A survey of acarofauna in Turkey: comparison of seven different geographic regions

House-dust mites play an important role in allergic sensitization in Turkey and other countries. The purpose of this study was to analyze the acarofauna in seven zones that differ in climate and altitude. Dust mites were isolated in 173 of 930 (18.6%) samples. The highest prevalence of house-dust mites was found in the most humid regions of Turkey: Mediterranean (48.4%) and Black Sea (46%). Lower levels were found in central and eastern Anatolia regions where humidity and temperature are low. Mites of the Dermatophagoides spp. were predominant (D. pteronyssinus [83%] and D. farinae [12%] making up the majority of the counts). The presence of mites was related to an increase both in mean temperature (> 15 degrees C) and in humidity (> or = 40%) as well as low altitude (< 300 m). This study suggests that the mite population of humid coastal regions of Turkey is as prevalent as in other temperate climates.