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Taksonomi TDR
Taksonomi TDR
pteronyssinus is 20 days, with 1.2 to 2.5 eggs laid per day. Both species have a
second and even a third oviposition period, but fewer eggs are laid (van Bronswijk
and Sinha, 1971).
The life cycle of D. farinae is very similar to that of D. pteronyssinus, but the
period from egg to adult averages 4 days longer. In both species, no eggs are laid
unless copulation has occurred (Larson et al., 1969).
Habitat. Both the mite species are found principally in cotton-stuffed mattresses
and furniture (Cunnington and Gregory, 1968; Mitchell et al., 1969).
In a hospital in England, it was shown by means of a cyclone dust extractor that the
mites could become airborne during bedmaking, including turning the mattress
(Cunnington and Gregory, 1968). In other investigations, it was shown that mites
could be inhaled (Carter et al., 1944; Taboada, 1954; Spieksma, 1967).
In central Ohio, Mitchell et al. (1969) made a survey of dust samples and, using a
dissecting microscope, they removed all mites and all recognizable cuticles or
exoskeletons of mites from 0.1 g samples of fine dust. They never found living
mites in dry dust. Mite cuticles or dead mites were found in 21 out of 30 samples
of dust from mattresses and padded furniture, and 17 samples had more than 15
mites per 0.1 g. Floor sweepings and dust from commercial buildings contained
either no mites or negligible numbers. Articles which were used by humans both
day and night, such as day beds, contained the most mites. Mites were rare or
absent in articles of furniture that had not been used by humans or were not stuffed
with vegetable fibers.
Mitchell et al. (1969) believed that the mites probably fed primarily on dander
(skin scales) from humans and pets. However, they have also been reared on
human whiskers in a special microchamber (Shamiyeh et al., 1971). Additional
information on possible food sources was provided by van Bronswijk (1973a) in an
investigation of 470 Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus from mattresses and 147
from bedroom floors. Their alimentary canals contained pollen, spores of
microorganisms, fungal mycelia, bacteria, and fibers of plant origin, probably from
cotton bedsheets. This indicated that the mites were not so strictly monophagous
on human skin scales as was sugested by Spieksma (1967).
Laboratory tests revealed that optimal development of D. pteronyssinus took place
at 25 C (77 F). After 8 weeks at 30 C (86 F), the number of mites was 40%,
and at 20 C (68 F), it was only 15% of the number at 25 C. The mites can
develop within a range of 50 to 90% relative humidity, the optimum being 70 to
80%. In the Netherlands, only in summer is relative humidity in houses high
enough to allow rapid increase in the mite population. Although the average
temperature on floors in summer is usually below 20 C (68 F), in occupied beds
and upholstered chairs optimal temperatures are soon reached, and relative
humidity is increased by 5 to 8% (Koekkoek and van Bronswijk, 1972).
In the Netherlands, D. pteronyssinus is present in greatest numbers in old houses,
and that is where most of the people live who are hypersensitive to house dust
allergen (Voorhorst, 1969). In Europe, "house dust atopic asthma" patients find
relief in the dry conditions at altitudes of about 1,000 m (3,300 ft) or higher. The
cold air, soil conditions, and a type of construction providing good protection
against the penetration of water result in dry conditions in houses. The dryness
prevents the development of large numbers of allergen-producing D.
pteronyssinus (Voorhorst, 1970; Spieksma et al., 1971).
Dust Mites and Inhalant Allergy
Although the allergen is formed by living mites, dead mites or their fragments or
feces are allergenic as well as live ones. Maunsell et al. (1968) observed that
asthmatic patients who reacted negatively to house dust were negative to the mites.
Mitchell et al. (1969) found that 93% of the patients who showed positive skin
reactions to house dust extract also showed positive reactions to the extract of
mites, and vice versa. Out of 100 patients who showed reactions to dust mites, 61
reacted positively to 1 or more insects and/or spiders. Bernecker (1970) observed
that a certain cross-antigenicity existed, not only between mites occurring in house
dust, but also among mites in general, including species such as Tetranychus
urticae, Panonychus ulmi, and Dermanyssus gallinae, which are not ordinarily
found in house dust.
