Forms of Aspergillosis

Abstract

Aspergilli are among the most numerous and most abundant of the saprophytic moulds, occurring on a wide variety of substrates, wherever vegetation decomposes. From these habitats their conidia disseminate on air currents. Opportunities are thus abundant for animal infection and it must be assumed that all terrestrial animals are continually exposed to all the commonest species of Aspergillus in their environment. Despite this only a handful of species commonly cause aspergillosis and it is tempting to look for ``virulence factors'' which might explain this feature.