Penicillium allergic alveolitis: faulty installation of central heating.

Abstract

A married couple presented with an illness typical of allergic alveolitis. A careful search of their home revealed a leak in the central heating system with a heavy fungal growth on wet flooring and linoleum. Two species of Penicillium, P chrysogenum and P cyclopium, were isolated from floorboards, linoleum, and settle plates. Antibodies against both these fungi were demonstrated in the serum of both patients by an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Allergic alveolitis caused by P chrysogenum and P cyclopium has not been described previously.