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At least 487 records · Page 27Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Cross-reactivity between Dermatophagoides siboney and other domestic mites. II. Analysis of individual cross-reacting allergens after SDS-PAGE and Western blotting inhibition.

BACKGROUND: Dermatophagoides siboney (Ds) cross-reacted with other mite allergens in mite-allergic patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the cross-reactivity between individual allergens responsible for this cross-reactivity. METHODS: The inhibition of IgE binding to Ds allergens was investigated by non-reducing SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. Nitrocellulose membranes were incubated with a pool of sera from mite-sensitive asthmatics, after the addition of serial dilutions of D. farinae (Df), D. pteronyssinus (Dp), D. microceras (Dm), Lepidoglyphus destructor (Ld), Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Tp), Acarus siro (As) and Blomia tropicalis (Bt). N-terminal amino acid sequences and amino acid analysis of the purified major allergens, Der s 1, 2 and 3, were performed after transfer to polyvinylidene difluoride membranes. RESULTS: The inhibition was higher with Df(86%), Dp (54%) and Dm (49%) extracts than with Ld (20%), Tp (11%), As (18%) and Bt (6%). The dose-response inhibition showed a diverse pattern for the individual allergens. Despite the high cross-reactivity between the pyroglyphid mites, some proteins of Ds were less inhibited, e.g. by the Df and Dp 80-kD protein, and by the Dm and Dp 52-, 37-, 30- and 14-kD allergens. The 65-, 62-, 37- and 30-kD proteins were always inhibited more than 50% by all the mite extracts at the maximum concentration used. The 80-, 52-, 43-, 27- and 14-kD proteins cross-reacted to a lesser extent. Individual allergens of Ds were much less inhibited by non-pyroglyphid mites. However, at the highest concentration, Ld also inhibited most of the Ds allergens. All the ten selected allergens were inhibited to some extent by the heterologous mite extracts. The N-terminal sequences of Der s 1, 2 and 3 allergens showed higher homology to Df and Dm than to Dp. The homology of the group 2 allergens was higher than that of the group 1 allergens. CONCLUSION: The individual allergens of Ds were more similar to Df and Dm than to Dp. There was a limited and variable cross-reactivity with non-pyroglyphid mites. No single allergen was unique for Ds.

Allergens↗
PubMed1997

Mite-induced allergic airway inflammation in guinea pigs.

BACKGROUND: Mites are the most common aeroallergen in human allergic asthma. However, no animal model of mite-induced allergic airway inflammation has been reported before. In this study, an animal model of mite-induced allergic airway inflammation in guinea pigs was developed. METHODS: Firstly, we found that two intraperitoneal injections of 100 micrograms crude mite extract (CME), but not multiple aerosol inhalations of 10 mg/ml CME, can cause sensitization in guinea pigs. The sensitization to mites was confirmed by the measurement of serum antimite antibody titer and the detection of anaphylactic bronchoconstriction after intravenous injection of CME solution. Then, single or multiple aerosol challenges with different concentrations (8, 4 or 1 mg/ml) of CME in these sensitized animals were performed. The total white cell and differential counts in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids were studied at different time intervals after challenge in different animals, and tracheal pathology was performed to detect the allergic airway inflammation. For comparison with the study in animals treated with CME, a BAL study in animals treated with ovalbumin was also performed. RESULTS: The inhalation challenge of CME aerosol in sensitized animals caused prolonged eosinophilia in BAL fluid which persisted for at least 7 days after single challenge. Neither inhalation challenge at higher concentrations of CME aerosol nor repeated inhalation challenges increased the degree of eosinophilia in BAL fluid compared to a single challenge. Using the same procedures, we also found that the mite model caused more eosinophilia in BAL fluid than did ovalbumin. CONCLUSION: This is the first report of an animal model of mite-induced allergic airway inflammation in guinea pigs which can provide us with a useful model to study airway inflammation of mite-induced asthma in humans.

