By: E. M. Ilondu
This study reveals numerous fungal spores encountered in some markets in Warri metropolis. Market environment may serve as reservoir of human and plant pathogens due to wastes and debris dumped there that support the growth and proliferation of fungal spores. When these spores are inhaled by people may lead to different types of respiratory diseases. Infections of spores can also increase chances of mycotoxin contamination of food and other agricultural commodities sold in the market.
Abstract
There is always population surge towards physical market because it
is a major outlet for purchase of food items and other human needs.
Biological contamination of air is one of the serious issues of the
environment varying among geographic areas and sampling heights. The
aeromycology of three major markets in Warri metropolis which include
Effurun market, Igbudu market and Main market using open plate method
was evaluated. The study was conducted for the period of six (6) months
(April to September, 2017) at two heights: human height (1.5m) and
building height (3.5m) and three different locations (foodstuffs,
clothing and abattoir sections) in each of these markets. Petri dishes
containing PDA medium were exposed for 5 mins and incubated in the
laboratory for 2–3 days. Developed fungal colonies were counted and
sub-cultured to fresh PDA medium for identification by morphological and
microscopic examination using standard identification keys. A total of
6145 colonies with 35 species were isolated and identified. Main fungi
identified with their percentage frequency of occurrence include Aspergillus niger 699(11.37%), Mucor mucedo 459(7.47%), Penicillium candidum 404(6.57%), P. digitatum 395(6.43%), Monilia sp
324(5.27%) among others. Off these fungi, members of the
Deuteromycotina contributed 46.58%, Ascomycotina 38.76% and Zygomycotina
14.66%. The population of fungal colonies varied from month to month as
follows: July>August>June>September>May>April. Human
height has 4285(60.73%) colonies while building height was 1860(30.27)
colonies. Igbudu market, Main market and Effurun market have 2412, 2030
and 1702 fungal colonies respectively. There are strong indications that
these market environments are heavily contaminated with airborne fungal
spores which may pose a serious threat to food security and human
health. Continuous clean-up exercise of these markets is imperative.
Introduction
The air, depending on the constituents of biological or
nonbiological particles regulates the quality of the
environment (Mahadeo and Kelpit, 2017). Biological
contamination of air can be evaluated by an indoor
(intramural) or outdoor (extramural) studies. Their
composition and concentration vary greatly with
respect to geographical location, human activities,
natural sources, meteorological factors, sampling
heights and techniques among others (Ginn-Gofron
and Bosiacka, 2015: Makut et al., 2014: Mahedeo and
Kelpit, 2017: Ghosh et al., 2011).
Atmosphere of market air contains varied fungal
spores that are hazardous to human health of which
about 80% have been linked with respiratory
disorders (Khan and Fatema, 2015; Bhajbhuje and
Akare, 2018). Various allergic diseases including
Asthma, Aspergilosis, Mycoses, Sinusitis among
others have been attributed to inhalation of airborne
fungal spores (Ahire and Sangale, 2012; Khan and
Fatema, 2015; Hernandez and Martinez, 2018). As
opined by Hagale and Patil (2008), airborne fungi
have been regarded as indicator of certain level of
atmospheric biopollution. Similarly, these fungal
spores can settle on surface of food items causing
their deterioration thereby reducing the market and
nutritive values on one hand and on the other may be
toxic to humans when consumed (Okigbo et al.,
2008; Atando et al., 2009; Djeri et al., 2010;
Fagbohun et al., 2010). On the whole, food security
and human health are threatened.
Markets are the major outlet for purchase or sell of
food items, agricultural produce and other human
needs. To this effect, there is always influx of people
in and out of market environment. This study was
conducted with the aim to (i) Isolate and identify
fungal species of three market environments in Warri
metropolis (ii) Study their occurrence in relation to
different locations, meteorological data and sampling
heights. It is hoped that the result of this study will
sensitize the general public on the impact of fungal
spores on their health and environment.
Discussion
This study has shown that the three market
environments in Warri metropolis were contaminated
by abundant fungal spores. Major spore types include
those of Aspergillus niger, Mucor mucedo,
Penicillium candidum, Monilia sp., Alternaria
alternate, Aspergillus flavus, P. digitatum and
Curvularia pallescens. Most of these fungi have been
documented by other researchers in markets (Hogale
and Patil, 2008; Ahire and Sangale, 2012; Kakde and
Kakde, 2012; Khan and Fatema, 2015) and other
environment (Makut et al., 2014; Prasad et al., 2015;
Ilondu and Nweke, 2016; Mahadeo and Kalpit, 2017;
Bhajbhuje and Akare, 2018; Njokuocha and Aguru,
2007, Ghosh et al., 2011). Aspergillus species were
the most abundant in this study. Similar occurrence
was recorded by Kakde and Kakde (2012), Khan and
Fatema (2015); Ilondu and Nweke (2016), Ilondu
(2017). Some of these fungi are known to cause
allergic reactions in human, skin infections, food
spoilage and diseases of plant in the field.
