Bat feces as an indoor allergen

We have demonstrated in an animal model (specific IgG) as well as in atopic patients suffering from rhinitis/asthma (specific IgE) that bat feces have antigenic properties. A single peak with high glycoprotein content was obt ained by chromatography, while SDS-PAGE revealed several proteins between 2 9 and 116 kDa which showed immune serum blotting at 43.6 and 66 kDa. Positi ve specific skin tests with bat feces and IgE-RAST anti-bat feces were dete cted in atopic patients living in tall buildings and old houses in Buenos A ires. As bat feces did not cross-react with bat epithelium, studies evaluat ing rat serum and epithelium and pigeon feces in order to analyze the role of bat serum proteins, such as IgA, are encouraged.