Characterization of Bacteria on Aerosols from Dust Events in Dakar, Senegal, West Africa

In this study, 77 bacteria types have been identified in dust samples collected using a spatula and the QuickTake® 30 air sampling pump at Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar Senegal, a region that experiences frequent dust events. The study found that the dust contains viable bacteria which is culturable and identified by classical microbiology. The dominant groups in the first batch of 51 bacteria (collected via deposition) are: Micrococcus (33.33%), Bacillus (13.73%), Kytococcus (11.76%), Pseudomonas (9.80%) and Burkholderia (7.84%) and dominants in the second batch of 26 bacteria (collected with aerosol sampling vacuum pump): Pseudomonas (38.61%), Burkholderia (26.92%), Micrococcus (11.54%), Brucella spp (7.69%). These bacteria have been identified in previous studies, and the majority of identified bacteria can cause respiratory diseases to exposed populations. Future work will use molecular methods is necessary to search for additional pathogens, including viruses on dust aerosols.