title: Evaluation of the level of house dust mite allergens, Der p 1 and Der f 1 in Iranian homes, a nationwide study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Exposure to house dust mites (HDMs) is a major risk factor for the development of allergic symptoms. HDMs are worldwide in distribution. Assessing these allergens in each area is a critical step in evaluating the risk of sensitisation and controlling allergic symptoms. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the level of major HDMs, Der p 1 and Der f 1, in various parts of Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2009, 257 dust samples were obtained from living rooms' carpets in seven cities throughout Iran with different geoclimatic conditions. The level of Der p 1 and Der f 1 was measured by commercial ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Detectable level of Der p 1 and Der f 1 levels were only found in Gorgan and Sari, two cities near the Caspian Sea with moderate temperatures and high relative humidity. In both of these cities, Der f 1 was more frequent than Der p 1 (100% vs. 85%) and was found to be at a higher level than Der p 1 (geometric mean 3128 vs. 439ng/g dust, P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study confirm that house dust mites in Iran are restricted to the Caspian Sea coastal areas, and in other parts, due to seasonal variations of temperature and humidity mites are not able to grow well and therefore are not an important risk factor for sensitisation and respiratory allergies.
authors.affiliation: Asthma, Allergy and Immunology Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran. Electronic address: M.Fereidouni@Bums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fereidouni
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fereidouni
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hadian
authors.forename: Sh
authors.initials: Sh
authors.lastname: Nourani Hasankiadeh
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mazandarani
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ziaee
mesh_terms: D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D060829:Arthropod Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D004391:Dust / Q000276:immunology; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D007492:Iran; D039981:Pyroglyphidae / Q000276:immunology*; D012621:Seasons
chemical_list: D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D060829:Arthropod Proteins; D004391:Dust; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; C451159:Dermatophagoides farinae antigen f 1; C451162:Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus antigen p 1
keywords: Allergy; Der f 1; Der p 1; ELISA; House dust mite (HDM); Iran