Open AccessExtrinsic allergic alveolitis in a sawmill worker. A case report.
Author(s) -
E. O. Terho,
K Husman,
Marjut Kotimaa,
Tom Sjöblom
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of work, environment and health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.621
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1795-990X
pISSN - 0355-3140
DOI - 10.5271/sjweh.2627
Subject(s) - aspergillus , extrinsic allergic alveolitis , aspergillus fumigatus , serology , flora (microbiology) , precipitin , microbiology and biotechnology , spore , medicine , biology , immunology , bacteria , antibody , lung , genetics
Extrinsic allergic alveolitis, with acute attacks of the disease, developed in a sawmill worker. The diagnosis was based on the history of exposure to moldy wood, on the symptoms and clinical signs, and on physiological and radiographic findings. A microbiological analysis of the ambient air of the patient's work environment showed that the air contained a considerable number of spores, both of fungi and actinomycetes. The most common fungal genus was Aspergillus. Thermoactinomyces vulgaris predominated the actinomycetal flora. The patient's serum contained precipitins to Thermoactinomyces vulgaris and Aspergillus fumigatus. Based on the microbiological and serological data, it was concluded that the causative agent(s) of the disease was either T vulgaris or species of the genus Aspergillus.