[Fungal flora in houses (author's transl)]

In certain cases, allergic respiratory phenomena appear to be connected with a particular dwelling place. This observations, if it is not explained by a specific allergen (eg. an animal), raises the possible contribution of domestic moulds. The author shows the results of a study on domestic moulds in 65 houses in the Bouches-du-Rhône by culture on Petri dishes. The species most often detected were Cladosporium, Penicillium, Aspergillus, Alternaria. In some houses identical fungi were found to those in the atmosphere, in others greater numbers were found inside than outside. The study of fungal spores is of great interest; it gives an idea of their numerical importance which can be considerable; in addition besides those fungi which are present in the routine battery of tests, it may show other species that should perhaps be considered in the diagnostic aetiology.