CLADOSPORIUM AS AN AIRBORNE ALLERGEN IN SAUDI-ARABIA

Airborne mold monitoring in three cities in Saudi Arabia has documente d the presence of Cladosporium in high concentrations. The spore count s reached threshold levels for sensitization at Jeddah and Al-Khobar w ith prominent seasonal variations. The concentration in Riyadh (centra l region) showed levels with minor fluctuations and a minor peak towar ds the month of November. Indoor monitoring also revealed the presence of Cladosporium. Ten species of Cladosporium were identified with C. sphaerospermum, C. herbarum, C. cladosporoides and C. macrocarpum bein g most prevalent. The species are relevant in relation to extracts for diagnosis. Skin testing of asthmatic children in Riyadh and Makkah re vealed reactivities to Cladosporium extract of 5.8% and 31.3%, respect ively. This indicates that Cladosporium may be an important allergen i n the region that necessitates further biochemical and immunochemical studies to confirm the allergenic impact of the species of Cladosporiu m prevalent in the region.