[Mycogenic allergies (author's transl)]

The most common causes of mycogenic allergies of the respiratory tract are cladosporium-, aspergillus-, ustilago-, monilia- and alternaria-species. On the second place follow species of epicoccum and penicillium as well a some asco- and basidiomycetes. The majority of these germs represents banal molds whose natural habitat is predominantly the soil and the vegetable kingdom. Under the circumstances of civilisation, however, they may occur in the immediate human environment in enormous amounts (more than 10.000 spores/m3 of air). There are great differences in the quantity and distribution of the single germs with regard to the geographic, seasonal and economic situation. A survey of these aspects is given.