Abstract
RATIONALE: No studies exist about whether or not house dust mites survive the conditions of decreased temperature and barometric pressure present in the luggage compartments of commercial jet airplanes.METHODS: The author brings D. pteronysssinus mite cultures to the annual AAAAI meeting every March as part of a commercial display. Travel to five of the last six meetings has been by commercial jet. To maximize their chance of surviving the trip, the mite cultures were brought to each meeting as a carry-on item in a temperature insulated bag. Out of scientific curiosity, however, they were returned from the meetings in checked luggage. The temperature and pressure in the luggage compartments in commercial airliners is higher than that of the outside air, but less than that of the passenger cabin. Flights were from San Diego, New Orleans, Denver, San Francisco, and San Antonio, respectively, all arriving in New York City. Mite cultures were examined microscopically immediately after the return trip.RESULTS: In every case live mites too numerous to count were seen on microscopic examination of the culture dishes following air travel.CONCLUSIONS: D. pteronyssinus mites survive travel in the luggage compartment of commercial jetliners.[Additional observation: At no time after 9/11 or the subsequent anthrax scares did TSA inspectors question the author about the contents of the Petri dishes being carried on board the outgoing flights.] RATIONALE: No studies exist about whether or not house dust mites survive the conditions of decreased temperature and barometric pressure present in the luggage compartments of commercial jet airplanes. METHODS: The author brings D. pteronysssinus mite cultures to the annual AAAAI meeting every March as part of a commercial display. Travel to five of the last six meetings has been by commercial jet. To maximize their chance of surviving the trip, the mite cultures were brought to each meeting as a carry-on item in a temperature insulated bag. Out of scientific curiosity, however, they were returned from the meetings in checked luggage. The temperature and pressure in the luggage compartments in commercial airliners is higher than that of the outside air, but less than that of the passenger cabin. Flights were from San Diego, New Orleans, Denver, San Francisco, and San Antonio, respectively, all arriving in New York City. Mite cultures were examined microscopically immediately after the return trip. RESULTS: In every case live mites too numerous to count were seen on microscopic examination of the culture dishes following air travel. CONCLUSIONS: D. pteronyssinus mites survive travel in the luggage compartment of commercial jetliners. [Additional observation: At no time after 9/11 or the subsequent anthrax scares did TSA inspectors question the author about the contents of the Petri dishes being carried on board the outgoing flights.]
Published Version
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