Diversity and Seasonal Dynamics of Airborne Fungi in Nerja Cave, Spain

Nerja Cave, Southern Spain, was revealed as an important biodiversity reservoir from which several novel species of Aspergillus were described. We carried out an aerobiological study in Nerja Cave to assess the origin of airborne fungi. This study quantified the fungi present in the air of ten representative halls covering the three sectors comprising the cave: Touristic Galleries, High Galleries, and New Galleries. Microclimatological monitoring allowed us to understand the dynamic of airborne fungi in two seasons of the year (winter and summer), corresponding to the strongest and the lowest cave ventilation, and to validate the influence that the transport of airborne fungi from outside may have on the cave itself. The data show that cold air enters in winter, as confirmed by the abundant presence of Aspergillus and Penicillium spores inside and outside the cave. In summer, the abundance of some fungi in the air of Nerja Cave, which are not detected outside, indicates a stagnation or low ventilation, and therefore, the concentration of fungal spores is maxima. The high occurrence of Cladosporium outside the cave and the scarce abundance inside support the cave stagnation in this season.

Extrinsic allergic alveolitis induced by spores of Penicillium in a salami factory worker

We report a case of subacute extrinsic allergic alveolitis due to occupational exposure to Penicillium spores in a 43-years old female working in a salami factory that developed a dry cough that gradually evolved to productive cough, shortness of breath, fatigue and body weight loss. Over time she complained of several episodes of flu-like symptoms that worsen around the periods in which she removed the excess mould from the surface of the salami a work. On admission, physical examination revealed crackles in both lungs on chest auscultation, pulmonary function tests showed a restrictive pattern with reduced diffusion capacity of carbon monoxide and imagistic tests identified centrilobular nodules of ground-glass opacity in both lung fields, particularly in the upper lobes. BAL showed lymphocytosis associated with neutrophilia, a pattern consistent with EAA. She was put on systemic corticosteroids and ceased exposure. The patient was compliant and after one year her medication was gradually withdrawn and in the absence of exposure, symptoms and pulmonary function normalized. The reported case had a favorable outcome due to relatively early detection and absence of exposure. Currently, the identification and removal of the causative agent remains the cornerstone of prevention, evolution and prognosis.