A 10-year aerobiological study (1994-2003) in the Mediterranean island of Crete, Greece: trees, aerobiologic data, and botanical and clinical correlations.

Pollen grains from the plant cover of a given area participate largely in the composition of aeroflora (pollen and molds) of this area. Association of allergic respiratory disorders with concentration of allergenic particles in the atmosphere is well documented, and aerobiologic studies are of great relevance. A 10-year volumetric aerobiologic study was conducted in the city of Heraklion, located in the center of the north-shore of the island of Crete, Greece. Main allergenic families and genera encountered were, in descending order of frequency Oleaceae, Quercus, Platanaceae, Cupressaceae, Pinaceae, Populus, Moraceae, and Corylaceae. Concentrations noted for most of these aeroallergens were much lower than those reported from other European regions. In parallel, an atopic population of 576 individuals, exhibiting allergic symptoms mainly of the respiratory tract were subjected to a battery of skin-prick tests. A fair degree of agreement between total pollen counts and positive skin-prick test frequencies for the families of Oleaceae, Platanaceae, and Cupressaceae was noted. On the contrary a poor degree of concordance was noted for the rest of the families and genera.     

Allergie aux pollens de Cyprès

Cupressaceae pollen allergy has increased in the Mediterranean region in recent decades. This allergy constitutes one of the few causes of respiratory allergy of winter. With regards to its clinical manifestations, rhinitis and conjunctivitis are more frequent than asthma. There has been a progressive increase in the total and annual concentration of Cupressaceae pollen, the reasons for which are the parallel increase in the planting of these trees and the global hothouse effect with the resulting climate change, both of which increase the production of pollen and their concentration in the ambient air. The effectiveness and safety of specific immunotherapy for Cupressaceae allergy were demonstrated some years ago in double-blind, controlled studies in which either traditional subcutaneous therapy or sublingual therapy were used.     

Cypress: a new plague for the Rhône-Alpes region?

Today the Cupressaceae are seen as one of the most allergenic plant families in the mediterranean region. A comparative study of Cupressaceae pollen concentration as sampled in Lyon-Bron (temperate region) and in Montpellier (mediterranean region) has been conducted. During the last 20 years, this family of plant has increasingly been represented in the pollinic spectra. In Montpellier the annual mean pollen concentration went from 43 pollen grains m3 of air at the beginning of the eighties to 72 pollen grains at the beginning of the years 2000. In Lyon, the progression is above 200% but with lesser annual mean pollen concentrations: 4.5 pollen grains m3 of air at the beginning of the eighties to 13.7 pollen grains at the beginning of the years 2000. The annual mean pollen concentration in the Lyon region still modest compared to the mediterranean stations, shows a steep increase though, that should be taken care of.     

Airborne pollens and prevalence of pollenosis in western Liguria: a 10-year study.

During the last 15 years aerobiology has become a relevant branch of allergy, making possible the partial clarification of the relationships between clinical diseases and environment. We performed a 10-year survey of pollen counts and pollen sensitization in a confined area on the western Ligurian coast of Italy in order to evaluate possible changes in aerobiological pattern and to correlate them with the prevalence of sensitization. Pollen counts for the area surrounding Bordighera in the period from 1988-1997 were analyzed; the occurrence of skin sensitization in outpatients were also studied during the same period. We considered the following allergens: Parietaria, grasses, Compositae, Cupressaceae, olive and birch. We also examined the possible differences between patients living on the seaside and those living inland. Over the 10-year period a significant increase in the pollen counts was seen for birch and Compositae (p = 0.001); this was accompanied by a parallel significant increase in the rate of sensitization (p = 0.004 and p = 0.01, respectively). Conversely, an increase in sensitization to Cupressaceae (p = 0.001) and olive (p = 0.03) was also seen, although no change in the pollen counts was detectable. Finally, the prevalence of sensitization to Cupressaceae and Compositae was higher in the patients living in the coastal region than those residing inland. These data suggest that a positive correlation between the pollen counts and the rate of sensitization exists for certain pollens. Nevertheless, for other species such a correlation was not apparent, and additional environmental factors maybe involved in the increased prevalence of sensitization.     

Airborne plane-tree (Platanus hispanica) pollen distribution in the city of Córdoba, South-western Spain, and possible implications on pollen allergy.

