Ahmet Asan

Monitoring Indoor Airborne Fungi and Bacteria in the Different Areas of Trakya University Hospital, Edirne, Turkey

The aim of this investigation was to monitor monthly the densities and distribution of indoor airborne fungi and bacteria in 6 different areas of Trakya University Hospital (Edirne, Turkey). Areas monitored were an operating theatre, birthing-room, emergency department, service area for infectious diseases, intensive care unit and the canteen. Our method was to expose Petri dishes which contained rose-bengal streptomycin agar and 5% sheep-blood agar media to room air for 10-min periods. Samples were collected at 1-month intervals from September 2000 to February 2001. A total of 156 microfungal and 535 bacterial colonies were counted on 144 plates. During a 6-month period, 10 bacterial genera (Acinetobacter, Bacillus, Corynebacterium, Enterococcus, Escherichia, Listeria, Micrococcus, Propionibacteria, Staphylococcus and Streptococcus) 7 fungal genera (Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Paecilomyces, Penicillium, Scopulariopsis and Trichothecium) and 33 fungal species were isolated from the hospital air. Penicillium loliense, P. melinii and P.phoeniceum were newly recognised species for Turkey. Some bacterial species such as coagulase-negative Staphylococcus, Micrococcus and Corynebacterium spp. were predominant (percentages of colonies counted were 72.2, 10.7 and 8.8%, respectively). Cladosporium and Penicillium were the most prevalent fungal genera. Cladosporium was predominant in September, November and February, Alternaria in October and December and Penicillium in January. Staphylococcus spp. was the most common bacterial species in all months. Statistical analyses (regression with optimal scaling test) were applied to the data.

Monitoring of Fungi and Bacteria in the Indoor Air of Primary Schools in Edirne City, Turkey

We monitored levels of bacteria and fungi in the indoor air at selected sites of several public primary schools in the city of Edirne, Turkey. Sampling was by the Petri plate method onto both a Rose-Bengal streptomycin agar medium and a 5% sheep-blood agar medium exposed to the air for 10-minute periods. Samples were collected monthly over a period of 6 months between August 2001 and January 2002. A total of 941 microfungi and 2066 bacterial colonies were counted on 90 Petri plates. During this 6-month period, 19 bacterial genera, 15 fungal genera and 48 species of fungi were isolated from the air in the schools. Some bacteria, such as coagulase-negative Staphylococcus, Corynebacterium and Bacillus, were predominant (42.7%, 20.4% and 6.9% of the total, respectively). Penicillium, Cladosporium and Alternaria were the most common fungal genera (42.8%, 19.3% and 10.1% of the total, respectively). Staphylococcus, Acinetobacter, Corynebacterium, Propionibacterium and Pseudomonas genera were found in every month. Statistical analysis of the data showed a positive correlation between the concentrations of bacteria and air humidity (p 0.002, R2 0.726) and between bacterial concentrations and age of the schools (p 0.045, R2 0.787). Also, that there was seasonal variation since the concentrations of fungi and bacteria varied according to the months (p 0.001).

Airborne Fungi and Actinomycetes Concentrations in the Air of Eskisehir City (Turkey)

The present study investigated the isolation and identification of airborne fungi from three different urban stations located in Eskisehir (Turkey). Air samples were taken by exposing a Petri dish with Rose-Bengal streptomycin agar medium for 15 min and after incubation the number of growing colonies was counted. The sampling procedure for fungi was performed 35 times at the research stations weekly between March and November 2001. A total of 2518 fungal and 465 actinomycetes colonies were counted on 420 Petri plates over a nine-month period. In total, some 20 mould species belonging to 12 genera were isolated. Alternaria alternata, Cladosporium cladosporioides and Scopulariopsis brevicaulis were the most abundant species in the study area (13.66, 5.80 and 5.50% of the total, respectively). Relationships between fungal spore numbers, aerosol air pollutants (that is the particulate matter in the air) and sulphur dioxide together with the meteorological conditions were examined using statistical analysis. Number of fungi and actinomycetes were tested by multivariate analysis (MANOVA) according to the areas and months. Fungal numbers were nonsignificant according to the areas and months (p > 0.05), but the number of actinomycetes recorded was significant (p < 0.01).

