J Meng1, C S Barnes, L J Rosenwasser. 1. Department of Pediatric Immunology Research, The Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA. jmeng@cmh.edu
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Fungal exposures are believed to play an important role in the development of asthma and atopy, accounting for increased asthmatic symptoms and severe asthma exacerbation. Indoor fungal species vary both in taxa and concentration in different residences and in different regions. OBJECTIVES: We explored the fungal species spectrum in 88 homes with at least one asthmatic child in the Middle West region of the United States mostly during late spring and fall season in comparison with 85 homes that did not contain an asthmatic child during flu season. METHODS: The average fungal spore counts per cubic metre of air in the bedroom of the enrolled child, the main living spaces and outdoor environments, and the culturable fungal colony-forming units per cubic metre of air samples in the main living space from each home were measured. RESULTS: The results indicated that Cladosporium, Penicillium, Aspergillus, Basidiospores, Epicoccum and Pithomyces were found in more asthmatic homes than in homes without an asthmatic child or existed in higher concentration in asthmatic homes than in homes without an asthmatic child even after adjusting outdoor spore concentration. The results for culturable fungal species confirmed most of these findings even after adjusting for seasonal factors. Although Alternaria was commonly found in both kinds of homes, there was no significant difference in detection rate or concentration of Alternaria between asthmatic homes and homes without an asthmatic child by either spore counting or culturable airborne detection. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Since many allergens have been identified in these fungal species, identifying and controlling these fungal species in asthmatic homes might be expected to improve asthma care and benefit asthmatic children.
BACKGROUND: Fungal exposures are believed to play an important role in the development of asthma and atopy, accounting for increased asthmatic symptoms and severe asthma exacerbation. Indoor fungal species vary both in taxa and concentration in different residences and in different regions. OBJECTIVES: We explored the fungal species spectrum in 88 homes with at least one asthmatic child in the Middle West region of the United States mostly during late spring and fall season in comparison with 85 homes that did not contain an asthmatic child during flu season. METHODS: The average fungal spore counts per cubic metre of air in the bedroom of the enrolled child, the main living spaces and outdoor environments, and the culturable fungal colony-forming units per cubic metre of air samples in the main living space from each home were measured. RESULTS: The results indicated that Cladosporium, Penicillium, Aspergillus, Basidiospores, Epicoccum and Pithomyces were found in more asthmatic homes than in homes without an asthmatic child or existed in higher concentration in asthmatic homes than in homes without an asthmatic child even after adjusting outdoor spore concentration. The results for culturable fungal species confirmed most of these findings even after adjusting for seasonal factors. Although Alternaria was commonly found in both kinds of homes, there was no significant difference in detection rate or concentration of Alternaria between asthmatic homes and homes without an asthmatic child by either spore counting or culturable airborne detection. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Since many allergens have been identified in these fungal species, identifying and controlling these fungal species in asthmatic homes might be expected to improve asthma care and benefit asthmatic children.
Authors: William R Rittenour; Christina E Ciaccio; Charles S Barnes; Michael L Kashon; Angela R Lemons; Donald H Beezhold; Brett J Green Journal: Environ Sci Process Impacts Date: 2014-01 Impact factor: 4.238
Authors: Anne Mette Madsen; Søren T Larsen; Ismo K Koponen; Kirsten I Kling; Afnan Barooni; Dorina Gabriela Karottki; Kira Tendal; Peder Wolkoff Journal: Appl Environ Microbiol Date: 2016-04-04 Impact factor: 4.792
Authors: Gerhard A Wiesmüller; Birger Heinzow; Ute Aurbach; Karl-Christian Bergmann; Albrecht Bufe; Walter Buzina; Oliver A Cornely; Steffen Engelhart; Guido Fischer; Thomas Gabrio; Werner Heinz; Caroline E W Herr; Jörg Kleine-Tebbe; Ludger Klimek; Martin Köberle; Herbert Lichtnecker; Thomas Lob-Corzilius; Rolf Merget; Norbert Mülleneisen; Dennis Nowak; Uta Rabe; Monika Raulf; Hans Peter Seidl; Jens-Oliver Steiß; Regine Szewszyk; Peter Thomas; Kerttu Valtanen; Julia Hurraß Journal: Allergo J Int Date: 2017-02-28
Authors: Andrew R Cline; Paul E Skelley; Scott A Kinnee; Suzanne Rooney-Latham; Shaun L Winterton; Christopher J Borkent; Paolo Audisio Journal: PLoS One Date: 2014-02-20 Impact factor: 3.240