Allergens↗
PubMed2000

[Mite contamination in polished rice and beans sold at markets].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate mite contamination rate in grains commercialized in nine municipal markets of the city of São Paulo, in the period from November 1989 to November 1990. METHODS: 23 samples of polished rice and 53 samples of beans were microscopically examined after sieving, once a week and during 42 days at air temperature. Other sample fractions were kept in an incubator at 25 degrees C and 75% Relative Humidity (RH) during 28 days. RESULTS: Samples were negative for mites in the first day of analysis and were detected after incubation. Samples incubated revealed a higher percentage of positive examinations for mites (incidence): 31.7% (and 1,845 mites); while samples kept at air temperature showed only 6.9% (and 45 mites). Samples of polished rice were more contaminated in comparison to the ones of beans. There was a larger amount of mites when the mean monthly temperature of the laboratory was between 21.5 degrees C to 22.5 degrees C (37. 8%) and humidity between 73.5% to 74.5% (31.1%). CONCLUSIONS: The predominant species was Tyrophagus putrescentiae and other identified species were Blomia tropicalis, Cheyletus spp., Blattisocius tarsalis, and others. Mite population had a higher proliferation rate during spring, summer and in the beginning of autumn, due to highest temperature and humidity. These results confirm the importance of improving grains storage, to avoid mites proliferation.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

The symbiotic water mite Unionicola formosa (Acari: Unionicolidae) ingests mucus and tissue of its molluscan host.

Unionicola formosa is a symbiotic water mite that passes most of its life cycle in the mantle cavity of freshwater mussels. Although mites of this genus are often referred to as parasitic, little is known about their nutritional biology. A few species reportedly pierce the gill of a host mussel and ingest tissue or hemolymph. The present study was undertaken to identify possible sources of nutrition for U. formosa. To determine if mites ingested particulate matter in the mucous strand produced by a mussel during feeding, mussels with resident mites were exposed to a suspension of fluorescent microspheres. There was no evidence that U. formosa ingested the beads. Histochemical staining did, however, indicate a mucous material present in the midgut of the mites. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic assays revealed a high molecular weight component, consistent with a mucopolysaccharide, present both in the mussel gill and the mites. Results from western blots and an immunoaffinity binding assay with antibodies against mussel gill tissue and hemolymph also indicated that mites ingested host tissue. Whereas U. formosa probably does not ingest particulate material acquired by its host's suspension feeding, it is apparent that this mite utilizes host mucus, gill tissue, or hemolymph for at least part of its nutrition.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Are hippoboscid flies a major mode of transmission of feather mites?

Feather mites (Astigmata) are distributed around the world, living on the feathers of birds, but their mechanisms for transmission among hosts are not fully understood. There is anecdotal evidence of feather mites attached to louseflies (Diptera: Hippoboscidae), suggesting that feather mites may use these flies as a mode of phoretic transmission among birds. Two bird-lousefly associations (alpine swift Apus melba-Crataerina melbae and feral pigeon Columba livia-Pseudolynchia canariensis) were inspected to test the hypothesis that feather mites use hippoboscid flies as major mode of transmission. Both bird species showed a high prevalence and abundance of feather mites and louseflies. However, no feather mites were found attached to the 405 louseflies inspected, although skin mites (Epidermoptidae and Cheyletiellidae) were found on louseflies collected from feral pigeons. This study suggests that feather mites do not use hippoboscid flies as a major mode of transmission among birds.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Effects of microwave and various combinations of ambient temperature and humidity exposures on off-host survival of northern fowl mites.

When northern fowl mites, Ornithonyssus sylviarum (Canestrini and Fanzago), were removed from their host and exposed to ambient temperatures ranging from -15 to 49 C with uncontrolled relative humidity (RH) or to temperatures ranging from .3 to 38 C with an RH of ca. 75%, mites lived longest at 4 C. However, temperatures between .3 and 26 C were also conducive to survival. Temperatures above 43 C killed the mites in less than 5 hr; mites exposed to -15 C lived up to 5 days. A constant humidity of ca. 75% was most beneficial to the mites when temperatures ranged from 33 to 38 C. Manipulation of ambient temperature and RH would be effective in exterminating the northern fowl mites on inanimate objects. Mites exposed for different periods to microwave energy at a net power ranging between 165 to 430 kw/m2 were not selectively heated to temperatures above the temperatures of the containers, nor did the irradiation have any other lethal effects on the mites.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

House dust mites in the city of Lima, Peru.

