Mucormycosis is an angio-invasive infection, predominantly acquired by inhalation of sporangiospores from the environment. However, the burden of Mucormycetes sporangiospores in the air is not well studied. We aimed to estimate the burden of Mucormycetes spores in the outdoor and indoor (hospital) environment across different seasons in north India. A total of 380 air samples from outdoor (n = 180) and indoor (n = 200) environment were included in the study. Air samples were suctioned using air sampler (100 l/min) and cultured on Dichloran Rose Bengal Chloramphenicol (DRBC) with benomyl for selective isolation of Mucormycetes. The isolates were identified by phenotypic and genotypic methods. The mean spore count (±SD) of Mucormycetes (cfu/m3) in outdoor samples varied from 0.73 (±0.96) to 8.60 (±5.70) across different seasons. In hospital, the mean spore count varied from 0.68 (±1.07) to 1.12 (±1.07) and 0.88 (±1.01) to 1.72 (±2.17) for air-conditioned wards and non-air-conditioned wards, respectively. Rhizopus arrhizus was the predominant agent isolated from both indoor and outdoor environment followed by Cunninghamella species. We also report a single isolate of the rare mucormycete agent, Apophysomyces variabilis from outdoor environment. The present study highlights the presence of low spore burden of Mucormycetes in outdoor and hospital settings in north India. This study also reports the first isolation of A. variabilis from air samples in the Indian subcontinent.

中文翻译：

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印度北部室内和室外环境中毛霉菌的航空真菌学分析。

毛霉菌病是一种血管侵入性感染，主要是通过从环境中吸入孢子囊孢子获得的。但是，尚未充分研究空气中毛霉菌孢子囊的负担。我们旨在估算印度北部不同季节在室外和室内（医院）环境中的毛霉菌孢子的负担。该研究总共包括了来自室外（n = 180）和室内（n = 200）环境的380个空气样本。使用空气采样器（100升/分钟）抽吸空气样本，并在含有苯菌灵的二氯玫瑰红孟加拉氯霉素（DRBC）上培养，以选择性分离毛霉菌。分离物通过表型和基因型方法鉴定。在不同季节中，室外样本中毛霉菌的平均孢子数（±SD）（cfu / m3）从0.73（±0.96）到8.60（±5.70）不等。在医院，空调病房和非空调病房的平均孢子数分别从0.68（±1.07）到1.12（±1.07）和0.88（±1.01）到1.72（±2.17）不等。根霉是从室内和室外环境中分离出来的主要病原，其次是坎宁哈氏菌。我们还报告了从室外环境中分离到的稀有黏液霉菌病原体，Apophysomyces variabilis的单个分离物。本研究强调了印度北部室外和医院环境中毛霉菌的低孢子负担。这项研究还报告了印度次大陆首次从空气样本中分离出曲霉。根霉是从室内和室外环境中分离出来的主要病原，其次是坎宁哈氏菌。我们还报告了从室外环境中分离到的稀有黏液霉菌病原体，Apophysomyces variabilis的单个分离物。本研究强调了印度北部室外和医院环境中毛霉菌的低孢子负担。这项研究还报告了印度次大陆首次从空气样本中分离出曲霉。根霉是从室内和室外环境中分离出来的主要病原，其次是坎宁哈氏菌。我们还报告了从室外环境中分离到的稀有黏液霉菌病原体，Apophysomyces variabilis的单个分离物。本研究强调了印度北部室外和医院环境中毛霉菌的低孢子负担。这项研究还报告了印度次大陆首次从空气样本中分离出曲霉。