No abstract available.
Classification* ; Ecology* ; Spiders* ; Tetranychidae*

No abstract available.
Citrus* ; Hypersensitivity* ; Mites* ; Spiders* ; Tetranychidae*

BACKGROUND: Tetranychus urticae (two spotted spider mite, TSM) is considered to be an important outdoor allergen, especially among farmers as an occupational allergen. TSM may be an important allergen in Cheonan area because this area is surrounded by many pear orchards where TSM is commonly found. OBJECTIVES: To determine the sensitization rate to TSM in Cheonan area. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rates of sensitization to common inhalant allergens were analyzed in the 456 patients who visited the allergy clinic in Dankook University Hospital, and skin prick tests were done with 55 common inhalent allergens and TSM extract. RESULTS: The sensitization rate to Dermatophagoides farinae (37.7%) was highest followed by TSM (29.6%) and 25 (5.5%) patients were sensitized to TSM only. Sensitization rate to TSM was the highest in the third and fourth decades. Up to 50% of asthmatics aggravated during the summer season were sensitized to TSM. CONCLUSION: TSM was the second most common sensitized allergen in patients visiting the allergy clinic in Cheonan area. These results suggest that TSM must be an important outdoor allergen in rural areas.
Allergens ; Chungcheongnam-do* ; Dermatophagoides farinae ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity* ; Pyrus ; Seasons ; Skin ; Tetranychidae

Background and objective: The two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae, TSM) is the most common mite infesting fruit leaves and herbaceous plants. Recent investigations have revealed that these mites play an important role in the development of asthma and rhinitis in apple farmers and exposed adults. The aim of this study is to evaluate sensitization to TSM in children living around pear orchards and its relationship with prevalence of allergic diseases. Subjects and methods: A total of 2,584 children living around pear orchards was recruited for this study. The subjects responded to a questionnaire, and underwent skin-prick testing to common inhalant allergens including TSM. RESULTS: The prevalence of asthma based on the questionnaire was 6.9% in 7 to 12-year-old subjects and 6.4% 13 to 18-year-old subjects. The prevalence of chronic rhinitis based on the questionnaire was higher in subjects 13-18 years old than in those 7-12 years old (24.8% vs. 21.2%). On the skin prick tests, the most common sensitizing indoor allergen was D. pteronyssinus (28.3%), followed by D. farinae (27.2%), T. putrescentiae (13.5%), and cockroach (10.9%). The sensitization rate to TSM was higher in the older children than in the younger ones (12.2% vs. 6.0%). While sensitization to TSM was not associated with prevalence of asthma among the younger children, the prevalence of asthma was higher in the older children sensitized to TSM than in those without sensitization (8.5% vs. 5.5%). However, the sensitization to TSM was not associated with the prevalence of chronic rhinitis in both groups. CONCLUSION: TSM is a common sensitizing allergen in children living around pear orchards, and the sensitization to TSM is significantly associated with the prevalence of asthma in older children.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Allergens ; Asthma ; Child* ; Cockroaches ; Fruit ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity* ; Mites ; Prevalence ; Pyrus* ; Rhinitis ; Skin ; Spiders* ; Tetranychidae* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo investigate the acaricidal activity of different extracts from Syzygium cumini (S. cumini) (Pomposia) againsst Tetranychus urticae Koch (T. urticae) and the biochemical changes in antioxidants enzymes.

METHODSSix extracts of S. cumini (Pomposia) at concentrations of 75, 150 and 300µg/mL were used to control T. urticae (Koch).

RESULTSThe ethanol extract showed the most efficient acaricidal activity agent against T. urticae (98.5%) followed by hexane extract (94.0%), ether and ethyl acetate extract (90.0%). The LC50 values of the promising extract were 85.0, 101.0, 102.0 and 98.0µg/mL, respectively. The activities of enzymes including ascorbate peroxidase (APX), peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in susceptible mites were increased. The activities of all antioxidant enzymes reach the maximum value in mites at LC50 with ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSThe extract of S. cumini has acaricidal acivity against T. urticae, and the ethanol extract is the most efficient.

