Seasonal distribution of air-borne protozoa in Mexico City and its suburbs

Rivera, Fermín; Lugo, Alfonso; Ramírez, Elizabeth; Bonilla, Patricia; Calderón, Andrés J.; Rodríguez, Salvador; Ortíz, Ricardo; Gallegos, Elvia; Labastida, Antonio; Chavez, Martha P.

doi:10.1007/bf00478363

Cited by 20 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…Taxa belonging to Chlorella, Scenedesmus and Stichococcus also exhibit no seasonal preferences, although they can be frequently detected in samples taken in the autumn, winter and spring (Sharma et al 2006). In our study, microeukaryotes with no seasonal preferences were capable of successful dispersal and colonization of new habitats due to small and resistant unicellular forms (Cairns et al 1969, Rivera et al 1992) and a short generation time (Dolan 2005). It is considered that a spheroid unicell of up to 12 μm in diameter, as found, for example, in species of Chlorella and Stichococcus, is the ideal airborne alga (Roy-Ocotla & Carrera 1993).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 66%

“…Even deserts are found to be hotspots for chlorophyte biodiversity (Lewis & Lewis 2005). The few available studies that focus on airborne protozoa from different habitats and regions reveal some common taxa in their lists (Schlichting 1964, Schlichting 1969, Smith 1973, Rivera et al 1992, Rogerson & Detwiler 1999) but they do not provide insight on the fate and the interactions of these airborne microorganisms. Chrisostomou et al (2009), in a study of air-dispersed phytoplankton in a river-reservoir system, found that algal colonists in experimental water containers were from the local phytoplankton community, including cosmopolitan algae common in most biogeographic regions; their study focused on the colonization potential of freshwater algae and not on heterotrophic microeukaryotes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…socials might be of local origin from the nearby Thermaikos Bay. The genus Bodo and amoebas are also known airborne eukaryotes (Rivera et al 1992, Rogerson & Detweiler 1999. Common species in these studies were detected earlier by Schlichting (1964Schlichting ( , 1969 which, together with our results, suggest that certain taxa, like amoebae and Bodo spp.…”

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Airborne microeukaryote colonists in experimental water containers: diversity, succession, life histories and established food webs

Genitsaris¹,

Moustaka‐Gouni

Kormas³

2011

Aquat. Microb. Ecol.

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Airborne freshwater and marine microeukaryotes in the city of Thessaloniki, situated in Thermaikos Bay, Greece, were examined as sources of colonization of experimental water containers during the period autumn 2007 to spring 2008. The microeukaryote composition of the plankton in the nearby aquatic systems (distance <1 km) was also examined. Airborne microeukaryotes were examined by morphology and 18S rRNA gene diversity. A total of 29 species of airborne microeukaryotes were identified, most of them commonly observed in aerobiological studies. Airborne organisms of only 8 taxa were also detected in the nearby aquatic systems. The algae Haematococcus lacustris, a Chlorella-like taxon, and Scenedesmus cf. obliquus, the heterotrophic nanoflagellates (HNF) Bodo sp., Cafeteria minuta and Rynchomonas nasuta, and the ciliate Pattersoniella vitiphila were present in all 3 seasons, indicating capabilities of successful dispersal and colonization under a wide range of meteorological conditions. Rapid colonization of the water containers by the microeukaryotes occurred at the beginning of the experiment, but the rate of colonization quickly stabilized. The initial phase of colonization was dominated by HNF; subsequently, members of the Chlorophyta were the dominant autotrophs. The heterotrophic and autotrophic colonists established similar food webs in all 3 seasons, with P. vitiphila being the common top predator. KEY WORDS: Airborne microeukaryotes · Colonization · Diversity · Food web · Haematococcus · Pattersoniella Resale or republication not permitted without written consent of the publisherAquat Microb Ecol 62: [139][140][141][142][143][144][145][146][147][148][149][150][151][152] 2011 which facilitate their transport through air and by animal vectors. It also seems that the observed biogeography of aquatic microeukaryotes is influenced by the method of study: species identified solely by morphology seem to be widely distributed, but whether such species come from the same genetic populations remains debatable (Dolan 2005). Thus, there is a demand for combining information on the distribution of microeukaryotes based on morphology and phylogeny with information on life cycles and colonization potential in order to unravel biogeographical trends.The majority of airborne algae belong to the Chlorophyta (Schlichting 1964, Lopez-Bautista et al. 2007, see also review by Sharma et al. 2007). This group of autotrophs forms the bulk of the community of aeroalgae in most biogeographic regions, as proposed by Roy-Ocotla & Carrera (1993). Even deserts are found to be hotspots for chlorophyte biodiversity (Lewis & Lewis 2005). The few available studies that focus on airborne protozoa from different habitats and regions reveal some common taxa in their lists (Schlichting 1964, Schlichting 1969, Smith 1973, Rivera et al. 1992, Rogerson & Detwiler 1999) but they do not provide insight on the fate and the interactions of these airborne microorganisms. Chrisostomou et al. (2009), in a study of air-dispersed phytoplan...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 66%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Airborne microeukaryote colonists in experimental water containers: diversity, succession, life histories and established food webs

Genitsaris¹,

Moustaka‐Gouni

Kormas³

2011

Aquat. Microb. Ecol.

