Abstract
Asp f 1 (ribotoxin) is the main allergen of Aspergillus fumigatus and a critical factor in provoking allergic responses and bronchopulmonary aspergillosis. This study investigated the prevalence of allergen Asp f 1 in dust samples collected at two Croatian sawmills from different working sites (sawmilling, parquetry and sorting). A total of thirty-five floor dust samples were collected, extracted, and the mass fraction of Asp f 1 was determined using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. More than 91 % of the collected dust samples had detectable levels of Asp f 1 (limit detection 3.6 ng g−1). The median Asp f 1 mass fractions in Sawmill 1 and Sawmill 2 were 49.4 ng g−1 (range <3.6–120 ng g−1) and 35.5 ng g−1 (range 15.1–77.2 ng g−1), respectively. At both sawmills, higher median Asp f 1 values were found in the dust from sawmilling than from parquetry sites. These preliminary findings suggest the abundance of allergen Asp f 1 in reservoir dust in the woodworking environments of both sawmills. Assessment of Asp f 1 in future studies will provide further insight into the role of this allergen in eliciting respiratory morbidity.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abad, A., Fernández-Molina, J. V., Bikandi, J., Ramirez, A., Margareto, J., Sendino, J., et al. (2010). What makes Aspergillus fumigatus a successful pathogen? Genes and molecules involved in invasive aspergillosis. Revista Iberoamericana de Micologia, 27, 155–182.
Arruda, L. K., Mann, B. J., & Chapman, M. D. (1992). Selective expression of a major allergen and cytotoxin, Asp f 1, in Aspergillus fumigatus. Implications for the immunopathogenesis of Aspergillus-related disease. Journal of Immunology, 10, 3354–3359.
Bloom, E., Nyman, E., Must, A., Pehrson, C., & Larsson, L. (2009). Molds and mycotoxins in indoor environments-a survey in water-damaged buildings. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, 6, 671–678.
Bowyer, P., Fraczek, M., & Denning, D. W. (2006). Comparative genomics of fungal allergens and epitopes shows widespread distribution of closely related allergen and epitope orthologues. BMC Genomics, 7, 251–264.
Brasel, T. L., Douglas, D. R., Wilson, S. C., & Straus, D. C. (2005). Detection of airborne Stachybotrys chartarum macrocyclic trichothecene mycotoxins on particulates smaller than conidia. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 71, 114–122.
Cabral, J. P. S. (2010). Can we use indoor fungi as bioindicators of indoor air quality? Historical perspectives and open questions. Science of the Total Environment, 408, 4285–4295.
Cakmak, S., Dales, R. E., & Coates, F. (2012). Does air pollution increase the effect of aeroallergens on hospitalization for asthma? Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 129, 228–231.
Chew, G. L., Rogers, C., Burge, H. A., Muilenberg, M. L., & Gold, D. R. (2003). Dustborne and airborne fungal propagules represent a different spectrum of fungi with differing relations to home characteristics. Allergy, 58, 13–20.
Cho, S. H., Seo, S. C., Schmechel, D., Grinshpun, S. A., & Reponen, T. (2005). Aerodynamic characteristics and respiratory deposition of fungal fragments. Atmospheric Environment, 39, 5454–5465.
Crameri, R., Zeller, S., Glaser, A. G., Vilhelmsson, M., & Rhyner, C. (2008). Cross-reactivity among fungal allergens: A clinically relevant phenomenon? Mycoses, 52, 99–106.
Dillon, K. H., Boling, D. K., & Miller, J. D. (2007). Comparison of detection methods for Aspergillus fumigatus in environmental air samples in an occupational environment. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, 4, 509–513.
Douwes, J., McLean, D., Maarl, E., Heederik, D., & Pearce, N. (2000). Worker exposures to airborne dust, endotoxin and β (1,3)-glucan in two New Zealand sawmills. American Journal Industrial Medicine, 38, 426–430.
Dutkiewicz, J., Krysińska-Traczyk, E., Prazmo, Z., Skoŕska, C., & Sitkowska, J. (2001). Exposure to airborne microorganisms in Polish sawmills. Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine, 8, 71–80.
