Population Growth and Allergen Content of Cultured Euroglyphus maynei House Dust Mites.

Background: The house dust mite, Euroglyphus maynei, occurs in homes worldwide and is an important source of many allergens. Many patients sensitive to Dermatophagoides farinae and D. pteronyssinus are also sensitive to E.

Cross-reactivity between storage and dust mites and between mites and shrimp.

Many patients have sensitivities to multiple species of storage and house dust mites. It is not clear if this is because patients have multiple sensitivities to species-specific mite allergens or if these mites share many cross-reacting allergens. Our objective was to further define the cross-allergenicity between several species of storage and house dust mites using crossed-immunoelectrophoresis (CIE), crossed-radioimmunoelectrophoresis (CRIE), immunoblotting, and ELISA.

Prevalence of serum IgE to storage mites in a southwestern Ohio population.

Background: Storage mites of the families Chortoglyphidae, Glycyphagidae, Echimyopodidae, and Acaridae are commonly found in agricultural and nonagricultural environments. The prevalence of sensitization to these storage mites in the general population in the United States is unknown.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of serum IgE to the storage mites Lepidoglyphus destructor and Acarus siro and to evaluate the degree of co-sensitization to various other astigmatid mites in a population in southwestern Ohio.

Effects of wet cleaning with disodium octaborate tetrahydrate on dust mites (Acari: Pyroglyphidae) in carpet.

In a controlled laboratory study, disodium octaborate tetrahydrate (DOT) applied to carpets with a carpet-cleaning machine at a rate of 509 ml DOT/8.15 liter H2O/100 m2 (two cups DOT/2 gal H2O/100 feet2) reduced survival and population growth of live Dermatophagoides farinae and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus by > or = 98% compared with water-cleaned and uncleaned carpets at 8 wk postcleaning. Cleaning with DOT was more effective against D.

Mite and mite allergen removal during machine washing of laundry.

Background: Few studies have investigated live house dust mite and mite allergen removal from clothing and bedding by washing machines. No studies have investigated the transfer of mites from infested to uninfested clothing and bedding during washing.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to wash different types of clothing and bedding in residential washing machines to determine the live Dermatophagoides farinae mite and allergen removal and the mite transfer from mite-infested items to mite-free items.

Effects of laundry detergents on Dermatophagoides farinae, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, and Euroglyphus maynei.

Background: House-dust mites in clothing and bedding are the source of major allergens. Based on studies of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus only, weekly washing in hot water is recommended to kill dust mites and remove allergens from clothing and bedding. However, in the United States, washing is most often done in warm or cold water, and other mite species are involved.