Plane-trees are widely grown in Spain as ornaments. This taxon releases large amounts of pollen into the air and this pollen type seems to have proved implications on pollinosis. The aim of this study was to analyse airborne Platanus pollen content in the air of C6rdoba (South-western Spain) over the last 10 years, and its distribution in different areas of the city, as well as to consider possible implications regarding pollen allergies. Results revealed that Platanus pollen concentrations have been at their highest over the last 5 years. Within the city, the lowest pollen concentrations were in Northern areas of the city. Nevertheless, concentrations high enough to be of risk are reached over the whole city. All the patients studied presented symptoms during the Platanus pollen season. We can therefore conclude that plane pollen presents a risk for the whole city although symptoms are more intense and persistent in districts with a higher number of plane-trees. Platanus allergy is a particular problem for city-dwellers, where these trees are commonly used as ornamentals.     

Aerobiological investigation and in vitro studies of pollen grains from 2 dominant avenue trees in Kolkata, India.

BACKGROUND: Peltophorum pterocarpum and Delonix regia are dominant avenue trees in the city of Kolkata in India. They are well adapted to the humid tropical climate and also grow commonly in different parts of the country. Their pollen grains are reported to be airborne. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to conduct an aerobiological survey in Kolkata to determine the concentration and seasonal periodicity of pollen grains from P pterocarpum and D regia and to analyze the meteorological factors responsible for their levels in the atmosphere. In addition, we analyzed the prevalence of sensitization due to these grains among patients with seasonal respiratory allergy. METHODS: An aerobiological survey was conducted with a volumetric Burkard sampler from 2004 to 2006. Correlations between meteorological parameters and pollen grain concentrations were assessed by Spearman correlation test. The protein profile of the pollen extracts was studied by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Finally, the allergenic potential of the pollen extracts was evaluated in patients with respiratory allergy by skin prick test, immunoglobulin (Ig) E enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and IgE immunoblotting. RESULTS: P pterocarpum and D regia pollen grains occur from March to June and April to July, respectively. The pollen concentrations showed statistically significant positive correlations with maximum temperature and wind speed. Positive reactions to P pterocarpum and D regia were observed in 26% and 22% of the patients, respectively. Many protein bands were detected in the pollen extracts over a wide molecular weight range. A total of 5 (P pterocarpum pollen) and 8 (D regia pollen) protein fractions were detected by IgE immunoblotting. CONCLUSION: P pterocarpum and D regia pollen grains are dominant in the atmosphere of south Kolkata and they are influenced by temperature. The pollen grains release proteins that may be responsible for immediate hypersensitivity reactions in sensitive patients.     

Cupressaceae in Tirana (Albania) 1996-1998 aerobiological data and prevalence of Cupresaceae sensitization in allergic patients

Plants of Cupressaceae family are quite widespread in Albania. Aerobiological data show that 43% of the total airborne pollens per year come from this family. The highest concentrations of Cupressaceae pollen were found from February to May, while low quantities (till 32 p/m3) were present form November to January. From 110 patients with respiratory allergies and positive-SPT, only three subjects (2.7%) were SPT-positive to Cupressaceae. All the three were polysensitized.     

Étude de la sensibilisation au pollen de pin maritime (Pinus pinaster) dans la région bordelaise

There are a large number of pine trees (Pinus pinaster) in the Bordeaux region, and these trees produce a large load of pollen. We carried out a prospective study of sensitisation to this pollen in patients coming to our allergy–pulmonary consultation service. We found that 1.3% of this population was sensitive to pine pollen; among those found to be atopic, the frequency was 3%. None of the patients was sensitised only to this pollen, the subjects always having a positive skin test to other inhalant allergens. Clinically, the pine-sensitive patients had asthma and rhinitis and sometimes conjunctivitis also. We found no particular characteristics in this group of patients. These results confirm the weak allergenic potential of pine pollen in the region, where the concentration of this pollen is particularly high.     

