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Sarcoptes scabiei (scabies, itch mite, mange mite)
Also see scabies
Epidemiology:
1) transmitted through personal contact
a) skin-to-skin contact
b) sexual contact
2) the parasite can live up to 48 hours without a host
3) outbreaks occur in nursing homes, mental institutions & hospitals
Pathology:
1) etiologic agent of scabies
2) the parasites burrow serpinginous tunnels through the upper layers of the epidermis leaving behind eggs & excrement
Laboratory:
1) diagnosis is made by microscopic examination of skin scraping in mineral oil
- 20% KOH dissolves excretions
2) eggs, 6-legged larvae, eight-legged nymphs or adults may be seen
3) gravid females measure 0.3-0.4 mm in length
4) it may be necessary to scrape several lesions to find a live mite [3]
Related
scabies
General
Sarcoptes (sarcoptosis)
Properties
KINGDOM: animal
PHYLUM: arthropod
ORGANISM-CLASS: arachnid
References
- Clinical Diagnosis & Management by Laboratory Methods,
19th edition, J.B. Henry (ed), W.B. Saunders Co.,
Philadelphia, PA. 1996, pg 1305
- Geriatric Review Syllabus, 8th edition (GRS8)
Durso SC and Sullivan GN (eds)
American Geriatrics Society, 2013
- Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 14, 15, 16.
American College of Physicians, Philadelphia 2006, 2009, 2012
- Scabies (image of mite)
American Academy of Dermatology
https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/contagious-skin-diseases/scabies
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (image of mite)
Parasites - Scabies
http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/scabies/