This article is a first part of the rewiev of the house-dust-mite-atopy problem data. It includes informations on biology of these mites with emphasis of medical aspect and control. We hope that these informations will be of considerable interest to many readers because of the greatly increased investigations into the role of house dust mite sensitivity in allergic diseases.
House dust mites from the family Pyroglyphidae (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, D. farinae and Euroglyphus maynei) are recognized as the major source of allergens in house dust and indoor environment. In this review their allergenicity, diagnostics and some biochemical and allergological assays of the allergens produced by these mites are discussed. A brief summary of the mite-derived allergens, their occurrence in some indoor environments and annual dynamics of the mite populations are provided as background.