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Allergic Disorders by Air Microflora

	Allergic Disorders By Air Microflora - Microflora of air is responsible for several allergic disorders. A range of airborne particles, such as pollen, fungal spores, insect debris, animal danders, mites etc. are recognised allergens. They bring about such allergic disorders as bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis. In most countries pollen has been implicated and studied in relation to these allergic disorders. However, it has now been established that fungal spores are also equally important allergic agents. Fungal aerosols are present in much higher densities than pollen in some environments under some climatic conditions.
A thorough screening of diurnal, seasonal and annual variations in both indoor as well as outdoor environments is necessary for diagnosis and therapeutic management of these disorders. In indoor environment, such as home and occupational surroundings, persons are exposed to fungal allergens. Fungal aeroallergens in the outdoor environments originate from such sources as cereal crops, decaying vegetable matter and organic debris.
In indoor environment damp walls, dustbins, mattresses, window frames; humidifiers etc. are chief source of fungal allergens. Since first report of a fungus implicated in asthma in 1726 by J. Floyer, spores of a range of fungal taxa have been shown of clinical interest and being studied world over for their implications in respiratory allergic reactions. Aeromycology has now become an established field of research, involving scientists of basic sciences as well as professional areas. Several molds (species of Aspergillus, Penicillium, Mucor, Rhizopus),yeasts and rust and smut spores are shown to be implicated in occupational allergy. On the basis of prik and intradermal skin tests, several fungi have been identified as agents of Type I hypersensitivity disorders.
These include species of Alternaria, Aspergillus, Candida, Cladosporium, Curvularia, Drechslera, Epicoccum, Fusarium, Mucor, Nigrospora, Penicillium, Rhizopus and Trichoderma. Besides skin test, fungal allergy is diagnosed by the use of inhalation challenge, RAST, ELISA, immunodor and immunoblot techniques. These immunological techniques have proved to be useful in the diagnosis and treatment of pollen and fungal allergic disorders.
	India is not only a sub continent of rich biodiversity but also has various geo climatic zones. In a given zone there are experienced marked seasonal fluctuations in temperature and relative humidity. Consequently the sources and nature of aeroallergens differ in different areas and in different seasons of a given area. For instance, pollen becomes important inhalant allergens chiefly in two seasons (i) months of September- November, dominated by pollens of weeds and grasses, and (ii) months of March-May, dominated by pollens of trees.

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