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Occurrence of mites in Norway and the rest of Scandinavia
1Laboratory for Entomology, National Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway. reidar.mehl@folkehelsa.no
Abstract:
This paper gives a faunistic review of mites that have been recorded in the indoor environment, particularly homes, barns, and stored products, in Norway and the other Scandinavian countries. Some preliminary results are given from unpublished investigations in Norway. Seven species of pyroglyphid mites have been recorded: Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, D. microceras, D. farinae, D. evansi, Euroglyphus maynei, Gymnoglyphus longior, and Hirstia chelidonis. D. pteronyssinus was the predominant species, followed by D. microceras in Scandinavia and D. farinae in Denmark. D. evansi was detected in poultry houses in Norway. Lepidoglyphus destructor was the predominant species in barn dust, but large populations of Acarus, Tyrophagus, Tydeus, and Tarsonemidae also occurred. In humid homes, Glycyphagus domesticus was found in high numbers. The result of quantification of mites depends on the method for examination of dust. When one proposes limits for the concentration of mites in relation to risk of allergic sensitization and provocation of symptoms, reference should be made to a well-described method for sampling and analyzing dust. The number of mites should be given per area, not only per weight unit of dust. The number of mites per area indicates the number of mites in the home. The number of mites per weight unit of dust describes the concentration of mites in the vacuum cleaner.
Insights
This review details indoor mite fauna in Scandinavia, finding Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus dominant in homes. Accurate mite quantification requires standardized dust sampling methods for health risk assessments.
Area of Science:
- * Environmental Entomology
- * Allergen research
- * Acarology
Background:
- * Indoor environments like homes and barns harbor various mite species.
- * Understanding mite populations is crucial for assessing allergic sensitization risks.
- * Previous studies on Scandinavian indoor mite fauna are limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- * To provide a faunistic review of indoor mites in Norway and Scandinavia.
- * To present preliminary findings from unpublished Norwegian investigations.
- * To discuss the implications of mite quantification methods for health risk assessment.
Main Methods:
- * Review of recorded mite species in indoor environments (homes, barns, stored products).
- * Inclusion of preliminary data from ongoing investigations in Norway.
- * Analysis of mite prevalence and dominance based on existing literature and new data.
Main Results:
- * Seven pyroglyphid mite species identified, with Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus being predominant in Scandinavia.
- * Lepidoglyphus destructor dominated barn dust, while Glycyphagus domesticus was abundant in humid homes.
- * Dermatophagoides evansi was found in Norwegian poultry houses.
Conclusions:
- * Mite species composition varies across different indoor environments and Scandinavian regions.
- * Standardized methods for dust sampling and analysis are essential for accurate mite quantification.
- * Reporting mite numbers per area, not just per weight, provides a better indication of indoor exposure levels.
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