Respiratory allergy to mushroom spores: not well recognized, but relevant

Background: Although basidiospores are a major component of the air spora i n many parts of the world, their clinical significance as triggers of respi ratory allergy has rarely been demonstrated. Therefore, the class of basidi omycetes as an aeroallergen is not well known. Objective: To demonstrate a cause and effect relationship between respirato ry allergy and basidiospores, we illustrate this case report of a 38-year-o ld housewife. Methods: Skin prick test, immunoblot, and active anterior rhinomanometry we re used as diagnostic tools to verify specific reactivity of a Pleurotus pu lmonalis spore extract. Two atopic subjects served as controls. Results: The skin prick test positive study subject reacted with subjective and objective signs including a significant drop of the FEV, by nasal chal lenge at a concentration of 0.1 mg/mL of the Pleurotus spore extract while both controls were negative even at a higher test concentration. IgE-immuno blot revealed several distinct bands in the serum of the Pleurotus-sensitiz ed subject. Conclusion: Spores of Pleurotus pulmonalis, a common mushroom of the fungal class of basidiomycetes, can cause specific, IgE-mediated acute rhinoconju ncivitis and asthma in sensitized individuals.