Eduard, W. (2009). Fungal spores: A critical review of the toxicological and epidemiological evidence as a basis for occupational exposure limit setting. Critical Reviews in Toxicology, 39, 799–864.
Eduard, W., Sandven, P., & Levy, F. (1992). Relationships between exposure to spores from Rhizopus microsporus and Paecilomyces variotii and serum IgG antibodies in wood trimmers. International Archives of Allergy and Immunology, 97, 274–282.
Eduard, W., Sandven, P., & Levy, F. (1993). Serum IgG antibodies to mold spores in two Norwegian sawmill populations: Relationship to respiratory and other work-related symptoms. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 24, 207–222.
Feo Brito, F., Alonso, A. M., Carnés, J., Martin-Martin, R., Fernández-Caldas, E., Galindo, P. A., et al. (2012). Correlation between Alt a 1 levels and clinical symptoms in Alternaria alternata-monosensitized patients. Journal of Investigational Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 22, 154–159.
Górny, R. L. (2004). Filamentous microorganisms and their fragments in indoor air: A review. Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine, 11, 185–197.
Green, B. J., Tovey, E. R., Sercombe, J. K., Blachere, F. M., Beezhold, D. H., & Schmechel, D. (2006). Airborne fungal fragments and allergenicity. Medical Mycology, 44, 245–255.
Halpin, D. M. G., Graneek, B. J., Lacey, J., Nieuwenhuijsen, M. J., Williamson, P. A. M., Venables, K. M., et al. (1994a). Respiratory symptoms, immunological responses, and aeroallergen concentrations at a sawmill. Occupational Environmental Medicine, 51, 165–172.
Halpin, D. M. G., Graneek, B. J., Turner-Warwick, M., & Newman Taylor, A. J. (1994b). Extrinsic allergic alveolitis and asthma in a sawmill worker: Case report and review of the literature. Occupational Environmental Medicine, 51, 160–164.
Hardin, B. D., Robbins, C. A., Fallah, P., & Kelman, B. J. (2009). The concentration of no toxicologic concern (CoNTC) and airborne mycotoxins. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A, 72, 585–598.
Heikkilä, P., Martikainen, R., Kurppa, K., Husgafvel-Pursiainen, K., & Karjalainen, A. (2008). Asthma incidence in wood-processing industries in Finland in a register-based population study. Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health, 34, 66–72.
Jacobsen, G., Schlünssen, V., Schaumburg, I., & Sigsgaard, T. (2009). Increased incidence of respiratory symptoms among female woodworkers exposed to dry wood. European Respiratory Journal, 33, 1268–1276.
Ji, H., & Khurana Hershey, G. K. (2012). Genetic and epigenetic influence on the response to environmental particulate matter. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 129, 33–41.
Jones, M. G. (2008). Exposure-response in occupational allergy. Current opinion in Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 8, 110–114.
Kanaani, H., Hargreaves, M., Ristovski, Z., & Morawska, L. (2009). Fungal spore fragmentation as a function of airflow rates and fungal generation methods. Atmospheric Environment, 43, 3725–3735.
Karvala, K., Nordman, H., Luukkonen, R., Nykyri, E., Lappalainen, S., Hannu, T., et al. (2008). Occupational rhinitis in damp and moldy workplaces. American Journal of Rhinology, 22, 457–462.
Kauppinen, T., Vincent, R., Liukkonen, T., Grzebyk, M., Kauppinen, A., Welling, I., et al. (2006). Occupational exposure to inhalable wood dust in the member states of the European Union. The Annals of Occupational Hygiene, 50, 549–561.
Kespohl, S., Sander, I., Schulze, J., Poppe, M., Brüning, T., & Raulf-Heimsoth, M. (2008). Development of an obeche wood allergen quantification assay for the assessment of allergen exposure in workplaces. Scandinavian Journal of Work & Environ Health, 34, 387–395.
Kildesø, J., Würtz, H., Nielsen, K. F., Kruse, P., Wilkins, K., Thrane, U., et al. (2003). Determination of fungal spore release from wet building materials. Indoor Air, 13, 148–155.
