Soum SanogoDepartment of Entomology, Plant Pathology, and Weed Science, New Mexico State University
Aerobiology of Southern New Mexico
Diverse sources: Agricultural and non-agricultural environments.
Winds: Major vehicle for transport from sources to other environments
Fungi (molds) in the Air
Outdoors and IndoorsWhile you are taking this quiz, you are probably inhaling fungal spores. Which of the following are least likely to be in the air now in the room? A. ConidiaB. SporangiosporesC. ZoosporesD. Asexual sporesE. All of the aboveF. None of the above Concern: load in the air
Fungi (molds) in the Air
1) High-volume dust collectors2) Exposure of petri plates containing growth
media outdoors3) Volumetric air samplers (single-stage and 6-
stage Andersen samplers)4) Rain water collection 5) Sticky tapes mounted on glass slides
Sampling Methods
Dry deposition (impaction) using volumetric sampler
Wet deposition with rain gauge
Courtesy DuBois Courtesy DuBois
Sampling Methods
Single-stage sampler
Sampling Methods
6-stage sampler
Single-stage sampler
Courtesy DuBois
Sampling Methods
Passive deposition
1) Processing of dust samples impacted upon solid agar media and rainwater samples
2) Identification of fungal microorganisms recovered from dust and rainwater samples
Sampling Methods
Standard Operating Protocol for Fungal Analysis
Sampling locations
Las Cruces
Palomas
Cd. Juarez, Mexico
New Mexico
Mexico
Ariz
on
a
1) Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs)
2) Non-CAFOs
Sampling locations
Aspergillus
Aspergillosis
Alternaria/ Penicillium/ Fusarium/ Cladosporium
Mold allergies
Trichoderma/ Rhizopus / Mucor
Mold allergies
Aureobasidium
Allergies/Asthma
Alte
rna
ria
Asp
erg
illu
s
Do
thid
eo
myc
ete
s
Pe
nic
illiu
m
Pe
yro
ne
llae
a 0
10
20
30
40
50
60Frequency of Airborne Fungi in The Vicinity of CAFOs
Fungi
Fre
qu
en
cy
(%
)
Alte
rna
ria
Asp
erg
igllu
s
Dre
sch
lera
Fu
sari
um
oth
ers
Tri
cho
de
rma0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100Frequency of Airborne Fungi in non-CAFOs areas
Fungi
Fre
qu
en
cy
(%
)
0
10
20
30
40
50
7-1-EW4 7-1-NS8-G1
Fungal genus/species
Fre
qu
en
cy
(%
)
Curvu
laria
Yeast
Tricho
derm
a
Altern
aria
Asper
gillus
Fusar
ium
Penici
llium
Clonos
tach
ys
Aureo
basid
ium0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200Min Max
Fungi
Co
lon
y-f
orm
ing
un
its
(C
FU
X1
00
)/m
l
Predominant Fungi in Rainwater
Fungi
Pollen
Other Biological Particulates in Air
