author(s)
Greta JP Wahongan, Dantje T Sembel, Max Tulung and Tri Baskoro T Satoto

abstract
House dust mites (HDM) are the main source of allergens in house dust. The purpose of this study was to determine the type and density of HDM among different habitats in houses in North Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. The present study was an observational analysis, conducted by sampling house dust in some habitats in houses. Microscopic examination conducted on the mites that have been isolated and preserved with Hoyers medium. The density of HDM was calculated and then analyzed. The results showed the presence of various types of mites, like Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farinae, Blomia tropicalis, Austroglycyphagus, Tyrophagus sp, Suidasia sp et cetera. Data analysis showed that there was no significant difference on the average density of HDMs and the total mites between foam mattress and spring bed mattress (p>0.05), but there were significant differences on the average density of HDMs between spring bed mattress and floor tiles (P<0.05)