Monitoring environmental fungi in Bioarchaeology and Molecular Biology laboratories. The case of the Institute of Anthropology of Córdoba, Argentina.

CEPEDA BURGHINI, ROMINA; LUQUE AGUADA, LIZET; RAMIREZ, DARÍO ALEJANDRO; FRANCO, PAOLA; FABRA, MARIANA

Arica

Congreso; VII Congreso de la Asociación de Paleopatología en Sudamérica PAMinSAI; 2017

Fungi are cosmopolitan organisms that can develop in the most varied substrates, in different climates and even in extreme conditions. In addition to contributing to the deterioration of infrastructures and archaeological collections, they produce toxins and volatile substances that may sometimes cause respiratory problems, systemic diseases and allergies. In this context, the aim of the present work is to monitor the presence of fungi in the bioarchaeology and molecular biology laboratories, and to generate a protocol of good cleaning practices in these environments. Four laboratories were analyzed, two of them located in the Institute of Anthropology of Cordoba IDACOR (Bioarchaeology/PostPCR -BIOARQ- and PrePCR), one located in the Foundation San Roque -BIOARQ SR- facilities and another in the Patrimonial Reserve of the Anthropology Museum. A non-volumetric methodology was applied, with Petri dishes(n=30) being prepared with Sabouraud Agarmedium with antibiotics, on different surfaces of the mentioned spaces, for five minutes. Then, they were processed in the Microbiology Service of the Reina Fabiola University Clinic, incubating in an oven for one week at 28 ºC. The identification of different colonies was carried out by using a magnifying glass and optical microscopy, counting, and identifying them at the genus level. The results showed the presence of Cladosporium sp., Aspergillus sp., Penicillium sp., Chrysoinilia sp.,Rhodotorula sp. and hyaline yeasts and fungi without fruiting. Some of the identified genera can cause different respiratory pathologies. The results are presented for each laboratory, plus a protocol proposal of good practices for these environments. Also, biosafety and hygiene standards are debated to ensure aseptic conditions, reducing the workers risk of exposure to diseases as well as damages to bioarchaeological collections.