8/1/2003
Mite Allergens and the Allergic March
Despite the daily cleaning of the home, a layer of dust will still cover the floor and furniture. Dust is defined as a collection of particles that can be airborne. When a beam of sunlight falls at a low angle in a darkened room, you can see the dust floating in the air. House-dust is continuously produced in the human habitat. People are the dominant creator of house dust. Daily activities and cleaning of the home cause friction with the different materials that produce dust. Dust originates not only from furniture, furnishings and clothing, but also from the inhabitant itself (dander, hairs, etc.). In addition to humans, other living inhabitants such as mites live in the dwelling and produce their own form of dust (bodies and droppings). These particles become part of the house-dust.
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8/8/2002
Parasites on our Pets
We know many types of insects and mites can be bothersome to humans, but they can also trouble pets such as dogs, cats and even horses. The best known of these ectoparasitic indoor insects are fleas. However, there are other insects and mites that can attack our beloved friends, such as ticks, itch, poultry or fur mites and chiggers. We also now know that just like humans, pets can be allergic to mite waste allergens, especially horses and dogs.
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