Since mites are the most common house dust allergens, knowledge about the species most prevalent in a region is important for diagnostic and specific immunotherapy purposes. In order to establish the prevalence of house dust mites in different city districts, 100 house dust samples were collected from different parts of Lima. Lima is a city of tropical climate located along the coast of the Pacific Ocean. The relative air humidity is 80-90% and the various districts studied are located at altitudes ranging from 37-355 meters. The mite Blomia tropicalis was the organism most frequently detected, being present in 59% of the house dust samples. Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus occupied second place (15.9%), followed by Chortoglyphus arcuatus and Tyrophagus putrescentiae. These four mites, taken together, represented more than 90% of the mites detected. No specimen of the species Dermatophagoides farinae was detected. We conclude that B. tropicalis and D. pteronyssinus are the most common house dust mites in Lima. Considering the high prevalence of B. tropicalis in Lima and the fact that its cross-reactivity with antigens of the mites of the family Pyroglyphidae is minimal, we conclude that sensitization to this mite should be investigated separately in allergic patients living in Lima.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

House dust mites (Acari: Pyroglyphidae) in the cities of Gdańsk and Gdynia (northern Poland).

277 samples of house dust collected in 1996-1998 from 17 flats, three hospitals, two hotels and one students' hostel situated in the cities of Gdansk and Gdynia were subjected to acarological examination. Acari were found in 50 (37.3%) of 134 samples from the flats, in 11 (15.5%) of 71 samples from the hospitals and in 13 (18.1%) of 72 samples from the hotels. The majority of mites (91.6%) was found in samples that originated from the private flats. 95.0% of mites from the flats, 35.0% mites from the hotels and 8.0% mites from the hospitals belonged to two dust mite species of the family Pyroglyphidae: Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farinae. D. farinae was significantly predominant and composed 82.8% of the whole pyroglyphid collection. Samples from private flats contained significantly more mites than those from hospitals and hotels: mean mites densities per 1 gram of dust were 13.07, 1.03 and 1.00, respectively. The authors suggest that only density of house dust mites in private flats may be clinically important.

Air Pollution, Indoor↗
PubMed2002

On-host ecology and off-host survival of the sheep scab mite Psoroptes ovis.

These studies were conducted to investigate the possible role of certain aspects of the on-host ecology and off-host survival of the sheep scab mite, Psoroptes ovis, in the dissemination of infestation. All developmental stages of the mite occurred in the fleece both proximally or distal to the skin of infested Merino and Dorper sheep. A larger proportion of mites was present in the fleece of Dorper sheep distal to the skin in the late afternoon and early morning than at other times during the day. Immature and adult mites readily transferred to tufts of wool or hair placed on infested sheep of both breeds. No mites could be found on wool or hair rubbed off onto tree trunks or branches or other structures in enclosures housing heavily infested sheep, nor could any mites be collected from the soil of these enclosures, whereas more than 80% of mites artificially seeded onto soil samples were recovered. The longest mean off-host survival times for larvae, nymphs, and male and ovigerous female mites were recorded at 10 degrees C, and were 9.25 days (RH = 90%), 15 days (RH = 33% and 75%), 10.5 days (RH = 75% and 90%) and 11.25 days (RH = 90%) respectively. Under natural climatic conditions ovigerous females in glass vials containing Merino wool survived for 17 days compared to 15 days for females in vials without wool; this difference was, however, not significant. The mean off-host pre-hatch period for eggs varied between 5.9 days (T = 25 degrees C and RH = 33%) and 22.1 days (T = 10 degrees C and RH = 75%), while the longest time individual eggs took to hatch at the latter temperature and RH was 31 days.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Varroa-tolerant Italian honey bees introduced from Brazil were not more efficient in defending themselves against the mite Varroa destructor than Carniolan bees in Germany.

