Skin test and crossreactivity studies with Euroglyphus maynei and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus.
BACKGROUND
The prevalence of sensitization to Euroglyphus maynei (E. maynei) in the United States has not been reported previously.


OBJECTIVE
To determine: (1) the prevalence of skin-test reactivity in allergic subjects to E. maynei compared to D. pteronyssinus, D. farinae, and B. tropicalis and (2) the allergenic crossreactivity between D. pteronyssinus and E. maynei.


METHODS
Skin testing with extracts of B. tropicalis and E. maynei (1:50 w/v) and standardized D. pteronyssinus and D. farinae extracts (1:50 w/v; 10,000 AU/mL) provided data on 250 subjects (87 males and 163 females) aged 9-77 years (mean age, 39.8 years) with possible allergic respiratory diseases. RAST inhibition assays were used to study crossreactivity between D. pteronyssinus and E. maynei.


RESULTS
One hundred (40%) of 250 subjects had insignificant or no allergic diseases. Of the 150 allergic subjects (53 males, 97 females), 101 (67.3%) had a positive test (a percutaneous test with a weal diameter > or = 3 mm larger than the saline control) to at least one mite species; 60.7%, 60.0%, 28.7%, and 52.0% reacted to D. farinae, D. pteronyssinus, B. tropicalis, and E. maynei, respectively; 40 (26.7%) reacted to the four mite species. Positive tests to D. farinae, D. pteronyssinus, B. tropicalis, or E. maynei alone occurred in six (4.0%), four (2.7%), two (1.3%), and 0%, respectively. D. pteronyssinus and E. maynei showed moderately high crossreactivity in RAST inhibition assays.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a high rate of skin-test reactivity to E. maynei in Florida. Moderately high crossreactivity exists between E. maynei and D. pteronyssinus.
Kemp
S F
SF
Department of Internal Medicine, University of South Florida College of Medicine and the James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital, Tampa, USA.
Lockey
R F
RF
Fernández-Caldas
E
E
Arlian
L G
LG
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D002648:Child; D003429:Cross Reactions / Q000276:immunology; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D007118:Immunoassay; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008925:Mites / Q000276:immunology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011852:Radioallergosorbent Test; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D012882:Skin Tests
D000485:Allergens; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D004391:Dust; D006023:Glycoproteins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E