Co-Prevalence of Poultry, Rodent and House Dust Mites in Nigerian Poultry Confinements and Its Possible Association with Respiratory Health Hazards

Abstract

The study was aimed at assessing the prevalence of mites in poultry dust and its possible contribution to respiratory diseases among the Nigerian poultry workers. Settled dusts from 20 poultry confinements were analysed for the presence of mites. Questionnaire was administered to assess the symptoms of respiratory ill-health and socio-demographic profiles of poultry workers. Mites were recovered from of all the poultry twenty dust samples. The species of mites isolated were poultry mite Dermanyssus gallinae, house dust mite Dermatophagoides evansi and rodent mite Ornithosonysus bacoti. Significantly higher frequencies (p<0.001) for symptoms of bronchitis/hyperactive airways (cough, sputum, shortness of breath, tightness in chest, wheezing) and symptoms of mucous membrane irritation (running nose, scratchy throat burning/watering eyes), were reported by poultry workers than control populace. Employers in the poultry industry have to undertake a careful health surveillance of their employees.

Key words: Dust mites, poultry, respiratory health