We experienced two cases of occupational asthma induced by Elk dander in Elk-feeders and confirmed these cases by the bronchial provocation test with Elk dander. Both of them showed dual asthmatic response. They also showed positive reaction to the skin prick test with EIK dander. Now one of them has no asthmatic symptoms at all after complete avoidnce of EIK dander.
Asthma, Occupational* ; Bronchial Provocation Tests ; Dander ; Skin

A significant-source of allergens come from house dust that contain particles derived from arthropods, molds, and pet dander. This study evaluated mite and booklouse fauna from vacuumed dust samples in Beijing China (a temperate zone). Our survey was carried out in Beijing in the homes of mite allergic patients who visited our Allergy Department. In total, 38 homes were selected for the collection of dust samples by vacuuming, from December 2008 to January 2010. The flotation method was used to isolate mites from house dust. Permanent slides were prepared for mite specimens and mites were identified and counted under a microscope. In total, 1,798 separate mite and insect specimens were found in 345 dust samples taken from 38 homes. A total of 95 individual Dermatophagoides (D) siboney were detected in 35 dust samples from 19 homes (representing 5.3% of all mite and insect species found in house dust); in addition, this mite was found to co-exist with D. farinae (Hughes, 1961) in 33 dust samples. Our results demonstrated the presence D. siboney that co-existed with D. farinae in house dust in Beijing China (a temperate zone).
Allergens ; Arthropods ; China ; Dander ; Dermatophagoides farinae ; Dust* ; Fungi ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Insects ; Mites* ; Pyroglyphidae ; Vacuum*

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of allergic disease has increased substantially over the past decades. The reasons for these trends are complex but include increased environmental allergen exposure. Enviro nmental control measures are of particular importance in the prevention and management of allergic disease. Thus, we purposed to evaluate the changes of causative allergens in allergic patients in Chonbuk provincial area that began industralized recently. METHOD: To evaluate the allergens epidemiologically, we performed skin prick tests and RAST in 201 allergic patients from February, 1984 to February, 1985 and 339 patients from February, 1997 to February, 1998. RESULTS: The Following results were obtained. 1) Total sensitization rates did not change significantly (74.2% vs 75.8%, p=0.664). 2) Positive reaction rates to pollens were similar (35.8% vs 30.1%, p=0.17). 3) Positive rates to HDM(house dust mite) were decreased (66.1% vs 56.3%, =0.02). 4) Positive rates to fungi and animal danders were decreased significantly (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Environmental allergens associated with hygine in Chonbuk provincial areas such as HDM and fungi are decreased significantly during 13 years.
Allergens ; Animals ; Dander ; Dust ; Fungi ; Humans ; Jeollabuk-do* ; Pollen ; Prevalence ; Skin

Objective: A multicenter Chinese mainland survey was conducted to investigate the sensitization distribution characteristics of cat, dog and horse dander in patients with allergic diseases, so as to provide clinicians with epidemiological data of common animal allergens and useful information for the prevention and treatment of allergies in cats, dogs and horses. Methods: The epidemiological investigation and design was adopted. This study is based on the national epidemiological survey of allergic diseases led by the first affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University. From January to December in 2021, a total of 2 122 patients diagnosed with allergic diseases were included in the outpatient department of respiratory department/pediatrics/allergy department of 14 units such as the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, and 222 healthy subjects were included as controls from the physical examination center of the above units in the same period. All the subjects filled out the allergic disease questionnaire under the guidance of doctors, and the allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) of cats, dogs and horses of all subjects were detected by magnetic particle chemiluminescence system. The epidemiological characteristics of three animal allergens in different diseases, ages and regions were analyzed. Chi square test was used to analyze the frequency difference between groups, t test or Mann Whitney U test was used to test the distribution difference between two groups, and one-way ANOVA or Kruskal Wallis H test was used to compare the distribution difference between multiple groups. Bar chart, Venn-plot and radar chart were drawn to show the sensitization distribution characteristics. A small number of missing values caused by subjects' omission have been excluded during the analysis. Results: The 2 122 patients with allergic diseases were 57.35% male (1 217/2 122) and 40.95% female (869/2 122), and 1.70% (36/2 122) patients had loss of gender information. The age of patients with allergic diseases was 9.0 (6.0, 28.0) years, while that of healthy controls was 29.0 (13.0, 39.0) years old, and there were 1.7% (36/2 122) and 0.9% (2/222) subjects with missing age information, respectively. The proportion of caesarean section in allergic patients was significantly higher than that in healthy controls (31.4% vs. 17.6%,χ²=16.582,P<0.001) [2.5% (54/2 122) of the patient group and 5.4% (12/222) of the control group had missing birth mode information], and the proportion of patients with allergic diseases who reported that both parents had allergic diseases was significantly higher than that of the control group (35.7% vs. 9.5%, χ²=65.171,P<0.001). Patients with allergic diseases are mainly school-age (6-12 years old) and adolescents (12-18 years old). 16.4% of patients with allergic diseases were sensitized to cat dander, 10% and 6% to dog and horse dander. The sensitization rate of cat dander in patients with rhinitis, asthma, conjunctivitis, food allergy and atopic dermatitis was the highest (16.4%-21.6%), followed by dog dander (10.2%-15.2%). The prevalence of allergic rhinitis was the highest among different animal sensitized populations. The proportion of cat, dog and horse allergens sensitized at the same time is between 10%-15%, and the proportion of any two or more animal dander sensitized at the same time is about 45%. Animal allergens are associated with respiratory allergic diseases, especially allergic rhinitis with allergic conjunctivitis. There were significant differences in the distribution of positive rates of three animal allergens in different regions, and the highest positive rate of cat dander was found in all provinces of the country. Conclusion: The sensitization rate of animal dander allergens increased significantly, and the highest was in children and adolescents. Cat dander is the most common animal allergen, followed by dog. Different animals show obvious cross or common sensitization due to their high homology.
Allergens ; Animals ; Cats ; Cesarean Section ; Dander ; Dogs ; Female ; Horses ; Immunoglobulin E ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Rhinitis, Allergic