In Europe and North America honey bees cannot be kept without chemical treatments against Varroa destructor. Nevertheless, in Brazil an isolated population of Italian honey bees has been kept on an island since 1984 without treatment against this mite. The infestation rates in these colonies have decreased over the years. We looked for possible varroa-tolerance factors in six Italian honey bee colonies prepared with queens from this Brazilian island population, compared to six Carniolan colonies, both tested at the same site in Germany. One such factor was the percentage of damaged mites in the colony debris, which has been reported as an indicator of colony tolerance to varroa. A mean of 35.8% of the varroa mites collected from the bottoms of the Italian bee colonies were found damaged, among which 19.1% were still alive. A significantly greater proportion of damaged mites were found in the Carniolan bees (42.3%) and 22.5% were collected alive. The most frequent kind of damage found was damaged legs alone, affecting 47.4% of the mites collected from debris in Italian bees, which was similar to the amount found in Carniolan colonies (46%). The mean infestation rate by the varroa mite in the worker brood cells in the Italian bee colonies was 3.9% in June and 3.5% in July, and in drone brood cells it was 19.3% in June. In the Carniolan honey bee colonies the mean infestation rates in worker brood cells were 3.0 and 6.7%, respectively in the months of June and July and 19.7% in drone brood cells in June. In conclusion, the 'Varroa-tolerant' Italian honey bees introduced from Brazil produced lower percentages of damaged mites (Varroa destructor) in hive debris and had similar brood infestation rates when compared to 'susceptible' Carniolan bees in Germany. In spite of the apparent adaptation of this population of Italian bees in Brazil, we found no indication of superiority of these bees when we examined the proportions of damaged mites and the varroa-infestation rates, compared to Carniloan bees kept in the same apiary in Germany.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

The group III allergen from the house dust mite Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus is a trypsin-like enzyme.

Faecally enriched extracts of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus were shown to contain a trypsin-like enzyme which was allergenic. Chromatofocusing studies revealed the presence of nine major isoforms in D. pteronyssinus, with pI in the range 4 to greater than 8, but only two (range 4-5) in D. farinae. Trypsin isolated from D. pteronyssinus by benzamidine-Sepharose 6B affinity chromatography and gelfiltration was found to be a 31-kDa protein which was enzymatically similar to both invertebrate and vertebrate trypsins. The N-terminal sequence obtained (IVGGEXALAGEXPYQISL) was identical to that reported for the mite allergen Der p III and showed homology with crayfish trypsin and Der f III from D. farinae. Mite trypsin underwent autolysis and the N-terminal sequences of two fragments were found to be ALAGEXPYQI and NNQVXGI respectively. Both showed homology with crayfish trypsin, and the former sequence was identical to residues 7-18 of the native enzyme and Der p III. All isoforms of mite trypsin were showed to be allergenic by radioallergosorbent assay and further studies indicated that the trypsin degradation products were also allergenic. The enzyme was compared with other mite allergens and the rank order of allergenic potency was shown to be: whole mite extract greater than Der p I greater than trypsin. However, all sera from a panel of mite allergic individuals showed IgE reactivity to trypsin, comparable to that seen using whole mite extract and Der p I. These data indicate that mite trypsin is a major allergen corresponding to the previously described allergen, Der p III.

Allergens↗
PubMed2004

The allergenic specificities of the house dust mite.

