title: Alternaria and Cladosporium calendar of Western Thrace: Relationship with allergic rhinitis symptoms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Alternaria and Cladosporium are the most important outdoor moulds. The aim of this study was to present fungal spore monitoring data, investigate the relationship of fungal counts with climate conditions, and to explore the clinical significance of Alternaria and Cladosporium species monitoring in allergic rhinitis (AR).
  
  
  METHODS
  Analytic observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 7-day volumetric trap was used to collect circulating Alternaria and Cladosporium fungi. Sixty-nine AR patients were studied and recorded their symptoms by Total 5 Symptoms Score (T5SS). Sensitization prevalence to fungi species was detected by skin prick tests. Monitoring data were correlated to climate conditions and patients symptoms score.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Alternaria and Cladosporium were detected throughout the calendar year in ranges of 0 to 217 spores/m(3) and 6.5 to 1,600 spores/m(3) per day, respectively. Highest daily concentrations of both fungi were detected during the summer (73.9 ± 34.4 spores/m(3) for Alternaria and 595.8 ± 288.0 spores/m(3) for Cladosporium) and lowest during the winter (2.4 ± 3.0 spores/m(3) for Alternaria and 24.3 ± 15.7 spores/m(3) for Cladosporium). Both were positively correlated to mean daily temperature and negatively to relative humidity (all P < 0.001). Clinically, a strong significant correlation between T5SS and airborne fungi levels, both for Alternaria (r = 0.822, P = 0.001) and Cladosporium (r = 0.787, P = 0.002) species was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found Cladosporium to be the most frequently detected airborne mould, whereas Alternaria was the most prevalent with regard to sensitization rate. Patients' symptoms score was significantly correlated to spore concentrations. Both fungi were clearly affected by climate factors, such as temperature and relative humidity. These findings are important in AR management.
  
  
  METHODS
  N/A.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology , Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Evros.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Katotomichelakis
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Hygiene and Environmental Protection , Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Evros.
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nikolaidis
authors.affiliation: the Allergy Unit "D. Kalogeromitros," 2nd Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Medical School, University of Athens, "Attikon" University Hospital, Athens, Attika.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Makris
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Chania General Hospital, Chania, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: Efklidis
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Proimos
authors.affiliation: the Allergy Unit "D. Kalogeromitros," 2nd Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Medical School, University of Athens, "Attikon" University Hospital, Athens, Attika.
authors.forename: Xenophon
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Aggelides
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Hygiene and Environmental Protection , Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Evros.
authors.forename: Theodoros C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Constantinidis
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Chania General Hospital, Chania, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: Chariton E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Papadakis
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology , Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Evros.
authors.forename: Vassilios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Danielides
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000528:Alternaria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002963:Cladosporium / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D012621:Seasons; D012882:Skin Tests; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000276:immunology*; D013696:Temperature
keywords: Allergic rhinitis; Alternaria; Cladosporium; airborne mould; skin prick tests; symptoms score