Diagnosis of HP by Bunashimeji spores
HP was diagnosed by the following criteria:
(1) episodes of cough, dyspnoea and fever occurring some hours after work
(2) auscultatory evidence of crepitations
(3) diffuse reticulonodular opacities on chest radiograph or computer tomography
(4) pulmonary function test revealing a reduction in vital capacity, carbon monoxide
diffusing capacity, and arterial PaO2
(5) presence of serum precipitins to Bunashimeji and no precipitins to
the antigens of Micropolyspora faeni and Thermoactinomyces vulgaris
(6) positive result for in vitro blastogenesis
of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) lymphocytes to the mushroom antigens
(7) an increased number of T-lymphocyte in BALF
(8) the presence on a trans bronchial biopsy of bronchiolitis and interstitial pneumonitis,frequently with granuloma formation;
(9) resolution of the episodic respiratory symptoms after cessation of
exposure the spore of Bunashimeji.