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Extrinsic allergic alveolitis induced by the yeast Debaryomyces Hansenii

¹ First Dept of Medicine, Asahikawa Medical College and ² Dept of Respiratory Medicine, National Douhoku Hospital, Hanasaki, Asahikawa, Japan

CORRESPONDENCE: Y. Yamamoto, First Dept of Medicine, Asahikawa Medical College, 2-1-1-1, Midorigaoka-Higashi, Asahikawa, 078-8510, Japan. Fax: 81 166682449. E-mail: yasushiy@asahikawa.hosp.go.jp

Keywords: air conditioning, alveolitis, extrinsic allergic, inhalation exposure, Debaryomyces Hansenii

Received: April 13, 2002
Accepted April 29, 2002

Abstract

A 65-yr-old female developed cough, fever and dyspnoea following repeated exposure to a home ultrasonic humidifier. High-resolution computed tomography showed ground-glass opacity in both lung fields. Arterial blood gas analysis gave an oxygen tension of 8.38 kPa (63 Torr). Pulmonary function testing revealed restrictive ventilatory impairment with a reduction in the diffusing capacity. The diagnosis of extrinsic allergic alveolitis (EAA) was confirmed by radiographic findings, pathological evidence of alveolitis and reproductive development by a provocation test to the humidifier water. The yeast Debaryomyces Hansenii was the only microorganism cultured from the water of the humidifier. The double diffusion precipitating test and lymphocyte proliferative response was positive for an extract of D. Hansenii, providing evidence to incriminate this fungus. This is the first described case of EAA caused by D. Hansenii.

Extrinsic allergic alveolitis (EAA) is an immunologically mediated lung disease resulting from exposure to inhaled organic dusts 1. Fungi represent a large source of antigens capable of causing EAA, including Alternaria, Aspergillus, and Penicillium 2. The yeast Debaryomyces Hansenii appears as a further dominant species in indoor air samplings 3, whereas it has not been described as an aero-antigen for EAA. The first case of EAA induced by D. Hansenii, which contaminated a home ultrasonic humidifier, is reported here.

Case presentation

A 65-year-old female was admitted to Asahikawa Medical College Hospital because of nonproductive cough, dyspnoea and fever. She had no suggestive history of atopy and had never smoked. No pets were kept in her house. She had a low-grade fever together with evidence of sinus tachycardia, tachypnoea and bibasilar fine crackles. A chest radiograph revealed an increase in lung density predominantly on the left lower fields. High-resolution chest computed tomography demonstrated ground-glass opacity and fine nodules (fig. 1).

View larger version (147K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig. 1.— High-resolution chest computed tomography scan showing ground-glass opacity and fine nodules predominantly on the lower lung fields.

Following treatment with antibiotics, her symptoms and objective findings improved within 1 week. On the twelfth day of hospitalisation, she left the hospital to stay overnight at her home. Approximately 6 h after returning home, her illness was reproduced. Following her return to hospital on the next day, fever and cough were spontaneously resolved without any specific treatments. A series of recurrent episodes with a self-limiting course led to a presumptive diagnosis of EAA. On close questioning, she recalled that an ultrasonic home humidifier was employed in her living room prior to the first onset of her illness. She had used it every day except during hospitalisation periods, without cleaning of the water reservoir.

To confirm a reproductive development of EAA by the humidifier, a provocation test was performed. With the humidifier operating at her bedside, the patient was exposed to the humidifier mist for 1 h in the closed room (fig. 2).

View larger version (16K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig. 2.— Result of bronchial provocation test by inhalation of humidifier water. The carbon monoxide diffusing capacity of the lung (open circles), forced expiratory volume in one second (closed circles), and forced vital capacity (open squares) decreased maximally at 4–8 h after provocation. Elevation in body temperature, leucocytosis and corresponding hypoxia were also observed. Solid arrow: control; dashed arrow: provocation. 0 h: body temperature (BT°C): 36.1, WBC·mm–3: 7,940, oxygen tension in arterial blood (Pa,O2): 9.86 kPa (74.1 Torr); 4 h: BT°C: 37.5, white blood cell count (WBC·mm–3): 7,520, Pa,O2: 8.09 kPa (60.8 Torr); 8 h: BT°C: 38.1, WBC·mm–3: 19,830, Pa,O2: 8.37 kPa (62.9 Torr); 24 h: BT°C: 38.8, WBC·mm–3: 16,200, Pa,O2: 8.63 kPa (64.9 Torr).

