Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 18, 2026
08:36
Empirical, Metagenomic, and Computational Techniques Illuminate the Mechanisms by which Fungicides Compromise Bee Health
Published on: October 9, 2017
10.5K
Mites and the implications on human health
Patrícia Vogel1, Simone Morelo Dal Bosco2, Noeli Juarez Ferla2
1Nutrition Course, Centro Universitário UNIVATES. Lajeado/RS,. simonebosco@gmail.com.
Nutricion Hospitalaria
|January 25, 2015
Summary
Stored product mites infest foods, causing economic losses and health issues like allergies and asthma. Controlling temperature and humidity is key to preventing infestations and ensuring food safety.
Area of Science:
- Food Science
- Public Health
- Allergology
Background:
- Mite infestations in stored products pose significant economic and public health risks.
- These infestations have direct consequences for human health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify mite species associated with food and stored products that impact human health.
- To analyze the effects of mite infestation on food quality and nutritional value.
Main Methods:
- A literature review was conducted across LILACS-BIREME, SciELO, and MEDLINE databases.
- Search terms included 'mites', 'foods', 'storage mites', 'dust mites', 'quality control', 'chemical composition', 'allergens', and 'health' in English, Portuguese, and Spanish.
- Eighty articles were identified, with 55 relevant to the study's objectives.
Main Results:
- Mite activity leads to diminished sanitary quality, weight loss, and reduced nutritional content in infested products.
- Significant economic losses occur within the grain industry due to mite infestations.
- Mites, their metabolic byproducts, and feces can trigger allergic reactions.
Conclusions:
- Infested products suffer from reduced quality and nutritional value, resulting in substantial economic losses.
- Exposure to mites and their byproducts can lead to various health problems, including asthma, allergic rhinitis, dermatitis, enteritis, and anaphylaxis.
- Effective mite control relies on monitoring temperature and humidity, alongside maintaining proper storage hygiene.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Introduction to the Human Microbiota
112
Microorganisms colonize various regions of the human body, including the mouth, nasal passages, throat, stomach, intestines, urogenital tract, and skin. The total number of microbial cells is estimated to range from 10¹³ to 10¹⁴—comparable to, or exceeding, the number of human somatic cells. This host–microbiome relationship has led to the conceptualization of humans as supraorganisms, wherein microbial communities perform vital roles in development, immunity,...
112
01:36Types of Toxins
4.1K
Humans continually engage with an environment rich in potentially harmful chemicals. These are introduced to our bodies through inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact. These chemicals exist in various forms, such as air and environmental pollutants, agricultural chemicals, organic solvents, and heavy metals.
Air pollutants, primarily gases, pose significant threats to respiratory health, leading to conditions like hypoxia, lung cancer, and in extreme cases, death.
Environmental pollutants like...
Air pollutants, primarily gases, pose significant threats to respiratory health, leading to conditions like hypoxia, lung cancer, and in extreme cases, death.
Environmental pollutants like...
4.1K
01:30Reservoir of Infection
67
Infectious diseases arise from intricate interactions between pathogens and their reservoirs. A reservoir of infection refers to the natural habitat where a pathogen lives, grows, and multiplies, serving as a continual source of infection. Reservoirs are broadly classified as either living or nonliving, and each plays a unique role in disease transmission, significantly influencing public health interventions and control strategies.Humans act as reservoirs for a wide array of pathogens,...
67
01:29Microbiota of the Respiratory Tract
45
The human respiratory tract, comprising the upper and lower segments, serves as a critical interface with the external environment. The upper respiratory tract (URT)—including the nostrils, sinuses, pharynx, and oropharynx—is heavily colonized by microbes, while the lower respiratory tract (LRT), composed of the larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs, was long thought to be sterile. However, recent molecular studies have revealed that the lungs are not devoid of microbes but act more...
45
01:27The Oral Microbiota
59
The oral microbiome includes a complex ecosystem comprising over 700 microbial species, identified through genomic sequencing and culture-based analyses to date. This community includes a core microbiome, found universally among individuals, and a variable component influenced by environmental factors such as diet, lifestyle, and host genetics. Site-specific conditions, including oxygen gradients, pH levels, and nutrient availability, determine the spatial distribution of these microorganisms...
59
01:09Microbe-Plant Interactions
101
Microbe-plant interactions represent a dynamic spectrum of associations shaped by intricate chemical signaling. These interactions can be neutral, beneficial, or detrimental, and profoundly influence plant physiology, growth, and ecosystem function. The plant microbiome, comprising bacteria, fungi, archaea, protists, and viruses, plays a pivotal role in mediating these effects through surface colonization, internal colonization, or systemic symbiosis.Mutualistic associations, particularly with...
101