HOUSE DUST MITES: Natural history, control and research techniques
by: Rob de Boer
Elsevier Academic Press 2023, ISBN 978-0-443-19111-4, 217 pages
Contents
Preface
1. An introductory note on the medical significance of dust mites
1.1. Discoveries
1.2. Identification and quantification
1.3. Exposure to mite allergens and disease
1.4. BHR, FEV and PC-20
1.5. Secondary prevention: Yes, Primary prevention: No
2. Mites and the science of acarology
2.1. Dermatophagoides as an example of a mite
2.2. Sampling houses for dust mites and setting up cultures
3. House dust fauna’s around the world
4. Water junks
4.1. Food and metabolic water
4.2. The Critical Equilibrium (Air)Humidity (CEH)
4.3. The speed of water vapor uptake and loss
4.4. The conservation of body water, excretion of nitrogenous waste and water loss tolerance
4.5.1. The mechanism of water vapor uptake
4.5.2. Identity of the hygroscopic substance
4.6. Two strategies for dealing with drought spells; D. pteronyssinus vs D. farinae
4.6.1. Induction of (prolonged) quiescence of D. farinae
4.6.2. Termination of (prolonged) quiescence of D. farinae
4.6.3. Physiology of quiescent Dermatophagoides farinae nymphs
4.6.4. The balance between D. pteronyssinus and D. farinae infestations
4.6.5. Other differences between D. pteronyssinus and D. farinae
5. Surveys of the occurrence of dust mites and their allergens
5.1. Associations with home characteristics
5.2. Density dependent and density independent factors
5.3. Are there any houses without mites?
5.4. Utility buildings and public places
6. Where do mites survive the winter in a temperate climate?
6.1. Mattresses
6.2. Carpeted floors and rugs
6.3. Lethal heat and cold treatments
6.4. Mite control through reduction of RH; air-conditioning, mechanical ventilation, dehumidifiers, electric blankets, sub-floor heating
7. The life cycle of astigmatic mites and their natural habitats
7.1. Hypopi
7.2. The natural habitats and colonization
7.3. Dispersal of domestic house dust mites
7.4. The sex ratio
7.5. Males, females, copulation and egg production
7.5.1. Sense organs and pheromones
7.6. The sub-adult stages of Dermatophagoides
7.6.1. The egg stage
7.6.2. The larval and nymphal stages
8. Modeled population dynamics
8.1. Population development in circumstances with constant optimum physical conditions and with unlimited access to food
8.2. A speculative appraisal of empirical findings
8.3. A density dependent factor, namely: food
8.4. Kill them all in winter?
9. What can they eat?
9.1. Dander
9.2. Food dynamics
9.3. Fungi and bacteria
9.4. Could humidity influence the food supply?
10. Investigations waiting to be done
APPENDIX A. The benefits of taking three samples in stead of just one
A1. Linear regression and the correlation coefficient
A2. Application
APPENDIX B. Mite species found in house dust from 55 locations
APPENDIX C. Calculation of Absolute Humidity (AH) from readings of Relative Humidity (RH) and temperature (T)
APPENDIX D. Determination of the CEH
APPENDIX E. Mites and animal nests
APPENDIX F. Intrinsic rate of increase and population structure
F1 The mathematical basics
F2 The intrinsic rate of increase, doubling time and the stable age (stage) distribution
F3. Leslie matrices and population development
F4 Fabricated life tables
APPENDIX G. Dynamic modeling: STELLA
APPENDIX H. The Binomial Distribution, the Poisson Distribution, Confidence Intervals and a dreamed sampling procedure