Skip to main content
Log in

A study of fungal spore poupulations in the atmosphere of Kuwait

  • Published:
Mycopathologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The fungal air-spora of Kuwait was investigated using the Petri-dish trapping technique. During the period from 1st April, 1974 to 30th June, 1975, a total of 3685 colonies were recorded from 2 % malt agar plates. Fifty-five genera and 116 species were identified. Alternaria occupied the first place in the order of percentage incidence, being represented by 18.3% of the entire catch, followed by Aspergillus (17.1%), Penicillium (14%), Cladosporium (13.6%), Drechslera (13.3%), and Ulocladium (7.1%). The widest spectrum of species was displayed by Aspergillus (possessed 19 species) followed by Penicillium (17 species), Alternaria (6 species), Drechslera (5 species), and Ulocladium (4 species). The monthly total number of fungi showed marked seasonal periodicity with the greatest number of colonies occurring in March–April and November. The lowest counts were recorded in mid-summer (July) and mid-winter (January). Only 220 colonies and 17 species of thermophilous fungi were reported from plates incubated at 45 °C. The most common species were Aspergillus fumigatus and A. terreus.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Barkai-Golan, R. 1959. A study of air-borne fungi in Israel. Bull. Res. Coun. Israel 6D: 247–258.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Barkai-Golan, R. 1961. Air-borne fungi in packing houses for citrus fruits. Bull. Res. Coun. Israel 10D: 135–141.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Barkai-Golan, R. & I. Clazer. 1962. Air-borne fungi in Eliat and Tel-Hashmor, Israel. J. Allergy 33: 342–348.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Ben-Meir-Gleuck, Y. 1952. Fungi isolated from the air of groves and packing sheds and from the skin of Shamouti Oranges. Ktavim 2–3: 134–140.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Blatt, H. 1962. Microbial allergy. A critical review — 1950–May 1960. V. Ann. Allergy 20: 263.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Cammak, R. H. 1955. Seasonal changes in three common constituents of the air-spora of Southern-Nigeria, Lond. 179: 1270–1272.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Chang, Y. & H. J. Hudson. 1967. The fungi of wheat straw compost. I. Ecological studies. Trans. Br. Mycol. Soc. 50: 649–666.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Cooney, D. G. & R. Emerson. 1964. Thermophilic fungi. W. H. Freeman & Co. San Francisco.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Davies, R. R. 1969. Spore concentrations in the atmosphere at Ahmadi, a new town in Kuwait. J. Gen. Microbiol. 55: 425–432.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Dransfield, M. 1966. The fungal air-spora at Samara, Northern-Nigeria. Trans. Br. Mycol. Soc. 49: 121–132.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Evans, H. C. 1972. Thermophilous fungi isolated from the air. Trans. Br. Mycol. Soc. 59: 516–519.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Fergus, C. L. 1964. Thermophilic and thermotolerant moulds and Actinomycetes of mushroom compost during peak heating. Mycologia 56: 267–284.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Gregory, P. H. 1961. The microbiology of the atmosphere. London, Leonard Hill (Books) Ltd.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Halwagy, R. & M. Halwagy. 1974. Ecological studies on the desert of Kuwait. 1. The physical environment. J.-Univ. Kuwait (Sci) 1: 75–85.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Kramer, C. L., S. M. Pady, C. T. Rogerson & L. G. Ouye. 1959. Kansas aeromycology. II. Materials, methods and general results. Trans. Kans. Acad. Sci. 62: 184–199.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Moustafa, A. F. 1971. Studies on Egyptian fungi in soil and air. Ph. D. Thesis, University of Assiut, Egypt.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Moustafa, A. F. 1975. Osmophilous fungi in the salt marshes of Kuwait. Cand. J. Microbiol. 21: 1573–1580.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Moustafa, A. F. & A. A. Al-Musallam. 1976. Contribution to the fungal flora of Kuwait. Trans. Br. Mycol. Soc. 65: 547–553.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Mishera, R. 1972. Aeromycology of Gorakhpur IV. Periodical fluctuation of aerospora. Mycopathologia 48: 217–222.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Pawsey, R. G. & L. A. Heath. 1964. An investigation of the spore population of the air at Nottingham. I. The results of the Petri-dish trapping over one year. Trans. Br. Mycol. Soc. 47: 351–355.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Prince, H. E. & M. B. Marrow. 1937. Moulds in the etiology of asthma and hay-fever with special reference to the coastal areas of Texas. South. med. J. 30: 754.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Prince, H. E. & M. B. Marrow. 1963. Etiologic factors in allergic diseases. Moulds. Ann. Allergy 21: 471.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Richards, M. 1956. A Census of mould spores in the air over Britain in 1952. Trans. Br. Mycol. Soc. 39: 431–441.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Saad, S. I. 1958. Studies in atmospheric pollen grains and fungus spores at Alexandria. II. Pollen and spore deposition in relation to weather conditions and diurnal variation in the incidence of pollen. Egypt. J. Bot. 1: 63–79.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Saito, K. 1922. Untersuchungen über die atmosphärischen Pilzkeime. III. Mitt-Jap. J. Bot. I: 1–54.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Turner, P. D. 1966. The fungal air-spore of Hong Kong as determined by the agar plate method. Trans. Br. Mycol. Soc. 49: 255–267.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Upsher, F. J. & D. A. Griffiths. 1973. Air-spora of a site in tropical Queensland, Australia. Trans. Br. Mycol. Soc. 61: 537–545.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Warcup, J. H. 1951. Soil steaming, a selective method for the isolation of Ascomycetes from soil. Trans. Br. Mycol. Soc. 34: 515–518.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Zaky, M. K. 1960. Studies on the dissemination of pollen grains and spores in the Cairo area. M. Sc. Thesis, Cairo University.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Moustafa, A.F., Kamel, S.M. A study of fungal spore poupulations in the atmosphere of Kuwait. Mycopathologia 59, 29–35 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00491201

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00491201

Keywords

Navigation