title: Mite faeces are a major source of house dust allergens.
abstract: The association between house dust allergy and asthma has long been recognized, and it has been demonstrated that a major allergen in house dust is related to the presence of mites of the genus Dermatophagoides. Using extracts of mite culture for skin testing, as many as 10% of the population and up to 90% of allergic asthmatics give positive immediate reactions. Although mites may occasionally become airborne during bed-making, it has also been demonstrated that they 'secrete or excrete' some allergen. Recently, we have shown that up to three-quarters of the serum IgE antibodies to mites are directed against a major allergen-antigen P1 (molecular weight 24,000). Using a radioimmunoassay it is possible to measure the concentration of this glycoprotein in both dust samples and mite cultures. These measurements, which are reported here, show that more than 95% of the allergen accumulating in mite cultures is associated with faecal particles.
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology; D004391:Dust; D005243:Feces / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008925:Mites / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D004391:Dust