[Storage mites as the source of household allergens]

Storage mites of the families Acaridae and Glycyphagidae attracted attention as the source of household allergens. Storage mites occurring in house dust were studied. The fauna of storage mites in house dust was represented by two families. The dominating species, both in the relative amount and occurrence, were Tyrophagus putrescentiae and Chortoglyphus arcuatus. In addition, Caloglyphus rodionovi and Carpoglyphus lactis occur regularly. The specific activity of allergenic extracts obtained from storage mites was studied in ELISA. They were shown to have sensitizing and immunogenic properties. The study revealed that storage mites possessed specific determinants and those common with pyroglyphid, not linked with allergens of groups 1 and 2.