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Review : Interactions between Domestic Mites and Fungi

Institut royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique, Bruxelles, Belgique

In the indoor environment, mites and fungi are two of the most important causes of asthma and rhinitis in people. Although these two subjects are often studied separate ly, to do so ignores the important ecological relationship between them. For example, fungi may be a source of nutrients, providing the sterols and vitamins required by one of the most important house-dust mites, Dermato phagoides pteronyssinus. In addition, two other mite species also found in the indoor environment, Acarus siro and Tyrophagus putrescentiae, are attracted by fun gi and feed on some species of them. In return, these two mite species are capable of inoculating the micro-organ isms into clean food commodities. This review is an attempt to highlight the complex interaction between mites and fungi and to give an overview of our knowl edge of this microscopic world. It also hopes to give a clearer understanding of the mechanisms by which fun gicides can control, or not, the development of domestic mite populations.

Key Words: Mites • Dermatophagoides farinae • Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus • Acarus siro • Tyrophagus putrescentiae ; Fungi

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