D3.84 - Patterns of Sensitization to Artemisia and Ambrosia Pollen in Ukraine

Weed pollen allergy represents a major public health problem in Ukraine, particularly sensitization to Artemisia (mugwort) and Ambrosia (ragweed), substantially contributing to seasonal allergic rhinitis and asthma.This study aimed to compare regional patterns of population sensitization to Artemisia and Ambrosia in Ukraine.

Two national maps depicting regional sensitization levels (%) to Artemisia and Ambrosia were analyzed in relation to Ukraine’s major natural zones (mixed forest, forest-steppe, and steppe). Spatial gradients, regional hot spots, and inter-weed differences were assessed.

For both weeds, higher sensitization levels were observed in the forest-steppe and steppe zones, whereas lower rates characterized much of the mixed forest zone in northern and western Ukraine. Distinct hot spots were identified in central and eastern regions. Sensitization to Artemisia showed a relatively moderate and more evenly distributed pattern (7–33%), with elevated levels (13–33%) in central and eastern oblasts (including Zhytomyr, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Luhansk, and Donetsk) and lower ranges (7–18%) across many western and northern regions. In the steppe zone, Artemisia sensitization was increased but exhibited less pronounced regional contrasts.Ambrosia sensitization demonstrated a marked west – east gradient, reaching very high levels (25–55%) in central, eastern, and southern steppe regions, particularly in Dnipro, Kharkiv, Poltava, Mykolaiv, Kherson, Donetsk, and Luhansk oblasts, significantly exceeding those in most western and northern regions (5–25%). The southern steppe showed substantially higher sensitization to Ambrosia than to Artemisia, with greater allergenic relevance of ragweed in southern and south-eastern Ukraine. Western regions (e.g., Lviv, Zakarpattia, Ivano-Frankivsk) exhibited notable Artemisia’ but consistently lower Ambrosia sensitization, reflecting older Artemisia presence versus more recent Ambrosia invasion.

Artemisia allergy in Ukraine displays a more diffuse and stable spatial pattern, whereas Ambrosia sensitization is characterized by sharply defined high-risk zones, particularly in central-eastern and southern steppe regions. These differences reflect ecological conditions and invasion dynamics of ragweed.