Sunirmal Chanda

Volumetric assessment of airborne fungi in two sections of a rural indoor dairy cattle shed

There is increasing concern about the exposure to fungal aerosols in occupational environments and associated respiratory allergic diseases and asthma. A large number of people work in cattle sheds around the world, pulmonary function impairments and higher frequency of respiratory symptoms have been reported in dairy farmers; however, it appears that adequate information on the fungal aerosols from the cattle sheds are largely lacking. Volumetric assessment of airborne culturable and nonculturable fungal spores was performed in two sections of a large rural indoor cattle shed of West Bengal, India for 2 consecutive years. An Andersen Two Stage Viable Sampler was used for sampling culturable fungi and a Burkard Personal Slide Sampler was used to collect the total airborne fungal spores including both the culturable and nonculturable types. A total of 31 spore types and 35 types of viable colony-forming units were recorded. Average concentration range of total fungal spores was 233-2985/m(3) and concentration of viable colony-forming units ranged between 165 and 2225 CFU/m(3). Burkard Sampler showed higher frequencies of Aspergilli/Penicilli, Cladosporium, Alternaria, and smut spores. Andersen Sampler showed the prevalence of Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus and Cladosporium cladosporioides colonies. Some recorded fungi were earlier reported as allergenic, toxic, and pathogenic for occupational workers as well as cattle population. Higher concentration levels of airborne total and culturable fungal spores were recorded during the months of November through February (winter) and June through September (late summer and rainy season).

Airborne pollen survey of central calcutta, india, in relation to allergy

Abstract A continuous aeropalynological survey at Central Calcutta for two consecutive years (1985–1987) was done by using a Burkard Seven Day Recording Volumetric Spore Trap. A total of 65 pollen taxa was identified of which pollen of Trema orientalis showed a maximum frequency (about 68%) followed by Poaceae and Cyperaceae. A pollen calendar was prepared and seasonal periodicities were recorded. Some entomophilous pollen types (e.g., Delonix regia, Bougainvillea spectabilis) were also observed. The presence of pollen of Pinus, Podocarpus, and Alnus in the air of Calcutta is probably due to long distance transport from Eastern Himalayas where these plants grow. Routine skin tests were performed by using the antigenic extracts of 22 pollen types where grass, Catharanthus roseus, Cocos nucifera, Azadirachta indica, Carica papaya, Albizia lebbek, Shorea robusta, Eucalyptus sp., Terminalia sp., were proved to be allergenically potent.

Airborne allergenic pollen grains on a farm in West Bengal, India

A continuous two years (July, 1994 to June, 1996) survey of aeropalynoflora on an agricultural farm situated in the suburbs of Calcutta was carried out using a Burkard volumetric spore trap. A total of 46 pollen types were identified. The dominant pollen types recorded originated from Poaceae, Trema orientalis Cyperaceae and Cocos nucifera. These pollen types were subjected to clinical investigation to determine their degree of allergenicity on adult respiratory allergic patients by means of skin prick tests. A maximum allergenic response was shown to Saccharum officinarum (54.86%) followed by Azadirachta indica (52.93%) and Phoenix sylvestris (44.09%). Among the 46 recorded pollen types, 26 showed a positive skin reaction. Seasonal variations, diurnal periodicities and the vertical profiles of airborne concentrations of these allergenic pollen types were studied to evaluate the extent of exposure. The overall survey confirms the fact that all dominant airborne pollen types do not contribute equally to th...

