Indoor fungal contamination of moisture-damaged and allergic patient housing analysed using real-time PCR.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of our study was to compare, using real-time (Rt) PCR, quantitative levels of five fungal species in three kinds of dwellings.


RESULTS
Three groups of homes were recruited: moisture-damaged homes (MDH, n = 30), allergic patient homes (APH, n = 25) and paired control homes (CH, n = 55). Five moulds with allergenic compounds or mycotoxin production characteristics (Cladosporium sphaerospermum, Penicillium chrysogenum, Aspergillus versicolor, Alternaria alternata and Stachybotrys chartarum) were quantified using Rt-PCR. Cycle threshold results were expressed in spore equivalent per volume or surface unit using a direct calculation based on a spore standard curve. MDH presented significantly higher amounts of DNA from C. sphaerospermum in both air and surface samples than CH (P < 0.001). APH presented slightly elevated amounts of DNA from A. versicolor in both air and surface samples, compared to CH (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Rt-PCR quantification of targeted fungal species is a rapid, reliable tool that could be included in a global indoor mould evaluation.


CONCLUSIONS
Quantification of C. sphaerospermum using Rt-PCR can help to better target social service intervention in MDH. Quantification of A. versicolor DNA could be informative for characterization of APH.
Bellanger
A-P
AP
Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Besançon, France.
Reboux
G
G
Roussel
S
S
Grenouillet
F
F
Didier-Scherer
E
E
Dalphin
J-C
JC
Millon
L
L
D015169:Colony Count, Microbial / Q000379:methods; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D005658:Fungi / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*