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House dust mite fauna of tropical Singapore
Author(s) -
Fook Tim Chew,
L Zhang,
Ho Tm,
Lee Bw
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
clinical and experimental allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.462
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1365-2222
pISSN - 0954-7894
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2222.1999.00493.x
Subject(s) - tyrophagus putrescentiae , mite , fauna , biology , acari , pyroglyphidae , dust mites , veterinary medicine , acaridae , bedroom , acariformes , house dust mite , toxicology , ecology , medicine , allergen , allergy , geography , immunology , archaeology
and aims Sensitization to house dust mites is very common in the tropics. This study evaluated the dust mite fauna in Singaporean homes. Methods A total of 134 dust samples from 50 homes were evaluated. Dust mites were isolated, identified and quantified by standard techniques. Results Dust mites were isolated from 130/134 (97%) samples, with mites identified in all samples from sofas ( n = 21) and carpets ( n = 13), and 49/50 (98%) and 47/50 (94%) from mattresses and bedroom floors, respectively. All samples from sofas and carpets had more than 500 mites/g compared with 47/50 (94%) and 23/50 (46%) from mattresses and floors, respectively. Blomia tropicalis was the predominant mite (62% of total mites) followed by D. pteronyssinus (16% of total mites). Eight samples had a predominance of Sturnophagoides brasiliensis and Tarsonemus granarius . Other species that accounted ≈ 1% of mites identified included D. farinae , Austroglycyphagus malaysiensis , Cheyletus malaccensis , Malayoglyphus intermedius , Suidasia pontifica and Tyrophagus putrescentiae . Conclusion Dust mites were highly prevalent and present in high densities in Singaporean homes with B. tropicalis being the most prevalent species.