A. Morenoancillo et al., HYPERSENSITIVITY PNEUMONITIS RELATED TO A COVERED AND HEATED SWIMMINGPOOL ENVIRONMENT, International archives of allergy and immunology, 114(2), 1997, pp. 205-206
Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) or extrinsic allergic alveolitis is
a lung disease caused by a large group of inhaled antigens of various
sources. The most common HP occurring in the farm environment is class
ically caused by exposure to various thermophilic actinomycetes and fu
ngi that can grow in the farm environment. Pullularia species and ther
mophilic actinomycetes have been involved in HP related to humidifier
water and saunas. Our case illustrates the value of a site visit in th
e diagnosis of HP. During a visit to the covered and heated swimming-p
ool where our patient used to swim we could see that favourable condit
ions to fungal growth existed. To determine the possible aetiological
agents of a suspected HP, cultures from several parts of the swimming-
pool were taken. These cultures showed an intense growth of thermophil
ic actinomycetes, Neurospora and Aspergillus species. Precipitating an
tibodies against Neurospora species and Mycropolyspora faeni were dete
cted. A case of HP related to a covered and heated swimming-pool envir
onment is reported. Thermophilic actinomycetes and Neurospora species
may be the causing agents.