title: Aerobiological importance and allergic sensitization to Amaranthaceae under arid climate conditions.
abstract: Species of the Amaranthaceae family are abundant in the Southeast of Spain, one of the driest areas in Europe. The Amaranthaceae include species of interest from the point of view of allergic diseases. With the expansion of aridity, many species belonging to this family will be favoured. The objectives of this study were: first, to define the prevalence of sensitization to Amaranthaceae pollen in allergic patients in the Southeast of Spain; second, to present the aerobiological features of this taxon; and, finally, to demarcate those periods of increased risk of suffering allergic symptoms with the aim of improving the diagnosis and prevention of hay fever. Skin prick tests with extracts of pollen were performed on patients with symptoms of respiratory allergy referred for consultation for the first time in Almería and Murcia. Samples of the atmospheric bioaerosol were taken using a Lanzoni VPPS 2000 volumetric sampler, samples treatment and subsequent counts being carried out according to the methodology approved by the Spanish Aerobiological Network. The statistical significance of the correlation between aerobiological and meteorological data from this arid region in 2010-2014 was determined. The aerobiological study revealed the presence of two distinct peaks responsible for pollen symptoms. The flowering of this taxon is especially noteworthy in the city of Cartagena, where it supposes 94% of the total pollen collected in these periods. This situation converts Amaranthaceae pollen in the second leading cause of hay fever in the Southeast of Spain. With the expansion of aridity, an increase in the presence of these species is expected. Bearing in mind their prevalence in the spring and summer/autumn periods and their extensive presence in the bioaerosol, this makes data from Southeastern Spanish a benchmark with respect to the aerobiology of this type of pollen.
authors.affiliation: Departament of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Cartagena, Spain. Electronic address: belen.elvira@upct.es.
authors.forename: Belén
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Elvira-Rendueles
authors.affiliation: Private Allergy Clinic, Dr. Juan José Zapata Yébenes, Almería, Spain. Electronic address: jzapatay@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Juan J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Zapata
authors.affiliation: Allergology Unit, Reina Sofía General Teaching Hospital, Murcia, Spain. Electronic address: jucarmir@telefonica.net.
authors.forename: Juan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Miralles
authors.affiliation: Departament of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Cartagena, Spain. Electronic address: sele.moreno@upct.es.
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.affiliation: Departament of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Cartagena, Spain. Electronic address: antonio.garcia@upct.es.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: García-Sánchez
authors.affiliation: Departament of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Cartagena, Spain. Electronic address: luis.negral@upct.es.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Negral
authors.affiliation: Departament of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Cartagena, Spain. Electronic address: stella.moreno@upct.es.
authors.forename: Stella
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moreno-Grau
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D000485:Allergens / Q000032:analysis*; D027703:Amaranthaceae; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011058:Pollen; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D000485:Allergens
keywords: Aerobiology; Amaranthaceae; Hay fever; Iberian Peninsula; Pollen counts; Skin prick test