Asthma due to African zebrawood (Microberlinia) dust

Inhalation of wood dusts can cause immediate and late onset asthma. The list of woods responsible for such reactions is continually increasing. We report a patient with asthma induced by exposure to the dust of African zebrawood (genus Microberlinia). Sensitivity to this dust was confirmed by immediate skin-test reactivity, a positive bronchial challenge, and a positive radio allergo-sorbent test to an aqueous extract. The bronchial response was inhibited by sodium cromoglycate. Unexposed persons did not exhibit skin or bronchial reactivity.