Post Katrina Changes in Post Katrina Changes in the Airborne Fungal Spore the Airborne Fungal Spore

Load in New OrleansLoad in New Orleans

Estelle Levetin, Edward Davis, Estelle Levetin, Edward Davis,

Sam Lehrer, Elliott HornerSam Lehrer, Elliott Horner

Flooded Areas of New Flooded Areas of New OrleansOrleans

MethodsMethods

►Burkard spore trap at Ochsner Clinic in Burkard spore trap at Ochsner Clinic in New Orleans 1 to 2 Km from flooded areasNew Orleans 1 to 2 Km from flooded areas

►Slides analyzed at 1000X using single Slides analyzed at 1000X using single longitudinal traverselongitudinal traverse

►Counts converted to concentrations and Counts converted to concentrations and log transformed for statistical analysislog transformed for statistical analysis

►Short-term outdoor grab samples collected Short-term outdoor grab samples collected with Burkard personal samplerswith Burkard personal samplers

Location of Burkard Spore Location of Burkard Spore TrapTrap

Burkard

Location

Initial AnalysisInitial Analysis

►Comparison of Oct 17-24 from all 3 yearsComparison of Oct 17-24 from all 3 years 7 days 2003 and 20047 days 2003 and 2004 8 days 2005 8 days 2005

►Total of 30 taxa identifiedTotal of 30 taxa identified 2003 - 23 taxa2003 - 23 taxa 2004 - 21 taxa2004 - 21 taxa 2005 - 28 taxa2005 - 28 taxa

►Mean concentration highest in 2005Mean concentration highest in 2005►Composition of air spora different in 2005Composition of air spora different in 2005

Spore Types2003 - Mean

Concen for 7 Days Spores/m3

2004 - Mean Concen for 7 Days

Spores/m3

2005 - Mean Concen for 8 Days

Spores/m3

Alternaria 47   24   76  

Ascospores 651   581   349  

Basidiospores 1,347   1,322   573  

Cercospora 20   21   13  

Chaetomium 0   0   13  

Cladosporium 2,362   1,886   3,615  

Curvularia 39   37   64  

Eurotium ascospores 0   0   7  

Myxomycete Spores 29   20   41  

Nigrospora 16   14   15  

Penicillium/Aspergillus type 693 (12%) 468 (10%) 1,891 (26%)

Pithomyces 14   14   15  

Smut Spores 258   72   375  

Stachybotrys 0   0   3  

All Other Spores 287   232   347  

MEAN TOTAL SPORES/m3 5,762   4,690   7,396  

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

Comparison of Oct 2003 and Comparison of Oct 2003 and 20052005

►Burkard data Burkard data 24 days in 2005: Oct 8 – 31 24 days in 2005: Oct 8 – 31 22 days in 2003: Oct 8 – 30 (no slides for Oct 22 days in 2003: Oct 8 – 30 (no slides for Oct

23 and 31)23 and 31)

►30 taxa counted30 taxa counted No significant difference in total spore No significant difference in total spore

concentrations or concentrations or CladosporiumCladosporium concentrationsconcentrations

Several taxa had significantly different spore Several taxa had significantly different spore levelslevels

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

October 2005

Spore Type

Mean Concentration (Spores/m3)

t (df) p

2003 2005

Ascospores 845   548   4.3(44)   <0.001

Basidiospores 1324   573   3.0(44)   <0.01

Chaetomium 0.44   17   -9.2(44)   <0.001

Cladosporium 3009   3232   -0.1(44)   >0.05

Penicillum/Aspergillus type 885 (13%) 1562 (23%) -4.4(44)   <0.001

Total spores 6935   6828   0.41(44)   >0.05

New Orleans PrecipitationNew Orleans Precipitation

October Precipitaion in New Orleans 2003-2005

10.46

21.67

0.1070

5

10

15

20

25

2003 2004 2005

Rai

nfal

l (cm

)

MonthMonthNormal Normal rainfall: rainfall: 30 year 30 year averageaverage

Rainfall Rainfall during during

Fall 2005Fall 2005

SeptembSeptemberer

14.1 cm14.1 cm 10.72 cm10.72 cm

OctoberOctober 7.75 cm7.75 cm 0.11 cm0.11 cm

NovembNovemberer

12.93 cm12.93 cm 1.92 cm1.92 cm

0

3000

6000

9000

12000

15000

18000

Sp

ore

s/m

3

8-Oct 12-Oct 16-Oct 20-Oct 24-Oct 28-Oct

Concentration of Total Spores in New Orleans Atmosphere

Year 2003

Year 2005

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

Spor

es/m

3

8-Oct 12-Oct 16-Oct 20-Oct 24-Oct 28-Oct

Concentration of Cladosporium Spores in New Orleans Atmosphere

Year 2003

Year 2005

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

Spo

res/

m3

8-Oct 12-Oct 16-Oct 20-Oct 24-Oct 28-Oct

Concentration of Penicillium/Aspergillus Conidia in New Orleans Atmosphere

Year 2003

Year 2005

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

Sp

ore

s/m

3

8-Oct 12-Oct 16-Oct 20-Oct 24-Oct 28-Oct

Concentration of Basidiospores in New Orleans Atmosphere

Year 2005

Year 2003

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

Spo

res/

m3

8-Oct 12-Oct 16-Oct 20-Oct 24-Oct 28-Oct

Concentration of Ascospores in New Orleans Atmosphere

Year 2005

Year 2003

0

10

20

30

40

50

Spo

res/

m3

8-Oct 12-Oct 16-Oct 20-Oct 24-Oct 28-Oct

Concentration of Chaetomium Ascospores in New Orleans Atmosphere

Year 2003

Year 2005

Taxa in post-Katrina atmosphereTaxa in post-Katrina atmosphere

Eurotium ascospores

Chaetomium ascospore

Myrothecium conidia Stachybotrys conidium

Grab SamplesGrab Samples

►55 outdoor samples from 23 locations in 55 outdoor samples from 23 locations in flooded areas of the city flooded areas of the city

►Collected from Sept 12 to Nov 22 with Collected from Sept 12 to Nov 22 with Burkard personal samplers Burkard personal samplers

►Roof top and ground level samples Roof top and ground level samples collectedcollected

►Spores identified and categorized by height Spores identified and categorized by height above ground and in ecological groupingabove ground and in ecological grouping

►Change in composition also evident in the Change in composition also evident in the grab samples grab samples

Location of Grab SamplesLocation of Grab Samples

Street

Low Roof

High Roof100

1000

10000

100000

spor

es/m

3

Sample Date

Total Airborne Spore ConcentrationsStreet Low Roof High Roof

Bioaerosol Composition

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Sample Date

Leaf Surface/Outdoor Soil Molds Water Damage Molds Other

ConclusionsConclusions

► Total outdoor spore levels and Total outdoor spore levels and CladosporiumCladosporium levels were not significantly different following levels were not significantly different following Hurricane Katrina when compared to 2003Hurricane Katrina when compared to 2003

► Composition of the air spora changed with Composition of the air spora changed with Penicillium/AspergillusPenicillium/Aspergillus type spores showing type spores showing significant increasessignificant increases

► ChaetomiumChaetomium and and EurotiumEurotium ascospores and ascospores and StachybotrysStachybotrys conidia were registered in Oct conidia were registered in Oct 20052005

► Airborne basidiospores and ascospores were Airborne basidiospores and ascospores were significantly lower in Oct 2005significantly lower in Oct 2005