Fungi Sensitization in Spain: Importance of the Species and Its Major Allergen Alt a 1 in the Allergenicity.

Prevalence of allergy to fungi is around 3-10%. The most prevalent species involved in sensitizations are and . Our main objective was to estimate the prevalence of fungal sensitization and its variation across Spain. Following the ICH-GCP, we recruited 1156 patients from 15 allergy departments in Spain. Hospitals were selected by bioclimatic areas. Patients underwent a skin prick test (SPT) with fungi, pollens, house dust mites, and animal dander. Specific IgE to and Alt a 1 was assessed in patients with positive SPT to fungi. Of the 233 patients (20.2%) sensitized to at least one of the five fungi tested, 162 (69.5%) were sensitized to and Alt a 1, of whom 113 (69.8%) were children; 181 (77.7%) were also polysensitized to other allergens. and Alt a 1 sensitization was present in 25.4% of patients in the Continental area, 12.0% in the Mediterranean area, 7.0% in the Semidesertic area, and 2.3% in the Oceanic area. Prevalence of sensitization to the other tested sources was 63.8% to pollens, 60.5% to house dust mite, and 38.1% to animal dander. We concluded that the prevalence of fungal allergy is increasing. Fungi are still the fourth source of allergen sensitization. sensitization is the most prevalent in allergic patients to fungi. Alt a 1 is present in almost 90% of the patients sensitized to