Abstract
The mite fauna of 74 house dust samples collected by season from 3 apartment houses and 4 separate houses in Seoul, Korea was examined microscopically. House dust mite antigen content was measured by the use of enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) inhibition method. Of 9,638 collected mites, pyroglyphid mites comprised 70.5% and Dermatophagoides farinae was the dominant species (55.5%). Mite density and mite antigen content were highest in autumn and lowest in winter. These were higher in separate houses than in apartment houses. Positive correlation between mite density and mite antigen content was observed (r=0.45). The relatively low density of house dust mites in dust samples in apartment houses and in Korea was discussed in relation to family density, habitable floor area and use of "Ondol" floor heating system.
