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The article presents the results of the study which determines whether specific molds were found in significantly higher concentrations in the water-damaged homes of asthmatic children compared to the homes with no visible water damage in Cleveland, Ohio. The researchers used the mold-specific quantitative polymerase chain reaction to measure the mold concentrations in the asthmatic children's bedrooms located in water-damaged and control homes. It was discovered that the molds Scopulariopsis brevicaulis and Trichoderma viride had higher concentrations in the dwellings of asthmatic kids.

Fungal concentrations were measured in the dust of 6 homes in Cleveland, Ohio, where an infant developed pulmonary hemorrhage (pulmonary hemorrhage homes [PHH]) and 26 reference homes (RH) with no known fungal contamination. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays for 82 species (or assay groups) were used to identify and quantify fungal concentrations. The ratios of the geometric means of PHH to RH were > 1 for 26 species (group I). However, the same ratios were <1 for 10 species (group II). Probit analysis of the sum of the logs of the concentrations of these 2 groups resulted in a 95% probability range for separating PHH from RH homes. The same 82 fungal species were also tested for hemolysin production on sheep's blood agar (incubated at 37°C). Hemolysins were more commonly produced by group I species (42%) compared with group II species (10%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]