A clear rise in seasonal and annual temperatures, a gradual increase of total radiation, and a relative trend of change in seasonal precipitation have been observed for the last four decades in Brussels (Belgium). These local modifications may have a direct and indirect public health impact by altering the timing and intensity of allergenic pollen seasons. In this study, we assessed the statistical correlations (Spearman’s test) between pollen concentration and meteorological conditions by using long-term daily datasets of 11 pollen types (8 trees and 3 herbaceous plants) and 10 meteorological parameters observed in Brussels between 1982 and 2015. Furthermore, we analyzed the rate of change in the annual cycle of the same selected pollen types by the Mann-Kendall test. We revealed an overall trend of increase in daily airborne tree pollen (except for the European beech tree) and an overall trend of decrease in daily airborne pollen from herbaceous plants (except for Urticaceae). These results revealed an earlier onset of the flowering period for birch, oak, ash, plane, grasses, and Urticaceae. Finally, the rates of change in pollen annual cycles were shown to be associated with the rates of change in the annual cycles of several meteorological parameters such as temperature, radiation, humidity, and rainfall.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s00484-017-1457-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The European Commission Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Action FA1203 “SMARTER” aims to make recommendations for the sustainable management of Ambrosia across Europe and for monitoring its efficiency and cost-effectiveness. The goal of the present study is to provide a baseline for spatial and temporal variations in airborne Ambrosia pollen in Europe that can be used for the management and evaluation of this noxious plant. The study covers the full range of Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. distribution over Europe (39°N–60°N; 2°W–45°E). Airborne Ambrosia pollen data for the principal flowering period of Ambrosia (August–September) recorded during a 10-year period (2004–2013) were obtained from 242 monitoring sites. The mean sum of daily average airborne Ambrosia pollen and the number of days that Ambrosia pollen was recorded in the air were analysed. The mean and standard deviation (SD) were calculated regardless of the number of years included in the study period, while trends are based on those time series with 8 or more years of data. Trends were considered significant at p < 0.05. There were few significant trends in the magnitude and frequency of atmospheric Ambrosia pollen (only 8% for the mean sum of daily average Ambrosia pollen concentrations and 14% for the mean number of days Ambrosia pollen were recorded in the air). The direction of any trends varied locally and reflected changes in sources of the pollen, either in size or in distance from the monitoring station. Pollen monitoring is important for providing an early warning of the expansion of this invasive and noxious plant.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s10453-016-9463-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Purpose:The minimum inhibitory concentrations (hIICs) (pgml-1) for 100 bloodstream yeasts isolates of albaconazole (UR-9825) (Uriach, S.A.) (AZ) were determined and compared with other triazoles namely fluconazole (FZ) and itraconazole (IZ). The strains were prospectively isolated from blood cultures. Methods:The assessment was done in microtiter plates as described by NCCLS*. Results: All strains of Candida ke& C. guilliermondii, C. lusitaniae, C. dubliniensis, Rhodotorula rubra, Cvptococcus neoforiizans and Trichosporon nzucoides had an hiIC value against AZ < 0.06 whilst C. albicans and C. tropicalis had ranges I 0 . 0 6 and C. parapsilosis and C. krusei between < 0.06-0.125. Finally C. glabrata had ranges < 0.062.AZ shows a favourable in vitro profile when compared with FZ and IZ since preliminary ongoing results for C. albicans ranged between < 0.03-0.12 and 0.06-0.25, respectively, C. parapsilosis 0.060.5 and 0.12-0.5. C. glabrata (0.03-' and 0.5-I) and C. knrrei (8 and I ) had higher MIC values. Conclusions:These preliminary results would appear to indicate that AZ has a favourable in vitro profile when compared with IZ and FZ against yeast isolates. Although in vitro results need to be expanded and compared with in uiuo responses in animal models and patients.* National Commiitcc for Clinical Laboratory Standards. 1997.Refcrencc method for broth dilution antifungal susceptibility testing of yeasts. Approved standard h127A. National Identification of medical relevant yeasts dcpendent on the data obtained from morphological features and physiological characteristics are tinie-consuming, laborious and are of limited value for accurate identification. We have evaluated PCR-RFLP assay, based on sequence polymorphism in the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) of the rRNA genes, for yeast identification. 260 clinical isolates belonging to 14 yeast species were included in this study, and the results between identification of yeasts using PCR-RFLP assay and conventional phenotypic methods (evaluation of colony appearance on CHROhIagar, micromorphology on rice agar, assiniilation tests using commercial kit ID 32C and fermenta-tion tests) were compared. Phenotypic and PCR-RFLP based identification was concordant for 251 of 260 isolates (13 of 14 yeast species). Four isolates identified by conventional method as Candida pelliculosa were identified as Candida qylaiioides by PCR-RFLP assay. We have demonstrated that PCR-RFLP is a rapid, reliable and easy to perform method for identification of yeasts. -4s the PCR-RFLP fingerprints are species-specific and after necessary validation experiments, this method could be easily adopted in routine mycological laboratories as a rapid yeast identification system.Dermatophytes are keratinophilic and keratinolytic fungi causing superficial cutaneous infections called dermatophytosis. dfiicrosporum canis is the main agent of dermatophytosis in cat and is also the most common zoophilic dermatophyte in man. In order to better understand the host-fungus relationship, it is essentia...