Airborne fungi in vegetable growing areas of Edirne, Turkey

We aimed at the investigation of the airborne fungiand their outdoor incidence in five vegetable growingareas in Edirne province (Turkey) by exposing a petridish with potato dextrose agar medium to air for 15minutes and then counting the number of growingcolonies. Sampling procedure for fungi was performed6 times in research stations at an interval of onemonth between April–September 1996. From the 90petri dishes obtained fungi were isolated and 1166colonies were counted. 12 genera (Absidia,Alternaria, Aspergillus, Botryotrichum, Chlamydomyces,Cladosporium, Endocochlus, Fusarium, Nematochtonus,Penicillium, Trichoderma and Torula) and 25species were identified. Among them, Aspergillusclavato-nanica and Penicillium estinogenum arevery likely to be new records for Turkey. Cladosporium carpophilum and Alternariaalternata were the most abundant species in the studyarea. Correlation analyses were applied to the data.

Airborne fungi and bacteria in indoor and outdoor environment of the Pediatric Unit of Edirne Government Hospital.

This study was performed between January 2004 and December 2004 in 13 stations in the Pediatric Unit of Edirne Government Hospital in order to determine the outdoor and indoor airborne microfungal and bacterial contents. The results of air samplings revealed that 1,376 microfungal and 2,429 bacterial colonies in total were isolated. The isolated microfungal specimens were identified and 65 species from 16 genera were determined. Among these, the most frequent genus was Cladosporium with 462 colonies (33.58%) followed by Alternaria with 310 (22.53%) and Penicillium with 280 (20.35%) colonies. The isolated bacterial samples were grouped based on their Gram-staining properties. The most frequent ones were Gram (+) cocci with 1,527 colonies (62.87%) followed by Gram (+) bacilli with 828 colonies (34.09%) and Gram (−) bacilli with 74 colonies (3.05%). Staphylococcus, Bacillus, Corynebacterium, and Microccus appeared to be the common genera isolated for all months. Statistical analyses were performed in order to see if there existed a relationship between meteorological conditions and the microfungal and bacterial species and their concentrations.

Indoor airborne fungal spores and home characteristics in asthmatic children from Edirne region of Turkey

Abstract Background The contribution of indoor fungal exposure to childhood asthma is not completely clear Objective To investigate airborne fungal flora within the homes of asthmatic and control children, and to assess the influence of housing characteristics regarding indoor fungi Methods Forty-seven atopic asthmatic and 23 nonatopic control children were studied. Allergen sensitivity was determined by skin prick tests. A thorough assessment, using a questionnaire and inspection surveys, was carried out. Home visits were made between October 2000 and February 2001. Samples of airborne fungal spores were collected from four rooms by the “open Petri dish” method. Indoor temperature and humidity were measured Results The total indoor fungal colony counts from the living rooms and bedrooms were significantly higher in the asthma group than in controls (p = .012 and p = .003, respectively). The most commonly isolated genus was Cladosporium. Twelve of the asthmatic patients (25.53 %) were found to be sensitive to fungal allergens. The factors found to be associated with indoor fungal growth in logistic regression were visible fungal patches in the bathrooms [(odds ratio (OR) = 5.75; 95 % CI 1.19 to 27.70)], and the age of the house [OR = 4.24; 95% CI 1.34 to 13.45]. Total fungal colony numbers did not correlate with indoor temperature or humidity Conclusion Fungal colony numbers were higher in the homes of asthmatic children than in those of controls. Therefore, indoor fungal exposure may contribute to childhood asthma. Bathrooms were the main source of fungal propagules. Old houses were more prone to fungal growth

Indoor airborne fungal pollution in newborn units in Turkey

Pathogenic and/or opportunistic fungal species are major causes of nosocomial infections, especially in controlled environments where immunocompromised patients are hospitalized. Indoor fungal contamination in hospital air is associated with a wide range of adverse health effects. Regular determination of fungal spore counts in controlled hospital environments may help reduce the risk of fungal infections. Because infants have inchoate immune systems, they are given immunocompromised patient status. The aim of the present study was to evaluate culturable airborne fungi in the air of hospital newborn units in the Thrace, Marmara, Aegean, and Central Anatolia regions of Turkey. A total of 108 air samples were collected seasonally from newborn units in July 2012, October 2012, January 2013, and April 2013 by using an air sampler and dichloran 18% glycerol agar (DG18) as isolation media. We obtained 2593 fungal colonies comprising 370 fungal isolates representing 109 species of 28 genera, which were identified through multi-loci gene sequencing. Penicillium, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Talaromyces, and Alternaria were the most abundant genera identified (35.14, 25.40, 17.57, 2.70, and 6.22% of the total, respectively).

