Íslenskar landbúnaðarrannsóknir - 01.09.1981, Page 63

ÍSL. LANDBÚN.
j. agr. res. icel. 1981 13, 1-2: 61-67
Mites of stored hay in Iceland
ThorkilE. Hallas
Danish Pest Infestation Laboratory
Lyngby, Denmark
ABSTRACT
In 36 samples of hay the concentration oflive, active mites ranged from 64 to 1,234,119 specimens per kg
hay. Nineteen mite species were identified but ílve species only, acounting for 96.7% of the specimens, form
a genuine hay mite community. They are: Tarsonemus sp. (undescribed), Lepidoglyphus destructor, Acarusfarris,
Tydeus interruptus, and Cheyletus eruditus. The species L. destructor and A.farris are suspected to be among the
main organisms causing chronic respiratory diseases of Icelandic farmers handling stored hay.
INTRODUCTION
Thehandling ofstored hay in Iceland may
in some cases result in severe discomfort
for the farmers. This is believed to be due
to the dust in the hay causing chronic
respiratory diseases, probably of allergic
nature. Cuthbert et al. (1980) showed
that asthma and allergic rhinitis in Or-
cadian (Orkney) farmers were asssociated
with the large number of mites in stored
hay. This might be the case in Iceland too,
MATERIAL AND METHODS
36 samples of hay, 22—112 g, were treated
in a battery of Berlese funnels at the Uni-
versity of Iceland, Institute for Experi-
mental Pathology, Keldur, Reykjavík.
Mites and insects driven out by this pro-
cess were cleared and coloured in lactic
acid with Lignin pink and subsequently
but before attempting allergy testing, de-
sensibilization and/or avoidance measur-
es, it was necessary to consider — for the
first time— the quantitative composition
of mites in Icelandic hay. To this end the
author made a preliminary investigation
based on samples of stored hay collected
in Iceland during a visit there in May
5—26, 1981.
counted. The concentration of the single
mite species was determined from these
counts and the proportion of species
identified in a small portion of each
sample. Identifications took place at X
100 or more by means of a phase contrast
microscope.