Lg. Arlian et al., ALLERGENIC CHARACTERIZATION OF TYROPHAGUS-PUTRESCENTIAE USING SERA FROM OCCUPATIONALLY EXPOSED FARMERS, Annals of allergy, asthma, & immunology, 79(6), 1997, pp. 525-529
Background: Allergic sensitivity to storage mites is common in farmers
and others who work in environments where hay and grain are handled,
stored, or processed. The clinical importance of storage mite-induced
allergy in these individuals is generally unknown in the United States
. Tyrophagus putrescentiae is a common storage mite, the allergenicity
of which has not been characterized. Objective: The purpose of this s
tudy was to characterize the allergenicity of Tyrophagus putrescentiae
. Methods: Crossed immunoelectrophoresis (CIE) and crossed radioimmuno
electrophoresis (CRIE) were performed to characterize the allergens of
this mite using the sera from 24 occupationally exposed farmers RAST-
positive to T. putrescentiae. Results: CRIE analysis of T. putrescenti
ae extract utilizing individual farmers' sera identified 14 allergens.
The number of allergens that bound IgE in the individual sera ranged
from 5 to 11. Sensitivity to the different allergens varied both withi
n and between patients but 100% of the farmers' sera recognized the sa
me five allergens precipitated by CIE. Fifty percent of patients' sera
recognized one additional. Forty-two and 21% of the sera had IgE bind
ing to six and seven of the allergens, respectively. Conclusions: The
results of this study showed that farmers who were occupationally expo
sed to storage mites had serum IgE specific for many potent allergens
from T. putrescentiae. Persons who are exposed to stored product mites
in occupational settings or by consumption of food containing these m
ites are therefore at risk of sensitization and allergic reaction. Inc
reased awareness of sensitivity to this mite in the United States' pop
ulation is needed.