Termites and asthma: is there a connection?

Termites (order Isoptera; phylum Arthropoda) are highly social insects with a worldwide distribution. They are detritus feeders, and commonly consume dead wood in plants and trees. They can digest ligno-cellulose with the help of a combination of digestive enzymes produced by their intestinal epithelia and symbiotic gut microbiota.A relationship between exposure to household arthropods and the development of asthma has been described (1), but little literature has focused on links between termites and asthma. The aim of this cor-respondence is to outline the potential link between these insects and this inflammatory condition.