THE AIRBORNE MYCOBIOTA OF A DUST STORM IN COMPARISON WITH A CALM CLIMATE IN ERBIL CITY-IRAQ

Abstract
A series of dust storms stroked Iraq from April to May 2022. These abnormal environmental events hold and transfer \r\nmicroorganisms far from their original sites. Mycobiome is a main part of the aerobiological aerosol, inclding agents of respiratory \r\nharm, opportunistic mycosis, as well as mycotoxin producers. 32 Petri dishes were exposed to the falling down dust for two days \r\nduring dust storm (hence, S1). The time of exposure was 10 minutes per hour, a total of 8 samples/ day since 9:00 am. Sabouraud’s \r\ndextrose agar and pollen grains agar media were used. Sampling was identically repeated after two days during a calm climate \r\n(hence, S2). Fungal genera, frequency%, and total similarity% were calculated for S1 and S2 samples.\r\n257 colonies (143CFU/m3) occurred in (S1) samples, in contrast, a total of 110 colonies from (S2) samples (59CFU/m3). The \r\nstatistical analysis showed a highly significant difference between CFU for S1and S2 (p≤0.0001). Fifteen isolates were identified \r\nfrom (S1), and (5) from (S2). The highest occurrence O% and frequency F% genera in S1 were Aspergillus (65-6%; 15.9%), \r\nAlternaria (56.6%;11.2%), Cladosporium (46.8%; 13.6%), Penicillium(37.5%;8.1%), besides sterile mycelia, while in S2 were \r\n(40.6%; 30.6%) ; (25.0%; 17.2%); (32.0%; 26.3%) (34.3 %; 12.7%) respectively. The similarity between the fungal communities \r\nof the two times was low =35.7%.\r\nResults showed that air mycobiota on stormy days have a higher fungal abundance and diversity. All isolated fungi are adverse to \r\nhumans, and animals. Individuals who have respiratory problems or with weak immunity showed careful to protect themselves.

Author
Salah Mahdi Saleem

DOI
https://doi.org/10.25271/sjuoz.2023.11.1.983

Publisher
Science Journal of University of Zakho

ISSN

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