Relationship between pollen counts of Cryptomeria japonica and Cupressaceae and the severity of allergic symptoms

BackgroundA study throughout 1999 of the airborne pollens of both Cryptomeria japonica and Cupressaceae (Chamaecyparis obtusa and Juniperus rigida in the present study) demonstrated unique patterns of pollen dispersal at three observation sites, namely Okayama and Nishinomiya cities in the Chugoku region and Sakura city in the Kanto region.Methods/ResultsIn contrast with the Sakura site, where there was a low pollen count for Cupressaceae, high pollen counts were found at the two sites in Okayama and Hyogo Prefectures. There was a good correlation between results of pollen prick tests and the capsulated hydrophilic carrier polymer–radioallergosorbent test (CAP-RAST) for C. japonica, C. obtusa and J. rigida. The fact that a positivity rate of 32.6% to the J. rigida pollen skin test was obtained in Sakura city in Chiba Prefecture, where no J. rigida pollen dispersal was observed, seems to demonstrate the existence of a common antigen epidemiologically. Daily pollen counts, symptom scores, medication scores and symptom–medication scores of 25 patients with vernal pollinosis in Chiba Prefecture in whom the dose and use of internal and external medication was consistent with the severity of their symptoms, were all significantly related. The efficacy of pharmacotherapy seems to be inadequate when patients are exposed to pollen during a heavy pollen dispersal period without having taken any protection against it. Moreover, there seemed to be a certain critical point beyond which the symptoms rapidly worsened.ConclusionsThese results suggest that it is important to avoid exposure to pollen, based on the regional pollen information, as well as to administer appropriate medication.     

Protease activity of allergenic pollen of cedar, cypress, juniper, birch and ragweed.

BACKGROUND: Pollen is an important trigger of allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and/or asthma, and an exacerbating factor in atopic dermatitis. Although it is proposed that protease activity from allergen sources, such as mites, enhances allergenicity, little information is available on that from relevant allergenic pollens such as Japanese cedar and Japanese cypress pollens, which are the major cause of pollinosis in Japan. METHODS: We analyzed the protease activities derived from allergenic pollen of Japanese cedar, Japanese cypress, and Rocky mountain juniper, which belong to the Cupressaceae/Taxodiaceae family, and white birch and short ragweed, using synthetic substrates and class-specific inhibitors. RESULTS: We found that the pollen of the three members of the Cupressaceae/Taxodiaceae family contained serine protease activity, that the pollen of white birch and short ragweed contained not only serine protease activity but also cysteine protease activity, that all five types of pollen tested contained at least one other type of serine protease, whose sensitivity to a serine protease-specific inhibitor was relatively low, and that the content and releasability of the pollen-derived proteases differed according to the plant families. CONCLUSIONS: Clinically relevant allergenic pollens tested in the present study can release serine and/or cysteine endopeptidases. Information on the spectrum of the endopeptidase activities from these allergenic pollen grains will be useful for investigating their contribution to the pathogenesis of allergies.     

An aerobiological perspective in allergy and asthma

Allergic diseases are amongst the most common chronic disorders worldwide. Today, more than 300 million of the population is known to suffer from one or other allergic ailments affecting the socio-economic quality of life. Major causative agents implicated are pollen grains, fungal spores, dust mites, insect debris, animal epithelia, etc. Several aerobiological studies have been conducted in different parts of the world to ascertain aerial concentration and seasonality of pollen grains and fungi. Especially from clinical point of view, it is important to know the details about the pollen season and pollen load in the atmosphere. The flowering time of higher plants are events that come periodically in each season, but the time of blooming may differ from year to year, in different geographic locations. Based on differences recorded in several years of observations in airborne pollen, pollen calendars are drawn as an aid to allergy diagnosis and management. This review article emphasises on various aerobiological parameters of environmental pollen from different parts of the world with special emphasis from India. The role of aerobiology in the diagnosis and management of allergic diseases is reviewed briefly in this article.     

Mold allergy in the Mediterranean Island of Crete, Greece: a 10-year volumetric, aerobiological study with dermal sensitization correlations.

Mold spores are universal outdoor and indoor components and generally are recognized as possible sources of respiratory allergies. A 10-year aerobiological study (1994-2003) was conducted in the city of Heraklion located at the center of the Mediterranean island of Crete, Greece. Eighteen mold species exhibiting a normal annual seasonal pattern have been identified and recorded. The most abundant mold species include (a) Cladosporium, (b) Alternaria, (c) miscellaneous ascosporas (d) Leptosphaeria, and (e) basidiomycete Coprinus. In parallel, 571 atopic individuals were tested by skin-prick tests (SPTs). Among these 571 patients 42.5% showed dermal positivity to mold allergens. Most positive SPTs were those of (a) Alternaria, (b) Cladosporium, (c) Fusarium, (d) Aspergillus, and (e) Mucor. No linear relationship was noted between SPT frequencies and percentages of mold species. All of these aerobiological and sensitization data constitute a firm basis for further medical and biological research and application.     

