Hurricane Maria drives increased indoor proliferation of filamentous fungi in San Juan, Puerto Rico: a two-year culture-based approach.

ABSTRACT: Extensive flooding caused by Hurricane María in Puerto Rico (PR) created favorable conditions for indoor growth of filamentous fungi. These conditions represent a public health concern as contamination by environmental fungi is associated with a higher prevalence of inflammatory respiratory conditions. This work compares culturable fungal spore communities present in homes that sustained water damage after Hurricane María to those present in dry, non-flooded homes. We collected air samples from 50 houses in a neighborhood in San Juan, PR, 12 and 22 months after Hurricane María. Self-reported data was used to classify the homes as flooded, water-damage or dry non-flooded. Fungi abundances, composition and diversity were analyzed by culturing on two media. Our results showed no significant d

SUBMITTER: Velez-Torres LN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8898552 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature