Epidemiologic studies relating thermophilic fungi and hypersensitivity lung syndromes.

Abstract

This study reviews the potential relationship between exposure to thermophilic actinomycetes and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Two hundred and seventy-two subjects were studied; they included 85 symptomatic subjects, 96 related control subjects, and 91 nonrelated control subjects: Positive cultures for Thermoactinomyces vulgaris were found in 69 of 93 suspect homes (74 per cent) and in 32 of 64 control homes (50 per cent) (difference significant). The suspect subjects, by definition, ·had a greater incidence of respiratory symptoms than all other groups. Precipitating antibodies against various thermophilic antigens were found with higher frequency among symptomatic sub­ jects (P < 0.01). No direct correlation was found among symptoms, wentgenographic findings, and the presence of precipitating antibodies.