FUNGAL CONTAMINATION OF CARPET SURFACE

This project was designed for the isolation and identification of some fungi found on the surface of the carpet. These microorganisms may be either pathogenic or non-pathogenic to humans. Two carpet samples from two different lodges were swabbed using sterile swabb stick and taken to the laboratory for analysis. The sample were cultured on Sabroaud dextrose agar plates for 24 to 48 hrs. The representative growth on each plate was sub-cultured on Sabroaud dextrose agar slant to obtain pure culture for identification and left for at least 72 hrs for spores to be formed. Slide culture technique was used for proper identification of the filamentous fungi. Lacto phenol blue was used to stain the growth on the slide and cover slip and viewed under the microscopy. A total of three fungal isolates were obtained from the carpet samples on the Sabroaud dextrose agar plates. Three fungi species, were identified and from the fungal isolates species belonging to the genera Aspergillus spp and Mucor sp. The identified fungi from the two carpet sample were Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus and Mucor sp. and the three were isolated from two carpet samples and the most common organism was Aspergillus spp. The two fungi obtained in this work were known to be pathogenic to human beings. Some Aspergillus spp are known to produce mycotoxic which can cause disease in man e.g. Aflatoxins. It is a cumulative toxins. Also Mucor sp are known to cause disease in man through inhalation of the spores in the air e.g. systematic mucormycosis in diabetic patients.