Acaricides ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Ethanol ; Oxidoreductases ; metabolism ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Syzygium ; chemistry ; Tetranychidae ; drug effects ; enzymology

Korean allergology has made great progress in keeping pace with global scientific advances in spite of a short history. Outstanding academic and scientific researches have been performed in a variety of allergy fields in Korea. Epidemiologic studies revealed increasing prevalence of asthma and allergic diseases and considerable morbidity and mortality in Korea. Novel inhalant allergens such as citrus red mite and two-spotted spider mite as causes of asthma and allergic rhinitis have been discovered and reported in Korea. Bidirectional translational researches have been performed and are underway to elucidate the pathogenesis of asthma and allergy, mechanisms of airway inflammation and remodeling, and new therapeutic modalities for asthma and allergic diseases. Experimental asthma models of different phenotypes according to exposed levels of lipopolysaccharide or double-stranded RNA suggested the crucial role of the innate immunity in the development of allergic airway inflammation and a new insight for asthma pathogenesis, in which both Th1 and Th2 inflammation are involved. In the field of genetic researches, numerous genetic associations with asthma and asthma-related phenotypes, such as atopy, IgE production, and airway hyperresponsiveness, have been demonstrated in Korean population. The Easy Asthma Management (EAM) program, a computer-assisted asthma management program, is anticipated to facilitate the achievement of more successful clinical outcomes by filling the gaps between guidelines and actual practices. The Integration of these multi-disciplinary allergy research resources and translation of scientific achievements to the bedside and society will lead to better allergy and asthma control in Korea.
Achievement ; Allergens ; Asthma ; Citrus ; Genetic Research ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunity, Innate ; Immunoglobulin E ; Inflammation ; Korea ; Mites ; Phenotype ; Prevalence ; Rhinitis ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; RNA, Double-Stranded ; Tetranychidae ; Translational Medical Research

BACKGROUND: Tyrophagus putrescentiae is one of the storage mites found not only within storehouses but also in the house dust, and is known as the third most common mite following Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farinae in houses in Korea. There has been few reports on its sensitization rate in this country. OBJECT: The aim of this study was to evaluate its sensitization rate and clinical features of T. putrescentiae sensitized patients with allergic diseases in Daejeon area. METHODS: Skin prick tests with 33 common inhalant allergens including Tetranychus urticae and T. putrescentiae were done in 308 allergy patients who had visited Allergy Clinic of Eulji University Hospital from June, 2001 to April, 2002, and their clinical characteristics of these patients were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 193(62.7%) out of 308 patients showed positive responses to more than one allergen. The prevalence of sensitization was highest for mites(51.9%) followed by cockroach (25.0%), weeds pollens(17.5%), animal epithelium(16.9%), fungi(16.2%), grasses pollens(15.6%) and tree pollens(14.6%). Among mites, sensitization rate to T. urticae was highest as 128 (41.6%), followed by D. farinae, 96(31.2%), T. putrescentiae, 95(30.8%), and D. pteronyssinus, 92(29.9%). Among positive responders to mites, eight patients with perennial asthma were sensitized to T. putrescentiae only. Sensitization to D. farinae and animal epithelium were more prevalent in Deajeon city compared to surrounding rural areas (for D. farinae, 72/203(35.5%) vs. 24/105(22.9%) respectively. P=.024, and for animal epithelium, 42/203(20.7%) vs. 10/105 (9.5%) respectively. P=.013). CONCLUSION: Tyrophagus putrescentiae was one of the most common inhalant allergens as well as house dust mite and two spotted spider mite in patients visiting an Allergy Clinic in Daejeon area. Further study will be needed to elucidate the clinical significance of T. putres-centiae -sensitized patients.
Acaridae ; Allergens ; Animals ; Asthma ; Cockroaches ; Daejeon ; Dermatophagoides farinae ; Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus ; Dust ; Epithelium ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Korea ; Mites ; Poaceae ; Prevalence ; Pyroglyphidae ; Skin ; Tetranychidae

