Abstract
House dust mites, cats and dogs are amongst the most frequent sources of indoor allergens in Europe. The fact that the allergens of house dust mites cause allergic disease through inhalation of house dust was discovered in 1964. The diagnosis of mite allergy is regularly complicated by its often nonspecific symptoms, which frequently develop insidiously and by no means always include attacks of paroxysmal sneezing and itching. Antibody-based immunological detection methods can be used to measure exposure to mite allergens. The structure and function of more than 20 allergens from Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and D. farina are known. Other relevant indoor allergens come from mammals kept in households. Here again, allergens have been described and diagnostic as well as exposure-measurement tools are available. It is important to remember indoor pests and other „unwelcome lodgers“ as a possible cause in the case of unexplained symptoms experienced indoors. This short overview summarizes the current key points on the subject of „mites and other indoor allergens“. The present article provides an overview of several articles published in a special issue of the German journal Allergologie [February 2015; 38(2)] on the subject of „Mites and other indoor allergens“.
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- AH:
-
Antihistamines
- AIT:
-
Allergen-specific immunotherapy
- AR:
-
Allergic rhinitis
- cNP:
-
Cimex lectularius nitrophorin
- EDC:
-
Electrostatic dust fall collector
- ELISA:
-
Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay
- FAD:
-
Flea allergy dermatitis
- GCS:
-
Glucocorticosteroid
- IgE:
-
Immunoglobulin E
- IUIS:
-
International Union of Immunological Societies
- LRA:
-
Leukotriene receptor antagonists
- MG:
-
Molecular weight
- NPT:
-
Nasal provocation testing
- SIT:
-
Specific immunotherapy
- WHO:
-
World Health Organization
References
Heinzerling LM, Burbach GJ, Edenharter G, Bachert C, Bindslev-Jensen C, Bonini S et al. GA2LEN skin test study I: GA2LEN harmonization of skin prick testing: novel sensitization patterns for inhalant allergens in Europe. Allergy 2009;64:1498–506
Haftenberger M, Laußmann D, Ellert U, Kacklösch M, Langen U, Schlaud M. Prävalenz von Sensibilisierungen gegen Inhalations- und Nahrungsmittelallergene. Ergebnisse der Studie zur Gesundheit Erwachsener in Deutschland (DEGS1). Bundesgesundheitsbl 2013;56:687–697
Raulf M, Sander I, Hilger C, Brüning T, Zahradnik E. Schädlinge und andere „unerwünschte Untermieter“ in Innenräumen — wie relevant sind sie als Allergenquellen? Allergologie 2015;38:91–102
Bergmann KC, Müsken H. Milben sind nicht gleich Milben. Allergologie 2015;38:47–54
Sander I, Zahradnik E, Brüning T, Raulf M. Quantifizierung der Milbenallergenexposition in Haushalten mit verschiedenen Immunoassays und Luftstaubsammelmethoden. Allergologie 2015;38:64–69
Kull S, Vrtala S, Jappe U. Bekannte Einzelallergene der Hausstaubmilben: Struktur, Funktion und Relevanz. Allergologie 2015;38:55–63
Klimek L, Sperl A, Raulf M. Diagnostik und Therapie der Milbenallergie. Allergologie 2015;38:70–82
Hilger C, Zahradnik E. Hund, Katze und Co — Haustiere als Allergenquellen in Innenräumen. Allergologie 2015;38:83–90
Voorhorst R, Spieksma-Boezeman MI, Spieksma FT. Is a mite (Dermatophagoides spp.) the producer of the house dust mite allergen? Allerg Asthma (Leipz) 1964;10:329–334
Brown HM, Filer JL. Role of mites in allergy to house dust. Br Med J 1968;3:646–647
Frankland AW, McEwen LM, Feinberg JG. Skin reactions to dust and mites. Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol 1970;37:351–356
Smith AP. Hyposensitization with Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus antigen: trial in asthma induced by house dust. Br Med J 1971;4:204–206
