Observations on dust mites (Acari: Pyroglyphidae) in coastal hospitals in South Africa
Date
2012Author
Viljoen, Audrey
Ueckermann, Edward
Appleton, Christopher
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Surveys of houses in South Africa have shown that dust mites and mite-derived antigens are more common along the eastern
and southern coastal lowlands than on the central Highveld plateau. The present study extended this research to hospitals in the
three major coastal cities, to determine whether or not dust mites were present in ward furnishings and on floors, and if so, at
what densities. Sampling, over 22 months, in provincial and private hospitals in Durban, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town recovered
10 mite species, including the cosmopolitan pyroglyphids, Dermatophagoides farinae, D. pteronyssinus, Euroglyphus maynei
and Malayoglyphus intermedius. Mites were found in all sampled habitats without any apparent preferences, but mean densities
were mostly below 10/m2, lower than found previously in houses along the coast. To characterise mite habitats in these coastal
hospitals, preliminary environmental data were collected in wards and from inside mattresses. These showed nearly constant
environments, with moderate temperatures and relative humidity and narrow annual ranges. Temperature and relative humidity
levels decreased with increasing latitude from Durban to Cape Town