Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis in a cane-sugar mill

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis is reported in two (1.5%) of 131 workers occupationally exposed to Aspergillus fumigatus at the U.D. Sugar Mills, Shamli. Twelve of the workers revealed Type I (9.2%) and three (2.8%) Type III skin hypersensitivity against with fungus. Serum preciptins were demonstrated in two out of 44 workers and positive sputum cultures in 26 out of 58 workers. It is suggested that constitutional predisposition of the host may be a more important factor than the extent of exposure to the fungus in the development of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis.