Monitoring the dynamics of the concentration of pollen of allergenic plants the purpose of prevention of polynosis in Ulyanovsk

The study of allergenic plants and their palynological complexes is of great importance for the prevention of pollinosis. Despite this, they are insufficiently studied in many countries of the world, including Russia. On the territory of the Ulyanovsk region, these studies were not carried out, although pollinosis occupy a leading place among allergic pathology. Studies have shown that the largest amount of pollen grains for the entire flowering period of allergenic plants is observed in the industrial zone. We can conclude that June and July are the most dangerous months for people with allergies. The most dangerous waves are the second and third, the least dangerous - the first. The research results must be taken into account when planning preventive measures and treating pollinosis. Key words: allergenic plants, hay fever, pollination, pollen concentration, pollen wave.

AEROPALINOLOGICAL STUDY OF ALLERGENIC PLANTS: POLLINOSIS PREDICTION AND PREVENTION IN ULYANOVSK

Pollinosis occupies a leading place among allergic diseases. However, allergenic plants and their palynological complexes are insufficiently studied not only in Russia, but worldwide. No one has ever carried out aeropalinological studies on the territory of the Ulyanovsk region. The aim of the study is to identify allergenic plants in the Ulyanovsk region, and to study air pollen concentration in order to prevent pollinosis. Materials and Methods. The objects of research were allergenic plants and their pollen complexes, which were examined for the first time in our region. The authors conducted floristic and phenological studies, calculated the pollen concentration of allergenic plants in the air (April-September). They used Post’s method while working with pollen, examined it under the microscope (15×40 magnification), and determined allergenicity index. Results. As a result of floristic and phenological observations, the authors identified 138 species of allergenic plants, including 68 high and medium allergenic plants. The allergenicity index was 259. Thus, Ulyanovsk can be considered as one of the most allergic regions. It was found that the largest amount of pollen grains during the entire flowering period of allergenic plants was observed in the industrial area. Moreover, June and July are the most dangerous months for people allergic to Poaceae, Chenopodiaceae, and Asteraceae. The dynamics of pollen concentration during three pollen waves was presented. The most dangerous waves were the second and the third, while the first wave was the least dangerous one. Results. The results obtained can help in planning preventive measures and treating pollinosis. Keywords: allergenic plants, hay fever, pollination, pollen concentration, pollen wave. Поллинозы занимают ведущее место среди аллергопатологии. Однако аллергенные растения и их палинокомплексы остаются недостаточно изученными во многих странах мира, в т.ч. и в России. На территории Ульяновской области аэропалинологические исследования также не проводились. Цель исследования − выявить аллергенные растения ульяновского региона, изучить динамику концентрации их пыльцы в воздушной среде для профилактики поллинозов. Материалы и методы. Объектами исследований были аллергенные растения и их пыльцевые комплексы, которые в нашем регионе были обследованы впервые. Проведены флористические и фенологические исследования, выполнено определение концентрации пыльцы аллергенных растений в воздушной среде с апреля по сентябрь, проведена обработка пыльцы методом Поста и определение ее под микроскопом с увеличением 15×40, рассчитан индекс аллергенности. Результаты. В результате флористических и фенологических наблюдений выявлено 138 видов аллергенных растений, среди них высоко- и среднеаллергенных − 68 видов. Индекс аллергенности составил 259, что позволяет отнести г. Ульяновск к одному из самых аллергоопасных регионов. Установлено, что наибольшее количество пыльцевых зерен за весь период цветения аллергенных растений наблюдается в промышленной зоне. При этом июнь и июль являются наиболее опасными месяцами для людей, страдающих аллергией на семейства Poaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Asteraceae. Представлена динамика концентрации пыльцы в трех пыльцевых волнах. Наиболее опасными волнами можно считать вторую и третью, наименее опасной – первую. Выводы. Результаты исследований необходимо учитывать при планировании профилактических мер и лечении поллинозов. Ключевые слова: аллергенные растения, поллиноз, поллинация, концентрация пыльцы, пыльцевая волна.

Pollen Pollution Strategy of Artemisia and Chenopodiaceae

It is known that 30–40% of people in the world population are sensitized to pollen. This phenomenon is exacerbated in contaminated and urbanized areas. Wormwood is one of the main herbaceous allergenic plants, and its pollen is among the ten global aeroallergens. An allergy to it is a common phenomenon on a global scale. The role of pollen the etiology of pollinosis is usually in tandem with wormwood pollen established in Russia, Central Asia and Kazakhstan, Europe and America. The purpose of this article was to develop a pollen strategy for wormwood and pollen as the leading aeroallergen and assessment of their standardized contribution to the aerobiological situation. The SEM images of the studied pollen of wormwood do not show pronounced changes in the structure and sculpture, since it is tolerant to the effects of pollutants. Different types of deformation and modification of sculptural elements were revealed in pollen from the haze family, since their pollen selectively reacts to various pollutants. The strategy for pollen from wormwood and haze pollen is that, due to its strong, prickly exine, and lipophilicity, weed pollen is a very good biological accumulator of all types of gaseous or solid pollutants. In general, this accumulation depends on the physicochemical processes at the surface or cytoplasmic level, independent of the physiological state of pollen. Many biological agents, such as bacteria and fungal spores, can accumulate on the surface layer of the pollen shell and be used for bioindication.

Aeropalynologic monitoring of air pollution in the Rostov region: the results of the 2019 season

BACKGROUND: There is an increase in the proportion of patients suffering from allergic diseases caused by the plant pollen. Aeropalinologic monitoring of the air environment allows us to study the composition of aeroallergens and their role in the formation of pollen allergies. Features of the formation of aerial pollen spectra are closely related to the botanical-geographical and natural-climatic conditions of the region. The Rostov region has its own specific features, which is reflected in the qualitative and quantitative composition of pollen rain. AIM: To study the dynamics of pollination of allergenic plants in Rostov-on-Don, identify the prevailing taxa and create a calendar of pollination of plants for this region. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Aeroallergens were detected by using a volumetric Burkard trap. The identification of plant pollen and fungal spores was performed by microscopy of colored slides obtained from a sticky tape covered with a special mixture. RESULTS: In 2019, 21 taxa were registered in the air environment of Rostov-on-don (trees, meadows, haze, cereals, weeds), fungal spores were found in the air, represented by the mold fungi Cladosporium herbarum and Alternaria alternata in high growing concentrations. An increase in the vegetation period of pollination of trees (07.03.31.06), mares (02.0503.10), cereals (02.0414.09), weeds (18.0728.10) was detected According to the dynamics of pollen concentration, three periods of its growth were registered: spring-summer, summer and summer-autumn. The presence of birch pollen grains in a clinically significant concentration (36 pollen grain (PG)/m3) in this steppe region, an increase in the peak concentration of ragweed (393 PG/m3) in comparison with the same data for 1971 (265 PG/m3) was found. CONCLUSION: Regional features of the spectrum of air allergens were identified, and a dusting calendar was compiled for Rostov-on-Don.

Pollen Monitoring in the City of Ivano-Frankivsk, Western Ukraine

The results of aeropalynological studies in Ivano-Frankivsk during 2013–2015 are presented in this article. The studies were conducted using a specially designed gravimetric Durham pollen trap installed at a height of 24 m from the ground. We determined that pollen grains of the following taxa dominate in the city’s aeropalynological spectrum: <em>Corylus</em>, <em>Alnus</em>, <em>Betula</em>, <em>Populus</em>, <em>Fraxinus</em>, <em>Salix</em>, <em>Carpinus</em>, <em>Quercus</em>, <em>Pinus</em>, <em>Picea</em>, Poaceae, Urticaceae, <em>Artemisia</em>, and <em>Ambrosia</em>. Pollen grains from woody plants dominate the aeropalynological spectrum. The considerable presence of the tree pollen grains in the ambient air is due to the geographical location of Ivano-Frankivsk in the forest-steppe zone of Ukraine. Pollen season of allergenic plants lasts from the second week of February to early October. The most unfavorable period for patients with pollen allergy in Ivano-Frankivsk is April, when there is a simultaneous appearance of high concentrations airborne allergenic pollen of <em>Betula</em>, <em>Fraxinus</em>, and <em>Carpinus</em>. From the second week of May to mid-July, high (&gt;50 pollen grains/m³) concentrations of allergenic pollen of the Poaceae family members are detected in the air. In the second half of August and early September, high concentrations of allergenic <em>Ambrosia </em>pollen were recorded in the city air. Conducting of pollen monitoring in the city is extremely necessary for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of pollen allergy.

