A review of biology and allergenicity of the house-dust mite Euroglyphus maynei (Acari: Pyroglyphidae)

Euroglyphus maynei is a commonly occurring mite species in house dust throughout the world, but studies of its biology and allergenicity have been relatively scarce because it is difficult to culture, and because species of the genus Dermatophagoides have attracted most attention of research workers. Euroglyphus maynei has been inereasingly recognized as an important source of mite-derived allergens to which patients with house-dust mite allergy are exposed. There is a need for knowledge of its bilogy and allergenicity, in order to be able to grow it in vitro, and to establish whether or not it produces any unique allergens which do not cross-react with those of Dermatophagoides spp. and which may be of clinical significance. This article reviews published and unpublished data on taxonomy and identification, geographical and habitat distribution, seasonal population fluctuations, life-history and the effects of temperature and humidity, culture techniques and allergenicity of E. maynei.