Endotoxin, Ergosterol, Fungal DNA and Allergens in Dust from Schools in Johor Bahru, Malaysia- Associations with Asthma and Respiratory Infections in Pupils

Norbäck, Dan, Markowicz, Pawel, Cai, Gui-Hong, Hashim, Zailina, Ali, Faridah, Zheng, Yi-Wu, Lai, Xu-Xin, Spangfort, Michael Dho, Larsson, Lennart and Hashim, Jamal H., (2014). Endotoxin, Ergosterol, Fungal DNA and Allergens in Dust from Schools in Johor Bahru, Malaysia- Associations with Asthma and Respiratory Infections in Pupils. PLOS ONE, 9(2), n/a-n/a

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  • Sub-type Journal article
    Author Norbäck, Dan
    Markowicz, Pawel
    Cai, Gui-Hong
    Hashim, Zailina
    Ali, Faridah
    Zheng, Yi-Wu
    Lai, Xu-Xin
    Spangfort, Michael Dho
    Larsson, Lennart
    Hashim, Jamal H.
    Title Endotoxin, Ergosterol, Fungal DNA and Allergens in Dust from Schools in Johor Bahru, Malaysia- Associations with Asthma and Respiratory Infections in Pupils
    Appearing in PLOS ONE
    Volume 9
    Issue No. 2
    Publication Date 2014-02-11
    Place of Publication Cambridge
    Publisher PLOS
    Start page n/a
    End page n/a
    Language English
    Abstract There are few studies on associations between respiratory health and allergens, fungal and bacterial compounds in schools in tropical countries. The aim was to study associations between respiratory symptoms in pupils and ethnicity, chemical microbial markers, allergens and fungal DNA in settled dust in schools in Malaysia. Totally 462 pupils (96%) from 8 randomly selected secondary schools in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, participated. Dust was vacuumed from 32 classrooms and analysed for levels of different types of endotoxin as 3-hydroxy fatty acids (3-OH), muramic acid, ergosterol, allergens and five fungal DNA sequences. Multiple logistic regression was applied. Totally 13.1% pupils reported doctor’s diagnosed asthma, 10.3% wheeze and 21.1% pollen or pet allergy. Indian and Chinese children had less atopy and asthma than Malay. Carbon dioxide levels were low (380–690 ppm). No cat (Fel d1), dog (Can f 1) or horse allergens (Ecu cx) were detected. The levels of Bloomia tropicalis (Blo t), house dust mite allergens (Der p 1, Der f 1, Der m 1) and cockroach allergens (Per a 1 and Bla g 1) were low. There were positive associations between levels of Aspergillus versicolor DNA and daytime breathlessness, between C14 3-OH and respiratory infections and between ergosterol and doctors diagnosed asthma. There were negative (protective) associations between levels of C10 3-OH and wheeze, between C16 3-OH and day time and night time breathlessness, between cockroach allergens and doctors diagnosed asthma. Moreover there were negative associations between amount of fine dust, total endotoxin (LPS) and respiratory infections. In conclusion, endotoxin at school seems to be mainly protective for respiratory illness but different types of endotoxin could have different effects. Fungal contamination measured as ergosterol and Aspergillus versicolor DNA can be risk factors for respiratory illness. The ethnical differences for atopy and asthma deserve further attention.
    UNBIS Thesaurus PUBLIC HEALTH
    RESPIRATORY DISEASES
    MALAYSIA
    Copyright Holder The Authors
    Copyright Year 2014
    Copyright type Creative commons
    ISSN 19326203
    DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0088303
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