Mites constitute the major antigenic substance in house dust in Japan. More than
35 species of mites were found in house dusts collected from 9 different parts of
Japan, and 1 g of dust contained from several hundred to over 2,000 mites. The
major allergen was possessed by D. pteronyssinus (27.2% of the total number of
mites) and D. farinae (4% of the total), the 2 species having a close antigenic
relationship. Cross-antigenicity was found from skin testing, and in vitro
neutralization of skin-sensitizing antibody, among the 6 species of mites
investigated. Molds were found to be of little importance as allergens
(Miyamoto et al., 1969b). The molecular weight of the allergen produced
by Dermatophagoides farinae is greater than 10,000 but less than 69,000 (most
likely around 40,000 to 50,000), and it is probably a protein and polysaccharide
conjugate. Work on the chemistry of the allergen is continuing. Dermatophagoides
farinae develops readily on dog meal, and is available in larger quantities for
scientific investigations than is D. pteronyssinus, which must be reared more
slowly on human dandruff (Miyamoto et al., 1969a).
Reactions to Various Tests. In England, tests with extracts of D.
pteronyssinus were made on skin, bronchi, nasal mucosa, leucocytes, and on
normal human tissue passively sensitized by the patient's serum, on 21 patients
with asthma and house dust allergy. Fourteen patients gave positive reactions to
every test. In 18 patients, attacks were readily induced by inhalation of the mite
extract. In 18, nasal reactions were provoked, and were not followed by asthmatic
symptoms. A serum test was positive in all patients, and a leucocyte test was
positive in 19. In 6 patients, delayed asthmatic responses to bronchial tests were
observed. An extremely small amount of allergen was capable of causing a
reaction. In view of the wide distribution of D. pteronyssinus, it was concluded that
it was an important factor in allergic asthma (McAllen et al., 1970).
Desensitization tests were made with 34 persons suffering from bronchial asthma
and showing positive skin reactions to house dust and D. farinae. Eighteen patients
were given mite extracts and 16 were given house dust vaccine in weekly
subdermal injections of 0.1 to 1.0 ml, followed by semimonthly maintenance doses
for 6 to 9 months. Hyposensitization with D. farinae extracts was found to be safe
and effective, but patients did not benefit from house dust vaccine in the doses
administered (Maunsell et al., 1971). The absence of positive results with house
dust vaccine was not in accord with the results obtained by another investigator,
who desensitized 11 patients with house dust extract and 13 others
with Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus extract. Skin reactions to both extracts
decreased to about the same extent over the period of 1.5 to 2 years of the tests
(Voorhorst, 1970).
In a hospital in England, patients with asthma and rhinitis who were clinically
sensitive to house dust mites were treated with a pyridine-extracted, alumprecipitated extract of house dust to which D. farinae had been added before
extraction. Among 52 patients, 43 (83%) showed improvement. Symptoms were
worse or unchanged in 9 patients (17%) (Munro Ashman et al., 1971). In a
"double-blind" controlled trial, 11 asthmatics allergic to house dust who were given
an aqueous extract of D. pteronyssinus improved and 5 remained well for a year,
whereas 11 control patients, given an extract of human skin scales, showed little
change (Smith, 1971).
Other Mites Causing Allergy
The family Acaridae (=Tyroglyphidae) contains species best known as pests of
stored food products (see chapter 7, under "Acarid Mites"), but some species also
cause dermatitis in people handling infested commodities, as well as causing
inhalant allergy or bronchial asthma. Acarus siro L. causes a rash known as
"vanillism" in vanillapod handlers. Tyrophagus castellani (Hirst) causes "copra
itch" among workers handling copra and a dermatitis in people who handle cheese.
In the family Glycyphagidae, Glycyphagus domesticus (De Geer) causes "grocer's
itch" in workers handling dried fruits, skins, and other heavily infested products.
Allergen from Glycyphagus destructor (Schrank) was found in chaff (Voorhorst,
1970). Allergen obtained from G. destructor differs materially from that of the 2