Preliminary study on the concentration and species composition of bacteria, fungi and mites in samples of house dust from Silesia (Poland)
Horák, B.
Allergologia et Immunopathologia 15(3): 161-166
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0301-0546 PMID: 3661356 Document Number: 287304
Twenty-one samples of house dust from dwellings in Upper Silesia, Poland, were subjected to bacteriological, mycological and acarological examination. Moreover, in 2 samples the concentration of bacterial endotoxin was estimated by use of the Limulus test. The mean concentration of bacteria in the samples was 2831 900 cfu (colony forming units)/g, that of fungi 28 400 cfu/g, and that of mites 51.5 specimens per g. No significant correlation could be found between the numbers of these 3 components of house dust. Two samples of house dust contained high amounts of bacterial endotoxin and its is suggested that this could be of immunopathogenic significance. The bacterial flora of the examined house dust samples included staphylococci (45.9% of all isolates), streptococci (23.2%), corynebacteria (13.9%) and spore-forming bacilli (12.2%). Among fungi, the most numerous isolates were Penicillium spp. (39.4%), yeasts (29.5%) and Aspergillus spp. (8.4%). Other known allergenic fungal isolates included Homodendrum, Alternaria and Cladosporium spp. The mite fauna of the examined samples was dominated by Dermatophagoides farinae (62.7% of all specimens) and D. pteronyssinus (30.4%); both species are known as important allergens of house dust. The potential significance of all the investigated components (bacteria, fungi and mites) in causing allergy to house dust is discussed.