Fungal community profile of indoor dust from selected primary public schools in Metro Manila

Abstract

Assessment of fungal community profile in indoor dust has been an emerging trend in microbiological airborne studies especially in places where space is limited and where people spend most of their time, such as in schools. In the Philippines, there are limited studies on fungal community identification from indoor dust and mostly unpublished. The present study assessed fungal community from collected indoor dust of selected primary public schools in Metro Manila through culture-dependent methods. Gravimetric sampling followed by pure culture isolation in Saboraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) was used to prepare the isolates for cultural and morphological characterization/identification of airborne fungi. Enrichment using Potato Dextrose Broth (PDB) was also done to enhance fungal growth. Cultural and morphological characterization revealed 30 putatively identified fungal species from seven genera: Absidia, Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Penicillium, Rhizopus and Trichoderma. The most commonly occurring species was Aspergillus niger with Aspergillus as the most occurring genera possibly because they can easily disperse conidia and survive in a given environment for long periods of time. Some fungal species may not pose harm when present but some can be considered hazardous and cause disease. Continuous exposure therefore, to these biological hazards may cause indoor dwellers such as the students, susceptible to respiratory infections such as allergic reactions and asthmatic attack caused by fungal spores or mycotoxins.