[Preliminary survey on concentration of indoor allergens derived from dust mites in residential homes in Shanghai].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the level of indoor dust mite allergens in residential homes in Shanghai.


METHODS
The allergenic proteins, Dff F3 and Der f III (well known allergen) from the whole culture extract of Dermatophagoides farinae were purified by chromatography and sedimentation techniques. Allergic activities of both proteins were identified by skin prick test and RAST. After preparation of specific IgG anti-Dff F3, anti-Der f III, and extraction of indoor allergens from 200 indoor dust samples collected from residential homes, the allergen concentration was measured by sandwich ELISA. Allergen level was expressed in geometric mean and range, the analysis of variance (ANOV) was used to determine the level of significance between groups.


RESULTS
Dff F3 and Der f III were demonstrated strongly allergic activities, which can be highly recognized with IgE from sera of the mite-allergic patients with asthma. In the sampled 200 homes, the proportion of homes with Dff F3 level of >10 microg/g was 57.0%, 29.5% for group of 2-10 microg/g, and 13.5% for group of <2 microg/g. The proportion of homes with Der f III level of >10 microg/g was 53.5%, 32.0% for group of 2-10 microg/g, 14.5% for group of <2 microg/g.


CONCLUSIONS
Selected residential homes in Shanghai were found more likely to have high level of dust mite allergens. Dff F3 was identified as the stronger allergic fraction.
Mao
Zuo-hua
ZH
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Shanghai Medical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
Liu
Shi-wei
SW
Zhang
Feng-xia
FX
Zhou
Shu-jun
SJ
He
Yu-liang
YL
D000485:Allergens / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D002681:China; D040001:Dermatophagoides farinae / Q000276:immunology*; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits
D000485:Allergens; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D004391:Dust; D007073:Immunoglobulin E