Diurnal variation of airborne pollen at two different heights.

The diurnal variation in airborne pollen concentrations in the air of Córdoba at two different heights (1.5 m and 15 m) was studied during 2 consecutive years with the help of two Hirst volumetric samplers. According to pollen percentages obtained every hour, we determined whether every taxon studied presented a morning or an afternoon pattern, and whether this model was homogeneous (with a slight difference between the time of maximum and minimum reading) or heterogeneous (with a large difference between the two readings). We observed that the taxa that had many species in the area, such as Plantago, Poaceae, and Chenopodiaceae-Amaranthaceae showed a homogeneous model, while those taxa with few species present, such as Cupressaceae and Urticaceae showed a more heterogeneous model. Furthermore, the pattern of the plants with a large presence in the study area was more heterogeneous at 1.5 m because the pollen collected at this height is released from anthers. In the sampler placed at 15 m we detected airborne pollen, found that the curves were smoother and also observed a slight time delay for the taxa that were highly present in the area of study.     

Cereal pollen sensitisation in pollen allergic patients: to treat or not to treat?

Pollen allergens of the Poaceae family comprise one of the main causes of pollinosis worldwide. Although most of cereals are included in this family, certain pollination characteristics and aerobiological features differentiate them from common wild grass pollen. Cereal pollen grains cannot be easily characterised as potential sources of aero allergens, because of their pollination mode (most of them are autogamous plants), the consecutive low numbers of pollen they produce and their pollen's large volume and consequent high weight which further prevent dispersion and pollen transport. However, various epidemiologicalstudies concluded in comparable sensitisation patterns between common grass and cereal pollen. This fact can be attributed to the common epitopes shared between grass and cereal pollen allergens, which are responsible for the high cross reactivity observed not only in vitro but also in vivo. Therefore, the sensitisation patterns do not usually reflect a genuine, cereal-specific IgE recognition. On the contrary, genuine cereal sensitisation and allergy are referred to only in rare cases of occupational exposure to high amounts of these pollen grains (farmers and field workers) or in patients staying in the vicinity of cereal fields. Thus, cautious considerations should be taken into account when diagnostically approaching patients in which cereal pollen allergy could be considered in the differential diagnosis.     

Pollen calendar of Seville and its relation to allergies.

We have carried out a study on the annual and weekly variation of airborne pollen in the air of Seville (Andalusia, Southern Spain) during 3 consecutive years using two Cour's collectors. We provide the pollen calendar of this city, which shows the annual distribution of the most important pollen types. Our results led us to check the validity of the pollen extracts usually used at the hospitals of the city to diagnose pollinosis.     

四川省成都市城区气传花粉监测

目的探索四川省成都市城区气传花粉的种类、数量及飘散规律。方法应用重力沉降法于2018年3月1日至2019年2月28日在四川省成都市城区进行为期1年的连续每日气传花粉曝片。结果共收集到花粉139520粒/1000 mm 2,能鉴定的花粉总计隶属36科、31属、2个种。其中构属花粉含量最高,达81754粒/1000 mm 2,占全年花粉总量的58.60%,其播粉期为3~4月,高峰期为3月下半月至4月上半月;其次是柏科花粉,达27518粒/1000 mm 2,占全年花粉总量的19.72%,其播粉期为1~3月,高峰期为1月下旬至3月上旬;大麻/葎草属占第三位,花粉含量5112粒/1000 mm 2,占全年花粉总量的3.66%,其播粉期为8~10月,高峰期为8月下旬至10月下旬。上述3种花粉为本地区优势气传花粉,合计占全年花粉总量的81.98%。含量超过1%的花粉还依次包括银杏、桦木属、松属、悬铃木属、枫杨属及蒿属花粉。全年花粉含量月分布呈现2个高峰,第一高峰为1~5月,主要气传花粉为构属、柏科、银杏、桦木属、松属、悬铃木属、枫杨属等树木花粉,占全年花粉总量的89.38%。第二高峰为8~10月,主要气传花粉为大麻/葎草属、蒿属等莠草花粉,占全年花粉总量的5.04%。结论本地区花粉季节有两个:春季为主要花粉季节,主要气传花粉为构属、柏科等树木花粉;夏秋季为次要花粉季节,主要花粉气传为大麻/葎草属、蒿属等莠草花粉。构属、柏科、大麻/葎草属花粉为本地区优势气传花粉,构属花粉为本地区绝对优势气传花粉。     

