Occupational asthma caused by exposure to neurospora in a plywood factory worker. 1991

J Côté, and H Chan, and G Brochu, and M Chan-Yeung
Centre de Pneumologie, Hôpital Laval, Sainte-Foy, Québec, Canada.

A 24 year old man developed severe asthma two years after starting to work in a plywood plant. Four years later the patient had to stop working because of the increasing severity of his asthma. Three months after leaving his job, the patient's asthma was greatly improved. His job consisted of placing plywood sheets into a drying machine. The plywood sheets had stayed outside in wet conditions for at least four to six weeks and were usually covered with moulds. Drying the plywood sheets changed the mould into a fine orange powder. Exposure to this in the laboratory induced an isolated immediate asthmatic reaction. The same reaction was seen when the patient was challenged with an extract of the mould powder at a 0.1% w/v concentration. Skin prick test with the mould extract induced a weal and flare reaction and IgE antibodies against the dry mould powder were identified. A control patient with the same degree of bronchial hyperreactivity did not have any asthmatic reaction when challenged with the same mould extract. Culture of the dry mould powder on Sabouraud agar plates grew pure Neurospora sp. This mould has not been previously reported as a cause of occupational asthma. The immunological mechanism is probably related to an IgE mediated mast cell allergy.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007073 Immunoglobulin E An immunoglobulin associated with MAST CELLS. Overexpression has been associated with allergic hypersensitivity (HYPERSENSITIVITY, IMMEDIATE). IgE
D008297 Male Males
D009491 Neurospora A genus of ascomycetous fungi, family Sordariaceae, order SORDARIALES, comprising bread molds. They are capable of converting tryptophan to nicotinic acid and are used extensively in genetic and enzyme research. (Dorland, 27th ed) Neurosporas
D009784 Occupational Diseases Diseases caused by factors involved in one's employment. Diseases, Occupational,Occupational Illnesses,Disease, Occupational,Illnesse, Occupational,Illnesses, Occupational,Occupational Disease,Occupational Illnesse
D001985 Bronchial Provocation Tests Tests involving inhalation of allergens (nebulized or in dust form), nebulized pharmacologically active solutions (e.g., histamine, methacholine), or control solutions, followed by assessment of respiratory function. These tests are used in the diagnosis of asthma. Allergen Bronchial Provocation Tests,Allergen Challenge, Endobronchial,Antigen Bronchial Provocation Tests,Bronchial Allergen Challenge,Bronchial Challenge Tests,Inhalation Provocation Tests,Provocation Tests, Bronchial,Endobronchial Challenge Tests,Allergen Challenge, Bronchial,Allergen Challenges, Bronchial,Allergen Challenges, Endobronchial,Bronchial Allergen Challenges,Bronchial Challenge Test,Bronchial Provocation Test,Challenge Test, Bronchial,Challenge Test, Endobronchial,Challenge Tests, Bronchial,Challenge Tests, Endobronchial,Challenge, Bronchial Allergen,Challenge, Endobronchial Allergen,Challenges, Bronchial Allergen,Challenges, Endobronchial Allergen,Endobronchial Allergen Challenge,Endobronchial Allergen Challenges,Endobronchial Challenge Test,Inhalation Provocation Test,Provocation Test, Bronchial,Provocation Test, Inhalation,Provocation Tests, Inhalation,Test, Bronchial Challenge,Test, Bronchial Provocation,Test, Endobronchial Challenge,Test, Inhalation Provocation,Tests, Bronchial Challenge,Tests, Bronchial Provocation,Tests, Endobronchial Challenge,Tests, Inhalation Provocation
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D000485 Allergens Antigen-type substances that produce immediate hypersensitivity (HYPERSENSITIVITY, IMMEDIATE). Allergen
D000908 Antibodies, Fungal Immunoglobulins produced in a response to FUNGAL ANTIGENS. Fungal Antibodies
D001249 Asthma A form of bronchial disorder with three distinct components: airway hyper-responsiveness (RESPIRATORY HYPERSENSITIVITY), airway INFLAMMATION, and intermittent AIRWAY OBSTRUCTION. It is characterized by spasmodic contraction of airway smooth muscle, WHEEZING, and dyspnea (DYSPNEA, PAROXYSMAL). Asthma, Bronchial,Bronchial Asthma,Asthmas

Related Publications

J Côté, and H Chan, and G Brochu, and M Chan-Yeung
April 2016, Archivos de bronconeumologia,
J Côté, and H Chan, and G Brochu, and M Chan-Yeung
January 2013, Journal of occupational health,
J Côté, and H Chan, and G Brochu, and M Chan-Yeung
October 1997, The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology,
J Côté, and H Chan, and G Brochu, and M Chan-Yeung
May 2001, Allergy,
J Côté, and H Chan, and G Brochu, and M Chan-Yeung
January 1991, Krankenpflege Journal,
J Côté, and H Chan, and G Brochu, and M Chan-Yeung
January 1988, La Medicina del lavoro,
J Côté, and H Chan, and G Brochu, and M Chan-Yeung
January 2017, Dermatitis : contact, atopic, occupational, drug,
J Côté, and H Chan, and G Brochu, and M Chan-Yeung
February 1982, The Medical journal of Australia,
J Côté, and H Chan, and G Brochu, and M Chan-Yeung
January 2018, The journal of allergy and clinical immunology. In practice,
J Côté, and H Chan, and G Brochu, and M Chan-Yeung
January 2000, Duodecim; laaketieteellinen aikakauskirja,
Copied contents to your clipboard!