Edirne İli Söğütlük Ormanı Toprağından İzole Edilen Aspergillus Türlerinin Biyoçeşitliliği

Calismamizda, Edirne ili orman topraklarindan izole edilen Aspergillus turlerinin morfolojik-koloniyal ve molekuler yontemlerle teshis edilmesi amaclanmistir. Bu amacla, Edirne Sogutluk Ormanindan, 2016 yili Mart ayinda Brown’un metodu kullanilarak toprak ornekleri alinmistir. Topraktan fungus izolasyonu icin “Topragi Sulandirma Metodu” kullanilmistir. Morfolojik calismalar icin CZ, CYA, CY20S, MEA besiyerlerine yapilan ekimlerden sonra, mikroskobik ve makroskobik karakterler incelenmistir. Molekuler calismalar icin ise sirasiyla DNA izolasyonu, calmodulin gen bolgesini hedefleyen PCR islemleri, PCR urununun saflastirilmasi, dizi analizi ve filogenetik analiz asamalari uygulanmistir. Calismalar sonucunda 7 adet Aspergillus turu tespit edilmistir. Bu turler, Aspergillus affinis (Turkiye icin yeni kayit), Aspergillus awamori , Aspergillus carbonarius , Aspergillus dimorphicus , Aspergillus europaeus (Turkiye icin yeni kayit), Aspergillus spelaeus (Turkiye icin yeni kayit) ve Aspergillus fischeri ’dir.

Saf kültür olarak stoklanmış bazı mikrofungusların ITS, β-tubulin ve Aktin gen dizilerine göre moleküler tanısı

Bu calismada, Trakya Universitesi Fen Fakultesi Biyoloji Bolumu Mikrobiyoloji laboratuvarinda saf kultur olarak stoklanmis bununla beraber; cins veya tur duzeyinde morfolojik olarak teshis edilemeyen bazi mikrofunguslar molekuler olarak tanimlanmistir. Calismada kullanilan mikrofunguslar daha once tur duzeyinde morfolojik olarak tanimlanamamis izolatlardan olusmustur. Ornekler, MEA besiyerine ekilip 25oC’de 7 gun inkube edilmistir. Besiyerinden alinan ornekler, analiz yapilana kadar -20oC’de saklanmistir. DNA izolasyonu icin funguslara ozel, kimyasal (SDS ve CTAB), biyokimyasal (proteinazK vb.) ve fiziksel (0.1 mm capli boncuklar) parcalama yontemlerini bir arada kullanan DNA izolasyon kitleri kullanilmistir. Cesitlilik calismalari, PCR tabanli fungal cesitlilik calisma kitleri ile yapilmistir. Tum izolatlar icin ITS gen dizisi kullanilmis, cinse bagli olarak β-tubulin ve Actin gen dizilimlerini hedeflenmistir. PCR ile cogaltilan DNA dizilimleri “Sanger Sequencing Yontemi” ile dizilenmistir. Elde edilen dizilerin hangi organizmalara ait oldugu NCBI ve EBI gibi uluslararasi nukleik asit data bankalarinda mevcut dizilimlerle, elde edilen filotiplerin dizilimleri karsilastirilarak belirlenmistir. Toplam 61 mikrofungus ornegi, cins duzeyinde 3 gruba (A,B,C) ayrilmis olup, gruplara gore ilgili gen bolgeleri molekuler teshis icin analiz edilmistir. 3 grup icin hem ilgili gen bolgeleri hem de ITS bolgeleri baz alinarak yapilan molekuler analizler sonucunda, 6 ornegin tur teshisi yapilamamis, 56 tur molekuler duzeyde teshis edilmistir.

Airborne microfungi in Oncology Service of Medical School Hospital of Trakya University

This study was performed in six different stations – drug preparation, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and three different patient rooms – in Oncology Service of Trakya University Medical Hospital in Edirne. Indoor air samples of equal volumes of 100 L were taken twice a month during the six-month study period. The analysis of samples showed that 8540 microfungi colonies were present in a total of 7.2 m3 air sample. November and April were found to be the months during which the highest numbers of fungal spores were isolated with 2570 CFU/m3 and 2060 CFU/m3, respectively, while the lowest spore counts were isolated during January (730 CFU/m3). Penicillium was found to be the most commonly isolated fungal genus with 2950 CFU/m3/spore followed by Cladosporium with 2110 CFU/m3. The other fungal genera isolated during the study are Aspergillus (640 CFU/m3), Alternaria (200 CFU/m3), Trichoderma (70 CFU/m3) and Rhizopus (40 CFU/m3). Among the most frequently isolated fungal species, Penicillium brevicompactum was the most common species with 960 CFU/m3 followed by Cladosporium cladosporioides with 930 CFU/m3. Aspergillus fumigatus, the fungal species of paramount importance in terms of human health, was also reported with a 410 CFU/m3. Statistical analyses were performed in order to reveal the relationship between microfungal colony numbers isolated and station temperature and relative humidity.