Mites on the floors and bedding at day nurseries in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan

Abstract

Mite infestation was investigated at day nurseries in which infants stayed the full day. Dust samples were collected from the floors, "goza" (Japanese matting), "futon" (Japanese mattresses) and blankets in five rooms for 3-year-old children at day nurseries in Ginowan City and Nishihara Town, Okinawa Prefecture, in February and July 1997. Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus was dominant in the day nurseries. The number of dust mites was 3,740 (n=17) in February and 2,204 (n=19) in July. Fifteen out of 36 samples contained more than 100 mites per 1m^2. Many mites were found in the "goza", constituting 50.2% of the total collected in February and 68.9% in July.