Naslov
Differences in mite fauna between the continental and Mediterranean climates of Croatia: microscopy and Dustscreen test findings

Autori
Macan, Jelena ; Kanceljak, Božica ; Plavec, Davor ; Milković-Kraus, Sanja

Izvornik
Allergy (0105-4538) 58 (2003), 8; 780-783

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
Der p 1; Der f 1; house-dust mites; non-pyroglyphid mites; central heating; indoor environment; immunodot

Sažetak
Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the difference between the mite fauna in the inland and coastal Croatia. Methods: Ninety-nine floor house dust samples were collected: 28 from the coastal area, 31 from the inland rural and 40 from the inland urban area. Data on basic household characteristics were collected for 81/99 households. The mites were separated from the dust using the floatation method and then microscopically identified. The levels of Der p 1, Der f 1 and Der 2 were measured using the DUSTSCREEN test (Heska AG, Switzerland). Ordinal descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests were used for data analysis, assuming statistical significance at P<0.05. Results: More then 70% of mites identified in all areas were pyroglyphid. Non-pyroglyphid mites participated with 20-25% of all identified mites in the coastal areas (Blomia, Lepidoglyphus and Glycyphagus) and with 15% in the inland areas (Lepidoglyphus and Acarus). The highest Der p 1 median levels were found in the coastal area, with significantly lower levels in the inland rural and inland urban areas (4.5 ; 2 ; 0.85 mcg/g of dust ; P=0.0001). The highest Der f 1 median levels were found in the inland urban area, with significantly lower levels in the inland rural and coastal areas (0.88 ; 0.75 ; 0 mcg/g of dust ; P=0.0013). The levels of Der f 1 were significantly higher in samples taken from households with central heating than from those with traditional heating (1: 0.25 mcg/g of dust ; P<0.01). Conclusions: The results encourage the implementation of separate diagnostic dust mite lists for the coastal and inland areas due to climatic and dwelling differences. Compared to traditional heating, central heating significantly increases the risk of exposure to Der f 1 levels >2 mcg/g of dust (odds ratio, 7.35 ; 95% confidence interval, 1.43- 37.87 ; P=0.01).

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Kliničke medicinske znanosti, Javno zdravstvo i zdravstvena zaštita

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