Samplings obtained from the humidifier water in the reservoir were cultured with potato dextrose and heart-infusion agar. The yeast D. Hansenii was isolated from the culture plate colonies. No other fungus and bacteria could be identified. Purified polysaccharide antigen was extracted from the colonies to detect a serum-precipitating antibody. Ouchterlony double diffusion tests showed striking precipitin bands in response to both the humidifier water and D. Hansenii extract. In contrast, her serum did not show any precipitin reactions against the following antigens: Thermoactinomyces vulgaris, Micropolyspora faeni, Cephalosporium, Aspergillus, and Pigeon droppings. A lymphocyte proliferative response test for peripheral blood cells was also positive for the D. Hansenii extract.

The diagnosis of EAA was confirmed by: the presence of repeated symptoms after exposure, antibody detection in serum, radiographical findings, pathological evidence of alveolitis, and positive inhalation challenge test 4. She was discharged after removal of the humidifier from her home. Her symptoms improved dramatically, and there was no repeated exacerbation.

Discussion

Humidifying or ventilatory systems in buildings are occasionally contaminated with thermophilic microorganisms, resulting in the development of EAA 2. Examination of the recent literature on ventilation-associated EAA revealed an ultrasonic humidifier to be the major origin of antigenic agents 5–8. However, there have been few reports successfully identifying the antigens responsible. Similarly to previous reports, the present case was not associated with thermophilic microorganisms, because the ultrasonic humidifier generated aerosols without heating. This suggests that other potent antigen(s) can induce EAA associated with the use of an ultrasonic humidifier. A wide variety of specific IgG antibodies are detected in the patients with humidifier lung, indicating that no single microorganism can be implicated in the aetiology 9. To the best of the authors knowledge the present report is the first well-documented case of Debaryomyces-induced EAA.

D. Hansenii is characterised by high tolerability to osmotic stress; thus, it can survive in an aquatic environment 10. The optimal growth temperature ranges from 25–30°C 11. In view of these biological features of Debaryomyces, the environment in the water reservoir of the ultrasonic humidifier seemed to be suitable for its growth. Although air sampling from the patient's house was not performed, it is speculated that maintaining the humidifier in a mouldy environment might lead to gross contamination with Debaryomyces, resulting in extensive exposure to the present patient.

The genus Debaryomyces is normally a nonpathogenic yeast classified to the Ascomycetes 12. D. Hansenii has rarely been isolated from humans, with the only case of bone infection being demonstrated in an immunocompetent host 11. Therefore, the question can be raised as to why D. Hansenii is capable of inducing sensitisation and development of EAA. The genus Saccharomyces, belonging to the Ascomycetes, is known to produce allergic respiratory symptoms due to the intrinsic enzyme enolase 13. The most likely explanation is that Debaryomyces may also release some allergens such as intrinsic enzymes, polysaccharides and mycotoxin on the patient's distal airway and alveolus 14.

Most patients with EAA have lymphocytes that respond to antigen-induced blastogenesis in their peripheral blood 15 and BAL fluid 16. This fact indicates that cell-mediated immunity may play an important role in the pathogenesis of EAA. Debaryomyces extract also induced a proliferative effect on the patient's peripheral lymphocytes, suggesting that Debaryomyces could initiate a cell-mediated hypersensitivity response. Furthermore, the presence of serum-precipitating antibody against Debaryomyces was a supportive finding for antigen identification 4, 17. Finally, the reproduction by a provocation test, with an exposure to aerosol originating from the causative humidifier was confirmed. Although an inhalation challenge by Debaryomyces extract was not undertaken, due to unexpected risks, the authors believe that these findings provide evidence to incriminate Debaryomyces.

This case highlights Debaryomyces Hansenii as a newly recognised antigen. To conclude, an investigation into Debaryomyces should be considered in cases where there is a failure to detect the common antigens in extrinsic allergic alveolitis.

References

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