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

Abstract

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.

The biodiversity of air spora in an Italian vineyard

“…Among all patients suffering from such diseases, 3-40% of them are sensitized to fungal spores (Kurup et al 2000;Bavbek et al 2006;Gonianakis et al 2006). In Italy, it has been observed that in patients with inhalation allergy the frequency of positive skin test with mold extracts is about 10%.…”

“…Many of them may cause a range of allergic symptoms and plant diseases (Tilak and Pande 2005;Gonianakis et al 2006;Bousquet et al 2007;Magyar 2007). Aerobiology, alongside its roles in human and plant pathology, is becoming increasingly important in the study of biodiversity in indoor environments as well as in natural and agricultural habitats.…”

Fungi and allergic lower respiratory tract diseases

“…12 In European studies 78% of 824 Spanish patients with allergic respiratory symptoms had positive SPT responses to Alternaria species. 13 Although various studies report that 12% to 42% of atopic patients are mold sensitive, [13][14][15][16] others are as high as 80%. 17 Newer diagnostic approaches, such as fungal enzyme microarrays, 18 fluorescent halogen immunoassays, 19 and other approaches, might allow for a more accurate assessment of fungal sensitization.…”

Alternaria and Cladosporium calendar of Western Thrace: Relationship with allergic rhinitis symptoms

“…For this reason, the World Health Organization has noted exposure to airborne fungi as an important public health risk . Recently, the development of aerobiology networks has made a major contribution toward a more thorough monitoring of atmospheric levels of fungal spores in both inland and coastal areas of many countries. Although there is a wide variety of airborne fungal species, only a few have been studied in detail.…”