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DOI: 10.48087/BJMS.2026.130208
Authors: Abdelkader AMROUNE1, Nabil MOHAMDI1, Mohammed Tahar BEN MOUSSA1, Dorra GHARBI2,3, Dalila SMATI4
Affiliations: 1.Département de Pharmacie – Faculté de Médecine- Université de Batna 2 – Algérie. 2- Université du Nord-Ouest, Potchefstroom, Afrique du Sud. 3- Analyse et Expérimentation de l’écosystème, Gif sur Yvette, France. 4- Faculté de Pharmacie – Université des Sciences de la Santé-Alger – Algérie.
Keywords: Aeropalynology; Pollen calendar; Batna; Allergenic pollen; Cupressaceae.
Abstract
Objectives: Airborne pollen is a major cause of respiratory diseases, whose clinical expression is closely related to the bioclimatic context and the structure of local vegetation. This study aimed to provide the first detailed aeropalynological characterization of the atmosphere of Batna and its nearby areas (Tazoult, Hamla), located in the semi-arid Mediterranean zone of eastern Algeria, in order to describe the composition, intensity, and seasonal dynamics of the pollen spectrum and to establish a reference pollen calendar directly applicable in allergology. Materials and Methods: A prospective descriptive study was conducted over a full pollen year, from November 1, 2022, to October 31, 2023. Atmospheric particles were continuously collected using a Hirst-type volumetric sampler (Lanzoni VPPS 2000), installed in accordance with international recommendations, and subsequently analyzed by light microscopy for pollen identification and counting. For each taxon, the Annual Pollen Index (API), Monthly Pollen Indices (MPIs), and the Main Pollen Season (MPS) were calculated. The pollen calendar was established by retaining taxa with an API of at least 36 grains/m³/year. Results: A total of 31,853 pollen grains/m³ were recorded, distributed among 34 pollen types belonging to 28 families, with a marked predominance of trees and shrubs (85.40% of the API) over herbaceous taxa (12.70%) and Poaceae (1.60%). Four taxa accounted for 83.23% of the annual load: Cupressaceae (66.28%), Quercus sp. (9.77%), Chenopodiaceae–Amaranthaceae (3.80%), and Olea europaea L. (3.38%). The temporal distribution was highly skewed, with 88.41% of the annual load recorded from February to June, and a « hyper-pollinic » March alone accounting for 52.28% of the API. The calendar retained 24 taxa, 58% of which had confirmed allergenic potential, and made it possible to distinguish three pollen seasons and three successive allergenic pollen periods. Conclusion: This work provides the first aeropalynological reference for the Batna region, characterized by a high pollen load and the dominance of Cupressaceae in a semi-arid setting. The resulting data offer an operational basis for improving the diagnosis, prevention, and management of pollen allergies and support the implementation of regional monitoring and dissemination tools for allergenic pollen information.