 esporas/m3 en marzo, 3194,45 ± 577,03 esporas/m3 en mayo, 3747,12 ± 568,05 esporas/m3 en octubre y 1009,99 ± 81,24 esporas/m3 en diciembre. En marzo, octubre y diciembre, aproximadamente el 91,0% de estas esporas pertenecían a cuatro grupos: Aspergillus/Penicillium, ascosporas, basidiosporas y Cladosporium. Sin embargo, en mayo el 78,46% de las esporas identificadas pertenecían al género Cladosporium. Al correlacionar la concentración de esporas fúngicas se encontró correlación negativa con la velocidad del viento (-0.418, p<0.05), correlación positiva con la precipitación pluvial (0,568, p<0,05), correlación positiva con el porcentaje de humedad relativa (0,504, p<0,05), y no se encontró correlación con los cambios de temperatura. Conclusión: la concentración de esporas fúngicas encontrada en las tres escuelas muestreadas es mayor al límite de 1000 esporas por metro cúbico, considerado saludable.
Background and aim: Fungal spores are considered etiological agents of allergic rhinitis and asthma; therefore, it is advised to monitor fungal levels within the classrooms. The aim of this paper was to study fungal aerial contamination in three public schools of Heredia by measuring the concentration of aerial fungal spores per cubic meter. Methods: We used the Burkard Personal Volumetric Air Sampler to collect and identify fungal spores during the dry and rainy season. The relationship between the fungal spore concentration, the meteorological factors and structural characteristics of the schools was determined. Results: A total of 1391.89 ± 119.70 spores/m3 was found in March, 3194.45 ± 577.03 spores/ m3 in May, 3747.12 ± 568.05 spores/m3 in October and 1009.99 ± 81.24 spores/m3 in December. Except for May, approximately 91.0 % of the spores identified belonged to four groups: Aspergillus/ Penicillium, ascospores, basidiospores and Cladosporium. In May, 78.46 % of the spores identified were Cladosporium. A negative correlation was found between spore concentration and wind velocity (-0.418; p<0.05), and a positive one with rain (0.568; p<0.05) and with humidity (0.504; p<0.05). No correlation was found with temperature changes. Conclusion: The three schools analysed presented fungal spore concentrations which exceeded the limit of 1000 spores per cubic meter which is considered as healthy.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Child , Asthma , Environmental Pollution , Costa Rica , Fungi , Hypersensitivity , Rhinitis , Spores, FungalABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to evaluate the bacterial and fungal quality of minimally-processed vegetables (MPV) and sprouts. A total of 116 samples of fresh-cut vegetables, ready-to-eat salads, and mung bean and wheat sprouts were randomly collected and analyzed. The load of aerobic mesophilic bacteria was minimum and maximum in the fresh-cut vegetables and fresh mung bean sprouts respectively, corresponding to populations of 5.3 and 8.5 log CFU/g. E. coli O157:H7 was found to be absent in all samples; however, other E. coli strains were detected in 21 samples (18.1%), and Salmonella spp. were found in one mung bean (3.1%) and one ready-to-eat salad sample (5%). Yeasts were the predominant organisms and were found in 100% of the samples. Geotrichum, Fusarium, and Penicillium spp. were the most prevalent molds in mung sprouts while Cladosporium and Penicillium spp. were most frequently found in ready-to-eat salad samples. According to results from the present study, effective control measures should be implemented to minimize the microbiological contamination of fresh produce sold in Tehran, Iran.
ABSTRACT
As aflatoxinas são responsáveis por grandes prejuízos à saúde de aves comerciais e à produção animal, essencialmente por perda financeira decorrente de diminuição de ganho de peso dos animais. A detoxificação da ração ou de suas matérias-primas, bem como tentativas de diminuir a contaminação fúngica que leva à produção das toxinas, além de técnicas nutricionais, são métodos que podem ser adotados para tentar diminuir os efeitos deletérios sobre os frangos de corte. Sendo assim, o objetivo desta revisão é mostrar o que a ciência fornece como meios de detoxificação e/ou redução de contaminação por fungos; e algumas substâncias naturais que auxiliam a produção avícola na redução de micotoxicoses .
