MICROBIAL EXPOSURE AND MOLD SPECIFIC SERUM IGG LEVELS OF SYMTOMATIC SCHOOLCHILDREN

摘要

The association between serum mold-specific IgG levels of 181 primary schoolchildren with asthma or wheezing or cough symptoms and the microbial exposure were determined. The study was conducted in a school with mold damage and in another without such damage. Microbial exposure was characterized with environmental sampling. Serum IgG antibody concentrations to 20 microbial strains were determined with ELISA. There was an association between elevated serum IgG levels to Penicillium notatum and moisture damage in the school. In addition, moisture damage when present both in school and at home was associated with elevated IgG levels to Penicillium notatum and Eurotium amstelodami. These observations were in concordance with microbial findings in the index school. No other positive associations between IgG antibodies and microbial findings of the school buildings were observed; in fact, the microbe-specific IgG levels of children were often higher in the reference school.