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Context: Allergic bronchopulmonary mycoses (ABPM) can be due to molds other than Aspergillus fumigatus in patients with cystic fibrosis (pwCF). We aimed to develop immunoassays for the detection of specific IgE (sIgE) directed against five fungal species involved in ABPM: Aspergillus terreus, Scedosporium apiospermum, Lomentospora prolificans, Rasamsonia argillacea, and Exophiala dermatitidis., Materials and Methods: Serum samples (n = 356) from 238 pwCF, collected in eight CF care centers in France, Germany, and Italy, were analyzed by dissociated enhanced lanthanide fluorescent immunoassay (DELFIA®) to assess levels of sIgE directed against antigenic extracts of each fungus. Clinical, biological, and radiological data were collected for each episode. One hundred serum samples from healthy blood donors were used as controls. Sera were classified into four groups depending on the level of sIgE according to the quartile repartition calculated for the pwCF population. A score of 4 for values above the 3rd quartile corresponds to an elevated level of sIgE., Results: PwCF showed higher levels of sIgE than controls. Based on criteria from the ABPA-ISHAM working group, with an additional criterion of "a sIgE score of 4 for at least one non-A. fumigatus mold", we were able to diagnose six cases of ABPM., Conclusions: Using 417 IU/mL as the threshold for total IgE and the same additional criterion, we identified seven additional pwCF with "putative ABPM". Detection of sIgE by DELFIA® showed good analytical performance and supports the role played by non-A. fumigatus molds in ABPM. However, commercially available kits usable in routine practice are needed to improve the diagnosis of ABPM., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Dairy farming is a risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The aim was to determine predictive markers either in blood samples or in dwelling dust samples by comparing COPD and healthy controls with or without farming activity. Dust was collected and analyzed by real-time quantitative PCR. ELISA and DELFIA® were performed to assay the level of specific IgG and IgE of 10 targeted microorganisms. The dwelling exposure of farmers was higher than in the non-farmers (Especially Eurotium amstelodami and Lichtheimia corymbifera ). The IgG response against Wallemia sebi and Saccharopolyspora rectivirgula was more often higher in the farmers than the non-farmers. However, exposure and sensitization to the microorganisms tested cannot explain the occurrence of COPD in the dairy farmers' population. COPD development is probably caused by multiple factors associated with exposure over a period of several years.

Very few studies have been conducted on cystic fibrosis (CF) patients' exposure to the indoor environment and, to our knowledge, there are no studies dealing with the link between specific fungal environmental exposure at home and fungal colonization resulting in allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA). Fungal exposure of CF adult patients with ABPA (n=4) with fungal sensitization (n=7) and with no ABPA (n=5) was assessed in 16 homes by dust sampling with electrostatic dust fall collectors (EDCs). Aspergillus fumigatus was specifically quantified by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reactions (qPCRs), and A. fumigatus DNA concentrations were significantly higher in homes of ABPA patients (p<0.001). Results indicate that indoor fungal contamination could be a factor favoring ABPA and suggest that environmental surveys could help in preventing fungal risk in CF patients., (Copyright © 2015 European Cystic Fibrosis Society. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Machine operator's lung (MOL) is a hypersensitivity pneumonitis the diagnosis of which is difficult. Our laboratory previously developed an ELISA test using recombinant antigens from Mycobacterium immunogenum isolated in French plant. The objective was to validate the previous ELISA results with ten new suspected cases from Germany., Methods: Two serological analyses were performed: ELISA with the six recombinant antigens, and electrosyneresis with crude antigens of M. immunogenum and three other main species isolated from contaminated metalworking fluids., Results: The two recombinant antigens acyl-CoA dehydrogenase and dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase, combined together, and electrosyneresis are useful in making the diagnosis regardless of the clinical and radiological data. Finally 9 out of the 10 suspected cases were declared as MOL., Conclusions: Despite the geographical distance, the crude and recombinant antigens produced to investigate the clustered French cases also proved to be useful in diagnosing the suspected cases in Germany., (© 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)