Mites (Arachnida: Acari) occurring in food and condiments from household pantries in Panama

Domestic mites are tiny arthropods measuring between 150 and 500 micrometers, common in warm and humid environments that favour their development. Although they are mostly invisible to the naked eye, their presence can affect human health by causing allergic reactions through contact, inhalation or ingestion. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and diversity of mites in food and condiments in pantries from provinces of Panama and Panama Oeste during 2022-2023. A total of 566 samples (294 of food and 272 of condiments) from 330 pantries were examined, with a total of 8521 mites collected (5302 from food and 3219 from condiments). We found that the mites in our samples belonged to 8 families, 8 genera and 9 morphospecies. The mite Suidasia pontifica was the most abundant species in both food and condiments. Species richness per sample was low, with dominance and diversity indices indicating almost complete dominance of a single species per sample. Contaminated foods were categorized into six groups: oats, wheat, corn, pancake mix, cornstarch, and others. Oats, wheat flour, and cornmeal were the most contaminated by mites; however, statistical tests showed no significant differences between the groups. In condiments, five groups were categorized according to the part of the plant used in their preparation: fruits and flowers, leaves, bark, roots, and condiment mixtures. Statistical tests showed no significant differences between the groups. Mite density in some foods and condiments reached very high levels: oats contained 7014 mites per gram, and paprika, 10500 mites per gram of sample. These high concentrations of mites can cause cases of OMA (oral anaphylaxis due to mites) or other allergic reactions in consumers.