Hurricane María drives increased indoor proliferation of filamentous fungi in San Juan, Puerto Rico: a two-year culture-based approach

PeerJ

article

Lorraine N. Vélez-Torres¹  Benjamín Bolaños-Rosero¹  Filipa Godoy-Vitorino¹  Felix E. Rivera-Mariani²  Juan P. Maestre³  Kerry Kinney³  Humberto Cavallin⁴ 

[1] Department of Microbiology & Medical Zoology, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus;College of Biomedical Sciences, Larkin University;Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin;School of Architecture, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus

关键词: Hurricane Maria;    Mold spores;    Fungi;    Mycobiome;    Aeroallergens;    Indoor air;    Indoor environment;    Aspergillus;    Flooded homes;    Built environment;   

DOI  :  10.7717/peerj.12730

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Inra

【 摘 要 】

Extensive flooding caused by Hurricane María in Puerto Rico (PR) created favorable conditions for indoor growth of filamentous fungi. These conditions represent a public health concern as contamination by environmental fungi is associated with a higher prevalence of inflammatory respiratory conditions. This work compares culturable fungal spore communities present in homes that sustained water damage after Hurricane María to those present in dry, non-flooded homes. We collected air samples from 50 houses in a neighborhood in San Juan, PR, 12 and 22 months after Hurricane María. Self-reported data was used to classify the homes as flooded, water-damage or dry non-flooded. Fungi abundances, composition and diversity were analyzed by culturing on two media. Our results showed no significant differences in indoor fungal concentrations (CFU/m3) one year after the Hurricane in both culture media studied (MEA and G25N). During the second sampling period fungal levels were 2.7 times higher in previously flooded homes (Median = 758) when compared to dry homes (Median = 283), (p-value < 0.005). Fungal profiles showed enrichment of Aspergillus species inside flooded homes compared to outdoor samples during the first sampling period (FDR-adjusted p-value = 0.05). In contrast, 22 months after the storm, indoor fungal composition consisted primarily of non-sporulated fungi, most likely basidiospores, which are characteristic of the outdoor air in PR. Together, this data highlights that homes that suffered water damage not only have higher indoor proliferation of filamentous fungi, but their indoor fungal populations change over time following the Hurricane. Ultimately, after nearly two years, indoor and outdoor fungal communities converged in this sample of naturally ventilated homes.

【 授权许可】

CC BY