Age-related Prevalence of Allergic Diseases in Tokyo Schoolchildren

BackgroundThe International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) has reported the prevalence of asthma and allergic diseases in many countries.MethodsWe used the ISAAC core written questionnaire to examine the prevalence of asthma and allergic diseases in 6- to 14-year old schoolchildren in Tokyo. In 2005, we conducted a cross-sectional survey of all schoolchildren in all public schools located in the Setagaya area of Tokyo.ResultsData were collected from 27,196 children in 95 schools. Prevalence ranged from 10.5% to 18.2% for asthma symptoms and from 10.9% to 19.6% for atopic dermatitis, with both conditions tending to decrease with age. As has been previously reported for all age groups, significantly higher rates of current asthma are observed in boys than in girls. The prevalence of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis exhibited a different pattern from that of asthma and atopic dermatitis, peaking at the age of 10 (34.8%). Prevalence of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis was 1.5 to 2-fold higher than the previous ISAAC studies that were performed in Tochigi and Fukuoka. In all age groups, symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis were more frequent from February to May, which coincides with the Japanese cedar pollen season, and were less frequent between June to September.ConclusionsThe prevalence of asthma and atopic dermatitis was higher in younger schoolchildren. Tokyo schoolchildren appear to have extremely high prevalence rates of seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis.     

Tempête et asthme

Several dozen reports of epidemics of asthma during thunderstorms have been published during the past 20 years. It has been suggested that these epidemics may be explained by exposure of atopic patients with pollinosis to high concentrations of pollen, particularly in urban areas with air pollution, by meteorological factors such as humidity, wind and temperature, and by the presence of airborne fungal spores. However, since most thunderstorms are not associated with epidemics of asthma, it is therefore not yet possible to establish a predictive model.     

Phenotypes of asthma revisited upon the presence of atopy

Immunological studies claimed that atopic and non-atopic asthma share more similarities than differences. However, these two phenotypes of asthma are considered to be distinguishable upon distinct clinical patterns, which were not systematically assessed before in a large population. We studied characteristics discriminating atopic from non-atopic asthma among 751 asthmatic patients and 80 factors were analysed in univariate and multivariate analysis. Age, age of onset of asthma, female/male ratio were higher in non-atopic (n=200) than in atopic (n=551) asthmatics. Familial asthma, seasonal symptoms, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, allergen-triggered symptoms, improvement in altitude, exercise-induced asthma were associated with atopy. Non-atopic asthmatics displayed lower FEV(1) and FVC. Smoking was more frequent and asthma was more severe in these patients. Younger age, early onset, male sex, rhinitis and smoking were independent factors discriminating atopic from non-atopic asthma. This study establishes in a large population of asthmatics that although similarities exist between atopic and non-atopic asthma, two clinical phenotypes can still distinguish both kinds of asthma.     

Aerobiological study of Chenopodiaceae and Amaranthaceae in the Mediterranean area of southwestern Spain.

The study area is characterized by a maritime Mediterranean climate, abundant presence of Chenopodiaceae in the vegetation, and a high incidence of pollinosis caused by the pollen of this family. A Hirst-type sampler was used to determine pollen concentrations in the air of the city of Huelva during 3 consecutive years (1995-1997). The total annual amount of Chenopodiaceae-Amaranthaceae pollen was between 10.59% and 6.28% of the pollen spectrum of the city, depending on the year. The annual pattern of variation in pollen concentration (5-day means) was very similar in the 3 years, and no statistically significant differences were found between years. This pattern is characterized by concentrations not exceeding 20 grains/m3 between April and the beginning of August, with an obvious seasonal variation in the second half of August and September, when the 5-day mean concentrations exceeded 40 grains/m3 and the daily maxima exceeded 100 grains/m3. This coincided with the flowering of most of the species in the group. The meteorological parameters with a statistically significant effect on daily pollen concentration during the pollen season (August 15 to September 20) included mean temperature and south wind (positive correlations) and relative humidity of the air (negative correlation). The highest intradiurnal concentrations were found between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.