engleski

Exposure levels and markers of sensitization to house dust mites (HDM) in two climatic regions of Croatia

HDM allergen levels and markers of sensitization were studied in the continental and coastal region of Croatia. Der p 1, Der f 1 and Der group 2 allergens were measured using Dustscreen test (CMG Heska Allergy Products, Switzerland) in 99 house dust (HD) samples collected in the standard way from the living room and bedroom floors (28 from coastal, 31 from rural continental and 40 from urban continental areas). Skin prick testing (SPT) with Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (DP) and Dermatophagoides farinae (DF) allergens (ALK-Abello, Denmark) was performed in 397 adult subjects, 145 from the coastal region (59 from urban and 86 from rural areas) and 252 from the continental region (176 from urban and 76 from rural areas) of Croatia. The serum levels of specific IgE (sIgE) to HDM were measured using ELISA method (IASON, Austria) Subjects with positive SPT (mean urtica diameter equal or above 3 mm) and increased sIgE (> 0, 35 KU/L) were considered sensitized. The levels of Der p 1 were the highest in the coastal HD samples and significantly lower in the rural and urban continental HD samples (4.5:2:0.85 mcg/g of dust ; P=0.0001). The levels of Der f 1 were the highest in the urban continental HD samples and significantly lower in the rural continental and coastal HD samples (0.88:0.75:0mcg/g of dust ; P=0.0013). The level of Der 2 correlated only with the level of Der p 1. The portion of HD samples with the Der group 1 allergens above 2 mcg/g was 75% in the coastal region, 48.8% in the rural continental region, and 27.5% in the urban continental region. Houses with central heating showed higher levels of Der f 1 in HD samples then houses with traditional heating (1.0mcg/g:0.25mcg/g ; P<0.01).The frequency of sensitization to HDM was significantly lower in the coastal than in the continental region ( 5.5%:17.5% ; P= 0.0012 for DP and 3.4%: 14.7% ; P= 0.0009 for DF). Rural and urban population from both regions showed comparative sensitization results. Our results suggest that environmental Der f 1 level can be consider as risk factor for occurrence of sensitization to DF. Such relationship was not found for Der p 1 and DP. Unexpectedly low sensitization frequency to DP in general adult population of the coastal region deserves further investigation.

dust mites; Der p 1; Der f 1; prick test; specific IgE; continental climate; Mediterranean climate

nije evidentirano