Effect of different diets on Tyrophagus putrescentiae population and amelioration of their immunological disorder by garlic.

BACKGROUND The storage mite, Tyrophagus putrescentiae, detected in the samples collected from stored products and house dust, is one of the major causes of allergic disorders. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to ameliorate the T. putrescentiae faeces allergic immunological disorder by garlic. METHODS Albino experimental rats were classified into control, inhaled and treated groups. Mass rearing of T. putrescentiae on different diets, and ELISA of some cytokines and IgE techniques were used. RESULTS The results obtained showed the highest population of T. putrescentiae reared in four from thirteen tested diets. 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 control group had the highest level of IL-4. Statistical analysis of data showed a significant difference between the garlic-treated group and either control or faeces-treated groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The population of T. putrescentiae mites peaked in four from thirteen tested diets. The immunological disorder caused by repeated exposure to T. putrescentiae faeces might be modulated by garlic.