Storage Mite Infestation of Dry-Stored Food Products and Its Relation to Human Intestinal Acariasis in the City of Minia, Egypt

Abstract

Abstract Initial data on the prevalence of storage mites in dry-stored food products and estimates of the presence of mites in human stool in the city of Minia, Egypt are provided. In total, 847 samples were collected randomly from houses and retail stores between March 2017 and February 2018. In addition, 1,000 human stool samples were collected for the detection of the presence of mites. Mites were extracted from 285 of 840 (33.9%) samples, and mite contamination was found to be most prevalent in wheat flour (73.3%). In total, 11 mite species belonging to six families were identified, with the pest species Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) (Acari: Acaridae) (TP) being the most prevalent (91.2% of samples). The seasonal density distribution showed the highest storage mite density in March–April, followed by October, and the lowest in January. In addition, mites were detected in 87 (8.7%) human stool samples, with significant associations between certain occupations and some personal characteristics. Therefore, more attention needs to be paid to intestinal acariasis arising from mite infestation of dry-stored food products.