A study of the mite fauna in the homes of asthmatics with positive skin tests for Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus in Burma

Abstract

A survey was made of house dust in the homes of 30 asthmatics and 30 non‐asthmatics residing in Rangoon. The majority of the mites encountered were either glycyphagids of the genus Blomia (69% of the total specimens) or the predatory mites of the genus Cheyletus (25.1%). Pyroglyphid mites constituted only 5.9%, including Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (3.2%) and D. farinae (2%). Other pyroglyphids encountered were Hirstia domicola, Malayoglyphus intermedius and M. carmelitus which together constituted only 0.7%. The high density of glycyphagid mites in Rangoon could alter the sensitization patterns among atopics; skin tests using only Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus extract could therefore result in false negatives.