Dataset Information

Does Spore Count Matter in Fungal Allergy?: The Role of Allergenic Fungal Species.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Fungi have been known to be important aeroallergens for hundreds of years. Most studies have focused on total fungal concentration; however, the concentration of specific allergenic fungi may be more important on an individual basis.

Methods

Ten fungal allergic patients and 2 non-fungal allergic patients were enrolled. The patients with a decrease in physician or patient global assessment by more than 50% of their personal best were considered to have an exacerbation of allergic symptoms and to be in the active stage. Those who maintained their physician and patient global assessment scores at their personal best for more than 3 months were considered to be in the inactive stage. The concentrations of dominant fungi in the patients' houses and outdoors were measured by direct and viable counts at active and inactive stages.

Results

The exacerbation of allergic symptoms was not correlated with total fungal spore concentration or the indoor/outdoor ratio (I/O). Specific fungi, such as Cladosporium oxysporum (C. oxyspurum), C. cladosporioides, and Aspergillus niger (A. niger), were found to be significantly higher concentrations in the active stage than in the inactive stage. Presumed allergenic spore concentration threshold levels were 100 CFU/m³ for C. oxysporum, and 10 CFU/m³ for A. niger, Penicillium brevicompactum and Penicillium oxalicum.

Conclusions

The major factor causing exacerbation of allergic symptoms in established fungal allergic patients may be the spore concentration of specific allergenic fungi rather than the total fungal concentration. These results may be useful in making recommendations as regards environmental control for fungal allergic patients.

SUBMITTER: Lin WR

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4921694 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Does Spore Count Matter in Fungal Allergy?: The Role of Allergenic Fungal Species.

Lin Wan Rou WR Chen Yi Hsing YH Lee Mey Fann MF Hsu Ling Yi LY Tien Chih Jen CJ Shih Feng Ming FM Hsiao Shih Ching SC Wang Pi Han PH

Allergy, asthma & immunology research 20160901 5

<h4>Purpose</h4>Fungi have been known to be important aeroallergens for hundreds of years. Most studies have focused on total fungal concentration; however, the concentration of specific allergenic fungi may be more important on an individual basis.<h4>Methods</h4>Ten fungal allergic patients and 2 non-fungal allergic patients were enrolled. The patients with a decrease in physician or patient global assessment by more than 50% of their personal best were considered to have an exacerbation of al ...[more]

PMID: 27334778

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Dataset Information

Does Spore Count Matter in Fungal Allergy?: The Role of Allergenic Fungal Species.

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Does Spore Count Matter in Fungal Allergy?: The Role of Allergenic Fungal Species.

Similar Datasets

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