Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., Volume 163, Number 7, June 2001, 1534-1539

Role of Molds in Farmer's Lung Disease in Eastern France

GABRIEL REBOUX, RENAUD PIARROUX, FRÉDÉRIC MAUNY, ANNE MADROSZYK, LAURENCE MILLON, KARINE BARDONNET, and JEAN-CHARLES DALPHIN

Departments of Mycology, Public Health, and Respiratory Disease, University Hospital, Besançon, France

Farmer's lung disease (FLD) is common in the east of France. In the absence of the primary recognized FLD agent, Saccharopolyspora rectivirgula, its etiology remains unknown. A prospective case-control study was performed to find the etiology of FLD in this area. Eleven patients were matched with 11 healthy control farmers. Twenty-two urban subjects constituted the nonexposed control group. Microorganisms from cowshed air and fodder were identified and counted. The antigens of the microorganisms most frequently isolated at the 22 farms were used for serological tests. Farms of patients with FLD contained more Absidia corymbifera than those of healthy farmers (p < 0.05 in air, p < 0.01 in fodder). Electrosyneresis, performed with A. corymbifera somatic antigen, differentiated 9 of 11 patients with FLD from control subjects (p < 0.01). Other significant results were obtained with Eurotium amstelodami (p < 0.01) and Wallemia sebi (p < 0.05). In contrast, no significant results were obtained with the other seven antigens tested, including S. rectivirgula. Absidia corymbifera and, to a lesser degree, W. sebi or E. amstelodami are likely to be the main causes of FLD in this area. Modifications in working conditions over time could explain the emergence of these new contributing etiologies.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Funke and J-M. Fellrath Hypersensitivity pneumonitis secondary to lovebirds: a new cause of bird fancier's disease Eur. Respir. J., August 1, 2008; 32(2): 517 - 521. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Guarro, H. C. Gugnani, N. Sood, R. Batra, E. Mayayo, J. Gene, and S. Kakkar Subcutaneous Phaeohyphomycosis Caused by Wallemia sebi in an Immunocompetent Host J. Clin. Microbiol., March 1, 2008; 46(3): 1129 - 1131. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Reboux, R. Piarroux, S. Roussel, L. Millon, K. Bardonnet, and J.-C. Dalphin Assessment of four serological techniques in the immunological diagnosis of farmers' lung disease J. Med. Microbiol., October 1, 2007; 56(10): 1317 - 1321. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. A Hoppin, D. M Umbach, G. J Kullman, P. K Henneberger, S. J London, M. C R Alavanja, and D. P Sandler Pesticides and other agricultural factors associated with self-reported farmer's lung among farm residents in the Agricultural Health Study Occup. Environ. Med., May 1, 2007; 64(5): 334 - 341. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C-M. Fenoglio, G. Reboux, B. Sudre, M. Mercier, S. Roussel, J-F. Cordier, R. Piarroux, and J-C. Dalphin Diagnostic value of serum precipitins to mould antigens in active hypersensitivity pneumonitis Eur. Respir. J., April 1, 2007; 29(4): 706 - 712. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Q.-Y. Zeng, S.-O. Westermark, A. Rasmuson-Lestander, and X.-R. Wang Detection and Quantification of Wallemia sebi in Aerosols by Real-Time PCR, Conventional PCR, and Cultivation Appl. Envir. Microbiol., December 1, 2004; 70(12): 7295 - 7302. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S Roussel, G Reboux, J-C Dalphin, K Bardonnet, L Millon, and R Piarroux Microbiological evolution of hay and relapse in patients with farmer's lung Occup. Environ. Med., January 1, 2004; 61(1): e3 - 3. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. Lacasse, M. Selman, U. Costabel, J.-C. Dalphin, M. Ando, F. Morell, R. Erkinjuntti-Pekkanen, N. Muller, T. V. Colby, M. Schuyler, et al. Clinical Diagnosis of Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., October 15, 2003; 168(8): 952 - 958. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Z. Wu, Y. Tsumura, G. Blomquist, and X.-R. Wang 18S rRNA Gene Variation among Common Airborne Fungi, and Development of Specific Oligonucleotide Probes for the Detection of Fungal Isolates Appl. Envir. Microbiol., September 1, 2003; 69(9): 5389 - 5397. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. DOUWES, P. THORNE, N. PEARCE, and D. HEEDERIK Bioaerosol Health Effects and Exposure Assessment: Progress and Prospects Ann. Hyg., April 1, 2003; 47(3): 187 - 200. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S J Bourke, J E Calvert, C I Baldwin, and S Worthy Occupational extrinsic allergic alveolitis Imaging, March 1, 2003; 15(1): 23 - 30. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. J. TOBIN Tuberculosis, Lung Infections, Interstitial Lung Disease, and Socioeconomic Issues in AJRCCM 2001 Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., March 1, 2002; 165(5): 631 - 641. [Full Text] [PDF]