Penicillium and Aspergillus species in the habitats of allergy patients in the Tulsa, Oklahoma area

Penicillium and Aspergillus have been recognized as important aeroallergens for more than 30 years, and are especially significant in indoor environments. There are over 400 species of Penicillium and Aspergillus combined, but there is little information on which species occur most frequently in the environment, or if each exhibits unique allergenic properties. A preliminary study showed no overlap between those species isolated from an outdoor site in Tulsa, Oklahoma and the species used in immunotherapy at allergy clinics in the Tulsa area. Pursuing this line of research, air samples were collected as three seasonal samples (over a 6 month period) in the homes or offices of ten allergy patients known to be allergic to Penicillium and/or Aspergillus. Twenty three species of Penicillium and 12 species of Aspergillus were identified from these samples through isolation, macroscopic, and microscopic examination. Penicillium corylophilum, P. glabrum, Aspergillus niger, and A. flavipes were the most abundant species isolated, supporting the data obtained in a preliminary study. At least in the Tulsa area, it appears that atopic patients are being tested and treated with extracts of Penicillium and Aspergillus species that are either not present or not abundant in the local indoor or outdoor environments. Additional research is necessary to determine if the environmental isolates share allergens with those species used in immunotherapy. 9 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.