Identification of the Most Common Dust Fungi at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Malaysia

Abstract

Fungi are eukaryotic organisms that live as saprophytes, parasites or symbionts
in their plant or animal hosts. Despite extensive research on the involvement of fungal
allergens in the pathophysiology of allergic diseases, studies on fungi as a prominent
source of allergens are still lacking in basic research and clinical practice. Hence, this study
was conducted to identify ten common airborne fungal species as a preliminary work prior
to conducting a sensitisation study on common fungal allergens. Fifty-four dust samples
were collected from offices, laboratories lecturers’ rooms that are situated within three
blocks of the Sultan Azlan Shah Campus, UPSI, Tanjong Malim, Perak, Malaysia by using a
vacuum cleaner. The sieved dust was cultured with potato dextrose agar media, incubated
at room temperature to propagate pure cultures and sent to the Malaysian Agricultural
Research and Development Institute for identification viapolymerase chain reaction. The
most common species found in the premises were Penicilliumsimplicissimum (94%),
Aspergillus aculeatus (85%), Rhodosporidiobolusruineniae (74%), Ceriporialacerata
(92%), A.caliodustus (57%), Syncephalastrumsp. (62%), Aspergillus sp. (72%), A.
fumigatus (77%), Fusarium sp. (77%) and P.canescens (83%). A number of species
identified in this study do not trigger fungal allergies. Therefore, further studies must be
conducted to confirm their potential as fungi allergens. Due to high frequency of
Penicillium and Aspergillus, The three-block research area in this study could be
categorised as sick building and mycoremediation was recommended to minimise mould
growth.