title: Mouse allergen exposure and decreased risk of allergic rhinitis in school-aged children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little is known about exposure to mouse allergen (Mus m 1) and allergic rhinitis (AR).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the association between mouse allergen exposure and AR in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined the relation between mouse allergen level in house dust and AR in 511 children aged 6 to 14 years in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Study participants were chosen from randomly selected households using a multistage probability sample design. The study protocol included questionnaires, allergy skin testing, and collection of blood and dust samples. AR was defined as current rhinitis symptoms and skin test reactivity to at least one allergen.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the multivariate analyses, mouse allergen level was associated with a 25% decreased odds of AR in participating children (95% confidence interval, 0.62-0.92). Although endotoxin and mouse allergen levels were significantly correlated (r = 0.184, P < .001), the observed inverse association between Mus m 1 and AR was not explained by levels of endotoxin or other markers of microbial or fungal exposure (peptidoglycan and glucan).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mouse allergen exposure is associated with decreased odds of AR in Puerto Rican school-aged children.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine, Allergy and Immunology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Tammy S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine, Allergy and Immunology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Erick
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Forno
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine, Allergy and Immunology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Brehm
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Sciences Research Institute, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
authors.forename: Edna
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Acosta-Pérez
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine, Allergy and Immunology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Yueh-Ying
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine, Allergy and Immunology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blatter
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thorne
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.
authors.forename: Nervana
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Metwali
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Sciences Research Institute, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
authors.forename: Angel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Colón-Semidey
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Sciences Research Institute, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alvarez
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Sciences Research Institute, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
authors.forename: Glorisa
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Canino
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine, Allergy and Immunology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Electronic address: juan.celedon@chp.edu.
authors.forename: Juan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Celedón
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D004391:Dust / Q000276:immunology*; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011647:Puerto Rico; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D012882:Skin Tests; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D004391:Dust; D004731:Endotoxins; C518791:Mus m 1 allergen, Mus musculus