There are 4 dust mite species in the World Health Organization Allergy database. Dermatophagoides farinae is also known as the American House Dust Mite which has 36 recognised airway allergens.

Dermatophagoides microceras has 1 allergen, a cysteine protease called Der m 1.

The European House Dust Mite, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus has 30 recognised allergens and Euroglyphus maynei another species of house dust mite has just 5.

Cysteine Protease is a protein found in all species of dust mites and may be one of the proteins most patients are allergic to.

Other allergens associated with dust mites are cyclophilin proteins, tropomyosin and chitinase.

Allergy to dust mites is strongly associated with allergic rhinitis as well as asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and atopic dermatitis.

Some species of dust mites contain chitinase, which is linked to Latex Allergy.

The tropomyosin proteins in dust mites are also found in crustaceans and molluscs and are also linked to allergies to other insects like cockroaches, termites and midges.

Cockroaches also contain chitinase proteins which can cause an inhalant reaction. Foods containing chitinase include corn, avocado, banana, pomegranate, coffee and chestnuts.

Cysteine Protease is also found in ragweed pollen. They are also found in foods like kiwi, papaya and potato.

Other plants containing cyclophilin include peanut, birch tree, moulds and fungus (including magic mushrooms) and tomatoes.

These allergen lists are not exhaustive, the most up to date information is on the Cross Reactivity Tool.

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