Could inhaled mite faeces introduce pathogens to the lungs?

Martínez‐Girón, Rafael; Woerden, H. van; Ribas-Barceló, Andrés

doi:10.1016/j.micinf.2007.12.017

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…Pathogens including bacteria and protozoa are absorbed into the respiratory pathways through the inhalation of mite feces ( 3 ). One of the components of the vast range of the inflammatory diseases, which involve the unified airway, is allergic rhinitis (AR).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Detection of Lophomonas blattarum (Order: Hypermastigida) from Iranian Patients with Allergic Rhinitis

Bakhshaee¹,

Teimouri²,

Azad³

et al. 2022

IJPA

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Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is one of the most common allergic diseases triggered by indoor and outdoor allergens. Certain arthropods, such as mites and cockroaches, contain protozoa like Lophomonas blattarum in their intestines to help with digestion that may have some role in AR. We aimed to determine the frequency of L. blattarum in nasal smears of patients with AR in comparison with healthy controls. Methods: In this prospective cross-sectional study (March 2015-March 2016), 36 patients with a clinical presentation of AR (with a positive prick test including mites) and 34 normal controls were included at ear, nose, and throat (ENT) clinic at Imam Reza Hospital of Mashhad, Iran. Nasal secretions were evaluated to examine presence of L. blattarum in the patients and control group by direct method. Diagnosis of L. blattarum was based on microscopic observation both on direct smear and Giemsa stained specimens. Results: Patients with AR had a higher frequency of L. blattarum in their nasal smears than the control group (25% vs. 2.9%) (P=0.001). Conclusion: We found L. blattarum more frequently in the nasal secretion of AR patients compared with healthy subjects; this protozoon may have some role in this condition. However, the relationship between L. blattarum and AR requires further studies to allow a greater understanding.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Detection of Lophomonas blattarum (Order: Hypermastigida) from Iranian Patients with Allergic Rhinitis

Bakhshaee¹,

Teimouri²,

Azad³

et al. 2022

IJPA

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“…3 On the other hand, the inhalation of mite faeces as a mechanism introducing pathogens, such as bacteria and protozoa, into the lungs has been postulated. 4 Considering the accepted claim ''one way, one disease,'' if AR represents but one component of the spectrum of inflammatory diseases involving the unified airway, it is logical to consider that these protozoa may occur at any point of the airways, including the nasal cavities.…”

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confidence: 99%

House dust mite protozoon on a nasal smear in a case of allergic rhinitis

Martínez‐Girón

2009

Diagnostic Cytopathology

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Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a common disorder with significant impact on quality of life and on health care expenditure. 1 AR is one of the main allergic diseases triggered by house dust mite allergens as well as outdoor allergens. The fact that certain arthropods, such as termites and cockroaches, contain protozoa in their intestines, help with digestion, leads us to wonder whether household dust mites, intimately related to respiratory allergy, might contain flagellate protozoa.Three years ago, a study in which intestinal extracts from house dust mites (Dermatophagoides spp.) were examined under a light microscope 2 showed the existence of flagellated protozoal forms, also suggesting a possible relationship between respiratory allergy and these microorganisms.Nasal smear cytology is a quick, simple, and inexpensive complementary procedure for the diagnosis of AR.The aim of this letter is to show the similarity between the morphological features of a multiflagellated protozoon observed in a fresh sample from intestinal extract of a house dust mite, under a light microscope and phase contrast (Fig. 1), and a similar one in a nasal smear obtained by nose blowing and stained with Wheatley's trichromic (Fig. 2), from a 23-year-old man with a clinical history of AR and conjunctivitis for 15 years. In both images, a similar shape with a cytoplasmic projection ending in numerous and irregular flagella, and similar in size (about 20-25 lm) may be seen. Moreover, to distinguish between these multiflagellated protozoa and degenerated ciliated cells, a CAM 5.2 immunostain (monoclonal antibody, DAKO 1:50) was performed to exclude degenerating epithelial cells, and was negative for protozoa.

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“…9 It is probable that the majority of normal persons, possessing these protozoa, do not manifest symptomatic pulmonary disease, although some recent reports suggest associations between cockroach and mite allergy and these emerging protozoa. [10][11][12] Rapid active movements and cellular morphology demonstrate that these cells are not associated with the ciliate epithelium of the bronchoalveolar tree.…”

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confidence: 99%