ALLERGENICITY OF EUROGLYPHUS-MAYNEI AND ITS CROSS-REACTIVITY WITH DERMATOPHAGOIDES SPECIES

Background: The house dust mite, Euroglyphus maynei (EM), is common in homes in England, Europe, the southern United States, and other parts of the world. It is often present in densities greater than 100 mites per gram of dust. EM usually occurs with Dermatophagoides farinae (DF ) and D. pteronyssinus (DP) and it is frequently more abundant than De rmatophagoides species. Therefore the allergenicity of EM and the cros s-reactivity between EM and Dermatophagoides species are important con siderations for diagnosis of mite-induced allergy and the use of appro priate immunotherapy. Methods: Crossed immunoelectrophoresis revealed that EM was the source of at least 33 antigens. Crossed radioimmunoele ctrophoresis with 32 different sera from patients with RAST results th at were positive to EM and skin test results that were positive to bot h DF and DP identified 15 allergens. Individual sera recognized two to eight EM antigens as allergens. Results: Ninety-one percent of the pa tients showed serum IgE directed at three or more allergens. Eighty-fo ur percent of the patients had moderate or strong levels of IgE direct ed at antigen no. 33. All 15 allergens showed moderate or strong IgE b inding by one or more sera. EM shared four and six cross-reacting alle rgens with DF and DP, respectively. Therefore 11 and 9 allergens of EM were species-specific and not shared by DF and DP, respectively. Conc lusions: The results of this study clearly indicate that sensitivity t o EM should be considered in geographic areas where this mite is abund ant in homes.