Kos, A., Beljo-Lučić, R., Šega, K., & Rapp, A. O. (2004). Influence of woodworking machine cutting parameters on the surrounding air dustiness. Holz als Roh- und Werksofft, 62, 169–176.
Kurup, V., & Banerjee, B. (2000). Fungal allergens and peptide epitopes. Peptides, 21, 589–599.
Ljubičić Ćalušić, A., Varnai, V. M., Čavlović, A. O., Šegvić Klarić, M., Beljo, R., Prester, Lj, et al. (2012). Respiratory health and breath condensate acidity in sawmill workers. International Archives Occupational and Environmental Health, 86, 815–825.
Mandryk, J., Alwis, K. U., & Hocking, A. D. (1999). Work-related symptoms and dose-response relationships for personal exposures and pulmonary function among woodworkers. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 35, 481–490.
Martinez, K. F., Rao, C. Y., & Burton, N. C. (2004). Exposure assessment and analysis for biological agents. Grana, 43, 193–208.
Mazitova, N. N., Saveliev, A. A., Berheeva, Z. M., & Amirov, N. K. (2012). COPD and occupation: A retrospective cohort study of industrial workers. Archives of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology, 63, 345–356.
Nayar, T., & Jothish, P. S. (2013). An assessment of the air quality in indoor and outdoor air with reference to fungal spores and pollen grains in four working environments in Kerala, India. Aerobiologia, 29, 131–152.
Opplinger, A., Rusca, S., Charrière, N., Duc, T. V., & Droz, P. O. (2005). Assessment of bioaerosols and inhalable dust exposure in Swiss sawmills. Annals of Occupational Hygiene, 49, 385–391.
Park, H., Park, H., & Lee, I. (2010). Microbial exposure assessment in sawmill, livestock feed industry, and metal working fluids handling industry. Safety and Health at Work, 1, 183–191.
Piecková, E. (2012). Adverse health effects of indoor moulds. Archives of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology, 63, 545–549.
Postigo, I., Gutiérrez-Rodriguez, A., Fernández, J., Guisantes, J. A., Sunén, E., & Martinez, J. (2011). Diagnostic value of Alt a 1, fungal enolase and manganese-dependent superoxide dismutase in the component-resolved diagnosis of allergy to pleosporaceae. Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 41, 443–451.
Prester, Lj. (2011). Indoor exposure to mould allergens. Archives of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology, 62, 371–380.
Prester, Lj, & Macan, J. (2010). Determination of Alt a 1 (Alternaria alternata) in poultry farms and a sawmill using ELISA. Medical Mycology, 48, 298–301.
Prester, Lj, Macan, J., Matković, K., & Vučemilo, M. (2010). Determination of Aspergillus fumigatus allergen 1 in poultry farms using the enzyme immunoassay. Archives of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology, 61, 167–173.
Puntarić, D., Kos, A., Šmit, Z., Zečić, Ž., Šega, K., Beljo-Lučić, R., et al. (2005). Wood dust exposure in wood industry and forestry. Collegium Antropologicum, 29, 207–211.
Rementeria, A., López-Molina, N., Ludwig, A., Vivanco, A. B., Bikandi, J., Pontón, J., et al. (2005). Genes and molecules involved in Aspergillus fumigatus virulence. Revista Iberoamericana de Micologia, 22, 1–23.
Reponen, T., Grinshpun, S. A., Conwell, K. L., Wiest, J., & Anderson, M. (2001). Aerodynamic versus physical size of spore: Measurement and implication for respiratory deposition. Grana, 40, 119–125.
Ronald, L. A., Davies, H. W., Bartlett, K. H., Kennedy, S. M., Teschke, K., Spithoven, J., et al. (2003). β(1 → 3)-glucan exposure levels among workers in four British Columbia sawmills. Annals of Agriculture and Environmental Medicine, 10, 21–29.
Roponen, M., Seuri, M., Nevalainen, A., & Hirvonen, M. R. (2002). Fungal spores as such do not cause nasal inflammation in mold exposure. Inhalation Toxicology, 14, 541–549.
