[Anemophilous fungi: viability and allergenicity]

Three strains of anemophilous fungi (Alternaria, Rhizopus and Monilia) from different genera were studied. We found that the liquid Sabouraud and culture media used in this study lost nutrients after seven days of strain growth, without affecting their viability. This was proven when the fungi were reseeded at 15 and 60 days. Extracts from supposedly sensible patients were developed using intradermoreaction skin tests, finding no significant differences among the results obtained from these tests. We recommended further studies with more prolonged growth periods (90, 120, 180 or more days) to see whether this incides on the viability and allergenicity of the anemophilous fungi.