Franz JT, Schulz S, Fuhlendorff J, Masuch G, Bergmann KC, Müsken H. Pheromones — a possible mite avoidance measure? Allergy 2001;68:178
Boer R de, Kuller K. Mattresses as a winter refuge for house dust mite populations. Allergy 1997;52:299–305
Lebrun PH, Impe van G, Saint Georges-Gridelet de D, Wauthy G, Andre HM. The life strategies of mites. In: Schuster R, Murphy PW, eds. The Acari. London: Chapman & Hall; 1991. p. 3–22
Gehring U, Brunekreef B, Fahlbusch B, Wichmann HE, Heinrich J, INGA Study Group. Are house dust mite allergen levels influenced by cold winter weather? Allergy 2005;60:1079–1082
Zock JP, Heinrich J, Jarvis D, Verlato G, Norbäck D, Plana E et al. Distribution and determinants of house dust mite allergens in Europe: the European Community Respiratory Health Survey II. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2006;118:682–690
Blay F de, Heymann PW, Chapman MD, Platts-Mills TA. Airborne dust mite allergens: comparison of group II allergens with group I mite allergen and cat-allergen Fel d I. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1991;88:919–926
Tovey ER, Chapman MD, Platts-Mills TA. Mite faeces are a major source of house dust allergens. Nature 1981;289:592–593
Luczynska CM, Arruda LK, Platts-Mills TA, Miller JD, Lopez M, Chapman MD. A two-site monoclonal antibody ELISA for the quantification of the major Dermatophagoides spp. allergens, Der p I and Der f I. J Immunol Methods 1989;118:227–235
Chapman MD, Heymann PW, Wilkins SR, Brown MJ, Platts-Mills TA. Monoclonal immunoassays for major dust mite (Dermatophagoides) allergens, Der p I and Der f I, and quantitative analysis of the allergen content of mite and house dust extracts. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1987;80:184–194
Antens CJ, Oldenwening M, Wolse A, Gehring U, Smit HA, Aalberse RC et al. Repeated measurements of mite and pet allergen levels in house dust over a time period of 8 years. Clin Exp Allergy 2006;36:1525–1531
Custovic A, Simpson B, Simpson A, Hallam C, Craven M, Woodcock A. Relationship between mite, cat, and dog allergens in reservoir dust and ambient air. Allergy 1999;54:612–616
Sander I, Zahradnik E, Kraus G, Mayer S, Neumann HD, Fleischer C et al. Neues Messverfahren zum Nachweis von Hausmilbenantigenen auch in Luftstaubproben aus Innenräumen von Wohnungen und Arbeitsplätzen. Gefahrstoffe Reinhaltung der Luft 2013;73:281–284
Sander I, Zahradnik E, Kraus G, Mayer S, Neumann HD, Fleischer C et al. Domestic mite antigens in floor and airborne dust at workplaces in comparison to living areas: a new immunoassay to assess personal airborne allergen exposure. PLoS ONE 2012;7:e52981
Krop EJM, Jacobs JH, Sander I, Raulf-Heimsoth M, Heederik Dick JJ. Allergens and β-Glucans in dutch homes and schools: characterizing airborne levels. PloS ONE 2014;9:e88871
Zahradnik E, Sander I, Fleischer C, Mayer S, Brüning T, Raulf-Heimsoth M. Entwicklung von Enzymimmunoassays zur Quantifizierung von Vorratsmilbenantigenen in arbeitsplatzbezogenen Staubproben. [Development of immunoassays for quantification of storage mite antigens in workplace-related samples]. Gefahrstoffe Reinhaltung der Luft 2009;69:369–375
Zahradnik E, Sander I, Kendzia B, Fleischer C, Brüning T, Raulf-Heimsoth M. Passive airborne dust sampling to assess mite antigen exposure in farming environments. J Environ Monit 2011;13:2638–2644
Schmitz R, Ellert U, Kalcklösch M, Dahm S, Thamm M. Patterns of sensitization to inhalant and food allergens — findings from the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2013;162:263–270
www.allergen.org
Marsh DG, Goodfriend L, King TP, Lowenstein H, Platts-Mills TA. Allergen nomenclature. Bull World Health Organ 1986;64:767–774
King TP, Hoffman D, Lowenstein H, Marsh DG, Platts-Mills TAE, Thomas W. Allergen nomenclature. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 1994;105:224–233
