Seasonal fluctuations of airborne fungal allergens

Abstract

A Burkard jet spore sampler was set up as a volumetric ‘viable’ spore trap at two alpine sites of lower (582/872 m) and two sites of higher altitude (1905/1960 m). A total of 46 fungal genera or groups were identified, and the seasonal fluctuations of eighteen of the most frequent fungi at low altitude plotted as a ‘spore calendar’. Total yearly colony counts at high altitudes were only 23·1% of those at low altitude. The dominant genera at the four sites indicate an ‘alpine type’ of airspora with Epicoccum Aureobasidium and Phoma predominating, with Alternaria and Botrytis of minor importance. Genera, such as Gonatobotrys, Spiniger, Syncephalastrum and Wallemia , which have never previously been detected in aerobiological surveys, were recorded. The results provide valuable information for diagnosis, therapy and prophylaxis of allergic diseases.