Population Growth of the Mite Tyrophagus putrescentiae on Cheeses and Other Dairy Products

Abstract

Tyrophagus putrescentiae is a mite that is most commonly found in stored food, like different cheese products. This mite infests high-value dried foods that results in serious economic impact. Human health problems are known from handling, ingestion, or inhaling contaminated materials, and infested foods can cause diarrhea, enteritis, and allergic reactions for some people. Many commercial aged dry cheese susceptible to a infestation by this mite. What type of cheese would make it most vulnerable to infestations? Cubed cheese did not improve the susceptibility, for cheese to grow, and there are some cheese that have a high moisture content, that it prevents the initial adults from being able to survive on a cheese type. Humidity levels can inhibit the life cycles of T. putrescentiae, if outside the ideal range adults will stop producing viable eggs. Shredded cheese was proven to not be habitable for mites to grow, even with the increase in surface area present on the cheese. Determining the appropriate conditions that T. putrescentiae can help determine futures ways to protect the food products that are more susceptible to this mite and show what are characteristics about products that deter mites from a product, which may be able to be incorporated into susceptible products to lower the incidence of infestations in susceptible products, with stored food products.