Aflatoxins are answerable for large losses for the health of commercial birds and for the animal production, essentially by financial losses due to animal body weight diminution. Detoxification of feed or its raw materials, well as attempts of diminution of fungal contamination that leads to toxins production, beyond of nutritional techniques, are methods that can be adopted trying to diminish deleterious effects among broiler chickens. This way, the objective of this review is to show what science supplies like ways of detoxification and/or reduction of contamination by fungi, and some natural substances that help poultry production on reduce mycotoxicosis.
ABSTRACT
El control de determinados parámetros en ambientes interiores, como la temperatura y humedad relativa, constituye un elemento esencial para la conservación del patrimonio y la preservación de la salud humana, dado el riesgo potencial que implica la presencia de microorganismos en estos ambientes, específicamente los hongos. Los objetivos del estudio fueron determinar la concentración fúngica del aire del Archivo Municipal de Cárdenas (Cuba), realizar la identificación taxonómica de los aislamientos y describir el potencial biodeteriorante y patógeno que representan para el patrimonio documental y la salud humana, respectivamente. Se empleó un biocolector SAS Super 100 y placas de Petri conteniendo un medio de cultivo adecuado para el muestreo microbiológico; posteriormente se determinó la capacidad biodeteriorante de las cepas. Los valores de concentración fúngica obtenidos en el local 1 fueron extremadamente superiores al compararlo con el local 2, permitiendo clasificar al primero como altamente contaminado. El género fúngico predominante fue Penicillium, registrándose 53% y 81,8% en los locales 1 y 2, respectivamente. Todas los aislamientos presentaron marcada actividad celulolítica y producción de ácidos, mientras que el 58% excretó pigmentos al medio, comprobándose la capacidad biodeteriorante de las mismos. Los géneros fúngicos aislados representan patógenos potenciales para la salud humana.
The control of certain parameters in indoor environments, such as temperature and relative humidity, constitutes an essential element for the conservation of heritage, and preservation of human health, due to the potential risk implied by the presence of microorganisms in these environments, specifically fungi. The purpose of this study was to determine the airborne fungal concentration at the Archivo Municipal de Cardenas (Cuba), establish the taxonomic identification of isolates and describe the biodeteriorating and pathogenic potential represented for the documentary heritage and human health, respectively. We used a SAS Super 100 biocollector and Petri dishes containing an adequate culture medium for microbiological sampling, and later determined the biodeteriorating capacity of the strains. The fungal concentration values obtained at site 1 were considerably higher than those obtained at site 2, allowing classifying the first one as highly contaminated. The predominant fungal genus was Penicillium, registering 53% and 81.8% at sites 1 and 2, respectively. All the isolates presented marked cellulolytic activity and acid production, while 58% excreted pigments to the medium, verifying their biodeteriorating capacity. The fungus genus isolated represents potential pathogens for human health.
ABSTRACT
Objective: The occurrence of food contaminants such as aflatoxin in the foodstuffs has been reported widely. Unfortunately, only a few know about the impact of aflatoxin to human health and this phenomenon let us to question the extent of public’s knowledge on fungal and aflatoxin contamination in the diets. Thus, this study aimed to investigate determinants of adults’ knowledge on fungal and aflatoxin contamination in the diets based on two factors namely socio-demographic and socio-economic factors. Method: A questionnaire was self-administered to 160 respondents from a faculty in Universiti Putra Malaysia. Results: Most of respondents had low level of knowledge in regard to fungal and aflatoxin contamination. Besides, the total score of knowledge on fungal and aflatoxin contamination was significantly and positively correlated (r=0.340, P<0.0001). The multivariate analysis indicated that personal income (below US $487) was the only predictor of respondent’s knowledge (β=-0.288, P<0.001) [Odds ratio (OR)=4.996]. Nonetheless, being male and single, divorced or widowed had significant OR of 2.040 and 0.313 respectively as predictors of low level of knowledge. Conclusions: Income inequalities may have impact to the respondents in acquiring knowledge on fungal and aflatoxin contamination in the diets. Additionally, an extensive survey on aflatoxin should be warranted in order to assess the public awareness and knowledge about this food contaminant.