Dispersion and allergenic manifestations ofalternariaairspora

A study of fungal airspora at Lucknow (26.55 N-80.59 E) in the University Campus, using a locally fabricated aeroscope for three consecutive years, starting from November 1982 to October 1984 resulted in the identification of 25 spore types. The genus Alternaria recorded highest spore count (15.30%) followed by Cladosporium (10.02%), Fusarium (8.17%), Helminthosporium (7.35%) and Curvularia (7.03%) in decreasing order. The annual spore count of Alternaria in three consecutive years was 1788, 1897 and 1625, with a monthly range of 135–158 spores. The colonies of Alternaria obtained in petridishes by gravity method during the same time, belonged to six species; Alternaria alternata, A. brassicae, A. brassicicola, A. citri, A. humicola and A. pluriseptata. On the basis of their occurrence throughout the year, the species have been categorized in three groups. The three species A. alternata, A. humicola and A. pluriseptata, which were reported as causal agents of onychomycosis were investigated for their allergenic manifestations also.