Mushroom worker's lung: serologic reactions to thermophilic actinomycetes present in the air of compost tunnels.

Vast numbers of spores of the thermophilic actinomycetes Excellospora flexuosa, Thermomonospora alba, T. curvata and T. fusca were collected from the air in fermentation tunnels during the spawning of mushroom compost, i.e. over 10(9) CFU m-3 of air. Five different genera of fungi, namely, Aspergillus, Aureobasidium, Cladosporium, Penicillium and Scytalidium, were found at only 10(3) CFU m-3 of air. Agaricus bisporus, used for spawning, was absent. Sera of 10 mushroom growers affected by Mushroom Worker's Lung (MWL) were tested by a qualitative dot-ELISA for antibodies against the spores of these micro-organisms. All 10 were positive for one or more of the actinomycetes E. flexuosa, T. alba, T. curvata and T. fusca. No antibodies were found against Streptomyces thermovulgaris, Thermoactinomyces vulgaris and T. sacchari nor against the fungi Aspergillus fumigatus, Penicillium brevicompactum, P. chrysogenum, Scytalidium thermophilum and Trichoderma viride. Sera of 11 of 14 workers engaged in routine spawning of compost in tunnels reacted positively with 1 or more of the actinomycetes. Their 10log serum titres increased with the duration of employment to an upper limit of 2.5. The sera of 19 non-exposed individuals were negative. Because high numbers of spores of E. flexuosa, T. alba, T. curvata and T. fusca were present in the air that was used for successful inhalation provocation of mushroom workers with MWL and because of the elevated serum titres of these workers, we presume these organisms to contribute in the occurrence of MWL.

Mushroom worker's lung. Detection of antibodies against Shii-take (Lentinus edodes) spore antigens in Shii-take workers.

Indoor cultivation of the edible mushroom Shii-take (Lentinus edodes) regularly leads to symptoms of mushroom worker's lung (MWL) in workers. An immunologic test is described allowing detection of IgG type antibodies against Shii-take spore antigens. It was found that MWL patients employed in Shii-take picking (n = 5) have significantly increased antibody titres against Shii-take spore antigens. Different control groups, viz, MWL patients employed in the cultivation of the white button mushroom Agaricus bisporus (n = 14) and of the oyster mushroom Pleurotus spp (n = 3), patients with Bechterew's syndrome (n = 7), sarcoidosis (n = 7), rheumatoid arthritis (n = 9), and healthy controls were found in the same range of low titres. The use of protective masks during picking reduced complaints of the workers (n = 14). However, their antibody titres increased with duration of employment despite the protection.

Age and skill differences in adaptive competence.

Previous research has documented qualitative changes in certain cognitive abilities during the older adult years, such as in short-term memory, perceptual and motor skills, and attentional capacities. Other work has suggested that a number of significant age-related changes, across a variety of cognitive abilities, are based on social experiences, such as occupational or recreational activities. The current study is based on earlier research by Perlmutter and her colleagues (1990) and examines age and skill-related differences among adults engaged in a social-recreational activity. BINGO players, ranging in age from nineteen to seventy-four, and having from less than two months to over twenty years of playing experience, were given a variety of psychometric, cognitive, and experimental measures. The participants were also observed as they played real BINGO games. No age-related differences were found on the psychometric or memory measures, suggesting that BINGO playing experience may have positive benefits for many older adults. Skilled players at all age levels were found to be more efficient in their game-playing actions. The oldest and most experienced players did not differ from the younger, equally experienced, players on the cognitive and skill-based tasks. These findings demonstrate the need to investigate adaptive competence in those situations in which social-environmental factors play a role in enhancing older adults' cognitive skills.