ABSTRACT
Este estudo realizou-se na cidade de São Luis, Maranhão, com a finalidade de investigar possível relação entre alergia respiratória e elevação sérica de IgE total e IgE específica para fungos isolados de ambientes externos. Métodos: Fizeram parte deste estudo 98 crianças com diagnóstico clínico de asma e/ou rinite alérgica, com idades entre 4 e 12 anos, sendo 65(66,3%) do sexo masculino e 33 (33,7%) do sexo feminino. Quantificaram-se no soro dessas crianças os níveis de IgE total e IgE específica para Aspergillus spp e Penicillium spp, pelo método de ELISA. Resultados: IgE total foi detectada em 95 crianças (96,9%); 73 (74,5%) apresentaram níveis detectáveis de IgE anti-Aspergillus spp e 85 (86,7%) de IgE anti-Penicillium spp. Não houve significância estatística quando foram correlacionados níveis de IgE total, sexo e área de residência das crianças estudadas (p = 0,88). Na correlação entre IgE total e faixa etária verificou-se distribuição não normal dos dados, com destaque à faixa etária de 11 anos, onde os níveis deIgE total foram mais elevados (Teste de Shapiro p < 0,05). Não houve correlação entre IgE anti-Aspergilluse IgE anti-Penicillium com idade, sexo e área de residência. Conclusão: Anticorpos IgE contra os fungos estudados possivelmente fazem parte de uma polissensibilização, já que os fungos estão presentes em todas as áreas e durante todo o ano na cidade de São Luis, Maranhão, Brasil. Serão necessários mais estudos para o entendimento da alergia respiratória por fungos do ar em São Luis, Maranhão...
The present study was carried out in the city of São Luís, capital of the state of Maranhão, northeastern Brazil, with the aim of investigating a possible relationship between respiratory allergies and high serum levels of total IgE and specific IgE for fungi isolated in outdoor environments. Methods: The study included 98 children with a clinical diagnosis of asthma and/or allergic rhinitis, aged 4 to 12 years. Sixty-five (66.3%) were male and 33 (33.7%) female. Total IgE, Aspergillus spp-specific IgE, and Penicillium spp-specific IgE were quantified in the serum of the children using the ELISA method. Results: Total IgE was detected in 95 children (96.9%). Seventy-three (74.5%) showed detectable levels of Aspergillus spp-specific IgE, and 85 (86.7%), of Penicillium spp-specific IgE. There was no significant correlation between total IgE levels, sex, and area of residence among the children assessed (p = 0.88). When assessing the correlation between total IgE levels and age, data were found to have a non-normal distribution, especially in the 11-year old age group, where total IgE levels were higher than in the other ages (Shapiro test, p < 0.05). There was no significant correlation of Aspergillus spp- and Penicillium spp-specific IgE with age, gender, and area of residence. Conclusion: IgE antibodies against the fungi investigated are possibly a part of polysensitization, as these fungi are present in all areas and throughout the year in the city investigated. Further studies are necessary for a better understanding of the role played by fungal sensitization in respiratory allergy in São Luís, Maranhão...
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Child , Adolescent , Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures , Hypersensitivity, Immediate , Immunoglobulin E , Mast Cells , Mitosporic Fungi , Respiratory Hypersensitivity , Environment , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Methods , PatientsABSTRACT
Introduction: This study aimed to identify airborne fungi in São Luis, Maranhão, Brazil, to determine the prevalent genera and to correlate these genera with the area and season. Methods: In total, 1,510 colony-forming units (CFUs) of airborne fungi were isolated from the north, south, east and west sides and from the center of the city from January to December 2007. The samples were collected on Petri dishes that were exposed to the fungi by the gravitational method. Results: Twenty genera of fungi were isolated; the most common were Aspergillus (33.5%), Penicillium (18.8%), Cladosporium (14.2%), Curvularia (10.6%) and Fusarium (7.6%). The CFUs of the fungi were statistically significant (p < 0.0001). Fungal biological diversity was present all year, without any large seasonal variations but with slight increases in May, August and September. Conclusions: The fungal genera identified in this study were correlated with natural systems and could be useful when evaluating the impact of environmental changes on the region. .