Dust mite infestation of flour samples.

Abstract

Ingestion of flour contaminated with dust mite may trigger severe anaphylaxis in tropical and sub-tropical regions. This study aimed to evaluate environmental factors that affect dust mite propagation in the tropics. Dust mites were introduced to a variety of flour samples and incubated at two different environmental conditions. It was found that dust mites populations flourished best in wheat flour compared to other varieties of flour, and at ambient temperatures with high humidity instead of the air conditioned environment. Dust mite infestation of flour is dependent on the presence of wheat and high ambient temperature in the tropics.