ALERGENE BILJKE NA TERITORIJI GRADA KRAGUJEVCA

The paper presents the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of allergenic plants in the urban area of the Kragujevac city. The ecological characteristics of these plants were determined through ecological index and life forms. During the conducted floristic study, the presence of 78 allergenic plants was determined. Half of the recorded allergenic plant species are woody ornamental plant species. Floristic analysis shows that the allergenic plants are from the Pinophyta and Magnoliophyta divisions from 19 families, most commonly conifers and grasses.

How will climate change alter the dynamics of airborne pollen and pollen load of allergenic plants?

Summary Background Globally, climate change is being observed. Pollen allergies have been increasing since the middle of the last century. Outdoors, sensitization against pollen allergens is responsible for the highest prevalence of allergies of eyes and airways. Hence, the following two questions arose: (1) How does climate change become manifest locally–regionally, and do temperatures and precipitation have to be considered exceptional in 2018? (2) How do changing meteorological conditions impact on pollination and pollen load? Methods Pollen data of the main allergenic plants—collected at the pollen monitoring station Linz, Upper Austria—were analysed; 2018 was compared to the years 1993–2017. By means of statistical methods, the impact of meteorological parameters on pollen seasons and pollen load were examined. Results Climate change was confirmed for the region. The regional climate has shifted from moderate to warmer and drier (semi-arid) conditions. Preseasonal cumulated meteorological parameters determined flowering and pollen seasons (PS). Start and duration of the pollination of hazel, alder, birch, and grass followed other rules than the seasonal pollen production, termed seasonal pollen integral (SPIn). By its hybrid character, the model-year 2018 offered the unique chance to generate and explain different scenarios of pollen emission and transmission. For the start of flowering of hazel (Corylus), alder (Alnus) and birch (Betula), the coincidence of cumulated mean daily warmth (MDWcumul) and a distinct threshold for the highest temperature of a day (HTD) is necessary and species-specific. In 2018, the earliest begin of the pollen season (PSB) was observed. Frost delayed the PSB. Preseasonal frost as well as cool temperatures caused SPIn of alder and birch to rise, whereas SPIn of hazel were increased by warmer temperatures. Warm weather prolonged pollen seasons of early flowering plants. Heat combined with drought shortened PS of birch in 2018. Cumulated relative humidity (RHcumul) correlated highly significant with the PSB of grasses. Warm and dry conditions in 2018 caused the earliest PSB of grass since 1993. Over the years, SPI and major pollen peaks of grasses have decreased, primarily due to dryness. Conclusion The assumption that climate warming in Linz over 26 years should have increased pollen concentrations of allergenic plants was not confirmed. On the contrary, trend analyses showed that the pollen load has decreased. Hence, the increase in sensitization to pollen allergens and of the prevalence of pollen allergies ask for other explanations.

Immunological Characteristics of Pollen and Tick-borne Sensitization in Bishkek Population

The article presents the results of a study of the prevalence of pollen allergy and allergies to house dust mites among Bishkek population in 2019. The examined patients, aged 4 to 60 years, were divided into groups according to the age periodization of a person. Identification of general and specific IgE antibodies was carried out using modern methods of laboratory diagnosis of the immunological profile. Linked Immunosorbent Assay options such as Chemiluminescence Immunoassay (CLIA) and Immunoblotting were used. The obtained results indicate a widespread sensitization of Bishkek population to pollen allergens, sensitization to house dust mite allergens is more pronounced in the form of a polyvalent allergy. There is also a tendency to increase the prevalence of allergic diseases among the country’s child population. Pollinosis occupy a leading place among allergic diseases in the country due to the fact that weeds prevail in the city’s natural vegetation, which are highly allergenic. Data on the incidence of allergic diseases in Kyrgyzstan, as well as abroad, do not reflect the true spread of allergies, because like most patients with mild forms of allergic diseases do not go to the doctor. Therefore, the early detection, prevention and treatment of allergic diseases is one of the most important issues of modern medicine and biology. It is necessary to create annual flowering calendars of allergenic plants. Round the clock biomonitoring of the air to monitor pollen and air disputes is necessary to inform patients with hay fever. Preventive measures for patients with sensitization to house dust mite allergens include the prevention of mass reproduction of mites, namely the reduction of dust and humidity in rooms.