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Updated: Aug 8, 2026
Histological Quantification to Determine Lung Fungal Burden in Experimental Aspergillosis
Published on: March 9, 2018
Correlations between clinical and laboratory findings in patients investigated for aspergillosis
Refa't A Sadeq1, Ashwak M Abutaleb, Heba A Mohtady
1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt.
Abstract:
We investigated 120 patients suspected clinically to have pulmonary aspergillosis with different clinical manifestations "aspergilloma (Subgroup A), allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (Subgroup B) and invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (Subgroup C)" and correlated between their clinical and laboratory findings and endogenous specific aflatoxin production. They were subjected to isolation of Aspergillus strains, measurement of serum total IgE and specific Aspergillus IgG by ELISA and identification of aflatoxin producing Aspergillus strains using fluorescence analysis of spectroline. Aspergillus was isolated from 45 patients (37.5%). Subgroup A had a negative statistically non-significant correlation between clinical and laboratory findings as regard total IgE and for Aspergillus IgG (only haemoptysis &weight loss had significant correlation with aspergillus IgG). Subgroup B & Subgroup C had positive, statistically significant correlation &negative statistically non significant correlation respectively as regard all clinical findings and both total IgE & serum IgG. This study also showed that 6 Aspergillus strains out of 45(13.3%) produced endogenous aflatoxin. It is concluded that a significant correlation that exists between clinical and serological findings in allergic pulmonary aspergillosis. Aflatoxins may be produced in vivo by strains of Aspergillus and may result in manifestations similar to those caused by ingestion of aflatoxin in food.
Insights
This study found a significant correlation between clinical and serological findings in allergic pulmonary aspergillosis. Aspergillus strains can produce aflatoxins in vivo, potentially mimicking food-related aflatoxin exposure.
Area of Science:
- Medical Mycology
- Clinical Immunology
Background:
- Pulmonary aspergillosis presents with diverse clinical manifestations.
- Endogenous aflatoxin production by Aspergillus species is not well understood in relation to disease pathology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between clinical and laboratory findings and endogenous aflatoxin production in patients with suspected pulmonary aspergillosis.
- To differentiate correlations across aspergilloma, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, and invasive pulmonary aspergillosis.
Main Methods:
- Clinical assessment and laboratory analysis of 120 patients.
- Isolation of Aspergillus strains, measurement of serum total IgE and Aspergillus IgG via ELISA.
- Identification of aflatoxin-producing Aspergillus strains using fluorescence analysis.
Main Results:
- Aspergillus was isolated from 37.5% of patients.
- Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis showed a significant positive correlation between clinical findings and serological markers (IgE, IgG).
- 13.3% of isolated Aspergillus strains produced endogenous aflatoxin.
Conclusions:
- A significant correlation exists between clinical and serological findings in allergic pulmonary aspergillosis.
- Endogenous aflatoxin production in vivo by Aspergillus may contribute to disease manifestations.