Chapman MD, Pomés A, Breiteneder H, Ferreira F. Nomenclature and structural biology of allergens. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2007;119:414–420
Weghofer M, Grote M, Resch Y, Casset A, Kneidinger M, Kopec J et al. Identification of Der p 23, a peritrophin-like protein, as a new major Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus allergen associated with the peritrophic matrix of mite fecal pellets. J Immunol 2013;190:3059–3067
Resch Y, Weghofer M, Seiberler S, Horak F, Scheiblhofer S, Linhart B et al. Molecular characterization of Der p 10: a diagnostic marker for broad sensitization in house dust mite allergy. Clin Exp Allergy 2011;41:1468–1477
Weghofer M, Dall’Antonia Y, Grote M, Stöcklinger A, Kneidinger M, Balic N et al. Characterization of Der p 21, a new important allergen derived from the gut of house dust mites. Allergy 2008;63:758–767
Weghofer M, Grote M, Dall’Antonia Y, Fernández-Caldas E, Krauth MT, Hage M van et al. Characterization of folded recombinant Der p 5, a potential diagnostic marker allergen for house dust mite allergy. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2008;147:101–109
Reese G, Ayuso R, Lehrer SB. Tropomyosin: an invertebrate pan-allergen. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 1999;119:247–258
Lopata AL, Lehrer SB. New insights into seafood allergy. Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol 2009;9:270–277
Van Ree R, Antonicelli L, Akkerdaas JH, Garritani MS, Aalberse RC, Bonifazi F. Possible induction of food allergy during mite immunotherapy. Allergy 1996;51:108–113
Banerjee S, Resch Y, Chen KW, Swoboda I, Focke-Tejkl M, Blatt K et al. Der p 11 is a major allergen for house dust mite allergic patients suffering from atopic dermatitis. J Invest Dermatol 2015;135:102–109
Klimek L, Sperl A, Raulf M. Diagnostik und Therapie der Milbenallergie. Allergologie 2015;38:70–82
Niven R, Chung KF, Panahloo Z, Blogg M, Ayre G. Effectiveness of omalizumab in patients with inadequately controlled severe persistent allergic asthma: an open-label study. Respir Med 2008;102:1371–1378
Ledford DK. Omalizumab: overview of pharmacology and efficacy in asthma. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2009;9:933–943
Morgenstern JP, Griffith IJ, Brauer AW, Rogers BL, Bond JF, Chapman MD et al. Amino acid sequence of Fel dI, the major allergen of the domestic cat: protein sequence analysis and cDNA cloning. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1991;88:9690–9694
Spitzauer S, Pandjaitan B, Söregi G, Mühl S, Ebner C, Kraft D et al. IgE cross-reactivities against albumins in patients allergic to animals. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1995;96:951–959
Lucca SD de, O’Meara TJ, Tovey ER. Exposure to mite and cat allergens on a range of clothing items at home and the transfer of cat allergen in the workplace. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2000;106:874–879
Karlsson A-S, Renstrom A. Human hair is a potential source of cat allergen contamination of ambient air. Allergy 2005;60:961–964
Krop EJM, Doekes G, Stone MJ, Aalberse RC, Zee JS van der. Spreading of occupational allergens: laboratory animal allergens on hair-covering caps and in mattress dust of laboratory animal workers. Occup Environ Med 2006;64:267–272
Zahradnik E, Sander I, Bruckmaier L, Flagge A, Fleischer C, Schierl R et al. Development of a sandwich ELISA to measure exposure to occupational cow hair allergens. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2011;155:225–233
Raulf M, Buters J, Chapman M, Cecchi L, Blay F de, Doekes G et al. Monitoring of occupational and environmental aeroallergens — EAACI Position Paper. Allergy 2014;69:1280–1299
