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Cladosporium is one of the most widespread mould. It includes about 40 species naturally found in soil, on decaying plant material and as plant pathogens. Several studies conducted in Europe and North America have shown that Cladosporium spores are present in the outdoor environment throughout the year. However, concentrations are very low in winter. In summer, daily peaks may range from 2,000 to 50,000 spores per cubic meter of air. Concentrations of Cladosporium species in indoor air is influenced by outdoor concentrations and indoor growth sources.
Common species of Cladosporium in Indoor Environment
In indoor environment, Cladosporium spp. occur as secondary wall colonizers after the primary ones such as Penicillium species, Aspergillus versicolor and Wallemia sebi. Cladosporium is very common on wet building material e.g., gypsum board, acrylic painted walls, wood, wallpaper, carpet and mattress dust, HVAC fans, and wet insulation in mechanical cooling units.
The four most common species include:
- Cladosporium herbarum. An exceedingly common organism, found on dead herbaceous and woody plants, textiles, rubber, paper, and foodstuffs of all kinds. Indoors, it is found in floor, carpet and mattress dust; damp acrylic painted walls, wallpaper; HVAC insulation, filters and fans. Cladosporium herbarum is frequently by far the most prominent mould in air-spora. It grows over a wide range of temperatures, and has frequently been reported causing spoilage of meat in cold storage.
- Cladosporium sphaerospermum. This frequently encountered species has been isolated from air, soil, gypsum board, acrylic painted walls, painted wood, wallpaper, carpet and mattress dust, HVAC fans, wet insulation in mechanical cooling units, foodstuffs, paint and textiles.
- Cladosporium cladosporioides. A cosmopolitan species which has been isolated from meat, soil, air, textiles and paint.
- Cladosporium macrocarpum. A cosmopolitan species which has been isolated from dead plants, soil, indoor air, apple juice concentrates and seeds.
The Significance of Cladosporium in Indoor Air Quality
Species of Cladosporium are not human pathogens except in some cases of immuno-compromised patients.  However, Cladosporium species have the ability to trigger allergic reactions to sensitive individuals. Prolonged exposure to elevated spore concentrations can elicit chronic allergy and asthma. Concentrations of 3000 Cladosporium spores per cubic meter of air are generally taken as the threshold concentrations for clinical significance. However, individuals may react at lower concentrations depending on their sensitivity. Spores of Cladosporium are formed in simple or branched loose chains. They vary greatly in size (5-40 x 3-13 µm) and shape (ovoid, lemon-shaped, oblong, spherical). They are easily detected in spore traps, although small single celled spores may be easily mistaken for spores of other moulds. Only the small sized spores (about 0.6% of total airborne spores of Cladosporium) can penetrate into the terminal bronchi and alveoli in humans.
What is the Mechanism of Sensitization?
Cladosporium herbarum is the most important allergenic species. The most important allergens that have been reported from this species are Cla h 1 (Ag-32) and Cla h 2 (Ag-54). However research has shown that strains of Cladosporium herbarum differ in the content of these allergens. Sensitization is believed to occur through inhalation of dried mycelia in house dust or inhalation of spores from outdoor or indoor sources that contain the allergens. None of the allergens identified so far are spore specific.
Conclusion
Regular detection, quantification and characterization of moulds in living and working environments are essential for exposure risk assessment to safe guard public health. Thus, monitoring Cladosporium spore concentration in indoor environments is important for indoor air quality control.
References
- Peternel R, Culig J, Hrga I: Atmospheric concentrations of Cladosporium spp. and Alternaria spp. spores in Zagreb (Croatia) and effects of some meteorological factors. Ann Agric Environ Med 2004, 11, 303-307.
- Flanning Brian, Samson, Robert A., and Miller, David J (Ed.). Microorganisms in home and indoor work environments: Diversity, Health Impacts, Investigation and control. Taylor and Francis, 2001.
- Samson, R. A., Hoekstra, E. S. and Frisvad, J. C. (Edit.). Introduction to Food- and airborne Fungi, 6th edition. Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures, 2000.
- Piecková E, Jesenská Z: Microscopic fungi in dwellings and their health implications in
humans. Ann Agric Environ Med 1999, 6, 1–11.
- Bagni B, Davies RR, Mallea M, Nolard N, Spieksma FT, Stix E:
Sporenkonzentrationen in Städten der Europäischen Gemeinschaft (EG).
II Cladosporium und Alternaria Sporen. Acta Allergol 1977, 32, (English Abstract).
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Dr. Jackson Kung’u is a Microbiologist who has specialised in the field of mycology (the study of moulds and yeasts). He is a member of the Mycological Society of America. He graduated from the University of Kent at Canterbury, UK, with a Masters degree in Fungal Technology and a PhD in Microbiology. He has published several research papers in international scientific journals. Jackson has analysed thousands of mould samples from across Canada. Jackson provides how-to advice on mould and bacteria issues. Get more information about indoor mould and bacteria at http://www.moldbacteria.com.
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