Identification of the Most Common Dust Fungi at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Malaysia

Mai Shihah Abdullah

Abstract

Fungi are eukaryotic organisms that live as saprophytes, parasites or symbionts in their plant or animal hosts. Despite extensive research on the involvement of fungal allergens in the pathophysiology of allergic diseases, studies on fungi as a prominent source of allergens are still lacking in basic research and clinical practice. Hence, this study was conducted to identify ten common airborne fungal species as a preliminary work prior to conducting a sensitisation study on common fungal allergens. Fifty-four dust samples were collected from offices, laboratories lecturers’ rooms that are situated within three blocks of the Sultan Azlan Shah Campus, UPSI, Tanjong Malim, Perak, Malaysia by using a vacuum cleaner. The sieved dust was cultured with potato dextrose agar media, incubated at room temperature to propagate pure cultures and sent to the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute for identification viapolymerase chain reaction. The most common species found in the premises were Penicilliumsimplicissimum (94%), Aspergillus aculeatus (85%), Rhodosporidiobolusruineniae (74%), Ceriporialacerata (92%), A.caliodustus (57%), Syncephalastrumsp. (62%), Aspergillus sp. (72%), A. fumigatus (77%), Fusarium sp. (77%) and P.canescens (83%). A number of species identified in this study do not trigger fungal allergies. Therefore, further studies must be conducted to confirm their potential as fungi allergens. Due to high frequency of Penicillium and Aspergillus, The three-block research area in this study could be categorised as sick building and mycoremediation was recommended to minimise mould growth

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