PURPOSE: Allergens that cause asthma include those derived from indoor allergens such as animal dander (dog and cat). The aim of the study is to provide baseline data on characteristics of home environments in Korea, which will be used for future comparative studies of indoor environmental factors between populations with contrasting asthma prevalence. METHODS: The study was performed during September through November (Autumn) 1999. A total of 206 residential homes were volunteers from different districts in Seoul. They participate in home environment survey and skin prick tests. The dust specimens were collected by vacuum cleaner (V-582T, 520W; LG). We detected animal dander (Can f 1 and Fel d 1) by monoclonal-antibody based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). RESULTS: The average indoor temperature was 25.1+/-2.9 degrees C and the relative humidity was 54.0+/-9.6%. The positive rate of dog (Can f 1) was 35.4% and cat (Fel d 1) was 33.5%. It is the same between Can f 1 and Fel d 1 distributed within dust samples from the four sites of the homes. And the distribution level of Can f 1 and Fel d 1 was, for the living room 26.2%, 17%, for the bedroom 20.9%, 15%, for the children's room 20.4%, 10.2%, for the kitchen 16%, 8.7 %, in descending order. CONCLUSION: The positive rate of Can f 1 was higher than Fel d 1 in dust samples. The living room has highest distribution of dust samples among the four sites of a home. And it has similar distribution between Can f 1 and Fel d 1.
Allergens* ; Animals ; Asthma ; Cats* ; Dander ; Dogs* ; Dust ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humidity ; Korea ; Prevalence ; Seoul* ; Skin ; Vacuum ; Volunteers

PURPOSE: Divergent results on the IgE reactivity of dog-allergic subjects to Can f 4 have been reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate the significance of Can f 4 in dog allergy and to develop an immunochemical method for measuring Can f 4 content in environmental samples. METHODS: We purified the natural dog allergen Can f 4 from a dog dander extract by monoclonal antibody-based affinity chromatography and generated its variant in a recombinant form. Sixty-three dog-allergic patients and 12 nonallergic control subjects were recruited in the study. The IgE-binding capacity of natural Can f 4 and its recombinant variant was assessed by ELISA, immunoblotting, and skin prick tests (SPT). RESULTS: Eighty-one percent of the dog-allergic patients showed a positive result to the immunoaffinity-purified natural Can f 4 in IgE ELISA, but only 46% in IgE immunoblotting. Respective results with the recombinant Can f 4 variant were 54% and 49%. SPT results reflected those obtained in ELISA and immunoblotting. The overall IgE reactivity of the immunoaffinity-purified natural Can f 4 was found to depend strongly on the integrity of the allergen's conformation. A sandwich ELISA based on monoclonal antibodies was found to be functional for measuring Can f 4 in environmental samples. CONCLUSIONS: Can f 4 is a major allergen of dog together with Can f 1 and Can f 5. In combination with other dog allergens, it improves the reliability of allergy tests in dog allergy.
Allergens ; Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Chromatography, Affinity ; Dander ; Dogs* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay* ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoblotting ; Immunoglobulin E* ; Lipocalins* ; Skin

PURPOSE: Skin reactivity to different allergens may vary with age, since the degree and type of sensitization may be related not only to genetic factors but also to the intensity and duration of exposure to the allergens. The aim of this study was to evaluate profile of sensitization to airborne allergens according to age in children with allergic asthma. METHODS: We performed skin prick tests with 12 common airborne allergens in children with clinically diagnosed asthma, and analyzed the results of 313 patients with at least one positive response. Patients were arbitrarily divided into four groups, according to their age: group I(3 to 7 yrs; n=80), group II(7 to 10 yrs; n=93), group III(10 to 13 yrs; n=85), and group IV(13 to 17 yrs; n=55). The allergens tested were grouped into 5 classes : house dust mites, cockroach, animal danders, molds, and pollens. Atopy index and class index were calculated as the number of allergens and classes to which responses had been positive, respectively. RESULTS: In all groups, the most common positive allergic reaction was to house dust mites. Positive reactions to cat fur, mugwort, and ragweed among the allergens, and animal danders and pollens among the classes, tended to increase from group I to group IV(P<0.05). Atopy index increased with age(P<0.05). Class index also increased with age(P<0.05). Sensitization to more than one class of allergens occurred in 62.3% of the patients, and the percentage of these polysensitized patients tended to increase from group I to group IV(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: In children with allergic asthma, the positive number of allergens and their classes by skin prick test increased with the age of the patients. This phenomenon was associated with age- related increase in the frequency of polysensitized patients.
Allergens ; Ambrosia ; Animals ; Artemisia ; Asthma* ; Cats ; Child* ; Cockroaches ; Dander ; Fungi ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Mites ; Pollen ; Pyroglyphidae ; Skin Tests ; Skin*