As the market environment get contaminated by
these spores, health challenges like Asthma,
Aspergillosis, Eczema, Mycoses, Sinusitis among
others become eminent.
Generally, Alternaria,
Aspergillus, Curvularia, Penicillium and
Cladosporium have the history of being allergenic in
nature (Hogale and Patil, 2008; Khan and Fatema,
2015) and have been proven to be biodeteriogens
(Reddy, 2018). Mucor, Rhizopus and Absidia cause
mucormycosis in man and animals, a species of
Cercospora has been a cause of face lesions in man.
Candida albican being implicated for various types of
candidiasis in man while Geotrichum candidum is
known to cause Geotricosis (Sharma, 1989;
Hernandez and Martinez, 2018). The involvement of
Curvilaria lunatus in human pneumonia has been
reported and as opined by Louis et al. (2017), by year
2047, may have been evolved to a phenotype that will
make disease management difficult.
Botryodiplodia theobromae, Curvularia lunatus,
Cercospora, Alternaria cause leafspot disease of
many crops (Ilondu, 2013a; 2013b; Metrotra and
Agawal, 2004; Shahzady et al., 2017). Accumulation
of some of these fungal spores on food has been
reported by Okigbo et al. (2008), Ilondu (2017).
Species of Aspergillus, Alternaria and Fusarium have
been associated with toxin production in stored food
(Atanda et al., 2009; Adebayo-Tayo et al., 2009; Djeri
et al., 2010; Fagbohun et al., 2010) which may be
carcinogenic when consumed. Among all identified
spore types, Deuteromycotina was the most abundant
group.
This is in conformity with the reports of Kakde
and Kakde (2012), Ahire and Sangale (2012),
Mahadeo and Kalpit (2017). Moreso, Ascomycotina
and Deuteromycotina have been shown to contain
allergic microfungi (Bhajbhuje and Akare, 2018).
This investigation also revealed that population of
fungal colonies varies from month to month, the
highest being recorded in the month of July. High
humidity and rainfall with low temperature recorded
in this month may have favoured the growth,
sporulation and spore discharge into the market
atmosphere. Availability of natural sources like dead
and decaying market waste may have contributed to
inoculum upsurge. The lowest concentration of spores
observed in the month of April may be as a result of
high temperature that does not favour the growth of
fungi in the atmosphere. Similar results with regards
to variation in the meteorological data were
documented by Ahire and Sangole (2012), Grinn-
Gofron and Basiacka (2015).
Since fungi may react
simultaneously to a combination of factors, it may not
be easy to separate the influence of individual
meteorological factors on the occurrence of these
spores (Grinn-Gofron and Basiacka, 2015).
The highest number of fungal colonies was recorded
in Igbudu market compared to others. It could be due
to overcrowding, poor sanitation and other human
activities as suggested by Ayanbimpe et al. (2010)
that population density affect the quality of
environment. More so, lack of basic facilities for
waste disposal may favour fungal proliferation.
Fungal colonies recorded in building height were less
in number compared to human height. Khattab and
Estelle (2008) indicated that spore types decreased
logarithmically with increase in height from the
ground, while more airborne spores at human height
may be due to proximity to natural sources at ground
level and favourable meteorological conditions which
aid release and dispersal of the spores.
Meanwhile,
market wastes have been indicated as one key source
of fungal spores (Khan and Fatema, 2015).
The slaughter section of the markets harboured
highest number of fungal colonies, in comparison
with foodstuff and clothing sections. It is possible that
vigorous activities including dressing of carcass may
have led to spread of mycoflora contaminants into the
air (Syed and Sarangi, 2013). Nevertheless, the higher
colony count in the foodstuff section must have been
contributed by decaying and rottening of vegetables
and other food items in that section (Khan and
Fatema, 2015; Meraj-ul-Haque and Patil, 2016).
Similarly, least number of fungal spores recorded in
the clothing sections could be as a result of frequent
cleaning and some level of hygienic practices
observed there (Khan and Fatema, 2015). Therefore
the effect of these fungi on human health and food
security cannot be over emphasized. Get full articles via original source Fungal contamination of markets in Warri Metropolis: A threat to food security and human health
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