Tyrophagus putrescentiae
Summary
Tyrophagus putrescentiae is one of the Acaridae Family of storage mites, known commonly as the ‘cereal’, ‘cheese’ or ‘mold’ mite. Traditionally associated with occupational exposure in rural workers, storage mites have been more recently linked with non-occupational sensitization in urban environments, causing contact dermatitis, rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma. T. putrescentiae is a common species of mite that contaminates food and is primarily found in stored products with high protein and fat contents, such as cultured cheeses, pet food and dry-cured ham. Importantly, T. putrescentiae is also found in house dust, where house dust mites (HDM) are characteristically found. Allergenic cross-reactivity between storage mites and HDMs is well documented.
Epidemiology
Risk factors
Sensitization to storage mites, including T. putrescentiae, is an occupational hazard for farm workers and bakers. However, approximately 25% of patients sensitized to storage mites have no relationship with farms or bakeries.
Route Of Exposure
Main
Inhalation.
Secondary
Ingestion and contact.
Clinical Relevance
Mites are the sources of potent allergens that sensitize and induce IgE-mediated allergic reactions. Sensitization to storage mites causes rhinitis, asthma and conjunctivitis as well as atopic dermatitis.
Among 200 patients assessed for rhinitis and/or asthma in an outpatient setting, 123 (61.5%) had sensitization to at least one storage mite. Patients with storage mite sensitization had the following disease characteristics: rhinitis (96.7%), asthma (46.3%), rhinitis and asthma (43.1%), conjunctivitis (25.2%) and atopic dermatitis (9.8%).
When compared with non-allergic participants without asthma, sensitization to T. putrescentiae is associated with increased odds of having nasal allergies without asthma, and of having asthma with nasal allergies, but is not associated with having asthma without nasal allergies.
Cross-Reactivity
Allergenic cross-reactivity between storage mites and HDMs is well documented; in a European Community Respiratory Health Survey, 8% of people were found to be sensitized to HDMs and 10% to storage mites. Among those patients with storage mite sensitization, 26% were also sensitized to T. putrescentiae.
Another study reported that 88.4% (n/N=274/310) of patients sensitive to house dust mites were also sensitive to storage mites; 73% (n/N=227/310) of patients were sensitized to all three species of storage mite studied (Lepidoglyphus destructor, T. putrescentiae and Acarus. siro).
Among 117 allergic rhinitis patients hypersensitive to T. putrescentiae, 97% were also sensitized to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. Group 2 allergens are thought to be the major cross-reactive allergens of D. pteronyssinus and T. putrescentiae.
Cross reactivity between the silkworm (Bombyx mori) and T. putrescentiae has also been reported.
References
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