Seasonal population of Acarus siro mites and effects of their faeces on allergenic immunological disorder modulated by garlic in albino rat.

BACKGROUND Mites are the main factor involved in respiratory disorder. Acarus siro is the most allergenic species of mite detected in the samples collected from flour mills. OBJECTIVE This work aimed to ameliorate the A. siro faeces allergenic disorder by garlic extract. METHODS Albino experimental rats were classified into three groups (native, inhaled and treated). Mites extract, ELISA and leukocytes differential counts techniques were used. RESULTS The data obtained showed that the highest densities of A. siro in the samples collected from flour mills in El-Minia governorate during the period of February 2009 to January 2010 were recorded during the spring and autumn seasons. In addition, significantly higher serum levels of INF-γ and IgE were found in rats treated with faeces than the other groups, especially the garlic-treated group. In contrast, IL-4 was lower in faeces-treated rats than the others; however, the native group had the highest level of IL-4. The leukocytes differential count showed that eosinophil and basophil percentages in faeces-inhaled group are higher than both the native group and the garlic-treated group. Statistical analysis of data showed significant difference between garlic-treated group and either control or faeces-treated group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The population of A. siro mites peaked in spring and autumn. The immunological disorder caused by repeated exposure to A. siro faeces might be modulated by garlic.