AIM: To investigate correlation between ocular Demodex infestation and serum immunoreactivity.

METHODS:Demodex counting of 68 inpatients was performed based on eight lashes sampling. Serum immunoreactivity to two 62-kDa and 83-kDa proteins derived from B oleronius was determined by Western blot analysis.

RESULTS: These 68 patients without facialrosacea or blepharitis were age matched(P=0.888)and gender matched(P=0.595)regarding serum immunoreactivity or ocular Demodex infestation. According to the eyelash, creep mite infection was divided into positive and negative groups, age-matched(P=0.590)and sex-matched(P=0.329). There was no significant correlation between serum immunoreactivity and Demodex infestation(P=0.925). There were 27 patients with positive serum immunoreactivity in 38 patients with Demodex infestation(71%), and there were 21 patients in 30 patients without Demodex infestation(70%). There was no significant correlation between serum immunoreactivity and Demodex counting(P=0.758).

CONCLUSION: It is unnecessary to perform serum analysis when Demodex can be found in asymptomatic individuals. But treatment of reducing lashes Demodex infestation is necessary when patient with blepharitis was detected Demodex in eye lashes and positive serum immunoreactivity.