PREVALENCE OF MICROFUNGI IN FINNISH COW BARNS AND SOME ASPECTS OF THEOCCURRENCE OF WALLEMIA-SEBI AND FUSARIA

Objectives The occurrence of microfungi in the air and in feeding and bedding materials was studied on 32 Finnish dairy farms. Methods Air s amples for determining viable and total spore concentrations were coll ected on membrane filters and with a cascade impactor. Genera of mesop hilic, xerophilic, and thermophilic fungi were identified in four cult ure media. Total spore counts were done with the aid of an epifluoresc ence microscope. To identify fungal flora in agricultural materials, f eeding and bedding material samples were also taken from the farms. Re sults The airborne spore concentrations varied for viable mesophilic, xerophilic, and ther mophilic fungi from 10(1) to 10(7) colony-forming units per cubic meter, and for total spores from 10(5) to 10(7) spore s per cubic meter. Aspergillus, Penicillium, Cladosporium, Absidia spe cies, Wallemia sebi and yeasts were the predominant fungi in the air, as well as in the material samples. Conclusions In general, the airbor ne spore concentrations were high although the variation in the concen trations of different fungal groups was large between the farms. Along with using new growth media, two fungi whose prevalence was earlier p oorly known in Finland were detected. W sebi proved to be the most abu ndant xerophilic fungi in the air and hay samples, while Fusarium spp were very common in grain and straw but rare in air.