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“…Air, drinking water, and human activities are the most likely transmission routes. Air can contain (cysts of) protozoa, including amoebae, flagellates, and ciliates, such as Colpoda steinii (38,54). Protozoa are known to be common inhabitants of drinking water.…”

Section: Vol 74 2008mentioning

confidence: 99%

Microscopic and Molecular Studies of the Diversity of Free-Living Protozoa in Meat-Cutting Plants

Vaerewijck

Sabbe

Baré

et al. 2008

Appl Environ Microbiol

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The diversity of free-living protozoa in five meat-cutting plants was determined. Light microscopy after enrichment culturing was combined with sequencing of PCR-amplified, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE)-separated 18S rRNA gene fragments, which was used as a fast screening method. The general results of the survey showed that a protozoan community of amoebae, ciliates, and flagellates was present in all of the plants. Protozoa were detected mainly in floor drains, in standing water on the floor, on soiled bars of cutting tables, on plastic pallets, and in out-of-use hot water knife sanitizers, but they were also detected on surfaces which come into direct contact with meat, such as conveyer belts, working surfaces of cutting tables, and needles of a meat tenderizer. After 7 days of incubation at refrigerator temperature, protozoa were detected in about one-half of the enrichment cultures. Based on microscopic observations, 61 morphospecies were found, and Bodo saltans, Bodo spp., Epistylis spp., Glaucoma scintillans, Petalomonas spp., Prodiscophrya collini, and Vannella sp. were the most frequently encountered identified organisms. Sequencing of DGGE bands resulted in identification of a total of 49 phylotypes, including representatives of the Amoebozoa, Chromalveolata, Excavata, Opisthokonta, and Rhizaria. Sequences of small heterotrophic flagellates were affiliated mainly with the Alveolata (Apicomplexa), Stramenopiles (Chrysophyceae), and Rhizaria (Cercozoa). This survey showed that there is high protozoan species richness in meat-cutting plants and that the species included species related to known hosts of food-borne pathogens.

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“…Survival of amoebae in the air depends on their morphophy-siological features, micrometeorological and physico-chemical conditions, and on the interaction between these parameters (Cox, 1987;Donaldson, 1978;Jacobs, 1939;Schlichting, 1964Schlichting, , 1970Schlichting, , 1986. From the air, the encysted amoebae can reach the soil and recreational water bodies, contaminate food or water supplies, or invade people who may become healthy carriers or even develop a disease caused by amphizoic or opportunistic amoebae (Rivera et al, 1979(Rivera et al, , 1981(Rivera et al, , 1983(Rivera et al, , 1984(Rivera et al, , 1986(Rivera et al, , 1989(Rivera et al, a, b, c, 1991(Rivera et al, , 1992.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Seasonal distribution of air-borne pathogenic and free-living amoebae in Mexico City and its suburbs

Rivera¹,

Bonilla²,

Ramírez³

et al. 1994

Water Air Soil Pollut

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Abstract.A survey was carried out over a one-year period to isolate amoebae suspended in the air of Mexico City and its suburbs. Sampling stations were placed at the four cardinal points of the metropolitan area. Selective media were used to culture the amoebae isolated. Specialized taxonomic keys and physical and physiological tests were used for identification, and a statistical analysis was performed to determine the correlations between physico-chemical and biological parameters. 108 strains were isolated, of which 19 were pathogenic via intracerebral inoculation and 9 via intranasal inoculation. Species of the genera Acanthamoeba, Vahlkampfia and Hartmannella were most abundant. Acanthamoeba polyphaga showed the highest abundance. Several times during the period of the study SOz, 03, CO, NO and NO2 exceeded the permissible levels established by the Mexican government. The ability of amoebae to form cysts and cyst size were important factors for their presence, survival, abundance and diversity in the atmosphere. The main source of air-borne amoebae was the soil. Factors that favored the incidence and diversity of the isolates were wind speed and direction, low relative humidity, generation of frequent dust-storms, resuspension of amoebae by vehicular traffic, proximity to garbage dumps and large extensions of bare soil. Soil cover was a factor associated with a reduction in the incidence and diversity of the aerial amoebae. This study demonstrates that there are viable cysts of amoebae in the atmosphere of Mexico City, that may have potential importance in the case of certain kinds of human allergies and diseases. Further research is needed to find out the aerial presence of viable cysts of obligatory, amphizoic or opportunistic amoebic parasites, and to clarify the qualitative and quantitative effects of the local meteorological and physico-chemical environment on the free-living amoebae present in the atmosphere.

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Seasonal distribution of air-borne protozoa in Mexico City and its suburbs

Cited by 20 publications

References 21 publications

Airborne microeukaryote colonists in experimental water containers: diversity, succession, life histories and established food webs

Airborne microeukaryote colonists in experimental water containers: diversity, succession, life histories and established food webs

Microscopic and Molecular Studies of the Diversity of Free-Living Protozoa in Meat-Cutting Plants

Seasonal distribution of air-borne pathogenic and free-living amoebae in Mexico City and its suburbs

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