Isolation and screening of some medically important fungi from indoor environment: Studying the effect of some environmental and chemical factors on their growth and spore adhesion

Abstract

Isolation of some pathogenic fungi from indoor environment that may cause diseases to athletes was the goal of this work. The effect of different cloth materials and some environmental factors on the growth and adhesion of the isolated fungi as Aspergillus sydowii, Cochliobolus hawaiiensis, Cochliobolus lunatus, Epicoccum nigrum, Nigrospora oryzae, Penicillium aurantiogriseum, Cladosporium sphaerospermum, Aspergillus niger, Cochliobolus australiensis, Stemphylium botryosum, Alternaria. alternata, Fusarium chlamydosporum, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus versicolor was investigated. By studying the effect of different cloth materials, at temperatures (18, 25 and 35°C) and at pH values (4, 5.6, 8), it was concluded that cloth material, 74% cotton - 25% polyester- 1% elasthan (C.P.E) was the lowest in susceptibility to fungal attack. The fungal pathogens growth was favored at 35°C and pH 8 after two days of incubation while, after five days the growth was favored at 25 and 35°C at pH 5.6 and pH 8. Alter. alternata and A. flavus were selected for studying their spore adhesion on different cloth material samples. Also, their sensitivity for detergents and drugs on different cloth material samples was carried out.

Key words: Pathogenic fungi, athletes, fungal adhesion, antimicrobial activity.