Hilger C, Kuehn A, Raulf M, Jakob J. Allergien auf Schaben, Zecken, Vorratsmilben und andere Gliederfüßer: Wie weit ist die molekulare Allergiediagnostik? Allergo J 2014;6:18–24
Raulf M, Sander I, Gonnissen D, Zahradnik E, Brüning T. Schaben und Co. — Die Rolle von Gesundheitsschädlingen als Allergenquelle. Bundesgesundheitsbl 2014;57:585–592
Witteman AM, Oudenrijn S van den, Leeuwen J van, Akkerdaas J, Zee JS van der, Aalberse RC. IgE antibodies reactive with silverfish, cockroach and chironomid are frequently found in mite-positive allergic patients. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 1995;108:165–169
Barletta B, Butteroni C, Puggioni EM, Iacovacci P, Afferni C, Tinghino R et al. Immunological characterization of a recombinant tropomyosin from a new indoor source, Lepisma saccharina. Clin Exp Allergy 2005;35:483–489
Tas E, Jappe U, Beltraminelli H, Bircher A. Berufsbedingte Inhalationsallergie gegen die gemeine Hausfliege (Musca domestica). Hautarzt 2007;58:156–160
Focke M, Hemmer W, Wöhrl S, Götz M, Jarisch R, Kofler H. Specific sensitization to the common housefly (Musca domestica) not related to insect panallergy. Allergy 2003;58:448–451
Hasan T, Mäkinen-Kiljunen S, Brummer-Korvenkontio H, Pajunen T, Reunala T. Occupational IgE-mediated allergy to a common house spider (Tegenaria domestica). Allergy 2005;60:1455–1457
Bobolea I, Barranco P, Pastor-Vargas C, Iraola V, Vivanco F, Quirce S. Arginine kinase from the cellar spider (Holocnemus pluchei): a new asthma-causing allergen. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2011;155:180–186
Kleine-Tebbe J, Heinatz A, Gräser I, Dautel H, Hansen G.N, Kespohl S et al. Bites of the European pigeon tick (Argas reflexus): Risk of IgE-mediated sensitizations and anaphylactic reactions. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2006;117: 190–195
Hilger C, Bessot JC, Hutt N, Grigioni F, Blay F de, Pauli G et al. IgE-mediated anaphylaxis caused by bites of the pigeon tick Argas reflexus: cloning and expression of the major allergen Arg r 1. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2005;115:617–622
Price JB, Divjan A, Montfort WR, Stansfield KH, Freyer GA, Perzanowski MS. IgE against bed bug (Cimex lectularius) allergens is common among adults bitten by bed bugs. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2012;129:863–865
Fukutomi Y, Kawakami Y, Taniguchi M, Saito A, Fukuda A, Yasueda H et al. Allergenicity and cross-reactivity of booklice (Liposcelis bostrichophila): a common household insect pest in Japan. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2012;157:339–348
Fernández S, Fernández A, Armentia A, Pineda F. Allergy due to head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis). Allergy 2006;61:1372
Bond R, Riddle A, Mottram L, Beugnet F, Stevenson R. Survey of flea infestation in dogs and cats in the United Kingdom during 2005. Vet Rec 2007;160:503–506
McDermott MJ, Weber E, Hunter S, Stedman KE, Best E, Frank GR et al. Identification, cloning, and characterization of a major cat flea salivary allergen (Cte f 1). Mol Immunol 2000;37:361–375
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Conflict of interest
The authors state that there are no conflicts of interest.
Cite this as
Raulf M, Bergmann KC, Kull S, Sander I, Hilger C, Brüning T, Jappe U, Müsken H, Sperl A, Vrtala S, Zahradnik E, Klimek L. Mites and other indoor allergens — from exposure to sensitization and treatment. Allergo J Int 2015;24:68–80 DOI: 10.1007/s40629-015-0049-1
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Raulf, M., Bergmann, K.C., Kull, S. et al. Mites and other indoor allergens — from exposure to sensitization and treatment. Allergo J Int 24, 68–80 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40629-015-0049-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40629-015-0049-1