P. VIJAYALAKSHMI, V. USHARANI AND M. KIRANMAI REDDY*
Department of Environmental Studies, Institute of Science, GITAM (Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management; Deemed to be University), Visakhapatnam-530 045 (Andhra Pradesh), India
*(e-mail : kiranmai.majji@gitam.edu; Mobile : 9966026489)
(Received : November 15, 2019: Accepted : January 18, 2020)
ABSTRACT
Microorganisms play very significant role in the environment. Some of them are beneficiary and some cause impact on plants, animals and human health. Fungi are such microorganisms which can cause allergy. Their spores can easily drift to air from various environments. Inhalation of these spores can cause allergy and infection to vulnerable individuals. For the first time, the present study aimed at providing baseline aeromycofloral information of north coastal Andhra Pradesh. In this study, the variability of airborne fungi was identified and assessed on seasonal basis in different locations of North Coastal Andhra Pradesh of India. The present study confirmed the high concentrations of air-borne which could potentially cause allergy to individuals. The study was carried out for 36 months by means of gravity sedimentation method with Rose-Bengal Agar medium. A total of 2008 sample plates were collected from study area. A total of 500 people were given questionnaire to identify season which cause allergy and frequent visit to hospital. Winter was the promising season for fungal infections. A total of 29 fungal species were isolated. The spores of fungi belonging to genera Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Penicillium and Rhizopus prone to causing allergies were found at high alarming rate in the present study. The results of the research disclose the importance of air as a main source of microbial contamination in the study areas and it is utmost necessary to encourage the germ free conditions in and nearby of the areas to maintain safety of the local consumers.
Key words : Aeromycoflora, fungi, north coastal Andhra Pradesh