RELATIONSHIP OF ALLERGIC DISEASES, POLLEN EXPOSURE AND COVID-19 IN GEORGIA.

Allergic diseases have been recognized as one of the global health issues and affect about a third of the worldwide population. COVID-19 pandemic has raised concerns about the risk of infection and the severity of COVID-19 infection in patients with asthma and allergic rhinitis. The aim of our study was to define the relationships between pollen exposures and SARS-CoV-2 infection rates in Georgia, as well as to characterize the Covid-19 autoimmune and antiviral responses in Georgian allergic patients with different sensitization patterns. Data on daily COVID-19 positivity rates, case fatality rates, and pollen concentrations from February 2020 to November 2022 were collected in Tbilisi, Kutaisi, and Batumi. Diagnostic parameters, including total IgE, specific IgE, eosinophil counts, anti-nuclear antibodies, and Covid-19 antibodies, were assessed in 181 atopic patients and 24 healthy controls with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Laboratory findings revealed significant variations in eosinophil counts and total IgE levels among the groups. ANA positivity did not exhibit substantial differences between atopic patients and healthy controls. Individuals with indoor allergies displayed lower SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody levels, potentially explained by variations in adaptive immune responses. There was no correlation between pollen concentration and COVID-19 epidemiological characteristics, indicating that pollen had no effect on virus epidemiology.

PLANT AEROALLERGENS IN TWO MAJOR CITIES OF GEORGIA - TBILISI AND KUTAISI.

Pollen allergy is caused by a hypersensitivity reaction mainly of the respiratory tract and eye conjunctivae to pollen grains. The number of people allergic to plant aeroallergens has substantially increased in big cities and industrial areas. The monitoring of aerobiological parameters is of paramount importance for the characterization of allergenic risks. The aims of presented study were as follows: to profile the plant aeroallergens in two major cities of Georgia, to compare the character of pollination curves, to determine the dates of beginning of pollen seasons and their duration in particular cities. Two Burkard 7-day samplers were located in cities: Tbilisi, with climate transitional from humid subtropical to relatively mild continental and Kutaisi, with humid subtropical with a well-defined on-shore/monsoonal flow. Pollen counts were expressed as a daily mean value in number of pollen grains/spores per m3 of air. Data was obtained in 2016 year. The main tree pollen types for both centers were: Alnus (Alder), Betula (Birch), Carpinus (Hornbeam), Castanae (Chestnut), Corylus (Hazel), Cupressaceae (Cypress), Fagus (Beech), Fraxinus (Ash), Juglans (Walnut), Morus (Mulberry), Pinus (Pine), Platanus (Plane Tree), Quercus (Oak), Salix (Willow), Tilia (Lime), and Ulmus (Elm Tree). Comparison analysis had shown that the pollination season of the most trees began earlier in Kutaisi. As an example, the beginning of pollination was about 10-15 days earlier for Corylus and Alnus. The difference in pollen count of particular taxa was observed as well. It was much higher in Kutaisi for Corylus, Alnus and Cupressaceae and significantly higher in Tbilisi for Platanus and Pinus. Main grass pollen was Gramineae (Grasses): the pollination started a little bit earlier in Kutaisi, but the pollen count was generally higher in Tbilisi. The features of pollen seasonal distribution and amount were revealed also for the weeds (mainly Ambrosia (Ragweed) and Artemiasia (Mugwort)). The differences noted in pollen count between two major cities of Georgia may be due to a different composition of local flora and the influence of weather.