Citation:

Vesper, S J., M Varma, L J. Wymer, D. Dearborn, J. Sobolewski, AND R A. Haugland. QUANTITATIVE PCR ANALYSIS OF FUNGI IN DUST FROM HOMES OF INFANTS WHO DEVELOPED IDIOPATHIC PULMONARY HEMORRHAGING. OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE 46(6):596-601, (2004).

Impact/Purpose:

To understand children's risks from exposure to molds in their environment and to explore risk management options for mitigating those risks.

Description:

Fungal concentrations were measured in the dust of six homes in Cleveland, OH, where a child developed pulmonary hemorrhage (pulmonary hemorrhage homes, i.e. PHH), and 26 reference homes (RH) with no known fungal contamination. QPCR assays for 82 species (or assay groups) were used to identify and quantify fungal concentrations. The ratios of the geometric means of PHH to RH were >1 for 26 species (Group I) (Aspergillus flavus, A. fumigatus, A. niger, A. ochraceus, A. penicilliodes, A. restrictus, A.sydowii, A sclerotiorum, A. unguis, A. versicolor, Eurotium group, Penicillium brevicompactum, P. corylophilum, P. spinulosum, P. viaiable, P. purpurogenum, Penicillium group 2, Paecilomyces variotii, Aureobasidium pullans, Chaetomium globosum, Cladosporium sphaerospermum, Scopulariopsis brevicaulis, S. chartarum, Stachybotrys chartarum, Trichderma viride, and Wallemia sebi). However, the same ratios were <1 for 10 species (Group II) (Aspergillus ustus, Penicillium chrysogenum svar. 2, Acremonium strictum, Alternaria alternata, Cladosporium cladosporiodes svar 1 and 2, C. herbarum, Epicoccum nigrum, Mucor and Rhizopus group, and Rhizopus stolonifer). Probit analysis of the sum of the logs of the concentrations of these two groups resulted in a 95% probability range for separating PHH from RH homes. The same 82 fungal species were also tested for hemolysin production on sheep's blood agar (incubated at 37oC). Hemolysins were more commonly produced by group I species (42%) compared to Group II species (10%).

Record Details: