Annual and diurnal incidence of Cladosporium conidia in the atmosphere of Córdoba, Spain.

The presence of Cladosporium conidia in the atmosphere of Córdoba, a city in Southern Spain, was studied. Samplings were carried out over a three-year period in the form of hourly analyses by use of a Hirst volumetric inert collection medium trap, located 15 meters above ground level. The results obtained suggest that conidia from species of this genus are present in the atmosphere of Córdoba throughout the year. The mean of the concentrations obtained during the study period was 1065 conidia/m3 day. The conidium concentration show a markedly seasonal variation pattern, with two annual peaks (one in June and the other in September-October). The incidence of Cladosporium conidia in Córdoba appears to be determined mainly by the temperature and relative humidity. As regards intradiurnal variation, the number of Cladosporium conidia peaks between 8 and 10 pm, with a minimum between 5 and 6 am.

Variations in the concentrations of airborne Olea pollen and associated pollinosis in Córdoba (Spain): a study of the 10-year period 1982-1991.

The amount and the seasonal and daily changes in the concentrations of Olea pollen grains in the atmosphere of Córdoba (Spain) have been studied over a 10-year period. The year by year seasonal variation pattern and the theoretical intradiurnal variation model are presented. The data show a high annual variability, median concentrations varying from 75 g/m3/h in 1983 to 1413 g/m3/h in 1986. A steady increase in the total amount of pollen is attributed to the climatological characteristics of the period studied. On the other hand, the clinical data show that the number of cases of Olea allergy has increased considerably during this period, probably more because of changes in the quality of the atmosphere than because of the increase in the amount of antigen present in the air.

Spring pollen and related allergies in southern Spain.

Over the last 10 years, there has been an increase in pollen allergies throughout Europe; this trend is clearly reflected in this study carried out in Córdoba (southern Spain) over 7 consecutive years, which recorded important increases in the concentrations of certain pollen types of particular interest in this city, together with an increase in the number of patients with pollinosis visiting the Allergy Unit at Córdoba's Reina Sofía University Hospital. The purpose of this study was to ascertain whether these two trends were related. Sampling was carried out from 1984 to 1990, using a Burkard spore trap placed at a height of approximately 15 m on a building situated in the city center. The trend towards an annual increase in the concentration of pollen grains was positive in all cases, although very slight for Quercus and very marked for Olea europaea. However, a different pattern of behavior was recorded with respect to the correlation between pollen concentration and cases of pollinosis, a correlation which varied according to taxa.

Fungal contamination of potential medical interest in Spanish grain stores.

A one-year study was made of fungal spores detected in the air and in the grain of two silos and two seed stores near Córdoba, Spain. Gravimetric and volumetric methods were used simultaneously on culture mediums to sample the air. The dilution method was employed to analyze seed contamination. A total of 70 taxa were isolated, 67 of these from the air and 46 in seeds. The most abundant airborne taxa were: Aspergillus oryzae, Cladosporium cladosporioides and yeast, while yeast, A. niger and A. oryzae were the most common in seeds. The statistical test revealed differences between taxa found in the air and the wheat that could be of biological interest. Finally, it is worth noting among the species isolated the high percentage of species which have been cited in the references as potentially pathogenic or antigenic.

Annual variation of Cladosporium spores in home habitats in Córdoba, Spain.

We have studied the annual variation of the concentration of Cladosporium spores in three different types of rooms in 14 homes in the city of Córdoba, Spain. Ten species have been isolated, some of which are potentially allergenic. The results also show certain correlations between the concentration of spores and climatic factors, and only small differences between the flora identified in the different rooms.

Seasonal and daily variation of Aspergillus Mich. Ex Fr. spores in the atmosphere of Córdoba (Spain).

The atmosphere contains a complex of spores whose concentration and variation have been the subject of much study, mainly because of the relevance of fungi to allergic and aerobiological pollution problems. This paper reports on the cataloguing of the Aspergillus species present in the atmosphere of Córdoba, their seasonal and daily variation and their potential relationship with meterological parameters. The sampling was carried out in the city of Córdoba by using a volumetric trap on a culture medium; three samplings were done daily at various times throughout the year (May 1986-April 1987). An unreplicated variance analysis was applied to two variation sources in order to check for statistically significant differences between the number of colony forming units (CFU) detected at each sampling time. Meterological data and concentrations were also contrasted through statistical correlation tests. A total of 94,200 colonies were counted; 32.3% of all were from 24 species of the Aspergillus genus, of which A. fumigatus Fresen, was found to be the most abundant. Aspergillus niger Van Tiegh, A. oryzae (Ahlburg) Cohn, A. terreus Thom and A. ochraceus Wilhelm also occurred at a high frequency. All these species were detected throughout the year and in virtually all of the samplings, but particularly in autumn, which was the most favourable period for the occurrence of their spores, which in turn seemed to be conditioned by the time at which samplings were carried out, at least for the six most frequent species--A. candidus expected as it only occurred occasionally. Finally, the occurrence of spores of this genus seems to be positively and negatively correlated with meterological factors such as the wind speed and the temperature, respectively.