BACKGROUND: Detection of causative allergens in respiratory allergy patients is important for diagnosis and selection of treatment modality. Allergen sensitization depends on the genetic susceptibility and environmental exposure to allergens. MATERIAL AND METHOD: In this study, we tried to find causative inhalant allergens in respiratory allergy patients who underwent skin prick test with common 55 inhalant allergens and RAST at Chungbuk National University Hospital in Chungbuk district. We also evaluated the changes of causative allergens because the environment here may be quite different, since the main population lives in the urban area and industrialization began later than in the other cities and districts. RESULTS: The major allergen was house dust mite, and its sensitivity rate did not change annually. Other indoor allergens such as cockroach, and animal dander including cat and dog showed similar trends. But the sensitization rate to tree and weed pollen except grass had significantly increased since 1995. Among pollens, the increase of sensntization to weed pollen was more marked. Ratio of sensitization rate to double or triple kinds of allergens also increased. CONCLUSION: Taken together, house dust mite is still the major allergen, but rate to pollen sensitization, especially to weed pollen has increased rapidly and significantly. It is suggested that causative allergens in repiratory allergy patients has begun to shift to pollen recently.
Allergens* ; Animals ; Cats ; Chungcheongbuk-do* ; Cockroaches ; Dander ; Diagnosis ; Dogs ; Environmental Exposure ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Poaceae ; Pollen ; Pyroglyphidae ; Skin

PURPOSE: There are compelling evidences that house dust mites are important in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis. Recently, detection of house dust mite allergens from clothing, skin, and dust from human hair has been reported. To evaluate the importance of house dust mite exposure in the clinical severity of atopic dermatitis. METHODS: We measured house dust mite allergens (Der f1 from Dermatophagoides farinae and Der p1 from D. pteronyssinus) in scalp dander from 27 children with atopic dermatitis and 41 children with asthma only by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and examined correlation between house dust mite allergen concentrations in scalp dander and clinical severity of atopic dermatitis in children. RESULTS: Der f1 was detectable in scalp dander samples of 32 patients (47%) from overall 68 patient and Der p1 was detectable in 33 patients (49%). House dust mite allergens (Der f1 or Der p1) were detectable in scalp dander samples of 46 patients (70%) from overall 68 patient. There was no significant differences in house dust mite allergen levels between atopic dermatitis patients and patients with asthma only. There was a tendency of inverse correlation between frequency of scalp washing and concentration of Der f1 in scalp dander extract (r=-0.24, P=0.052). There was a significant correlation between severity grade of atopic dermatitis and concentration of Der f1 in scalp dander (r=0.39, P<0.05) in 27 children with atopic dermatitis. However, there was no significant correlation between severity grade of atopic dermatitis and concentration of Der p1 in scalp dander (r=-0.05, P>0.05). CONCLUSION: There was a significant correlation between house dust mite allergen concentrations in scalp dander and clinical severity in children with atopic dermatitis. And these results suggest that exposure to house dust mite allergen is important in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis.
Allergens ; Asthma ; Child* ; Clothing ; Dander* ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Dermatophagoides farinae ; Dust* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Hair ; Humans ; Pyroglyphidae* ; Scalp* ; Skin

Most allergic diseases are caused by activation of Th2 type immune responses resulting in the production of specific IgE against proteins found in normally harmless substances such as pollen, mites, epithelia or food. Allergenic substances are composed, in addition to proteins, of other compounds such as carbohydrates and lipids. Those lipids are able to promote the development of Th2-type responses associated with allergy. There are lipids found in pollen, milk or insect venom that are specifically recognized by CD1 restricted unconventional T lymphocytes, which can promote allergic reactions. Furthermore, a large number of allergens are proteins containing hydrophobic parts that specifically bind lipids that are capable to favor allergenic immune responses. Also, lipids associated to substances like pollen, dander, epithelia or the bacteria can act on cells of the innate system, including dendritic cells, which in turn lead to the differentiation of Th2-type clones. Finally, lipids may also influence the ability of allergens to be exposed to the immune system within the oral, respiratory or intestinal mucosa where allergic response occurs with great frequency.
Adaptive Immunity ; Allergens ; Bacteria ; Carbohydrates ; Clone Cells ; Dander ; Dendritic Cells ; Hypersensitivity ; Immune System ; Immunity, Innate ; Immunoglobulin E ; Insects ; Intestinal Mucosa ; Milk ; Mites ; Pollen ; T-Lymphocytes ; Venoms