Sensitization to airborne ascospores, basidiospores, and XXXX in @entity2023 and asthmatic subjects in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

@entity2023 @entity565 @entity566 @entity2490 @entity364 @entity1576
BACKGROUND: Fungal spores are the predominant biological particulate in the atmosphere of Puerto Rico, yet their potential as allergens has not been studied in subjects with @entity1576 . The purpose of this study was to determine the level of sensitization of subjects with @entity1576 to these particles. METHODS: Serum samples were drawn from 33 subjects with @entity565 , @entity2023 , or nonallergic @entity2490 and 2 controls with different skin prick test reactivity. An MK-3 sampler was used to collect air samples and the reactivity of the sera to fungal particles was detected with a halogen immunoassay. RESULTS: All subjects reacted to at least 1 fungal particle. Thirty-one subjects reacted to ascospores, 29 to basidiospores, 19 to hyphae/ @entity364 , and 12 to mitospores. The median percentage of haloes in @entity2023 subjects was 4.82% while @entity565 or nonallergic @entity2490 subjects had values of 1.09 and 0.39%, respectively. Subjects with skin prick tests positive to 3, 2, 1, or no extract had 5.24, 1.09, 1.61, and, 0.57% of haloed particles, respectively. If skin prick tests were positive to basidiomycetes, pollen, animals, or deuteromycetes, the percentages of haloes were 4.72, 4.15, 3.63, and 3.31%, respectively. Of all haloed particles, 46% were unidentified, 25% ascospores, 20% basidiospores, 7% hyphae/ @entity364 , and 2% mitospores. IgE levels and the number of positive skin prick test extracts correlated with the percentage of haloes. CONCLUSION: In tropical environments, sensitization to airborne basidiomycetes, ascomycetes, and @entity364 seems to be more prevalent than sensitization to mitospores in subjects with active @entity566 , suggesting a possible role in exacerbations of @entity1576 .
