INTRODUCTION:

Aerobiology is a scientific discipline which deals with the studies of organisms or part of the organisms present in the air. The term "aerobiology" came in the use during 1930's as collective and other microorganisms. Aerobiological investigations have been carried out with special reference to diseases on crops, vegetable, fruits and human etc. Meir (1930) was the first aerobiologists who used the term aerobiology for the studies of airborne fungal spores, pollen grains and other microorganisms. Jacobs (1951) elaborated the term aerobiology for dispersion of fungal spores, bacteria, insects and pollen grains population which become airborne and transported partly or wholly by the environment and their impact on all life belonging forms. Airborne fungi are considered to act as indicator of the level of atmospheric bio-pollution. (Ianovici N,TudoricaD,2009) The fungal spores are liberated in air from various sources in massive concentration and can remain airborne for a longtime. Fungal spores are important source of various plants and animals diseases. Airborne fungal spores are ubiquitous in nature (Burge, 1985). Much of our knowledge on the behavior of airborne spores comes from various studies on the epidemiology of plants animals and human diseases, especially infections of the respiratory tract and allergy (Comtois, 1990; Angulo-Romero et al., 1996). More than 80 genera of fungi have been associated with respiratory tract allergy (Karlsson-Borga et al., 1989; Horner et al., 1995).

Most of the allergenic fungi are classified under Ascomycetes and Deuteromycetes with a few in Basidiomycetes (Kurup et al., 2000). Some genera of airborne fungal spores such as Alternaria, Aspergillus, and Cladosporium are found throughout the world (Vijay et al., 1999). The disease expression is affected by the degree of exposure. Repeated exposures to large concentrations of spores, mostly 1–5 μm in diameter, may cause severe symptoms of respiratory allergy (Barui Chandra and Chanda, 2000). The prevalence of respiratory allergy to fungi is estimated at 20 to 30% among atopic individuals and up to 6% in general population (Wuethrich, 1989). It is of the most importance that allergens, viable microbes, and other noxious agents that prevail in any particular environment, or are induced by changes in meteorologic conditions, be identified and studied. These measures will not only help to monitor the levels of these agents in the environment but also aid clinicians in advising and treating patients as well as those at risk before they are exposed and sensitized (Zwick et al., 1991). Most of the researches have dealt with fungi already settled on the rock surface and/or with “autochtonous mycoflora” (Saiz-Jimenez, 1995). Fungal airspora are implicated in the damage of food commodities and in the deterioration of organic materials and stored products (Pyrri and Kapsanaki-Gotsi, 2007).The presence of fungal propagules, volatiles and mycotoxins in the air can cause a health hazard in all segments of the population (Kakde et al., 2001) Airborne fungi occur as single units, spores and occasionally as hyphal fragments, conidiophores, associated with inorganic particles or as “bioaerosol” (Comtois, 1990). Number and type of fungi vary with time of day, weather and seasonal fluctuation, condition of the surrounding areas, climatic conditions and with the presence of a local source of spores (Pepeljnjak and Šegvić Klarić, 2003). The distribution of airborne fungi in Europe may differ from that in North America and Japan because of differences in climate, vegetation, and the structure of houses (Takahashi, 1997).Aerobiological investigations and survey of different outdoor environment would provide significant and useful data. Sabariejo et.al (2000) reported the effect of meterological factors on the daily variation of the airborne fungal spores in Granada, Southern Spain. Kulshreshta and Chauhan (2000) studied aeromycoflora of Agar city. Kakade et al. (2001) studied seasonal variation of fungal propegules in a fruit market environment Nagpur, India. Singh and Singh (2009) observed incidence of airborne fungal spores in the air of Ima market, Imphal West, Manipur. The examination of common airborne fungi distribution in a particular region can be helpful in: identifying association between fungal sensitisation and clinical diagnosis; and clinical prevention of the seasonal allergic diseases (Wu et al., 2000).Therefore, the purpose of our study was to determine variations in the composition and concentration of the aeromycoflora in Kohka-Bhilai on different heights.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

a) Sampling

Concentrations of airborne fungal spores were measured from 7 August to 7 September (rainy season) 2013S using air-exposing-PDA plating method. Bhilai the famous Steel –industry city and education center of Durg District in the state of Chhattisgarh, India. The fungi to be identified is collected from the different heights (ground level, middle level and top level).

b) Isolation and Identification

For isolation of aeromycoflora, PDA culture media was used. Aaeromycoflora of the hostel building of GD Rungta College of Science and Technology Kohka –Bhilai was observed by exposition petriplate containing PDA medium. Then the petriplates was brought in to laboratory and incubated at 27⁰c for 4 to 5 days. This method also used by Tiwari et al. (2007) for survey of aeromycolfora. At the end of incubation period fungal colonies are counted, isolated and identified with the help of available literature and the percentage frequency and percentage contribution of total fungal flora were assessed.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

The occurrence of aeromycoflora in outdoor and indoor environments as well as the fluctuations in their numbers and composition is receiving increasingly attention within the framework of potential health hazards to both flora and fauna, including humans. Airborne fungi have also been implicated as the causal factor in various human diseases and as elicitors of allergic and/or toxic responses. Great concern has been expressed about potential health hazards to humans, with a special focus on allergenic or toxigenic fungi and their association with air quality (Horner et al., 1995). The objectives of the present study are to record the airborne fungi in an urban environment during the rainy season using modern aerobiological sampling technique. Measurements were made in August to September of 2012 because most reports showed that higher concentrations of airborne fungi were recorded during the rainy at different heights.

In various percentages of fungi in outdoor air at different heights in the present study are reported. The airborne fungal genera are listed in Table (1, 2 and 3) as descending order based on their frequencies, which were calculated as positive samples in the total number of samples. Airborne fungi were grouped into “major” and “minor” components depending upon their frequency of appearance and catch percentage in the air. Curvularia sp., Aspergillus sp. were included as major components at each level. Minor components included two airborne fungal genera found at middle and top level. Major components included most frequently encountered genera such as Curvularia sp. while minor components included less frequent and sporadic types. Curvularia sp., Aspergillus sp. Alternaria, Rhizopus, Penecillin, Fusarium, type spores were trapped most frequently at different heights. Percentage frequency of Curvularia spores was higher than the Aspergillus at ground level but at middle and top level Curvularia spores percentage frequency moderate form and Percentage distribution varies from Curvularia to other at different heights.

Our results show the presence of a large number of fungal spore types at ground level. The monitoring of fungal spores in Bhilai revealed the rainy the most favorable season for curvularia and Aspergillus occurrence., Curvularia sp. (Ground Floor), Aspergillus sp. (Meddle Floor) Alternaria, (Topfloor) Rhizopus, Penecillin, Fusarium type spores were trapped in greatest abundance. These represent a group of taxa of cosmopolitan fungi that can exploit virtually any organic substrate (Ianovici, 2008).

The genus Curvularia sp. Aspergillus sp. predominated and it is the most important genus in terms of defining variations in the total count. The genus Alternaria is also a major constituent of the fungal bioaerosol. The present study will contribute to our knowledge of airborne spores in Bhilai at different heights.

Observation Table

Table 1-Ground Floor (5 Feet)

S.No	Species Name	Percentage frequency	Percentage contribution
1	Aspergillus sp.1	77.77	16.00
2	Aspergillus sp.2	55.55	12.00
3	Aspergillus sp.3	66.66	09.33
4	Aspergillus sp.4	22.22	04.00
5	Curvularia sp.1	88.88	13.33
6	Curvularia sp.2	44.44	10.66
7	Curvularia sp.3	11.11	02.66
8	Alternaria	22.22	05.33
9	Rhizopus	11.11	02.66
10	Penecillin	33.33	06.66
11	Fusarium	55.55	12.00
12	Others	22.22	05.33

Table 2-Middle Floor (15-20 Feet):

S.No	Species Name	Percentage frequency	Percentage contribution
1	Aspergillus sp.1	77.77	17.39
2	Aspergillus sp.2	33.33	06.52
3	Aspergillus sp.3	22.22	08.69
4	Aspergillus sp.4	00.00	00.00
5	Curvularia sp.1	55.55	10.86
6	Curvularia sp.2	44.44	13.04
7	Curvularia sp.3	11.11	04.34
8	Alternaria	22.22	08.69
9	Rhizopus	11.11	02.17
10	Penecillin	22.22	04.34
11	Fusarium	66.66	17.39
12	Others	44.44	06.52

Table 3-TOP Floor (40-45 Feet) :

S.No	Species Name	Percentage frequency	Percentage contribution
1	Aspergillus sp.1	22.22	12.90
2	Aspergillus sp.2	11.11	09.67
3	Aspergillus sp.3	33.33	16.12
4	Aspergillus sp.4	11.11	06.45
5	Curvularia sp.1	22.22	12.90
6	Curvularia sp.2	11.11	12.90
7	Curvularia sp.3	11.11	09.67
8	Alternaria	22.22	12.90
9	Rhizopus	0.00	0.00
10	Penecillin	11.11	03.22
11	Fusarium	11.11	06.45
12	Others	11.11	03.22

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Received on 27.11.2014 Accepted on 16.12.2014

Asian J. Pharm. Tech. 2014; Vol. 4: Issue 4, Oct.-Dec., Pg 195-199