On the Pollen Morphology of Some scandinavian caryophyllaceae

Abstract A total of 36 species, varieties and hybrids from nine genera of Scandinavian Caryophyllaceae with pantoporate pollen grains have been investigated. Habrosia spinuliflora, a non-Scandinavian plant with pantoporate pollen grains, has also been investigated. Diagnoses (p. 71–80) and photomicrographs (including some photopalynograms) are provided. Measurements, etc., are given in tabular form (Tab. 1, p. 68). The smallest grains were found in Gypsophila muralis (24 μ) and Habrosia spinuliflora (27 μ), the largest in Agrostemma githago (63 μ) and Stellaria palustris (60 μ). The number of apertures ranges from 31–37(–45) in Agrostemma githago, Lychnis flos-cuculi and Melandrium album to 12 in Scleranthus perennis, Gypsophila fastigiata, Dianthus deltoides and several species of Stellaria etc. Thin sections of pollen grains in four species have been described (p. 81). Two main types of arrangement of bacula have been encountered. One type has through bacula, connecting nexine and tegillum (e.g. in Sile...

Allergenic relationship among four common and dominant airborne palm pollen grains from Eastern India

Palm pollen grains are predominant aeroallergens in the tropics including India. Evidence of allergenic crossreactivity had been reported from various parts of the world on different families, e.g. Poaceae, Asteraceae, etc. No such information is available about the palm pollen of tropical countries.

Aerobiological and immunochemical studies on Carica papaya L. pollen: an aeroallergen from India

Background:  Carica papaya L. is a fruit yielding tree, wildly grown or cultivated in the tropics and subtropics. Its pollen grain has been reported to be airborne and cause immunoglobulin E (IgE)‐mediated hypersensitivity.

Phylogenetic trends in the Alismatales with reference to pollen grains

Abstract The pollen morphology of Butomaceae, Limnocharitaceae and Alismataceae, the three families comprising the Alismatales, was studied using light and scanning electron microscopy. Pollen grains of the monotypic Butomaceae are monosulcate and boat‐shaped, those of Limnocharitaceae have 4–10 ill‐defined, fimbriate, globally distributed pores, and those of most Alismataceae are pantoporate and spheroidal, or rounded polyhedral. However, Alisma oligococcum has unusual 2‐porate, lens‐shaped pollen grains, indicating an isolated position in the family so far as apertures are concerned. Pollen morphological characters of the order were analysed using cladistic methods and a hypothesis for pollen evolution in the Alismatales is presented. Monosulcate pollen is clearly primitive in the order, as amongst monocotyledons in general, whilst derived pollen grains possess higher numbers of pores. Fimbriate aperture margins, areas of circumporal ornamentation and sunken apertures are also considered derived. The ge...

Comparative aerobiology, allergenicity and biochemistry of three palm pollen grains in Calcutta, India

A Burkard volumetric trap was used at Salt Lake City, Calcutta, to record the occurrence and frequency of three common palm pollen, namely,Areca catechu, Borassus flabellifer andPhoenix sylvestris for two consecutive years (July 1988–June 1990). The meteorological factors responsible for the frequency of relevant airborne pollen grains were analysed. The allergenic potential of these pollen types was investigated by skin-prick tests on adult respiratory allergic patients. These were also chemically analysed in terms of total carbohydrate, lipid and soluble protein. Total soluble protein of the above types was used in 11% SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to study the range of molecular components.

Air pollutants and aeroallergens interaction

Abstract Clinical tests were performed with pollen grains of Datura metel and Cocos nucifera. Both were found to be allergenically potent. The same pollen types were exposed to various concentrations of common gaseous pollutants, namely, SO2 and NOx in a glass chamber for 24, 48 and 72 hours. The gross protein and electrophoretic behaviour of the crude proteins of the pollen grains changed markedly with increase of time and concentration of the relevant gases. Moreover, airborne particulates including those of biological origin were collected from various urban areas of the metropolitan city of Calcutta. The relative distribution of bioparticulates thus collected were quantitatively examined. It is suspected that the natural biopollutants altered their allergenic potentiality with the exposure to various gaseous and chemical pollutants which normally occur in the environment.

Clinicoimmunologic studies on Phoenix sylvestris Roxb. pollen: an aeroallergen from Calcutta, India

Background: This study highlights the allergenicity and allergenic components of the pollen of Phoenix sylvestris Roxb. (PS), or date sugar palm, which is predominantly airborne in the air of Greater Calcutta.