Journal of Asthma and Allergy (Sep 2022)

Invasive Growth of Ailanthus altissima Trees is Associated with a High Rate of Sensitization in Atopic Patients

  • Prenzel F,
  • Treudler R,
  • Lipek T,
  • vom Hove M,
  • Kage P,
  • Kuhs S,
  • Kaiser T,
  • Bastl M,
  • Bumberger J,
  • Genuneit J,
  • Hornick T,
  • Klotz S,
  • Zarnowski J,
  • Boege M,
  • Zebralla V,
  • Simon JC,
  • Dunker S

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 15
pp. 1217 – 1226

Abstract

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Freerk Prenzel1,2 *, Regina Treudler1,3 *, Tobias Lipek,1,2 Maike vom Hove,1,2 Paula Kage,1,3 Simone Kuhs,1,4 Thorsten Kaiser,1,4 Maximilian Bastl,5 Jan Bumberger,6– 8 Jon Genuneit,9,10 Thomas Hornick,8,11 Stefan Klotz,8,12 Julia Zarnowski,1,3 Maren Boege,1,13 Veit Zebralla,1,13 Jan-Christoph Simon,1,3 Susanne Dunker8,11 1Leipziger Interdisciplinary Center for Allergy (LICA), Comprehensive Allergy Center, Leipzig, Germany; 2University of Leipzig, Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, Leipzig, Germany; 3University of Leipzig, Medical Center, Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Allergy, Leipzig, Germany; 4University of Leipzig, Medical Center, Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, Leipzig, Germany; 5Medical University of Vienna, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Vienna, Austria; 6Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), Department Monitoring and Exploration Technologies, Leipzig, Germany; 7Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), Research Data Management, Leipzig, Germany; 8German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle, Jena, Leipzig, Germany; 9Pediatric Epidemiology, Department of Pediatrics, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany; 10German Center for Child and Youth Health, Leipzig/ Dresden, Dresden, Germany; 11Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), Department Physiological Diversity, Leipzig, Germany; 12Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), Department Community Ecology, Halle, Germany; 13University of Leipzig, Medical Center, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Leipzig, Germany*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Susanne Dunker, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ, Leipzig, Germany, Tel +49 341 9733170, Email [email protected]: Ailanthus altissima is one of the world’s most invasive species with a globally problematic spread. Pollen is dispersed locally and partially airborne. We aimed at investigating if (i) A. altissima pollen can be detected in relevant quantity in the air and if (ii) sensitization to A. altissima can be detected in patients with seasonal exacerbation of atopic diseases.Patients and Methods: We recorded distribution of A. altissima in Leipzig, Germany. In 2019 and 2020, pollen was collected with a Hirst-type pollen trap placed on the roof of the University Hospital. Specific IgE investigations were performed in children and adults with history of atopic diseases with deterioration between May and July. We analysed specific IgE for A. altissima, Alternaria sp., birch, grasses, profilins, polcalcins and crossreacting carbohydrates.Results: We found abundant growth of A. altissima and pollen was detected from early June to mid-July with a maximum pollen concentration of 31 pollen/m3. Out of 138 patients (63 female, 69 children/adolescents), 95 (69%) had seasonal allergic rhinitis, 84 (61%) asthma, and 43 (31%) atopic dermatitis. Sensitization to A. altissima was shown in 59 (42%). There were no significant differences between age groups. In 59% of patients sensitized (35/59), there was no sensitization to possibly cross-reacting structures.Conclusion: Sensitization to A. altissima pollen could be detected in 42% of our patients with atopic diseases, suggesting allergenic potential of this neophyte. In the context of further spread with climate change, eradication strategies and population-based sensitization studies are needed.Keywords: allergy, invasive species, neophyte, pollinosis, pollen count

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