Allergy to storage mites

There is now much evidence of sensitization to storage mites in urban populations as well as in the well-documented rural populations. Sensitization is therefore not restricted only to those with occupational exposure. There appears to be a limited allergenic crossreactivity between storage mites and house dust mites, although both species also possess their own unique allergens. More research on identification and characterization of storage mite allergens and their crossreactivity is needed to understand their complexity. Such studies are necessary to obtain high quality extracts for diagnosis and possible immunotherapy. Development of immunoassays employing MoAbs will allow measurement of storage mite concentrations in workplaces and houses and the study of exposure-response relationships.