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Post Katrina Changes in the Airborne Fungal Spore Load in New Orleans

Post Katrina Changes in the Airborne Fungal Spore Load in New Orleans. Estelle Levetin, Edward Davis, Sam Lehrer, Elliott Horner. Flooded Areas of New Orleans. Methods. Burkard spore trap at Ochsner Clinic in New Orleans 1 to 2 Km from flooded areas

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Post Katrina Changes in the Airborne Fungal Spore Load in New Orleans

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  1. Post Katrina Changes in the Airborne Fungal Spore Load in New Orleans Estelle Levetin, Edward Davis, Sam Lehrer, Elliott Horner

  2. Flooded Areas of New Orleans

  3. Methods • Burkard spore trap at Ochsner Clinic in New Orleans 1 to 2 Km from flooded areas • Slides analyzed at 1000X using single longitudinal traverse • Counts converted to concentrations and log transformed for statistical analysis • Short-term outdoor grab samples collected with Burkard personal samplers

  4. Location of Burkard Spore Trap

  5. Burkard Location

  6. Initial Analysis • Comparison of Oct 17-24 from all 3 years • 7 days 2003 and 2004 • 8 days 2005 • Total of 30 taxa identified • 2003 - 23 taxa • 2004 - 21 taxa • 2005 - 28 taxa • Mean concentration highest in 2005 • Composition of air spora different in 2005

  7. Concentration of Select Spore Types in Mid-October 2003, 2004, and 2005

  8. Comparison of Oct 2003 and 2005 • Burkard data • 24 days in 2005: Oct 8 – 31 • 22 days in 2003: Oct 8 – 30 (no slides for Oct 23 and 31) • 30 taxa counted • No significant difference in total spore concentrations or Cladosporium concentrations • Several taxa had significantly different spore levels

  9. Mean Concentration of Select Spore Types in New Orleans Atmosphere during October 2003 and October 2005

  10. New Orleans Precipitation

  11. Taxa in post-Katrina atmosphere Eurotium ascospores Chaetomiumascospore Myrothecium conidia Stachybotrys conidium

  12. Grab Samples • 55 outdoor samples from 23 locations in flooded areas of the city • Collected from Sept 12 to Nov 22 with Burkard personal samplers • Roof top and ground level samples collected • Spores identified and categorized by height above ground and in ecological grouping • Change in composition also evident in the grab samples

  13. Location of Grab Samples

  14. Conclusions • Total outdoor spore levels and Cladosporium levels were not significantly different following Hurricane Katrina when compared to 2003 • Composition of the air spora changed with Penicillium/Aspergillus type spores showing significant increases • Chaetomium and Eurotium ascospores and Stachybotrys conidia were registered in Oct 2005 • Airborne basidiospores and ascospores were significantly lower in Oct 2005

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