The most important house dust mites are Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and in drier areas D. farinae. In subtropical and tropical regions the glycyphagid mite Blomia tropicalis is a major source of allergen, which co-exists with D. pteronyssinus. The group 1 and 2 allergens of Dermatophagoides mites are clearly major specificities and it is likely that these allergens could be the basis of new strategies of immunotherapy for many mite-allergic subjects. About 20% of patients, however, do not have IgE antibody to the group 1 and 2 allergens, and even though this is a minority, it constitutes a large population. There are also many other house dust mite allergens which have high IgE binding activity but these are present in low and variable concentrations in mite extracts, usually at less than 1% of the group 1 and 2 allergens. It must be appreciated that mite extracts are arbitrary preparations that do not accurately represent the relative concentrations of allergens in inhaled air. There is now the opportunity to produce more representative and more balanced formulations of allergens, possibly by mixtures of recombinant allergens. It is likely that the group 3, 5, 7 and 9 allergens will be important along with the high molecular weight group 11, 14, 15 and 18. The tropomyosin group 10 may be an important cross-reacting allergen. B. tropicalis is, because of its distribution in highly populated regions with increasing affluence, a very important allergen. It has low-grade cross-reactivity with Dermatophagoides but most allergens only have 30-40% sequence identity between the different families so they require different allergens for immunotherapy and new diagnostic measures are required to distinguish the sensitivity between the mite families. Studies on B. tropicalis allergens are required to identify the major allergens that do not appear to be the group land 2 specificities. Component resolved diagnosis is a newly developing procedure that uses allergen arrays to provide a diagnostic format to differentiate between cross-reacting allergens and to identify the optimal formulation of allergens for different patients.

Allergens↗
PubMed1991

[Sensitization to granary mites in patients with allergic diseases].

As many as 71 patients selected from a group of 550 patients suffering from allergic diseases, sensitized to the house dust mites Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus were examined. A study was made of the presence of allergen-specific IgE antibodies against house dust mites, storage mites (7 species altogether) using allergenic discs and commercial kits RAST (Pharmacia, Sweden). The group under examination mostly manifested sensitization to the house dust mites: Dermatophagoides ferinae (80%), Euroglyphus maynei (55%); storage mites: Acarus siro (45%), Lepidoglyphus destructor (35%). The latter one possesses the most powerful allergenic properties as compared to the acaroid mites of other types. The elevated sensitivity to storage mites is encountered among adults and children living both in Moscow and other regions (urban and rural). The problem of sensitization to storage mites in the USSR mandates thorough studies, which will enable the treatment and diagnostic agents to be designed and introduced into practice.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

[Allergenic mites (Acariformes, Pyroglyphidae) in house dust].

Paper is the second part of the literature review on house dust mites (including 1985). It deals with the diagnosis of the dust mite allergy, the nature of the mite allergens, distribution and population density of the mites in various premises, seasonal population dynamics and population age structure of the dermatophagoid mites, life cycle and breeding of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and D. farinae on different food substrates. The methods of the house dust mite control are discussed. The original data on the house dust mite distribution in Moscow is shown. A comparative estimation of the results of mite antigens in the house dust discovering by the acarological and three immunological methods are given.

Allergens↗
PubMed1987

[The significance of mite antigens in Kawasaki disease].

House dust mites have been suspected as a causative agent in Kawasaki disease. To assess the role of mite in children with Kawasaki disease, we studied 20 cases of Kawasaki disease from September 1985 through May 1986. Their ages ranged from 2 months to 4 years with a mean of 2.1 years, we assessed intradermal skin test reactivity to mite antigens (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farinae) and anti-mites specific IgE (RAST) levels in 20 Kawasaki disease patients, 10 children for control, and 30 asthmatic patients for comparison. Intradermal skin test reactivity to mite antigens was not significantly increased in the 20 Kawasaki disease patients than in pediatric controls (p greater than 0.05), there was a more significantly reactivity in asthmatic patients than in Kawasaki disease and pediatric control (p less than 0.001). There was a correlation between serum IgE and anti-D. pteronyssinus specific IgE (r = 0.65, p less than 0.001) or anti-D. farinae specific IgE (r = 0.73, p less than 0.001) in Kawasaki disease. The anti-mite specific IgE's expressed as RAST score or mean values were not more significantly raised in Kawasaki disease than in pediatric controls (p greater than 0.05), there was a more significantly raised in asthmatic patients than in Kawasaki disease patients and in pediatric control. Coronary artery involvement was not significantly related to anti-mite specific IgE's in Kawasaki disease (p greater than 0.05). According to this study, the role of house dust mites is undetermined to Kawasaki disease.

