Asthma Allergy Immunology

Asthma Allergy Immunology

2011, Vol 9, Num, 3     (Pages: 154-165)

Atmospheric concentration of fungus spores in Kirsehir and the effect of meteorological factors

Ali Savaş BÜLBÜL 1, Talip ÇETER 2, Elşad HÜSEYİN 3,

1 Gazi Üniversitesi Fen Fakültesi, Biyoloji Bölümü, Ankara, Türkiye
2 Kastamonu Üniversitesi Fen-Edebiyat Fakültesi, Biyoloji Bölümü, Kastamonu, Türkiye
3 Ahi Evran Üniversitesi Fen-Edebiyat Fakültesi, Biyoloji Bölümü, Kırşehir, Türkiye

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Objective: Since fungi spores have high concentrations in the atmosphere during most of the year, they have an important place in respiratory allergies. In this regard, the preparation of calendars showing fungi spore loads for residential areas has much importance in the treatment of the patients.

Materials and Methods: This atmospheric study was carried out in Kirsehir province in Turkey between 01 March 2005 and 28 February 2006. In this study, three Durham pollen and spore traps which have worked according to gravimetric basis were used. The traps were placed at 15 m high from the ground in Golhisar, Bahcelievler and Karayolları stations in the city center. Slides covered by glycerin-jelly are leaved and exposed to air in the traps for one week. With the weekly scanning, the possible identifications of taxons detected were carried out at genus level and spore concentrations for per cm2 are detected weekly, monthly and annually.

Results: At the end of this study, total 7748 spores belong to 19 fungi taxons were detected in the atmosphere in Kirsehir province. It was detected that 74.69% of these spores were Cladosporium, 13.41% Alternaria, 2.49% Ustilago, 2.3% Puccinia, 1.81% Pleospora and 1.06% Drechslera. The other genera (Leptosphaeria, Curvularia, Torula, Pithomyces, Arthrinium, Trematosphaeria, Melanospora, Septonema, Tilletia, Sporodesmium, Coniothetium, Stemphylium, Hendersonia) which concentrations were lower than 1% formed 4.3% of spores in the atmosphere.

Conclusion: The number of spores was 3184 per cm2 at Gölhisar station, 2915 per cm2 at Karayolları station and 1649 per cm2 at Bahcelievler station. While the number of spores (1748 spores/cm2) was the highest in July, it was the lowest (21 spores/ cm2) in february. This study of data on the subject will help other researchers and clinicians of allergic diseases, the evaluation.

Keywords : Allergy, fungal spores, meteorological factors, Kirsehir, spores calendar, Turkey