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A comparison of mite populations in mattress dust from hospital and from private houses in Cardiff, Wales
Author(s) -
RAO V. R. M.,
DEAN B. V.,
SEATON A.,
WILLIAMS D. A.
Publication year - 1975
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 - 10.1111/j.1365-2222.1975.tb01854.x
Subject(s) - mite , bedroom , infestation , population , toxicology , veterinary medicine , dust mites , medicine , biology , environmental health , geography , ecology , allergy , immunology , horticulture , allergen , archaeology
Summary Fifty mattress dust samples from private houses were examined—all were mite infested. Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus occurred in all samples and accounted for 81% of all mites. In thirty‐two paired samples the total mite population of bedroom floor dust was only 10% of that found in the corresponding mattress dust. D. pteronyssinus was the dominant species in both and the population of this mite amounted to 7.5% of that found in the mattress dust. An analysis of mattress dust from 100 hospital beds showed that ninety‐four mattresses were mite free; the other six contained only seven mites, all D. pteronyssinus . It is suggested that frequent changing and washing of bed linen and brushing and cleaning of mattresses were the main factors in preventing mite infestation in the Cardiff hospitals.