Weed pollens Allergy – Which allergens? Author: Dr Harris Steinman, Allergy Resources International, P O Box 565, Milnerton 7435, South Africa, [email protected]. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the written consent of Phadia AB. ©Phadia AB, 2009 Design: RAK Design AB, 2009 Printed by: Åtta.45 Tryckeri AB, Solna, Sweden Contents Introduction .........................................................................5 w45 Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) ............................................9 w206 Camomile (Matricaria chamomilla) ............................12 w82 Careless weed (Amaranthus palmeri) .........................15 w13 Cocklebur (Xanthium commune) ...............................17 w14 Common pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus) ................19 w1 Common ragweed (Ambrosia elatior) ..........................22 w8 Dandelion (Taraxacum vulgare) .................................33 w46 Dog fennel (Eupatorium capillifolium) .......................36 w4 False ragweed (Franseria acanthicarpa) ......................38 w17 Firebush (Kochia) (Kochia scoparia) ...........................40 w3 Giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida) ...............................42 w12 Goldenrod (Solidago virgaurea) .................................51 w10 Goosefoot, Lamb´s quarters (Chenopodium album)......53 w22 Japanese Hop (Humulus scandens) ...........................57 w207 Lupin (Lupinus spp.) ...............................................60 w7 Marguerite, Ox-eye daisy (Chrysanthemum leucanthemum) .......................................................62 w6 Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) .....................................65 w20 Nettle (Urtica dioica) ...............................................75 w9 Plantain (English), Ribwort (Plantago lanceolata) ........78 w203 Rape (Brassica napus) .............................................83 w16 Rough marshelder (Iva ciliata) ..................................87 w11 Saltwort (prickly), Russian thistle (Salsola kali) ..........89 w15 Scale, Lenscale (Atriplex lentiformis) .........................93 w18 Sheep sorrel (Rumex acetosella) ...............................95 w210 Sugar-beet (Beta vulgaris) ........................................98 w204 Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) ...............................101 w21 Wall pellitory (Parietaria judaica) .............................104 w19 Wall pellitory (Parietaria officinalis) .........................112 w2 Western ragweed (Ambrosia psilostachya) ................115 w5 Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) ..........................124 w23 Yellow dock (Rumex crispus) ..................................126 Mixes wx1, wx2, wx3, wx5, wx6 ......................................128 wx7, wx209 ..........................................................129 Weed Pollen Allergens Although the number of weed species is There may exist among weed plants a enormous, the role of weeds in pollen allergy relatively strong tendency for occupational is quite narrow – yet at the same time very allergy to those plants with commercial uses important. Most weeds are not wind-pollinated which are traditionally classed among the weeds. and so do not produce the small, light, un- Occupational allergy has been reported to Rape waxy, easily airborne pollens associated (1), Beet (2), Sunflower (3-4) and cut flowers with allergy. Moreover, weeds are major (5); no such broad pattern appears among victims of human control of the environment. the grasses with commercial uses, but it is Having not made major contributions to unclear whether this is because of the actual human culture or material welfare, they are nature of the allergens or because of the focus traditionally eradicated whenever possible, of clinical studies. Tree pollen and/or wood, in especially in agriculture, and the use of some contrast to grasses, is the cause of significant as ornamentals (for example, the Marguerite occupational allergy. or Daisy, Wall pellitory and the Sunflower) or food plants (Camomile, Beet, Sunflower and Cross-reactivity Rape) provides only a partial counterbalance. Cross-reactivity can be expected to roughly They persist on wasteland and some grazing follow taxonomy. The closest relationships are land, and they play an important role as shown on next page (but are not universally “succession” plants in natural reforestation, agreed on). but many species fight a largely losing battle The importance of these relationships is with human civilisation. widely borne out by a number of clinical However, all of these considerations are trials and laboratory studies, especially within placed in the shadow by the major role a few (and sometimes between) the Asteraceae and weeds play