Mite Fauna Assessment in Houses of Two distinct Socioeconomic Groups From Southern Brazil.

House dust mites (HDM) are the main source of aeroallergens worldwide, yet epidemiological differences between socioeconomic factors in association with this medical condition have not been studied in the south region of Brazil. To assess the prevalence of HDM in two socioeconomically distinct populations of patients with allergic asthma or rhinitis, the differences between samples from houses of high-income families and low-income families were analyzed. Mite samples were collected between July and December 2015, in Porto Alegre, Brazil.

High infestation levels of Schizotetranychus oryzae severely affects rice metabolism.

High levels of Schizotetranychus oryzae phytophagous mite infestation on rice leaves can severely affect productivity. Physiological characterization showed that S. oryzae promotes a decrease in chlorophyll concentration and the establishment of a senescence process in rice leaves.