Antigens↗
PubMed1994

[Breeding control and immobilizing effects of wood microingredients on house dust mites].

The possible effects of essential oils as wood microingredients on house dust mites (Tyrophagus putrescentiae, Dermatophagoides farinae and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus) were investigated. 1. Whether small pieces of 5 types of wood had any control effect on mite breeding was studied. Mite breeding using only normal feed was compared with breeding using feed mixed with small pieces of wood. In addition, mite breeding using feed mixed with small pieces of wood with no essential oil was studied. 2. Effects of 6 different wood essential oils in immobilizing mites were studied with regard to respired and contact toxicities. 3. The immobilizing effects of 10 ingredients in Hinoki oil were also specifically studied with regard to contact toxicity. The results of the 3 experiments were as follows: 1) It was confirmed that the small pieces of Hinoki, cedar, pine and Lauan had control effects on mite breeding. However, the small pieces of spruce did not demonstrate an effect. Woods which had no essential oils had reduced or no breeding control effects. 2) It was confirmed that the 6 different wood essential oils had mite immobilizing effects associated with respired and contact toxicities. Rosewood oil, White Pine oil and Taiwan Hinoki oil had strong immobilizing effects. Hinoki oil, however, had only a weak effect. 3) Among the 10 ingredients of Hinoki oil, specifically Linalool, Geranyl acetate and alpha-Terpineol had strong mite immobilizing effects.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

[Results of patch tests with mite components in atopic dermatitis patients].

House dust mite lipids were investigated in atopic dermatitis (AD) patients. The analysis showed that eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) was present at 0.88% in total lipid of Dermatophagoides farinae (Df). In the patch tests with crushed 3 live Dfs, the difference of positive rates between AD patients and controls was statistically significant. In the patch test with secretions from opisthonotal glands of mites, 2% citral contained in both D. pteronyssinus (Dp)s and Dfs showed higher rate of positivity with AD patients than controls without statistically significance. In the patch test with the fatty acids of house dust mites, EPA showed higher rate of positivity with AD patients than controls. There was a statistical significance with 100% (as is) EPA. Histopathological findings by hematoxylin and eosin staining with the skin lesions of AD patients and the positive reactions of patch test with crushed 3 live mites and EPA revealed spongiosis in the epidermis and infiltration of mononuclear cells in the upper dermis. The positive subsets of the mononuclear cells were mostly CD4, HLA-DR and ICAM 1, while CD8 positive cells were rare. Based on these findings, not only mite protein but also mite lipids including secretions from mites should be investigated as mite contact allergens in AD.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Asthma after consumption of snails in house-dust-mite-allergic patients: a case of IgE cross-reactivity.

A group of 28 patients from Italy was studied who had asthma after consumption of snail. All patients also had asthma and/or rhinitis caused by house-dust mite. RAST analyses confirmed the combined sensitization to snail and mite. In a few sera, IgE antibodies reactive with other foods of invertebrate origin (mussel and shrimp) were detected. RAST inhibition showed that most IgE antibodies against snail were cross-reactive with house-dust mite. In contrast, the mite RAST was not significantly inhibited by snail. This indicates that house-dust mite was the sensitizing agent. Immunoblot analyses revealed multiple bands in snail extract recognized by IgE. In contrast to what has been described for cross-reactivity between shrimp and mite, tropomyosin played only a minor role as a cross-reactive allergen in these patients. The observations in this study indicate that snail consumption can cause severe asthmatic symptoms in house-dust-mite-allergic patients. It might, therefore, be advisable to screen mite-allergic asthma patients for allergy to snail and other invertebrate animal foods.

Adult↗