BACKGROUND: Knowledge of the occurrence of house dust mites (HDM) and their allergens in domestic locations is important when planning intervention. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe the distribution of HDMs and their allergens before intervention in multiple locations in the homes of newly diagnosed HDM-allergic patients with a known high Der 1 concentration in their mattress dust. METHODS: Dust was collected from ten locations in the homes of eight HDM-allergic patients. Dust was analysed for allergen content with ELISAs for Der f 1, Der p 1 and Der m 1; and HDM were counted. Total allergen concentrations ( micro g Der 1/g dust) were expressed as the sum of Der f 1, Der p 1 and Der m 1. RESULTS: On mattresses the median concentration was 86 micro g Der 1/g dust (range 30-288) and 188 mites/g dust (range 12-1910). Der 1 exceeded 10 micro g/g dust in mattresses (8/8), duvets/pillows (3/8), a bedroom carpet (1/1), a living room carpet (1/6), upholstered furniture (2/8) and a curtain (1/5). Uncarpeted floors, upholstered furniture, bookshelves and walls had significantly lower Der 1 concentration than the mattresses. The relative contribution of Der p 1, Der f 1 or Der m 1 to Der 1 was related to homes, rather than to the location. Der m 1 only occurred in minute amounts. CONCLUSION: For HDM intervention, our results indicate that priority should be given to the removal of allergens from mattresses, and in addition from carpets, duvets/pillows and upholstered furniture. Dust from walls, uncarpeted floors, bookshelves and curtains appear to contribute insignificantly to the domestic HDM allergen load.
BACKGROUND: Knowledge of the occurrence of house dust mites (HDM) and their allergens in domestic locations is important when planning intervention. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe the distribution of HDMs and their allergens before intervention in multiple locations in the homes of newly diagnosed HDM-allergicpatients with a known high Der 1 concentration in their mattress dust. METHODS: Dust was collected from ten locations in the homes of eight HDM-allergicpatients. Dust was analysed for allergen content with ELISAs for Der f 1, Der p 1 and Der m 1; and HDM were counted. Total allergen concentrations ( micro g Der 1/g dust) were expressed as the sum of Der f 1, Der p 1 and Der m 1. RESULTS: On mattresses the median concentration was 86 micro g Der 1/g dust (range 30-288) and 188 mites/g dust (range 12-1910). Der 1 exceeded 10 micro g/g dust in mattresses (8/8), duvets/pillows (3/8), a bedroom carpet (1/1), a living room carpet (1/6), upholstered furniture (2/8) and a curtain (1/5). Uncarpeted floors, upholstered furniture, bookshelves and walls had significantly lower Der 1 concentration than the mattresses. The relative contribution of Der p 1, Der f 1 or Der m 1 to Der 1 was related to homes, rather than to the location. Der m 1 only occurred in minute amounts. CONCLUSION: For HDM intervention, our results indicate that priority should be given to the removal of allergens from mattresses, and in addition from carpets, duvets/pillows and upholstered furniture. Dust from walls, uncarpeted floors, bookshelves and curtains appear to contribute insignificantly to the domestic HDM allergen load.
Authors: Karin B Fieten; Marieke T Drijver-Messelink; Annalisa Cogo; Denis Charpin; Milena Sokolowska; Ioana Agache; Luís Manuel Taborda-Barata; Ibon Eguiluz-Gracia; Gerrit J Braunstahl; Sven F Seys; Maarten van den Berge; Konrad E Bloch; Silvia Ulrich; Carlos Cardoso-Vigueros; Jasper H Kappen; Anneke Ten Brinke; Markus Koch; Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann; Pedro da Mata; David J Prins; Suzanne G M A Pasmans; Sarah Bendien; Maia Rukhadze; Mohamed H Shamji; Mariana Couto; Hanneke Oude Elberink; Diego G Peroni; Giorgio Piacentini; Els J M Weersink; Matteo Bonini; Lucia H M Rijssenbeek-Nouwens; Cezmi A Akdis Journal: Allergy Date: 2022-02-15 Impact factor: 14.710