A Scoping Review on Airborne Fungi in Iraq (1995-2022) and Analysis of Fungal Communities

Abstract

The atmosphere holds a diversity of bioaerosols, of which airborne fungi are an important part. Since the discovery of the relationship of indoor air fungi with building disease syndrome, interest in studying indoor airborne fungi (IAF) has increased, in addition to focusing on the relationship between indoor and outdoor airborne fungi (OAF). The current scoping study aimed to highlight the Iraqi airborne fungi by analyzing the original articles on airborne fungi that have been conducted in Iraq. Just the studies which involve air samples and swab samples from air conditioning devices were approved. The results were classified according to the locations of the study. The total fungal taxa were analyzed. Similarity%, occurrence%, and frequency% were calculated. twenty-eight articles were included in this scoping study, they were published between 1995 and 2021. The studied areas of Iraq were up to 40%, and generally, the IAF took more attention than OAF. The number of culturable IAF was greater than that of OAF. The predominant genera were; Acremonium, Alternaria, Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Rhizopus. The common IAF that were recorded in Iraq are well-known agents of health disorders, several species cause infections of the respiratory system, skin, and deep tissues. These species also include toxins producers, and allergens. Based on the reviewed studies we concluded that the atmosphere of Iraq has a high diversity of fungi that impact health. Further studies are required to control the sources of IAF and OAF. Also, there is a shortage of information about airborne fungi in many areas of Iraq, especially in the hospitals which is a typical environment for the transmission of infectious diseases.

Indoor Air Contamination by Yeasts in Healthcare Facilities: Risks of Invasive Fungal Infection

“…In addition, ventilation systems can also be considered relevant sources of microbial contamination for indoor air, especially when maintenance care for this equipment is neglected [9]. Recently, studies by Monteiro and collaborators [10], and Al-Bader and co-authors [11] discussed the harmful effects on human health caused by airborne contamination by bacteria and filamentous fungi in healthcare settings and highlighted the importance of this route for the occurrence of hospital-acquired infection. Along the same lines, Tang et al [12] addressed airborne transmission as an important factor in spreading viral infections and the need for better strategies to improve patient safety, especially for immunocompromised individuals.…”