D1.11 - Age and Gender Patterns in Fungal Allergen Sensitization: A Study from Central Ukraine

Fungi remain an important factor in seasonal and perennial allergies requiring effective control. We analyzed sensitization patterns to fungal allergenic components in the Vinnytsia region, located in central right-bank Ukraine, where the population is not directly affected by military operations.

2,623 people were tested using the ALEX method, of whom 251 people (9.57%) were sensitive to fungal allergens.

The majority were sensitive to Alternaria allergen Alt a 1 (176 people or 70.12%), followed by Mala s 11 (25 people, 9.96%) and Mala s 6 (23 people, 9.16%). The highest IgE levels (19.68 kU/L) were also triggered by Alt a 1 sensitivity, followed by Asp f 6 (4.16 kU/L) and Mala s 11 (3.24 kU/L), and all other Aspergillus molecules, although sensitivity to the latter was significantly lower (sIgE-s ranged from 0.77 for Asp f 4 to 1.37 for Asp f 1).

IgE levels to all three Malassezia molecules, as well as to Cla h 8 and Asp f 6, were significantly higher in adults than in children, while both Alternaria molecules (Alt a 1 and Alt a 6) showed higher levels in children. Children also responded with higher sIgE levels to Asp f 3, Asp f 4, Pen ch, and Sac c. Sensitivity to Asp f 1 was found only in adults.

Among molecular combinations in patient profiles, hypersensitization to Alt a 1 and Mala s 11 components occurred most frequently; 82.95% of those sensitive to Alt a 1 or 58.17% (32.67 % – males, 25.5 % – females) of all fungal-hypersensitized individuals were sensitive only to this fungal allergen. For Mala s 11, these figures were 48% and 4.78% respectively. Mala s 5 was the sole fungal molecule causing hypersensitization in 54.55% of cases of Mala s 5-sensitive individuals.

Sensitization to Asp f 6 and Asp f 1 occurred only in combination with sensitivity to other fungal allergens, while only two people were sensitive to Cladosporium’ components Cla h and Cla h 8 each and Penicillium (Pen ch) extract.

The combinations "Alt a 1-Mala s 6" and "Alt a 1-Asp f 3", which were among the ten most frequent, were found only in children, with equal gender distribution: 1.59% each for Alt a 1-Mala s 6 and 0.8% each for Alt a 1-Asp f 3.

Males significantly predominated in sensitivity to Mala s 11 and Mala s 11+Asp f 6, Asp f 4, while females showed higher sensitivity to Sac c, Asp f 3, and Mala s 6.

The identified age and gender structure of sensitization patterns aims to assist in more accurate diagnosis and treatment of fungal allergies.