Allergen Update
Sherbrooke, Quebec
Predominant pollen:
The tree pollen seasons can fluctuate from year to year by as much as two to three weeks at this site due to the effect of weather. The pollen seasons described here try to cover the time when each can occur.
Acer sp.- Maple counts are generally moderate and the season can occur from early April to late May. Some species cause allergic reactions.
Alnus sp.- Alder counts fluctuate throughout the season due to the various species present and the effect of weather. Low to moderate counts can be observed from the end of March to mid-June. There are occasionally some high counts. Alders are considered important allergens.
Betula sp.- High birch counts are observed and the season can start from mid-April to early May and end late May to mid-June. The majority of the birch look-a-likes' season occurs in May with low to high counts observed.
Cupressaceae group- The cedars, junipers and yews season fluctuates with low to high counts from late March to mid-May.
Pinaceae group- High counts are obtained throughout the season. Pollination can start from early to late May and end from early June to early July.
Populus sp.- Poplars and aspen produce high counts. The season can start at the end of March to mid-April and end between the end of April and the second week of May. Allergic reactions may not occur except in highly sensitized individuals.
Quercus sp.- Oak has two seasons: the first lasting about one week and the main season lasting about one month. The first one can occur mid-April to early May and the second one can occur from early may to early June. Certain species are considered to be highly allergenic.
Ulmus sp.- The elm are highly allergenic. Mostly low counts are observed and the main season, which lasts around two weeks, can occur mid-April to early May. There is also and early season that lasts less than one week and it can occur from late March to mid-April.
Fraxinus sp.- Ash counts range from low to mostly moderate with some high counts throughout the pollinating season. Pollination lasts approximately four weeks during the month of May. They may not cause allergic reactions except in individuals who are highly sensitized.
Fagus sp.- Beech season is May and early June with the occasional moderate counts.
Salix sp.- The willow season lasts almost four weeks and can occur from late April to late May, and low to moderate counts are observed. May not cause allergic reactions except in highly sensitized individuals.
Tsuga sp.- Hemlock season lasts approximately one to three weeks and can occur from mid-May to early June. The occasional moderate counts are observed. The season varies a great deal from year to year.
Gramineae- Season starts early May to early October. Moderate and high counts are observed from mid-May to mid-July.
Ambrosia sp.- Ragweed season is late July to late October. Moderate counts are observed from early August to mid-September.
Artemisia sp.- The sagebrushes and wormwoods produce mostly low and the occasional moderate count from mid-July to early October. May be a source of allergenicity.
Urtica sp.- The nettles produce low and moderate counts from mid-July to the end of August.
Plantago sp.- The plantains produce low counts from June to late September. Considered to be an important allergen in highly sensitized individuals even at low counts.
Predominant Spores:
Diatrypaceae sp.- The counts are very sporadic and vary throughout the whole counting season. Very high counts are observed from March to late October.
Caloplaca sp.- Moderate and high counts are observed from mid-May to late September. Season is very sporadic. May not be an important cause in allergic reactions.
Leptosphaeria sp. & Leptosphaeria look-a-likes- These two are grouped together since they are in the same class of fungi and are similar microscopically. The season is from mid-April to mid-October with great fluctuations in counts from day to day. This is probably due to the effect of weather. Some high counts are observed for both groups.
Erysephe (Oospora)- Powdery mildew - The season is from mid-April to mid-October. Counts are in the low to very high ranges. May not be an important allergen.
Boletus sp.- Season is from June to the end of October. Late July to October is when the highest counts are observed.
Coprinus sp.- High counts are observed and the season is from May to late fall. May be an important allergen.
Ganoderma sp.- Very high counts are observed from June to mid-October. May be an important allergen.
Ustlaginales- The smuts produce low to high counts from May to mid-October. Allergenicity is unknown.
Uredinales- The rusts produce low to high counts from May to mid-October. Allergenic properties are not well understood.
Aspergillus sp. & Penicillium sp.- Significant counts occur throughout the whole counting season with high counts occurring from March to late fall.
Alternaria sp.- Most of the significant counts are found from June to mid-October and are generally in the low to high ranges. May not cause disease except in highly sensitized individuals.
Cladosporium sp.- Found throughout the whole counting season. High counts are observed in March and April with very high counts starting June to late fall.
Botrytis sp.- Counts are in the low to moderate ranges from April to early October.
Helicomyces sp.- The season is very sporadic and low to high counts are observed from April to mid-October.
Fusarium sp.- Sporadic counts are observed throughout the whole collecting season. Moderate to high counts are observed from May to early October.
Pithomyces sp.- Low to moderate counts are observed from June to early October.
Epicoccum sp.- Low to high counts occur from June to mid-October.
Polythrincium sp.- Very high counts are observed from June to the end of September.
Myxomycetes- Low and moderate counts are observed from May to mid-October.
Last Updated: 14-March-2006
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