A mycological survey of commercial whirlpools in Delaware and Madison counties, Indiana

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Authors
Crump, Larry T.
Advisor
Hendrickson, Donald A.
Issue Date
1989
Keyword
Degree
Thesis (D. Ed.)
Department
Department of Biology
Other Identifiers
Abstract

Thirty-seven samples were taken from the water, step access and air/water interface surfaces of 10 commercial whirlpools in Delaware and Madison Counties, Indiana between September and March of 1986-1988. Dermatophytes were isolated from 19 of the samples, representing 51%. At least three species of the yeast genus Candid. were isolated from 13 (35%) of these samples. Fifty-eight percent of all dermatophytes isolated were found in male-only whirlpools, as were nearly 62% of all Candida species. Isolated dermatophytes included Trichophyton rubrum, T. menta,grophytes, T. tonsurans, T. verrucosum, Epidermophyton floccosum, Microsporum nanum, and one Trichophvton species. Whirlpools were grouped based on similarity of fungi isolated from each facility. Male whirlpools sorted into one group, except for one that clustered with female facilities. Coliform bacteria were found in 43% of all samples, and blue-green fluorescent pseudomonads were found in 54% of all samples. Most dermatophytes were isolated from the step access surface of the facilities tested, and more Candida species were isolated from the water than from either surface tested.