Airborne Fungal Spore Load In Two Different Habits of Santiniketan, West Bengal With Reference To Human Health

Abstract

Airborne fungal spores are responsible to cause human respiratory allergy and asthma among susceptible individuals. An aeromycological study and health survey were conducted in two different habitats namely, Pearsonpally ( a tribal dominated area) and Simantapally ( a non-tribal are) in an around Santiniketan, West Bengal to fulfill the two objective :(i) to identify the pathogenic airborne fungal spores, and (ii) to make correlation between fungal spores and prevalence of allergy symptoms among inhabitants. One year (August,2015 to July,2016) airborne fungal spore sampling was done using both Burkard personal volumetric sampler and Anderson 2-stage sampler. More number of fungal types were recorded from tribal area (19 species) than from non-tribal area (12 species). the results of Burkard sampling showed that among several fungal spores, Aspergilli/Penicilli type was most dominant fungal spores. In Andersen sampling, Penecillium megasporum, Aspergillus glaucus, Rhizopus sp.. Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus, are dominant viable fungal types in tribal area, while Rhizopus sp. ,Mycclia sterilia, Penicillium megasporum, Fusarium solani and Alternaria alternata are some common types in non-tribal area. A thorough health survey was done among inhabitants of both the study sites by using a standardised questionnaire. This study reveals a positive correlation between the allergic disorder and the airspora concentration.