Volumetric Aerobiological Survey of Conidial Fungi in the North‐East Netherlands

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Abstract
A study was undertaken to see whether the principal airborne fungi in the northeast Netherlands were also the most reactive in skin testing. Atmospheric samples were taken weekly with the Andersen sampler, from April 1981, up to and including, June 1983. At the same time skin tests of 833 patients referred to the outpatients Departments of Pulmonology and Allergology, because of recurrent bronchial obstructive complaints and a suspected allergy, were studied for strongly positive skin reactivity to fungi. A wheal of .gtoreq. 10 mm diameter to .gtoreq. 1 of the tested fungi was found in 4.6% of the patients. Almost 3/4 of the airborne fungal flora was composed of 7 genera (in order of occurrence): Cladosporium (42.6%), Botrytis (8.6%), yeasts (7%), Penicillium (5.8%), Basidiomycetes (5.7%), Aspergillus (3.7%), and Alternaria (0.9%). In skin-testing a different order of occurrence existed: Beauveria (6.8%), Botrytis (6.1%), Aspergillus (4.7%), Mucor (3.8%), Epicoccum (3%), Cladosporium (2.3%), and Alternaria (1.1%). Thus, the most prevailing airborne molds are not necessarily the most potent allergens, at least in skin testing. Aspergillus and Botrytis showed a high sensitization rate, while Cladosporium and Alternaria did not. Botrytis deserves further study because of its frequent airborne occurrence and marked allergenic properties.