Isolation and identification of mites associated with raw and commercial farm edible bird nests
- Author:
Kew, P.E, Wong, S.F.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- From:Tropical Biomedicine
2015;32(4):761-775
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
The global demand for edible bird nests (EBNs) is high, especially from Hong Kong
and Peoples Republic of China. Recently, this industry was greatly affected when China
banned the import of all the EBNs from Malaysia (except for canned version) due to detection
of high levels of nitrites. Several cases of anaphylaxis following ingestion of EBNs were
reported. The source(s) of these allergens remain unknown. Mites have been reported to
trigger allergic responses. Hence, this study was designed to quantify, isolate and identify the
mites that are associated with EBNs. The raw EBNs were purchased from swiftlet farms in
five locations in Peninsular Malaysia while the commercial nests were purchased from five
different Chinese traditional medicinal shops. The average mite density of all the raw nests
was 285 ± 603 mites per gram of EBN while the commercial nests had a much lower mean
value of 21 ± 32 mites per gram of EBN (p = 0.082). Among the raw EBNs, the nests from
Kajang had the highest average mite density (946 ± 1443 mites/g of EBN) whereas the nests
from Kuala Sanglang had the lowest (54 ± 34 mites/g of EBN). Among the commercial EBNs,
the nests from Company D had the highest average mite density (76 ± 18 mites/g of EBN)
whereas the nests from Company A were free of mites. Overall, the average densities of
mites in the raw nests obtained from southern regions of Malaysia (Selangor and Johor) were
higher than those nests obtained from the northern regions (Kedah and Kelantan). Thirty
types of mites were isolated from both the raw and commercial nests. Among these, some are
probably feather mites (Eustathia cultrifer, Pteroherpus garrulacis, Pterodectes
amaurochalinus, Laminalloptes sp., Berlesella alata and Neochauliacia sp.), house dust and
storage mites (Suidasia sp., Austroglycyphagus sp., and Aleuroglyphus ovatus), mesostigmatid
mites (Dermanyssus sp.), prostigmatid mites (Cheyletus sp., tarsonemid and cunaxid mites),
astigmatid mites (Collocalidectes sp., Streetacarus sp. and Hemisarcoptes sp.) and oribatid
mites. This study provides baseline information on the density and type of mites that are
probably associated with EBNs. This study also heightens the importance of mites as a
possible source of EBN-associated anaphylaxis.
- Full text:P020160316547474885020.pdf
