Gen-Probe's DNA probes were evaluated for use in the identification of clinical isolates of Histoplasma capsulatum var. capsulatum and Cryptococcus neoformans. Ninety-five mould-phase fungi were probed, including 41 isolates of H. capsulatum var. capsulatum. Similarly, 98 yeasts, including 42 C. neoformans isolates, were examined by using the C. neoformans DNA probe. In the study, both probes d...

The present study was aimed at evaluating the air microflora on the premises of the sewage treatment plant Kapuściska in Bydgoszcz and in the surrounding area, and was conducted with the use of the sedimentation and impaction methods. The analysis reveals that mould fungi were the most abundant, followed by mesophylic heterotrophic bacteria. Actinomycetes and mannitol-positive staphylococci con...

Mould growth in buildings affects indoor air quality. To prevent mould growth in building components, there is a need for design tools that take into account both microclimate and mould growth patterns. We propose a novel laboratory method to assess mould growth as a function of RH, temperature and substrate by measuring the thermal power produced by the fungal metabolism as a measure of growth...

A study was undertaken to find out the incidence of fungal mastitis in cattle. Out of 200 clinical cases of mastitis, 17 (8.5 %) were found to have been caused by fungi and 9 (4.5%) were identified to be mixed infection of fungi and bacteria. The yeast and yeast like fungi isolated were Candida tropicalis, Candida parapsilosis, Candida guillermondii, Geotrichum candidum, Trichosporon cutaneum, ...

T he spectre of indoor moulds as a contributor to respiratory disease keeps raising its fruiting body and just won’t go away. Numerous studies support a circumstantial and temporal link between high mould exposure and worse symptoms in susceptible individuals. However, it seems that the majority of respiratory physicians (at least in Europe) are at best non-believers. They are reluctant to cons...

The fungal population and distribution of aflatoxin-producing fungi in 30 samples of imported almond powder products purchased from retail markets were examined in this study. Total counts of fungi ranged from under 1.0 x 10 colony-forming units (CFU)/g to 8.5 x 10(3) CFU/g as determined with the dilution plating technique. The predominant fungi in the mould-contaminated almond samples were Asp...

According to FAO – ISPM No 15, in international trade wood packaging material on the basis of sawn timber requires to be heat-treated to avoid spreading of harmful organisms. “Heat-treatment” means a minimum core temperature of the wood of 56° C for a minimum of 30 minutes. ISPM No 15 does not defi ne moisture content and therefore does not include rules for the drying process. Practitioners re...