House dust mite

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
(Redirected from
Dust mite
)
Not to be confused with Bed bug.
Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus
Dust mite faecal pellets that can be small as µm 10 (0.01 mm),[1] but can be prevented with anti-mite fabrics of a denser pore size.[2]

House dust mites (HDM, or simply dust mites) are various species of acariform mites belonging to the family Pyroglyphidae that are found in association with dust in dwellings.[3] They are known for causing allergies.

Biology

Species

The currently known species are:[4]

Taxonomy

The dust mites are cosmopolitan members of the mite family Pyroglyphidae.

Characteristics

A scanning electron micrograph of a female dust mite

House dust mites, due to their very small size and translucent bodies, are barely visible to the unaided eye.

cuticle.[citation needed
]

House dust mite faecal pellets range from 10 to 40 µm.[1]

Diet

They feed on skin flakes from

mold. Dermatophagoides farinae fungal food choices in 16 tested species commonly found in homes was observed in vitro to be Alternaria alternata, Cladosporium sphaerospermum, and Wallemia sebi, and they disliked Penicillium chrysogenum, Aspergillus versicolor, and Stachybotrys chartarum.[7]

Predators

The predators of dust mites are other allergenic mites (Cheyletiella), silverfish and pseudoscorpions.[8]

Reproduction

The average life cycle for a house dust mite is 65–100 days.[9] A mated female house dust mite can live up to 70 days, laying 60 to 100 eggs in the last five weeks of her life. In a 10-week life span, a house dust mite will produce approximately 2,000 fecal particles and an even larger number of partially digested enzyme-covered dust particles.[citation needed]

Distribution

Dust mites are found worldwide, but are more common in humid regions.[10] The species Blomia tropicalis is typically found only in tropical or subtropical regions.[11] Detectable dust mite allergen was found in the beds of about 84% of surveyed United States homes.[12] In Europe, detectable Der p 1 or Der f 1 allergen was found in 68% of surveyed homes.[13]

Health issues

Asthma

House dust mite antigens are strongly associated with asthma development and severity; they are estimated to contribute to 60-90% of cases. [14]

Allergies

Main article: Dust mite allergy

Tropomyosin, the major allergen in dust mites, is also responsible for shellfish allergy.[15][16]

Oral mite anaphylaxis

Dermatophagoides spp. can cause oral mite anaphylaxis (AKA pancake syndrome) when found in flour.[17][18]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "House dust mite excrements/ faeces HDM excrements". Citeq Biologics. 1 October 2018.
  2. ^ "Best Fabrics to Exclude Dust Mites". HouseDustMite.com. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
  3. ^ Denmark, H. A.; Cromroy, H. L. (April 2017) [October 1998]. "House dust mites—Dermatophagoides spp". Featured Creatures. Department of Entomology & Nemotology, University of Florida, and Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry. EENY-59. Originally published as DPI Entomology Circular 314.
  4. ^ "House Dust Mites: Ecology, Biology, Prevalence, Epidemiology and Elimination". Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  5. ^ "Why study the major cause of allergy, the house dust mite?". HouseDustMite.com. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
  6. ^ "The House Dust Mite: Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus". MicrobiologyBytes. 2007. Archived from the original on 16 May 2007. Retrieved 24 January 2019.. Note that the video is gone.
  7. S2CID 46508627
    .
  8. ^ "House dust mites: Agents of allergy". acari.be. Archived from the original on 29 December 2010. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
  9. S2CID 49406343
    .
  10. S2CID 22325949
    .
  11. PMID 29281052
    .
  12. PMID 12589364
    .
  13. PMID 16950288
    .
  14. ^ "Dust Mites". American Lung Association. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  15. PMID 28239537
    .
  16. S2CID 1154235
    .
  17. PMID 25958374
    .
  18. PMID 23283016
    .

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dermatophagoides.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=House_dust_mite&oldid=1218561518"