Residential culturable fungi, (1-3, 1-6)-β-d-glucan, and ergosterol concentrations in dust are not associated with asthma, rhinitis, or eczema diagnoses in children

Abstract

Background Qualitative reporting of home indoor moisture problems predicts respiratory diseases. However, causal agents underlying such qualitative markers remain unknown. Methods In the homes of 198 multiple allergic case children and 202 controls in Sweden, we cultivated culturable fungi by directly plating dust, and quantified(1–3, 1–6)-β-D-glucan, and ergosterol in dust samples from the child’s bedroom. We examined the relationship between these fungal agents and degree of parent or inspector reported home indoor dampness, and microbiological laboratory’s mold index. We also compared the concentrations of these agents between multiple allergic cases and healthy controls, as well as IgE-sensitization among cases. Results The concentrations of culturable fungal agents were comparable between houses with parent and inspector reported mold issues and those without. There were no differences in concentrations of the individual or the total summed culturable fungi, (1–3, 1–6)-β-D-glucan, and ergosterol between the controls and the multiple allergic case children, or individual diagnosis of asthma, rhinitis or eczema. Conclusion Culturable fungi, (1–3, 1–6)-β-D-glucan, and ergosterol in dust were not associated with qualitative markers of indoor dampness or mold or indoor humidity. Furthermore, these agents in dust samples were not associated with any health outcomes in the children.

Concentration and determinants of molds and allergens in indoor air and house dust of French dwellings

“…Moreover, these authors also report a 1:100 ratio between culturable and nonculturable fungal material in house dust, thus suggesting that people in the investigated dwellings might be exposed to higher levels. Similarly, our results are slightly higher than those from (Choi et al, 2014), but show the same order of magnitude than those from (Jovanovic et al, 2004). These discrepancies may result from differences in sampling and analysis methods, as well as from the high geographical and temporal variability of mold concentrations.…”

Characterization of Fungal Communities in House Dust Samples Collected From Central Portugal—A Preliminary Survey

“…In the present survey one participant classified his home as "not humid at all" but indicated the presence of visible mold, whereas another one classified the house as very humid but with no visible mold ( households cannot be inferred from questionnaire answers, and should be quantitatively evaluated. The absence of a strong association between mold and number of OTU is also in accordance with recent results obtained by Choi et al (2014) that analyzed culturable fungi in indoor dust samples from children bedrooms in Sweden and reported no significant association with degree of mold. Generally, house type is regarded as an influential variable for indoor microbial communities (Chew et al, 2003).…”

Mold allergy revisited

“…Because ergosterol is nearly unique to fungi, its measurement has been used to estimate fungal load in house dust. 17 Airborne ergosterol correlates with airborne glucan; however, it is more highly correlated with the presence of visible mold.…”