Polona Zalar (Author), Monika Novak (Author), Sybren de Hoog (Author), Nina Gunde-Cimerman (Author)

Abstract

Habitats in human households may accommodate microorganisms outside the commonspectrum of ubiquitous saprobes. Enrichment of fungi that may require specific environmental conditions was observed in dishwashers, 189 of which were sampled in private homes of 101 towns or communities. One-hundred-two were sampled from various localities in Sloveniač 42 from other European countriesč 13 and 3 from North and South America, respectivelyč 5 from Israelč10 from South Africač 7 from Far East Asiač and 7 from Australia. Isolation was performed on samples incubated at 37 degrees C. Species belonging to genera Aspergillus, Candida, Magnusiomyces, Fusarium, Penicilliumand Rhodotorula were found occasionally, while the black yeasts Exophiala dermatitidis and Exophiala phaeomuriformis (Chaetothyriales) were persistently and most frequently isolated. Sixty-two percent of the dishwashers were positive for fungi, and 56% of these accommodated Exophiala. Both Exophiala species are known to be able to cause systemic disease in humans and frequently colonize the lungs of patients with cystic fibrosis. Weconclude that high temperature, high moisture and alkaline pH values typically occurring in dishwashers can provide an alternative habitat for species also known to be pathogenic to humans.

Keywords

black yeasts;human opportunistic pathogen;hygiene;physiology;waterborne fungi;

Data

Language: English
Year of publishing:
Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
Organization: UL BF - Biotechnical Faculty
UDC: 579
COBISS: 2442063 Link will open in a new window
ISSN: 1878-6146
Views: 1146
Downloads: 318
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Other data

Secondary language: English
Type (COBISS): Not categorized
Pages: str. 997-1007
Volume: ǂVol. ǂ115
Issue: ǂno. ǂ10
Chronology: 2011
DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2011.04.007
ID: 1446669