Prevalence of Alternaria alternata sensitization and culture positivity among asthmatic patients in Tanta University Hospitals | ||
| Microbes and Infectious Diseases | ||
| Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 01 November 2025 | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/mid.2025.414455.3120 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Hebatallah Ezzeldin Mohamed Ibrahim* 1; Mina Samy Messiha1; Dalia Ezzat Elsharawy2; Maha Salah Elnady1 | ||
| 1Medical Microbiology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Egypt | ||
| 2Chest Diseases Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Egypt. | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Background: Fungi rank as the fourth most prevalent source of sensitization in allergic respiratory conditions, following pollens, house dust mites, and animal dander. Alternaria alternata and its principal allergen are among the most clinically significant. Subcutaneous immunotherapy with Alternaria extracts has shown improvement in asthma symptoms, decreased IgE, and increased IgG levels. Objectives: To assess the impact of A. alternata on lower respiratory tract hypersensitivity reactions, including bronchial asthma, and to measure serum total and specific IgE against A. alternata in asthmatics at the Chest Diseases Department, Tanta University Hospitals. Methods: A hospital-based, non-randomized case-control study was performed including 80 patients with lower respiratory tract hypersensitivity responses and 80 controls. Sputum samples were examined microscopically and cultured for fungal identification. Total serum IgE and specific IgE levels against prevalent inhalant molds were assessed. Results: Fungal allergy was more prevalent in severe asthma, particularly in difficult-to-treat and genuine severe categories, suggesting a significant correlation between fungal sensitization and disease severity. Allergy to A. alternata, either in isolation or alongside other fungal allergies, was in 4% of asthmatics, namely in those with moderate to severe asthma, with a marginally elevated prevalence in the difficult-to-treat cohort. Overall fungal allergy prevalence across all asthma severities was 10%. Sensitization against Candida albicans, Penicillium notatum, Cladosporium herbarum, and Aspergillus fumigatus were in 6% of asthmatics. Conclusion: Fungal allergens, particularly A. alternata, may contribute to asthma severity. Despite low culture positivity, specific IgE sensitization strongly correlated with more severe asthma, especially in difficult-to-treat and true severe cases. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Alternaria alternata; Alt a1; hypersensitivity reactions; bronchial asthma; inhalant mold | ||
|
Statistics Article View: 7 |
||