It has been demonstrated that spider mites such as the two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) are important allergens for fruit farmers. A total of 2,467 adults (795 metropolitan urban, 788 non-metropolitan urban, and 884 rural subjects) were enrolled. They responded to the questionnaire, and underwent methacholine bronchial provocation tests as well as skin prick tests to locally common aeroallergens including the two-spotted spider mite. The prevalences of asthma and rhinitis as reported on the questionnaire were 7.8% and 16.4% of adults aged 20-35, 9.4% and 24.7% of those 36-50, and 17.7% and 21.7% of those older than 50, respectively. Among the older group, the two-spotted spider mite was the most common sensitizing allergen, although it was second of that of house dust mites among the other two age groups. Sensitization to the two-spotted spider mite was significantly associated with the prevalence of asthma and rhinitis among the younger age group, and associated with the prevalence of rhinitis among the older age group. The twospotted spider mite might be a common sensitizing allergen in the general population of adults, and sensitization to this mite may play a role in the manifestation of asthma and rhinitis symptoms during adulthood.
Tetranychidae/*immunology ; Risk Factors ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial/*etiology/immunology ; Questionnaires ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Humans ; Female ; Asthma/*etiology/immunology ; Animals ; Allergens ; Aged ; Age Factors ; Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the acaricidal activity of extracts of three essential oils of chamomile, marjoram and Eucalyptus against Tetranychus urticae (T. urticae) Koch.

METHODSExtracts of three essential oils of chamomile, marjoram and Eucalyptus with different concentrations (0.5%, 1.0%, 2.0%, 3.0% and 4.0%) were used to control T. urticae Koch.

RESULTSThe results showed that chamomile (Chamomilla recutita) represented the most potent efficient acaricidal agent against Tetranychus followed by marjoram (Marjorana hortensis) and Eucalyptus. The LC50 values of chamomile, marjoram and Eucalyptus for adults were 0.65, 1.84 and 2.18, respectively and for eggs 1.17, 6.26 and 7.33, respectively. Activities of enzymes including glutathione-S-transferase, esterase (α-esterase and β-esterase) and alkaline phosphatase in susceptible mites were determined and activities of enzymes involved in the resistance of acaricides were proved. Protease enzyme was significantly decreased at LC50 of both chamomile and marjoram compared with positive control. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) proved that the major compositions of Chamomilla recutita are α-bisabolol oxide A (35.251%), and trans-β-farersene (7.758%), while the main components of Marjorana hortensis are terpinene-4-ol (23.860%), p-cymene (23.404%) and sabinene (10.904%).

CONCLUSIONSIt can be concluded that extracts of three essential oils of chamomile, marjoram and Eucalyptus possess acaricidal activity against T. urticae.

Acaricides ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Chamomile ; chemistry ; Drug Resistance ; Enzymes ; analysis ; Eucalyptus ; chemistry ; Female ; Male ; Oils, Volatile ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Origanum ; chemistry ; Survival Analysis ; Tetranychidae ; drug effects ; enzymology

Several studies have reported that the citrus red mites Panonychus citri were an important allergen of citrus-cultivating farmers in Jeju Island. The aim of the present study was to purify and assess properties of a cysteine protease from the mites acting as a potentially pathogenic factor to citrus-cultivating farmers. A cysteine protease was purified using column chromatography of Mono Q anion exchanger and Superdex 200 HR gel filtration. It was estimated to be 46 kDa by gel filtration column chromatography and consisted of 2 polypeptides, at least. Cysteine protease inhibitors, such as trans poxy-succinyl-L-leucyl-amido (4-guanidino) butane (E-64) and iodoacetic acid (IAA) totally inhibited the enzyme activities, whereas serine or metalloprotease inhibitors did not affect the activities. In addition, the purified enzyme degraded human IgG, collagen, and fibronectin, but not egg albumin. From these results, the cysteine protease of the mites might be involved in the pathogenesis such as tissue destruction and penetration instead of nutrient digestion.
Animals ; Chromatography, Gel ; Chromatography, Ion Exchange ; Collagen/metabolism ; Cysteine Proteases/chemistry/*isolation & purification ; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors/metabolism ; Fibronectins/metabolism ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G/metabolism ; Molecular Weight ; Protein Subunits/chemistry/isolation & purification ; Proteolysis ; Substrate Specificity ; Tetranychidae/*enzymology