Rusca, S., Charriére, N., Droz, P. O., & Opplinger, A. (2008). Effects of bioaerosol exposure on work-related symptoms among Swiss sawmill workers. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 81, 415–421.
Ryan, T. J., Whitehead, L. W., Connor, T. H., & Burau, K. D. (2001). Survey of the Asp f 1 allergen in office environments. Applied Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, 16, 679–684.
Sáenz de Santamaria, M., Postigo, I., Gutierrez-Rodriguez, A., Cardona, G., Guisantes, J. A., Asturias, J., et al. (2006). The major allergen of Alternaria alternata (Alt 1) is expresses in other members of the Pleosporaceae family. Mycoses, 49, 91–95.
Sander, I., Zahradnik, E., van Kampen, V., Kespohl, S., Stubel, H., Fischer, G., et al. (2012). Development and application of mold antigen-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) to quantify airborne antigen exposure. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A, 75, 1185–1193.
Schmechel, D., Simpson, J. P., Beezhold, D., & Lewis, D. M. (2006). The development of species-specific immunodiagnostics for Stachybotrys chartarum: The role of cross-reactivity. Journal of Immunology Methods, 309, 150–159.
Šegvić Klarić, M., & Pepeljnjak, S. (2006). A year-round aeromycological study in Zagreb area, Croatia. Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine, 13, 55–64.
Šegvić Klarić, M., Varnai, V. M., Ljubičić Ćalušić, A., & Macan, J. (2012). Occupational exposure to airborne fungi in two Croatian sawmills and atopy in exposed workers. Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine, 19, 213–219.
Seo, S. C., Reponen, T., Levin, L., & Grinshpun, S. A. (2009). Size-fractionated (1 → 3)-β-d-glucan concentrations aerosolized from different moldy building materials. Science of the Total Environment, 409, 806–814.
Sercombe, J. K., Green, B. J., & Tovey, E. R. (2006). Recovery of germinating fungal conidia from the nasal cavity after environmental exposure. Aerobiologia, 22, 295–304.
Shi, C., Belisle, D., & Miller, J. D. (2011). Quantification of the Aspergillus versicolor allergen in house dust. Journal of Immunological Methods, 372, 89–94.
Singh, A., & Singh, A. B. (1999). Aspergillus Spp. as an important occupational risk factor among susceptible individuals. Aerobiologia, 15, 233–240.
Sporik, R. B., Arruda, L. K., Woodfolk, J., Chapman, M. D., & Platts-Mills, T. A. E. (1993). Environmental exposure to Aspergillus fumigatus allergen (Asp f I). Clinical and Experimental Allergy, 23, 326–331.
Veillette, M., Cormier, Y., Israël-Assayaq, E., Meriaux, A., & Duchaine, C. (2006). Hypersensitivity pneumonitis in a hardwood processing plant related to heavy mold exposure. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, 3, 301–307.
Verma, D. K., Demers, C., Shaw, D., Verma, P., Kurtz, L., Finkelstein, M., et al. (2010). Occupational health and safety issues in Ontario sawmills and veneer/plywood plants: A pilot study. Journal of Environmental and Public Health Article ID 526487, p. 9. doi:10.1155/2010/526487.
Wolf, J., O’Neill, N. R., Rogers, C. A., Muilenberg, M. L., & Ziska, L. H. (2010). Elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations amplify Alternaria alternata sporulation and total antigen production. Environmental Health Perspective, 118, 1223–1228.
Zahradnik, E., Kespohl, S., Sander, I., Schies, U., Khosravie-Hohn, J., Lorenz, W., et al. (2013). A new immunoassay to quantify fungal antigens from the indoor mould Aspergillus versicolor. Environmental Science Process & Impacts, 15, 1162–1171.
Acknowledgments
This study was supported by the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports of the Republic of Croatia (Grant No 022-0222411-2410).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Prester, L., Macan, J. Levels of the fungal allergen Asp f 1 in dust from two sawmills in Croatia: a pilot study. Aerobiologia 30, 189–196 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10453-013-9317-z
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10453-013-9317-z