Dominant <i>Cladosporium</i> and <i>Alternaria</i> fungal spores in the air of Karakol

BACKGROUND: Concentration of fungal spores in the air often exceeds concentration of pollen 100–1,000 fold, reaching 50,000 fungal spores/m3, which is affected by a plethora of environmental factors including precipitation, temperature and wind. Pigmented spores of Cladosporium and Alternaria are prevalent in habitats of the most regions, since colorless spores do not survive ultraviolet radiation. Aerospores are often considered an underestimated source of respiratory allergies, therefore, information on their seasonal trends is significant for both promoting public awareness and assisting medical specialists in effective diagnostics, prevention and treatment of fungal diseases. AIM: To analyze the annual spore index, seasonality and threshold concentrations of dominant fungal spores Cladosporium and Alternaria in the air of Karakol. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Aerobiological monitoring was carried out from April to October 2015–2017 using a standardized volumetric Lanzoni pollen trap in the city of Karakol (1716 m above sea level, mid-mountain). A specially developed identifier and atlas were used for microscopic identification of fungal spores. RESULTS: The concentration curve of dominant Cladosporium and Alternaria fungal spores in the air of Karakol is unimodal with often overlapping quantitative characteristics. Simultaneously, strong interannual variability of their atmospheric levels was observed, exhibiting dependance on meteorological parameters, especially temperature and precipitation. The maximum peak of Cladosporium aerospores was recorded on June 30, 2017 — 12,386, and Alternaria — 5,376 fungal spores/m3 in an extremely dry year (July 28, 2015). Peak concentrations of Cladosporium and Alternaria fungal spores drastically exceeded clinical threshold values in the air. CONCLUSION: Cladosporium and Alternaria aerospores are recognized as dominant taxa, due to their phytopathogenic and allergenic properties and their predominance in the atmosphere of Karakol for long periods of time. The curve of their spore concentration is unimodal. Variations in the concentration of aerospores in different years positively correlated with air temperature, especially in the 3rd ten-day period of July 2015, when the maximum peak of spores consisted of 56 % Cladosporium and 13.5 % Alternaria spores and the highest air temperature was recorded (33.5 °С).