The distribution of dust mite allergen in the houses of patients with asthma
Using an inhibition radioimmunoassay for the major allergen from Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (antigen P1), we studied the distribution of this dust allergen in the houses of patients with asthma. Both bed and floor dust samples contained a wide range of antigen P1, 100 to 100,000 ng/g of fine dust, and this concentration correlated well with the number of mite bodies (r . 0.81, p less than 0.001). We were unable to detect antigen P1 in the air of undisturbed rooms. However, during domestic activity, between 1 and 30 ng were collected on a filter than sampled air for 45 min at 17 L/min. Using a cascade impactor it was shown that greater than 80% of the airborne antigen P1 was associated with particles greater than 10 mu in diameter. Some of the particles containing allergen could be identified because they formed precipitin rings when impacted onto agarose containing rabbit antimite antiserum. These particles had the physical appearance of mite feces, which are the major source of antigen P1 in mite cultures. The results suggested that natural exposure to this dust allergen allows occasional fecal particles to enter the lungs and that these particles contain very concentrated allergen.
- Research Organization:
- Clinical Research Centre, Division of Immunology, Harrow, England
- OSTI ID:
- 5503669
- Journal Information:
- Am. Rev. Respir. Dis.; (United States), Vol. 124:5
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ASTHMA
DISEASE VECTORS
DUSTS
INHALATION
AIR SAMPLERS
ALLERGY
ANTIGENS
CASCADE IMPACTORS
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE PATHWAY
HOUSES
LUNGS
MITES
PARTICLE SIZE
PATIENTS
RADIOIMMUNOASSAY
ANIMALS
ARACHNIDS
ARTHROPODS
BODY
BUILDINGS
DISEASES
EQUIPMENT
INTAKE
INVERTEBRATES
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
LABORATORY EQUIPMENT
ORGANS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
RADIOASSAY
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
SAMPLERS
SIZE
TRACER TECHNIQUES
550601* - Medicine- Unsealed Radionuclides in Diagnostics
550900 - Pathology