Mites in Facilities for Laboratory Animals

Objectives Two laboratory animal facilities were examined for storage and house-dust mites. Methods Samples of settled dust or material were investigated microscopically, and all of the found mites were identified. Results Every fourth sample contained mites. On the average, 86 mites were found in a gram of dust. Measurement with a two-way enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay revealed only one sample containing a minor amount of allergen from Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. Conclusions It seems that, in addition to house-dust mites, other mites may be important occupational contaminants in animal facilities.