Mycological Air Quality at Animal Veterinary Practice

Abstract

The objective of the study was to characterize the mycological quality of air at animal veterinary practice in Krakow. Bioaerosol measurements were performed during the summer season of 2017. The samples of outdoor and indoor air at animal veterinary practice were collected using a 6-stage Andersen`s air sampler. The highest concentration of fungal aerosol was observed in the treatment room. The analysis showed various fungal contamination in different measuring points at different measuring times of the day. Based on the analysis of bioaerosol particle size distribution it was found that the largest "load" of fungi, isolated form the air, can reach (in the human respiratory tract) to the region of the throat, trachei and primary bronchi. The predominant fungi in indoor air was Penicillium spp. and Cladosporium cladosporoides. Fungi that can cause dermatophytoses have also been isolated from indoor air: Microsporum canis and Trichophyton verrucosum. The study confirmed that the animal veterinary practice can be a workplace related to exposure to microbial agents.