The study was carried out from April 2000-March 2001. During this period 49 samples of dust, litter, debris and residues from cages and run-offs of mammals, birds and reptiles in the Silesian Zoo, were examined for the presence of mites, especially the allergenic taxa. Mites were extracted using the Berlese method and preserved in 70% ethanol. For identification, the mites were mounted in Hoyer's medium on microscope slides. Mites were found in 44 of 49 samples analyzed (89.8%). A total of 5,097 mites were collected, from which 60.3% were found in samples collected in spring, whereas only 13% in summer and 24.1% in autumn. The remaining 2.6% of the total mite population was found in winter. Majority of mites (82.7%) were collected from aviaries of macaws and cockatiels (Ara ararauna and Nymphicus hollandicus ). A total of 10 species of astigmatid mites were identified that belong to 4 families - Acaridae, Glycyphagidae, Anoetidae and Pyroglyphidae. Generally, the allergenic mites of the order Astigmata constituted 49.5% of the total count. Among them Acarus farris was predominant (34% of the total count), followed by Tyrophagus putrescentiae (4.7%), Caloglyphus sp. (4.35%) and Acarus immobilis (4.31%). Dermatophagoides farinae , the house-dust-mite species, was for the first time found in this environment. D. farinae (0.05% of the total population) was associated with parrots, canids and artiodactyls. Summarizing, it should be stressed, that cages and run-offs of different mammals, aviaries of parrots and terrariums of snakes are important sources of some allergenic mites, especially A. farris and T. putrescentiae , that might cause allergies in workers.
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