The air-borne fungi are usually considered to be as non-pathogenic and saprophytic organisms. However, those can be causative factors of certain allergic diseases, and. produce mycotoxic diseases such as caused by aflatoxin B₁, or opportunistic infections, since various kinds of antitumor agents and adrenocorticosteroids have been introduced to therapeutics, and those who are affected some malignant tumors or metabolic anomalous diseases. As the first step toward understanding and controlling -the diseases, the studies on the population of air-borne fungi seem to be necessary.
Authors studied the fluctuations of population of air-borne fungi at monthly intervals from June 1974 through May 1975 and at various times of the day at different places in the hospital, and the results obtained were as follows:
1. The identified fungi species and the percentage of colony counts of each species were Hormodendrum sp. (37.2 %) , Penicillium sp. (18.8%), Aspergillus sp. (17.6 % ), Alterna.ria sp. (6.3%), Mycelia sterila (2.6%), Paecilomyces sp. (1.2% ), Rhodotorula sp. (1.1%), Oospora sp. (0.7%), Rhizopus sp. (0.6%), Geotrichum sp. (0.4%), Monilia sp. (0.4 % ), Mucor sp. (0.4 %), Trichoderma sp. (0.4%), Trichosporon sp. (0. 1%) , Stemphylium sp. (0.1l %), Helminthosporium sp. (0. 1 %) Gliocladium sp. (0.1 % ), Saccharomyces sp. (0. 1%), Trichothecium sp. (0.03%) and other unknown species (11.6 % ) in decreasing order of frequency.
2. The monthly fluctuations of number of cultured colonies of four major air-borne fungi (Hormodendrum, Penicillium. Aspergillus, and Alternaria) were 649 in June, 105 in July, 372 in August, 431 in September, 188 in October, 241 in November and 89 in December 1974, and 92 in January, 115 in February, 77 in March, 178 in April: and 116 in May 1975.
3. It was suggested that there might be a relationship among the humidity, the: temperature and the population of the air-borne fungi because the abrupt drop in. July seemed to be related to high level of the humidity (86.8%) and the temperature (24.3´C). And since the total number of colonies decreased markedly in December 1974 and Junuary 1975, it seemed to be closely related to cold weather temperature
4. The number of cultured colonies at various times of the day did not show much fluctuation, except that Aspergillus sp. showed sudden tremendous increase at one occasion, at 3 : 00 P. M. on 15th of June and that gradual increase of Hormodendrum sp. was noted on another occasion, from 12 : 00 A. M. on 15th of September.
5. With regard to the locations of sampling, such as the operating room, laboratory, ward and out-patient department in the hospital, the difference in the identified fungi species, the number of colony counts and the relationship with the humidity & the temperature was not evident. Authors reviewed relevant literatures and made discussions also.
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