title: Dust mite species in the households of mite-sensitive dogs with atopic dermatitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The presence of important house dust and storage mite species in the microenvironment of atopic dogs has not been thoroughly investigated.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the presence and population of five dust mite species (Dermatophagoides farinae, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Acarus siro, Tyrophagus putrescentiae and Lepidoglyphus destructor) among households with mite-sensitive atopic dogs (Group A), households with clinically healthy dogs (Group B) and households without pets (Group C, n=25) in Greece.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty mite-sensitive atopic dogs and 20 clinically healthy dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dust samples were collected with a vacuum cleaner from owners' mattresses (all groups) and from dogs' sleeping areas (Groups A and B) or living room couch (Group C), once every season of the year. Following dust flotation, mites were counted and identified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dermatophagoides farinae was the most prevalent (60, 40 and 64% in Groups A, B and C, respectively), followed by D. pteronyssinus (45, 35 and 48%, respectively), whereas the three storage mites were found in fewer households. No major differences could be found between Groups A and B or between households with (Groups A and B) and without dogs (Group C) regarding the presence or numbers of the five dust mite species.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence and population of five common house dust and storage mite species does not differ among Greek households with mite-sensitive atopic dogs, households with healthy dogs and households without pets.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly, Trikalon 224, GR-43100, Karditsa, Greece.
authors.forename: Rania
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Farmaki
authors.forename: Manolis N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Saridomichelakis
authors.forename: Leonidas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Leontides
authors.forename: Margarita G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Papazahariadou
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gioulekas
authors.forename: Alexander F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Koutinas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D040001:Dermatophagoides farinae / Q000276:immunology; D040002:Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus / Q000276:immunology; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D004285:Dogs; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008925:Mites / Q000276:immunology; D039981:Pyroglyphidae / Q000276:immunology*