House dust mite fauna in Turkey

Storage and house dust mites (HDM) appear to be important allergen sources in sensitive patients. The acarofauna of dust samples collected from 133 homes located in five regions of Anatolia with different weather conditions were evaluated. HDM and/or storage mites were found in 32 samples. Twenty of them were identified as containing D. pteronyssinus and D. farinae, and 21 had storage mites. Lepidoglyphus destructor and Gamasidae were the most frequently found, followed by Cheyletus eraditus, Glycyphagidae and Acaridae, Tydeus interruptus and Glycyphagus domesticus, Gohieria fusca and Cryptostigmata. The presence of mite species seemed to be related to the climate, and particularly to humidity. Therefore, mites in samples obtained from the northern Anatolia region were found at higher rates. The data is consistent with the fact that allergic patients in Turkey have significant exposure to HDM, and a variety of storage mites may be clinically important as well. Because of the partial cross-reactivity between D. pteronyssinus and storage mites, we conclude that in Turkey, storage mites should be included in standard skin testing when allergic asthma and/or rhinoconjunctivitis is suspected.