Identification of allergens in extract of horse hair and dandruff by means of crossed radioimmunoelectrophoresis.

Sera from 26 patients and 4 normals were examined for specific IgE binding to antigens of extract of horse hair and dandruff by means of CRIE. 22 of the patients were RAST- and intracutaneous-positive to horse extract. 4 more of the patients were RAST-negative to horse allergens, but showed allergies to extract of allergens from sources other than horse. The remaining four sera from controls were RAST-negative to horse and had no history of allergy. Antigens of horse hair and dandruff showed a significantly higher degree of binding to specific IgE in the sera from the first group of patients than was the case for the two other groups. A linear correlation between specific IgE binding in RAST and in CRIE was found for the first group of patients. On the basis of these results the major allergens of the examined extract of horse hair and dandruff were identified.