Prevalence and Species Distribution of House Dust Mites in Household Dust Samples from Homes of Individuals with Allergic Complaints in Ordu, Turkey

Summary

This cross-sectional household survey investigated the presence and species distribution of house dust mites in clinically selected homes in Ordu Province, Turkey. Dust samples were collected from 160 households, and mite species were identified microscopically to determine environmental mite prevalence.

Abstract

This environmental cross-sectional study investigated the prevalence and species distribution of house dust mites in household dust samples collected from homes of individuals presenting with allergic complaints in Ordu Province, Turkey. Dust samples were collected from 160 households of individuals reporting asthma or other allergic complaints during outpatient clinic visits. Allergic conditions were based on participants’ self-reports and were not clinically confirmed. Samples were obtained from various areas of the home, including bedrooms and living spaces, using a portable vacuum cleaner, and were examined microscopically following the lactic acid precipitation method. Species identification was performed on positive samples using standard morphological keys. House dust mites were detected in 105 (65.6%) households, with detections throughout the year. The most frequently identified species were Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farinae, Dermatophagoides spp., Cheyletus spp., Chortoglyphus arcuatus, Acarus siro, Glycyphagus domesticus, Oribatida spp., and Euroglyphus maynei. Statistical analyses showed no significant association between mite presence and most demographic, environmental, or housing-related variables; however, age was identified as a factor associated with mite positivity. The findings indicate that house dust mites are highly prevalent in households within this humid Black Sea region and highlight their potential relevance for individuals with atopic conditions. Providing patients and their families with practical information on household mite control measures can improve indoor environmental quality and symptom management.

Introduction

House dust mites are arthropods commonly found in human settlements. Due to their microscopic size, they often go unnoticed and persist in living spaces. These organisms feed primarily on shed human and animal skin particles; fungal spores and various organic particles are also among their food sources. The life cycle and population density of mites depend on environmental factors such as temperature, relative humidity, and food availability. Indoor environments with suitable microclimatic conditions favor mite proliferation^1,2,3.

The importance of....

Protocol

This study was approved by the Ordu University Clinical Research Ethics Committee (Approval No: 09/11/2017–138). The study was conducted in accordance with relevant institutional and national ethical guidelines, including the Declaration of Helsinki. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants included in the study. The consent obtained explicitly covers conducting home visits and collecting house dust samples from residences.

1. Study design

This is a cross-sectional, descriptive study of house dust mite prevalence conducted in the province of Ordu, Turkey. Household dust sam....

Results

Species distribution
Taxa are reported at the species or genus level where morphological identification was possible; specimens identified only at higher taxonomic levels are explicitly indicated. In the study, dust samples from 160 households were examined. Dust mites were detected in 105 households, while 55 households were evaluated as negative. Mite density values were calculated based on the total number of mites observed in microscopic preparations obtained from 1 g of house dust.

Discussion

Table 6 compares the prevalence of house dust mites across different countries and regions of Turkey, along with sampling design, sample size, and climatic characteristics. When studies are examined, it is seen that mite prevalence is generally higher in regions with hot, humid climates; in particular, positivity rates reached 100% in studies in which samples were collected at regular intervals from the same residences. In contrast, prevalence rates were lower in studies using a single sampling method an.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Portable vacuum cleaner (1200 W)	Arcelik	S 7564	Used for household dust collection
Disposable vacuum dust bags	Arcelik	Compatible with S 7564	Single-use for each household
Sieve (fine mesh)	Isolab	092.01.001	Removal of coarse particles
Test tubes (15 mL)	Isolab	077.01.015	For lactic acid precipitation
Lactic acid (90%)	Merck	100135	Dust clarification
Light microscope	Olympus	CX43	×100, ×200, ×400 magnifications
Stereo microscope	Olympus	SZ61	Collection of visible mites
Microscope slides	Isolab	064.01.001	Sample preparation
Cover slips	Isolab	064.02.001	Sample preparation
Hoyer’s medium	Sigma-Aldrich	H3147	Mounting medium for mites
Syringe tips (PP)	Eppendorf	30000813	Mite transfer
Filter paper	Whatman	Grade 1	Filtration of supernatant
RPMI-1640 medium	Gibco	11875-093	Parasite propagation
Statistical analysis software	IBM	SPSS v22.0	Data analysis