in hay fever, the seasonal syndrome Amaranthaceae. Among the allergens most of red, swollen, itchy, and/or watery eyes persistently emerging in the complex cross- (conjunctivitis), sneezing, congestion, runny reactivity shown in major studies are Common nose, and/or nasal itching (rhinitis), and and Giant ragweed, Goosefoot, Common asthma. Among the culprits, the Ragweeds pigweed, Goldenrod, and Mugwort (6-8). and Mugwort are most familiar to clinicians. Broader cross-reactivity encompasses tree These can produce up to a million pollen grains and grass pollens and plant-derived foods and a day, and the pollen can be highly mobile, other substances from distantly related species, depending on atmospheric conditions. As one of the most important connections being daunting as such factors may seem, a careful between Mugwort and Celery. Mugwort, Wall and systematic approach should be made to pellitory, Plantain and Ragweed are prominent each case. Though hay fever is not among the in studies of cross-reactivity with, most more “serious” allergic conditions in that it is conspicuously, Olive tree, Birch, Timothy, seldom in itself life-threatening, it should not Rye, and Cocksfoot among the trees and be treated dismissively, either by total neglect, grasses; among foods and other substances, or by the prescription of symptom-masking Apple, Celery, Melon, Carrot, Kiwi and Latex medication before any attempt is made to stand out in the same connection (9-19). Oral identify and avoid the allergen(s) in question. Allergy Syndrome may be involved (19). The Weed pollen allergy is striking among the above is naturally merely a brief overview of pollen allergies for the debilitating effects it weed cross-reactivity. can have, with numerous lost school and work days and the accompanying high social and economic costs. Also, the role weed pollens commonly play in allergic asthma, and their importance in cross-reactivity, should ensure proper attention. The “allergy season” for weeds is later than for grasses and trees: it is typically midsummer to late fall. Weeds Order Family Tribe Genus (species available as ImmunoCAP® Allergens) Artemisia (Mugwort, Wormwood) Anthemideae Matricaria (Camomile) Chrysanthemum (Marguerite) Astereae Solidago (Goldenrod) Asterales Asteraceae (Compositae) Cichorieae Taraxacum (Dandelion) Eupatorieae Eupatorium (Dog fennel) Ambrosia (Common ragweed, Giant ragweed, Western ragweed) Franseria (False ragweed) Heliantheae Helianthus (Sunflower) Iva (Rough marshelder) Xanthium (Cocklebur) Brassicales Brassicaceae ()Cruciferae Brassica (Rape) Amaranthus (Careless weed, Common pigweed) Beta (Sugar-beet) Caryophyllales Amaranthaceae Salsola (Saltwort) Atriplex (Scale) Cyclobeae Chenopodium (Goosefoot) Kochia (Firebush) Lupinus (Lupin) Fabaceae (Leguminosae) Fabales Medicago (Alfalfa) Polygonaceae Rumex (Sheep sorrel, Yellow dock) Laminales Plantaginaceae Plantago (Plantain) Cannabaceae Humulus (Japanese Hop) Rosales Urtica (Nettle) Urticaceae Parietaria (Wall pellitory) Figure 1. Weeds and their botanical relations, adapted from L Yman (7). References 1. Suh CH, Park HS, Nahm DH, Kim HY. Oilseed 11. Miyahara S, Nakada M, Nishizaki K, Kawarai Y, rape allergy presented as occupational asthma Nishioka K, Hino H. Cross-reactivity to in the grain industry. olive tree pollen and orchard grass pollen in Clin Exp Allergy 1998;28(9):1159-63 patients with pollinosis. 2. Hohenleutner S, Pfau A, Hohenleutner U, Acta Med Okayama 1997;51(3):167-71 Landthaler M. Sugar beet pollen allergy as a 12. Garcia Ortiz JC, Ventas P, Cosmes P, Lopez- rare occupational disease. [German] Hautarzt Asunsolo A. An immunoblotting analysis of 1996;47(6):462-4 cross-reactivity between melon, and plantago 3. Jimenez A, Moreno C, Martinez J, Martinez A, et and grass pollens. J Investig Allergol Clin al. Sensitisation to sunflower pollen: only an Immunol 1996;6(6):378-82 occupational allergy? Int Arch Allergy Immunol 13. Garcia Ortiz JC, Cosmes Martin P, Lopez- 1994;105(3):297-307 Asunolo A. Melon sensitivity shares allergens 4. Bousquet J, Dhivert H, Clauzel AM, Hewitt B, with Plantago and grass pollens. Michel FB. Occupational allergy to sunflower Allergy 1995;50(3):269-73 pollen. 14. Pham NH, Baldo BA. Allergenic relationship J Allergy Clin Immunol 1985;75(1 Pt 1):70-4 between taxonomically diverse pollens. 5. de Jong NW, Vermeulen AM, Gerth van Wijk R, Clin Exp Allergy 1995;25(7):599-606 de Groot H. Occupational allergy caused by 15. Vallier P, DeChamp C, Valenta R, Vial O, flowers. Allergy 1998;53(2):204-9 Deviller P. Purification and characterization 6. Perrick D, Stafford CT, Armstrong E, of an allergen from celery immunochemically DuRant RH. Modification of the fluorescent related to an allergen present in several other allergosorbent test as an inhibition assay plant species. Identification