The immune responses to the non-pyroglyphid mite Blomia kulagini and the pyroglyphid mite Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus were compared in 440 Swedish farmers and 34 allergic subjects from Brazil using the radioallergosorbent test (RAST). Both B. kulagini and D. pteronyssinus were shown to be a common cause of sensitization, particularly in Brazil. The highest RAST scores were found against D. pteronyssinus in sera from both countries. Allergenic cross-reactivity between the two mites was studied by the RAST inhibition technique. Both B. kulagini and D. pteronyssinus possess their own unique allergens as well as allergens in common. Thus, besides mites belonging to the Dermatophagoides genus, other pyroglyphid and non-pyroglyphid mites in different countries should be taken into consideration before starting hyposensitization treatments.
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