ABSTRACT
Fungi produce large amount of spores, which get into the air stream soon after liberation from the source plants. It is estimated that Puccinia graminis in a wheat field can produce at least 25 million uredospores per square metre. The indoor environmental sources of fungi have been investigated and identified by several researchers. Fungi Imperfecti are the most important class of fungi in causing immunoglobulin E mediated allergy. Aspergillus species are most abundant in indoor as well as outdoor environment and are known to be the prime aetiological agent in broncho-pulmonary aspergillosis. The knowledge obtained from an atmospheric survey of fungal aeroallergens is useful in compiling spore calendars and prediction models of airborne fungal spore occurrence. Allergy practitioners should keep a close watch on the fungal spore calendar, which well help in selecting antigenic extracts of fungal aeroallergens for skin testing to assess allergenicity.
