Mite control with low temperature washing-II. Elimination of living mites on clothing.

Background: Allergens produced by mites are one of the principal causes of allergic disease. House dust mites can be found in significant numbers living in textile garments, and therefore development of optimal washing conditions for delicate textiles represents an important aim for domestic mite control.

Objectives: Investigation of methods to eliminate house dust mites from clothing under low temperature washing conditions.

Mite control with low temperature washing. I. Elimination of living mites on carpet pieces.

Background: Washing of delicate textiles at low temperature combined with mite control is one of the important aims for domestic mite prevention.

Objectives: Estimation or assessment of mite numbers without and after the application of detergents or detergents with mite control additive. Trials at low temperature, detergents and washing as usual at household conditions (programme of a household washing machine).

Rapid house dust mite (Acari: Pyroglyphidae) and storage mite (Acari: Glycyphagidae and Acaridae) allergen test.

Ten years ago a simple technique was described for detecting guanine from house dust mite excretions. The level of guaninine correlated well with the level of house dust mite allergens. Detection of storage mites is becoming more and more important, and these mites also produce guanine.

Four-year stability of Der p I in house dust under simulated domestic conditions in vitro.

For almost 4 years, the stability of Der p I was assessed by RAST inhibition in house-dust samples incubated under simulated domestic conditions (5 or 25 degrees C and 75% relative humidity). Der p I concentrations were determined before heating dust samples at 60 degrees C to kill the mites, and at 0, 6, 14, 21, and 47 months after heating. Heating at 60 degrees C for 24 h caused no significant change in Der p I concentration.