title: Prevalence of mouse allergen (Mus m 1) in homes of New Zealand rural children.
abstract: Mouse allergen has emerged as an under recognized indoor allergen associated with sensitization and contributing to asthma severity. As part of a study of farm residence, exposures, and risk of allergic diseases in children in New Zealand, 216 living room floor dust samples were analysed for the mouse allergen, Mus m 1. Associations between Mus m 1 and allergic diseases, farm residence, and presence of cats were analysed. Significantly higher levels of Mus m 1 were found in farm dwellings, while the presence of cats was associated with significantly lower Mus m 1 levels. Levels of Mus m 1 in New Zealand were considerably lower than those reported overseas. No significant associations were found between Mus m 1 levels and atopic status or allergic diseases. Mouse allergen is unlikely to be an important indoor allergen for rural New Zealand children.
authors.affiliation: Wellington Asthma Research Group, Wellington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wellington, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Siebers
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wickens
authors.forename: Julian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Crane
mesh_terms: D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor; D000485:Allergens / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D002648:Child; D004391:Dust / Q000276:immunology; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000453:epidemiology*; D051379:Mice / Q000276:immunology*; D009520:New Zealand; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D004391:Dust