![Sample our Bioscience journals, sign in here to start your access, Latest two full volumes FREE to you for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5925/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Bioscience.jpg"})
ABSTRACT
Despite the recent increases in fungi-induced allergic diseases, there is no report yet in the region of the Persian Gulf on concentration levels of fungi in relationship with health state. Therefore, our aim was to measure fungi prevalence as well as to evaluate the relationships between air- and dust-borne fungal genera and allergic diseases. A matched case-control study was carried out including 45 allergic cases and 45 age- and gender-matched controls for each individual. Indoor and outdoor dust and indoor air samples were collected from participant homes during May to October 2015. A Quick Take 30 Pump and sterile wet swab were used to determine fungal types and their amounts in the air (CFU/m3) and dust (CFU/100 cm2) samples, respectively. A significant reverse association was found between indoor dust-borne Alternaria and asthma (Odds ratio (OR) = 0.14, 95% CI = 0.02–0.86). Contrarily, increased levels of indoor air-borne Aspegillus fumigatus (OR = 2.00, 95% CI = 0.37–10.55) and Alternaria (OR = 3.00, 95% CI = 0.34–25.83) were correlated with asthma development. Also, correlation analysis showed a significant relation between indoor air-borne Penicillium levels and reactivity to skin prick test in asthmatic patients (p = 0.04). Our findings support the notion that fungal exposures can either cause or prevent the development of allergic diseases. Accordingly, appropriate measures should be taken for a better management of fungi-induced allergic diseases.
Acknowledgments
This work was conducted as a student master thesis project in environmental health engineering. The authors are grateful to the staff of environmental health engineering and medical mycology laboratories for their support in this study.
Declaration of interest
The authors declare no competing interests.
Funding
This work was supported by Bushehr University of Medical Sciences [grant number 91100].
Additional information
Funding
Notes on contributors
Elham Shabankarehfard
ESh was the main investigator, collected the samples and data, and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. AO performed the statistical analysis. ShF, BN and SZ were advisors of the study. ShN, MK, and FS conducted the experiments. SD was the supervisor of study in all steps, edited and polished the final version of manuscript. All authors read and approved the final version of manuscript.
Afshin Ostovar
ESh was the main investigator, collected the samples and data, and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. AO performed the statistical analysis. ShF, BN and SZ were advisors of the study. ShN, MK, and FS conducted the experiments. SD was the supervisor of study in all steps, edited and polished the final version of manuscript. All authors read and approved the final version of manuscript.
Shokrollah Farrokhi
ESh was the main investigator, collected the samples and data, and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. AO performed the statistical analysis. ShF, BN and SZ were advisors of the study. ShN, MK, and FS conducted the experiments. SD was the supervisor of study in all steps, edited and polished the final version of manuscript. All authors read and approved the final version of manuscript.
Behrouz Naeimi
ESh was the main investigator, collected the samples and data, and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. AO performed the statistical analysis. ShF, BN and SZ were advisors of the study. ShN, MK, and FS conducted the experiments. SD was the supervisor of study in all steps, edited and polished the final version of manuscript. All authors read and approved the final version of manuscript.
Sasan Zaeri
ESh was the main investigator, collected the samples and data, and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. AO performed the statistical analysis. ShF, BN and SZ were advisors of the study. ShN, MK, and FS conducted the experiments. SD was the supervisor of study in all steps, edited and polished the final version of manuscript. All authors read and approved the final version of manuscript.
Shahrokh Nazmara
ESh was the main investigator, collected the samples and data, and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. AO performed the statistical analysis. ShF, BN and SZ were advisors of the study. ShN, MK, and FS conducted the experiments. SD was the supervisor of study in all steps, edited and polished the final version of manuscript. All authors read and approved the final version of manuscript.
Mozhgan Keshtkar
ESh was the main investigator, collected the samples and data, and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. AO performed the statistical analysis. ShF, BN and SZ were advisors of the study. ShN, MK, and FS conducted the experiments. SD was the supervisor of study in all steps, edited and polished the final version of manuscript. All authors read and approved the final version of manuscript.
Farzaneh Sadeghzadeh
ESh was the main investigator, collected the samples and data, and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. AO performed the statistical analysis. ShF, BN and SZ were advisors of the study. ShN, MK, and FS conducted the experiments. SD was the supervisor of study in all steps, edited and polished the final version of manuscript. All authors read and approved the final version of manuscript.
Sina Dobaradaran
ESh was the main investigator, collected the samples and data, and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. AO performed the statistical analysis. ShF, BN and SZ were advisors of the study. ShN, MK, and FS conducted the experiments. SD was the supervisor of study in all steps, edited and polished the final version of manuscript. All authors read and approved the final version of manuscript.