House dust mite 285574 224900812 2008-07-10T22:28:14Z ClueBot 4928500 Reverting possible vandalism by [[Special:Contributions/68.226.18.42|68.226.18.42]] to version by Ceyockey. False positive? [[User:ClueBot/FalsePositives|Report it]]. Thanks, [[User:ClueBot]]. (437312) (Bot) {{Copyedit|date=April 2008}} {{Taxobox | name = House dust mite | status = secure | image= House Dust Mite.jpg | image_caption = ''Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus'' | image_width = 250px | regnum = [[Animal]]ia | phylum = [[Arthropoda]] | classis = [[Arachnida]] | subclassis = [[Acarina]] | ordo = [[Acariformes]] | familia = [[Pyroglyphidae]] | genus = ''[[Dermatophagoides]]'' | species = '''''D. pteronyssinus''''' | binomial = ''Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus'' | binomial_authority = [[Édouard Louis Trouessart|Trouessart]], 1897 }} The '''house dust mite''' (sometimes abbreviated by [[allergist]]s to '''HDM'''), is a [[cosmopolitan distribution|cosmopolitan]] guest in [[human]] habitation. Dust [[mite]]s feed on organic detritus such as flakes of shed human skin and flourish in the stable environment of dwellings. In nature they are killed by micro-predators and by exposure to direct sun rays. Dust mites are the most common cause of [[asthma]] and allergic symptoms worldwide. The [[enzymes]] they produce can be smelled most strongly in full [[vacuum cleaner]] bags. The '''European house dust mite''' (''Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus'') and the '''American house dust mite''' (''Dermatophagoides farinae'') are two different species, but are not necessarily confined to Europe or North America. ==Size== A magnifying glass, as well as a proper viewing environment, is required to view the body of a dust mite . A typical house dust mite measures 420 [[Micrometer|µm]] in length (almost 0.5 mm) and 250 to 320 µm in width. Both male and female adult house dust mites are creamy white and are shaped in a globular manner. The body of the dust mite also contains a striated [[cuticle]]. As a member of the [[class (biology)|class]] [[Arachnid]]a, larval and post-larval stages of house dust mites have eight legs. Dust mites can be transported airborne by minor air currents generated from normal household activities. ==Life cycle== The average life cycle for a male dust mite is 20 to 30 days, while a mated female dust mite can live for 10 weeks, laying 60 to 100 eggs in the last 5 weeks of her life. In a 10 week life span, a dust mite will produce approximately 2000 fecal particles and an even larger number of partially digested enzyme-infested dust particles. [http://www.pneumologiamo.it/allergia_acari.htm ] A simple washing will remove most of the waste matter. Both being exposed to temperatures of over 60 degrees Celsius (140 degrees Fahrenheit) for a period of one hour, or freezing, will typically prove fatal to dust mites;<ref name='ats'>{{cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Hotter is better for removing allergens in laundry | date=May 20, 2007 | publisher= | url =http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-05/ats-hib051407.php | work =American Thoracic Society | pages = | accessdate = | language = }}</ref> a relative humidity less than 50 may also be fatal. Dust mites reproduce quickly enough that their effect on human health can be significant. ==Habitat and food== The dust mite survives in all climates, except at high altitudes where reproduction is halted. If trying to control dust mites and other indoor pathogens for which water is a gating factor, it is relative humidity that is important. This is because water condenses out of air onto a surface only when the air at that surface contains more water than it can hold at that temperature. When warm, moist air contacts a cool surface, the air touching that surface may cool and give up some of its moisture to condense on the surface. When humidity is less than optimal, dust mites function more slowly, eventually become dormant and may die. Dust mites thrive in the environment provided by beds, kitchens and homes in general, where the sun's rays do not reach them. Mites remain in mattresses, carpets, furniture and bedding, since they can climb lower down through the fabric to avoid sun, vacuum cleaners, and other hazards, and climb higher up to the surface if necessary to get another skin cell to feed on, when humidity is high. Even in dry climates, dust mites survive and reproduce easily in bedding (especially in pillows) because of the humidity generated by the human body during several hours of breathing and perspiring. Dust mites consume minute particles of organic matter. Some species of mites prefer to eat [[skin cell]]s, a large component of household [[dust]]; others prefer flour dust. Dust mites have a rudimentary [[alimentary]] system (no stomach) and require most digestion to occur outside their body. For this reason they secrete enzymes and deposit the [[fungus]] ''Aspergillus repens'' on dust particles, to enable the fungus to pre-digest the organic matter with its enzymes. Dust mites eat the same particle several times, only partially digesting it each time. Between feedings dust mites leave particles to decompose further. Ultimately a fully digested particle, which a dust mite will not eat, is deemed by scientists to constitute fecal matter. A person sheds about 1.5 [[grams]] of skin cells and flakes every day (approximately 0.3-0.45 kg per year), which is enough to feed roughly a million dust mites under ideal conditions.{{Verify source|date=July 2007}}. Dust mites in bedding derive moisture from human breathing, [[perspiration]], and [[saliva]]. ==Asthma and allergies== {{main|Asthma}} Dust mites are one of the most common allergens that trigger asthma. A safety and tolerability [[clinical trial]] (Phase IIa) has been completed with positive results by [[Cytos Biotechnology]] using an immunotherapeutic (CYT003-QbG10) for treatment of house dust mite-triggered allergies.<ref> {{cite news |author=Staff |title=Clinical Trials Update: Allergies |url= |format=print |work=Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News |publisher=Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. |page=52 |date=2007-06-15 |accessdate=2008-07-09 |language= |quote= |archiveurl= |archivedate= }}</ref> Some main signs of dust mite bites are itchiness, sneezing, inflamed/infected eczema, watering eyes, runny nose, (if asthma), lungs clogging up and hay fever. ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== <!--===========================({{NoMoreLinks}})===============================--> <!--| DO NOT ADD MORE LINKS TO THIS ARTICLE. WIKIPEDIA IS NOT A COLLECTION OF |--> <!--| LINKS. If you think that your link might be useful, do not add it here, |--> <!--| but put it on this article's discussion page first or submit your link |--> <!--| to the appropriate category at the Open Directory Project (www.dmoz.org)|--> <!--| and link back to that category using the {{dmoz}} template. |--> <!--| |--> <!--| Links that have not been verified WILL BE DELETED. |--> <!--| See [[Wikipedia:External links]] and [[Wikipedia:Spam]] for details |--> <!--===========================({{NoMoreLinks}})===============================--> * [http://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheets/hgic2551.htm Dust Mite Control - from Clemson Extension Home & Garden Information Center] [[Category:Acari]] [[Category:Building biology]] [[bg:Домашен акар]] [[da:Husstøvmide]] [[de:Hausstaubmilben]] [[es:ácaro]] [[fi:Pölypunkki]] [[fr:acarien]] [[he:קרדית אבק הבית]] [[lt:Namų dulkių erkė]] [[nl:Huisstofmijt]] [[no:Husstøvmidd]] [[pl:Roztocze kurzu domowego]] [[pt:Dermatophagoides]] [[sr:Гриње]] [[sv:Husdammskvalster]] [[zh:塵蟎]]