Abstract
THE occurrence of seasonal asthma resulting from fungal spores in late summer is well recognized. Cladosporium and Alternaria have been extensively studied as allergens1 because of their worldwide distribution. Herxheimer et al.2 used skin and bronchial testing when investigating allergic causes of recurrent summer asthma. They showed that certain types of basidiospores and one type of ascospore are antigenic in man. Seasonal symptoms occurring in late summer in Great Britain due to Leptosphaeria (Phoma) spp. have also been described3. Very large concentrations of ascospores, particularly in August, were noted by Hyde and Adams4. The clinical importance, especially of the large numbers of one-septate ascospores, has never been evaluated.
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References
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FRANKLAND, A., GREGORY, P. Allergenic and Agricultural Implications of Airborne Ascospore Concentrations from a Fungus, Didymella exitialis. Nature 245, 336–337 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1038/245336a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/245336a0
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