Sick building, sick alligators

[Guest guest]

All:

I don't remember seeing this one before. Straus is one of the authors.

May

May Indoor Air Investigations LLC

Tyngsborough, MA

www.mayindoorair.com

www.myhouseiskillingme.com

978-649-1055

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

J Zoo Wildl Med. 2006 Jun;37(2):108-15

An indoor air quality study of an alligator (Alligator

mississippiensis) holding facility. SC, Holder HW, JM,

Brasel TL, Andriychuk LA, Wu C, Straus DC, Aguilar R.

Center for Indoor Air Research, Department of Microbiology and

Immunology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock,

Texas 79430, USA.

An environmental microbiologic investigation was conducted in an

alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) holding facility in a zoo in

the southeastern U.S. The facility had housed five alligators between

March 1999 and February 2005. In the exhibit, one alligator died and

all experienced poor health. It was hypothesized that environmental

microbial contamination was associated with these issues. Samples were

collected for fungal identification and quantification, microcystin

analysis, and airborne mycotoxins. Analyses of air and water were

conducted and an examination of the heating, ventilation, and

air-conditioning system (HVAC) for design, maintenance, and operating

issues was made. Two control sites, a facility for false gharials

(Tomistoma schlegelii) and an off-site alligator breeding facility,

were also tested. Morbidity and mortality records were examined for

all sites. Results showed that, compared to the control sites, the

test alligator facility and its HVAC system were extensively

contaminated with a range of fungi. Nearly all sampled surfaces

featured fungal growth. There were also significantly higher counts of

Penicillium/Aspergillus-like and Chrysosporium-like spores in the air

(P < 0.004). The design, maintenance, and operation of the HVAC system

were all inadequate, resulting in poorly conditioned and

mold-contaminated air being introduced to the facility. Morbidity

records revealed solitary pulmonary disorders over time in three

alligators, with one dying as a result. The other two alligators

suffered from general malaise and a range of nonspecific symptoms. The

control facilities had no morbidity or mortality issues. In

conclusion, although no causal links could be demonstrated because of

the nature of the morbidity data, environmental mold contamination

appeared to be associated with the history of morbidity and mortality

in the alligator exhibit.

PMID: 17312787 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17312787?ordinalpos=1 & itool=EntrezSystem2.PEn\

trez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

[Guest guest]

wow, and I'm thinking I posted sme info. a long time ago about how

they were supposed to be immune to everything, maybe that was croc's,

cant remember. humm, I think it was croc's, they were researching why

they had never got ill and some people believe drinking their blood

or eating them keeps them well. wonder what the difference is?

>

> All:

>

> I don't remember seeing this one before. Straus is one of the

authors.

>

> May

> May Indoor Air Investigations LLC

> Tyngsborough, MA

> www.mayindoorair.com

> www.myhouseiskillingme.com

> 978-649-1055

>

> --------------------------------------------------------------------

--------

> J Zoo Wildl Med. 2006 Jun;37(2):108-15

>

> An indoor air quality study of an alligator (Alligator

> mississippiensis) holding facility. SC, Holder HW,

JM,

> Brasel TL, Andriychuk LA, Wu C, Straus DC, Aguilar R.

>

> Center for Indoor Air Research, Department of Microbiology and

> Immunology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock,

> Texas 79430, USA.

>

> An environmental microbiologic investigation was conducted in an

> alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) holding facility in a zoo

in

> the southeastern U.S. The facility had housed five alligators

between

> March 1999 and February 2005. In the exhibit, one alligator died

and

> all experienced poor health. It was hypothesized that

environmental

> microbial contamination was associated with these issues. Samples

were

> collected for fungal identification and quantification,

microcystin

> analysis, and airborne mycotoxins. Analyses of air and water were

> conducted and an examination of the heating, ventilation, and

> air-conditioning system (HVAC) for design, maintenance, and

operating

> issues was made. Two control sites, a facility for false gharials

> (Tomistoma schlegelii) and an off-site alligator breeding

facility,

> were also tested. Morbidity and mortality records were examined

for

> all sites. Results showed that, compared to the control sites, the

> test alligator facility and its HVAC system were extensively

> contaminated with a range of fungi. Nearly all sampled surfaces

> featured fungal growth. There were also significantly higher counts

of

> Penicillium/Aspergillus-like and Chrysosporium-like spores in the

air

> (P < 0.004). The design, maintenance, and operation of the HVAC

system

> were all inadequate, resulting in poorly conditioned and

> mold-contaminated air being introduced to the facility. Morbidity

> records revealed solitary pulmonary disorders over time in three

> alligators, with one dying as a result. The other two alligators

> suffered from general malaise and a range of nonspecific symptoms.

The

> control facilities had no morbidity or mortality issues. In

> conclusion, although no causal links could be demonstrated because

of

> the nature of the morbidity data, environmental mold contamination

> appeared to be associated with the history of morbidity and

mortality

> in the alligator exhibit.

>

> PMID: 17312787 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

>

> http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17312787?

ordinalpos=1 & itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pu

bmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

>

[Guest guest]

>In

> conclusion, although no causal links could be demonstrated because of

> the nature of the morbidity data, environmental mold contamination

> appeared to be associated with the history of morbidity and mortality

> in the alligator exhibit.

It was all in those alligators' heads, I tell ya.

The poor animals used to read too much of the toxic mold propaganda, and

then made up their illnesses, which of course, do not exist.

-Branislav