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Allergic sensitization and microbial load – a comparison between Finland and Russian Karelia
- Source :
- Clinical and Experimental Immunology. 148:47-52
- Publication Year :
- 2007
- Publisher :
- Oxford University Press (OUP), 2007.
-
Abstract
- Summary Epidemiological data have indicated that some infections are associated with a low risk of allergic diseases, thus supporting the idea (hygiene hypothesis) that the microbial load is an important environmental factor conferring protection against the development of allergies. We set out to test the hygiene hypothesis in a unique epidemiological setting in two socio-economically and culturally markedly different, although genetically related, populations living in geographically adjacent areas. The study cohorts included 266 schoolchildren from the Karelian Republic in Russia and 266 schoolchildren from Finland. The levels of total IgE and allergen-specific IgE for birch, cat and egg albumen were measured. Microbial antibodies were analysed against enteroviruses (coxsackievirus B4), hepatitis A virus, Helicobacter pylori and Toxoplasma gondii. Although total IgE level was higher in Russian Karelian children compared to their Finnish peers, the prevalence of allergen-specific IgE was lower among Russian Karelian children. The prevalence of microbial antibodies was, in turn, significantly more frequent in the Karelian children, reflecting the conspicuous difference in socio-economic background factors. Microbial infections were associated with lower risk of allergic sensitization in Russian Karelian children, enterovirus showing the strongest protective effect in a multivariate model. The present findings support the idea that exposure to certain infections, particularly in childhood, may protect from the development of atopy. Enterovirus infections represent a new candidate to the list of markers of such a protective environment. However, possible causal relationship needs to be confirmed in further studies.
- Subjects :
- Male
Allergy
Translational Studies
Antibodies, Protozoan
Antibodies, Viral
medicine.disease_cause
Immunoglobulin E
Russia
Atopy
Allergic sensitization
0302 clinical medicine
Epidemiology
Immunology and Allergy
Medicine
Child
Betula
Finland
0303 health sciences
biology
Antibodies, Bacterial
Enterovirus B, Human
3. Good health
Viruses
Pollen
Female
Viral disease
Toxoplasma
medicine.medical_specialty
Adolescent
Ovalbumin
Immunology
03 medical and health sciences
Hygiene hypothesis
Hypersensitivity
Animals
Humans
030304 developmental biology
Bacteria
Helicobacter pylori
business.industry
Allergens
medicine.disease
030228 respiratory system
Cats
biology.protein
Enterovirus
Hepatitis A virus
business
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 13652249 and 00099104
- Volume :
- 148
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Clinical and Experimental Immunology
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....a6c41ee40b8d54a43cfc46f7c53e618a
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2249.2007.03333.x