RESUMO
The aim of this paper was to determine for first time the influence of the main meteorological parameters on the atmospheric fungal spore concentration in Havana (Cuba). This city is characterized by a subtropical climate with two different marked annual rainfall seasons during the year: a "dry season" and a "rainy season". A nonviable volumetric methodology (Lanzoni VPPS-2000 sampler) was used to sample airborne spores. The total number of spores counted during the 2 years of study was 293,594, belonging to 30 different genera and five spore types. Relative humidity was the meteorological parameter most influencing the atmospheric concentration of the spores, mainly during the rainy season of the year. Winds coming from the SW direction also increased the spore concentration in the air. In terms of spore intradiurnal variation we found three different patterns: morning maximum values for Cladosporium, night peaks for Coprinus and Leptosphaeria, and uniform behavior throughout the whole day for Aspergillus/Penicillium."
Assuntos
Microbiologia do Ar , Poluentes Atmosféricos/análise , Esporos Fúngicos/isolamento & purificação , Cidades , Cuba , Fungos/classificação , Fungos/fisiologia , Umidade , Estações do Ano , Temperatura , VentoRESUMO
Se ha realizado un estudio de la contaminación fúngica ambiental en la atmósfera de la ciudad de La Habana (Cuba), durante el período de lluvias de los años 2001 y 2002, utilizando un método volumétrico viable, que ha permitido conocer la concentración de unidades formadoras de colonias (ufc/m3) totales y caracterizar los géneros y especies más abundantes, en especial del género Aspergillus. Durante el año 2001 las concentraciones más elevadas de hongos se obtuvieron en agosto y septiembre y las más bajas en julio, mientras que en el año 2002 destacan los niveles de septiembre y octubre frente a los escasos niveles del mes de agosto. Al analizar la densidad relativa de los géneros identificados se observa que Aspergillus es el género más abundante en la atmósfera seguido de Penicillium y Cladosporium. Las especies más abundantes en el año 2001 y relativamente constantes en el tiempo fueron A. japonicus, A. niger y A. flavus, mientras en el año 2002, los más abundantes fueron: A. japonicus, A. fumigatus y A. niger, siendo A. niger el único constante en el tiempo.
A study on environmental fungal contamination in the atmosphere of the City of La Habana (Cuba), during the rainy period in 2001 and 2002 was carried out. A viable volumetric method was used, making it possible to ascertain the concentration of units comprising total colonies (ufc/m3), and to characterize the most abundant genera and species, especially Aspergillus. Throughout 2001, the highest concentrations of fungi were collected in August and September, and the lowest in July; while in 2002, the highest levels were in September and October, compared to the minimal levels for the month of August. On analyzing the relative density of the genera identified, it was found that the most abundant genus in the atmosphere was Aspergillus, followed by Penicillium and Cladosporium. The most abundant species and relatively constant over time in 2001 were A. japonicus, A. niger and A. flavus while in 2002 A. japonicus, A. fumigates and A. niger; this specie was the only constant in time.