Variations in pollen and fungal spore air spora: an analysis of 30 years of monitoring for the clinical assessment of patients in the Western Cape
type: CreativeWork
description: Background and aims: Pollen and fungal spore concentrations in the atmosphere of Cape Town have been monitored since 1984 in two areas of Cape Town. Volumetric spore traps were used to monitor the air spora that trigger allergic disease in susceptible individuals. A pollen count was produced for the diagnosis and treatment of patients attending respiratory clinics at the academic hospitals but the findings of the different aerobiological monitoring areas have never been compared. We considered that more than one aerobiological area should be monitored to produce a representative pollen count for the most densely populated areas of Cape Town. Methods: The pollen taxa and fungal spore genera collected from the two aerobiological zones, now named the West Coast and Valkenberg Aerobiomes were defined. Eight of the air spora were selected for detailed comparison. The relative abundance and seasons of Poaceae, or grasses, the tree pollen taxa Cupressaceae, Platanus and Quercus and the fungal spores: Alternaria, Cladosporium, Epicoccum and Pleospora were evaluated and compared in each aerobiome. Differences in the annual distribution and seasonal limits of the air spora in the two aerobiomes were found using statistical techniques. Results: Significant differences were found between the tree pollen loads in the different aerobiomes. Spring pollinating trees were the most prevalent pollen taxa in the Valkenberg Aerobiome with short flowering seasons that spanned six weeks (August-September) for Platanus and Quercus but eight weeks (July-September) for Cupressaceae. The grass season was longer (September- March) in both aerobiomes and grasses flowered earlier at the inland site. Poaceae dominated the annual pollen catch at the coastal aerobiological zone. Parietaria was the only weed taxon with significant concentrations. Pleospora showed a seasonal trend peaking in mid to late winter at the West Coast. No comparable peaks for Pleospora were seen from the Valkenberg sites. C…
abstract: Background and aims: Pollen and fungal spore concentrations in the atmosphere of Cape Town have been monitored since 1984 in two areas of Cape Town. Volumetric spore traps were used to monitor the air spora that trigger allergic disease in susceptible individuals. A pollen count was produced for the diagnosis and treatment of patients attending respiratory clinics at the academic hospitals but the findings of the different aerobiological monitoring areas have never been compared. We considered that more than one aerobiological area should be monitored to produce a representative pollen count for the most densely populated areas of Cape Town. Methods: The pollen taxa and fungal spore genera collected from the two aerobiological zones, now named the West Coast and Valkenberg Aerobiomes were defined. Eight of the air spora were selected for detailed comparison. The relative abundance and seasons of Poaceae, or grasses, the tree pollen taxa Cupressaceae, Platanus and Quercus and the fungal spores: Alternaria, Cladosporium, Epicoccum and Pleospora were evaluated and compared in each aerobiome. Differences in the annual distribution and seasonal limits of the air spora in the two aerobiomes were found using statistical techniques. Results: Significant differences were found between the tree pollen loads in the different aerobiomes. Spring pollinating trees were the most prevalent pollen taxa in the Valkenberg Aerobiome with short flowering seasons that spanned six weeks (August-September) for Platanus and Quercus but eight weeks (July-September) for Cupressaceae. The grass season was longer (September- March) in both aerobiomes and grasses flowered earlier at the inland site. Poaceae dominated the annual pollen catch at the coastal aerobiological zone. Parietaria was the only weed taxon with significant concentrations. Pleospora showed a seasonal trend peaking in mid to late winter at the West Coast. No comparable peaks for Pleospora were seen from the Valkenberg sites. C…
author: Berman, Dilys Melanie
language: eng
date published: 2018
date modified: 2026-07-22T22:23:46Z
provider: University of Cape Town
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Department of Medicine

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/29696