Experimental and Applied Acarology (2011) 54, 269-276

Aboozar Soltani, Koroush Azizi, Vahid Saleh and Tahere Dabaghmanesh (2011)
The fauna and distribution of house dust mites in residential homes of Bandar Abbas District, Southern Iran
Experimental and Applied Acarology 54 (3), 269-276
Abstract: This study was designed to determine the occurrence, distribution and abundance of house dust mites (HDM) in residential homes in Bandar Abbas (Hormozgan Province), because of numerous complaints of allergies in this oriental city. The study area was divided in five sampling zones based on population density and geographical distribution. In each sampling zone 10 houses were randomly selected. A total of 50 home dust samples were collected using a portable vacuum cleaner for 2 min from 1 m² of the surface of mattresses, carpets, sofas and furniture in residential houses. After collection, samples were immediately frozen. Mite species were identified and counted using standard methods and keys. Of the sampled houses 88% (44 houses) were contaminated with at least one HDM species. Three species were identified: Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (63.1%), D. farinae (32.8%) and D. evansi (4.1%) (Pyroglyphidae). Our findings indicate a relationship between HDM density and moisture and temperature of residential places. The high contamination rate of residential houses (88%) and the favourable environmental conditions for these arthropods stress that they should be considered as important allergic causing agents.
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Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
resistance/tolerance/defence of host

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Dermatophagoides farinae		Iran
	Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus		Iran
	Dermatophagoides evansi		Iran