Correlation between Olea europaea and Parietaria judaica pollen counts and quantification of their major allergens Ole e 1 and Par j 1-Par j 2.
BACKGROUND
In patients with pollinosis, allergic symptoms are often correlated with the number of airborne pollen grains, although this correlation is not always close. The direct measurement of the concentration of aeroallergens has only recently been introduced and is an important advance in public health information systems.


OBJECTIVE
To compare specific quantification of aeroallergens Ole e 1 and Par j 1-Par j 2 Olea and Urticaceae pollen counts.


METHODS
The Hirst method sampler and the Burkard Cyclone sampler were used for pollen count and allergen quantification, respectively. The aerosol was extracted and quantified for Ole e 1 and Par j 1-Par j 2 content using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay procedures.


RESULTS
Day-to-day variations were observed in both the pollen count and the amount of allergens. Pollen counts and aeroallergen quantification were closely correlated with 99% significance (Olea/Ole e 1: R = 0.892, P < .001; Urticaceae/Par j 1-Par j 2: R = 0.734, P < .001).


CONCLUSIONS
The technique for the sampling and quantification of aeroallergens presented in this article, based on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and applied to the protein extracts directly obtained from the bioaerosol, represents an important advance in the epidemiologic study of allergic respiratory diseases.
Moreno-Grau
Stella
S
Department of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Technical University of Cartagena, Cartagena, Spain. Stella.Moreno@upct.es
Elvira-Rendueles
Belén
B
Moreno
José
J
García-Sánchez
Antonio
A
Vergara
Nuria
N
Asturias
Juan A
JA
Arilla
M C
MC
Ibarrola
Ignacio
I
Seoane-Camba
Juan A
JA
Suárez-Cervera
Maria
M
D000336:Aerosols / Q000032:analysis; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D000485:Allergens / Q000032:analysis*; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D031658:Olea / Q000276:immunology; D032403:Parietaria / Q000276:immunology; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
D000336:Aerosols; D000393:Air Pollutants; D000485:Allergens; D052179:Antigens, Plant; C081946:Ole e I protein, Olea europaea; C506384:Par j 2 allergen, Parietaria; C083860:Par j I protein, Parietaria judaica; D010940:Plant Proteins