Fungal Aerobiology and Allergies in India: An Overview

Abstract

Today more than 30% of the world population is known to suffer from one or the other allergic ailments such as bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis. Major causative agents are pollen grains, fungal spores, dust mites, insect debris, etc. Detailed information on the daily seasonal and annual variation of different causative agents in the atmosphere is a prerequisite for effective diagnosis and therapeutic management of allergic ailments. Aerobiological investigations have been carried out in different parts of the country to ascertain aerial concentration and seasonality of fungal allergens. An attempt has been done to review the important fungal allergens prevalent in different parts of the country during the last few decades. The studies carried out under the All India Coordinated Project on “Aeroallergens and Human Health” have revealed the quantitative and qualitative prevalence of aerosols in different parts of the country. The prevalent fungal spores in both outdoor and indoor air are Aspergilli, Penicilli, Cladosporium, ascospores, Alternaria, Drechslera, Epicoccum, Nigrospora, Candida albicans, and some others. Other clinically important fungal allergens are from different species of Aspergillus, Ganoderma, Mucor mucedo, Fusarium solani, Curvularia, Nigrospora, Scopulariopsis brevicaulis, Alternaria alternata, and others.