The Scedosporium apiospermum species complex: seroprevalence in patients with cystic fibrosis and clinical relevance

Species of the Scedosporium apiospermum complex are emerging fungal pathogens widely recognized now as causing chronic colonization of the airways in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Some recent studies performed in Canada 1 and France 2 suggested that the chronic colonization of the airways by another fungal pathogen, Aspergillus fumigatus, may contribute to the progressive deterioration of the lung function observed in some patients. We studied retrospectively the seroprevalence of the S. apiospermum species complex, as a marker of close contact between patient and the fungi, in a large monocentric cohort of CF patients attended in the reference centre in Lyon, France, and evaluated the clinical parameters associated with seropositivity. RESULTS: Serum samples from 373 CF patients were analysed. Serum antibodies against the S. apiospermum species complex were detected in 35 patients (9.4% of studied population). In multivariate analysis, seropositivity to the S. apiospermum species complex was associated only with seropositivity to A. fumigatus. CONCLUSIONS: This study does not suggest an association between sensitization against the S. apiospermum species complex and poorer lung function in patients with CF. Nevertheless, prospective studies are needed to evaluate more precisely the impact of both seropositivity to this species complex and its impact on the airway colonization by these fungi and on evolution of the lung function in patients with CF and the course of the disease