The atmospheric fungal flora of the Athens metropolitan area.

In the research programme of the Department of Microbiology of the Athens University the nature of the mycological flora of the Athenian air was studied. The research took place during the calendar year 1971. The open air was sampled twice weekly from two observation stations. The open plate technique was used, Petri dishes containing Sabourand's agar being exposed for 15 minutes. A total of 180 plates were exposed, and 1714 fungal colonies were isolated; these were subcultured and identified as follows: Alternaria alternata, Alternaria SP. (representing a common transitional form towards the genus Ulocladium), Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus oryzae, Aspergillus terreus, Chrysosporium SP., Candida SP., Geotrichum SP., Mucor SP., Penicillium patulum, Pencillium SP., Rhodotorula rubra, Saccharomyces SP., Streptomyces SP., Trichsporon SP. AND Ulocladium oudemansii. The genus Alternaria was most frequently isolated, representing 38% of the total colonies. Other genera occured in the following proportions: Penicillium 27%, Aspergillus 13%, Candida 9%, Rhodotorula 6% and Mucor 1%. Species of other genera accounted for 6% of colonies, including 4% which were classified as Mycelia Sterilia. It is of considerable interest that the most frequently isolated species are considered as allergens. An appropriate line of further investigations would appear to be the preparation of antigens, application of skin tests and classification of allergic reactions after relating laboratory findings to clinical observations.