Agricultural Acarology

PLPT 615
Mites of Medical and Veterinary importance
Mites of Medical and Veterinary importance
• There are an estimated 0.5–1 million mite species on earth.
Among the many mites that are known to affect humans and animals, these can
cause significant diseases.
Sarcoptes scabiei L. (Astigmatina: Sarcoptidae)
• Sarcoptes scabiei cause Scabies in human, domesticated and wild animals
• Scabies is a skin infestation caused by the obligate parasitic mite Sarcoptes scabiei.
• This mite burrows into the upper layers of the skin of a wide range of mammalian hosts, including
humans, feeding on epidermal cells and serum (reviewed in Holt et al., 2013).
• Scabies affects both humans and animals, with different host-specific varieties (pathovars) of S.
scabiei (Bornstein and Samuel, 2001),
• Such as S. scabiei var. hominis from humans, S. scabiei var. canis from dogs and S. scabiei var. suis
from pigs.
• Recent molecular epidemiology and phylogenetic studies (Alasaad et al., 2013) (also reviewed in
Holt and Fischer, 2013; Alasaad et al., 2014) clearly showed host-specific mite populations.
• Importantly, no evidence of cross-transmission was identified between sympatric mite populations
obtained from humans and dogs living in proximity (Walton et al., 1999, 2004b).
• Occasional infestations of humans with S. scabiei of animal origin have been reported but appear to
be short-lived and self-limiting (Menzano et al., 2004; Bazargani et al., 2007).
Mites of Medical and Veterinary importance
Sarcoptes scabiei L, Scabies
 Mites of Medical and Veterinary importance
Sarcoptes scabiei L, Scabies
Disease Prevalence
• Scabies is listed among the top 50 most prevalent diseases worldwide, with a global
prevalence of 100,625,000 in 2010 (1.5% of the world population) (Hay et al., 2014).
• Scabies is one of the three most common skin disorders in children, together with
tinea and pyoderma (Andrews et al., 2009; Vos et al., 2012), and imposes a
considerable economic burden on individuals, families, communities and health
systems (Fuller, 2013; Heukelbach et al., 2013).
• Owusu-Edusei et al. (2009) estimated the annual economic burden for scabies
management as US $10.4 million (OwusuEdusei et al., 2009).
• Recently the World Health Organization added scabies to the list of ‘‘Neglected
Tropical Diseases’’, thereby recognising its impact on human health.
• The International Alliance for the Control of Scabies, a newly formed organisation,
proposes to accomplish scabies control in vulnerable communities (Engelman et al.,
2013).
Mites of Medical and Veterinary importance
Sarcoptes scabiei L, Scabies
Biology & Life Cycle, Symptoms
• The life cycle of S. scabiei has four parasitic stages (egg, larva, nymph and adult) and takes
approximately 2 weeks.
• The adult female mite burrows into the stratum corneum (upper layer)and stratum granulosum
(glandular layer) of its host (Levi et al., 2011), where she lays two to three eggs per day.
• Burrowing is achieved using mouth parts, special cutting surfaces on the front legs, and enzymatic
secretions.
• The mite releases allergenic metabolic products into the burrows, from where they diffuse into the
underlying dermis to provoke strong hypersensitive reactions and intense itching.
• As a result, scratching and disruption of the upper epidermal protective matrix ensues, promoting
infection by opportunistic bacteria.
• These can lead to serious health complications. In northern Australian remote Indigenous communities,
very high rates of scabies-associated streptococcal and staphylococcal infections have been
documented (Carapetis et al., 1997; Carapetis and Currie, 1996; Lin et al., 2009; Steer et al., 2009;
Subramaniam et al., 2010).
• Consequently, in populations where scabies is endemic/regulary found, severe sequelae such as acute
rheumatic fever, rheumatic heart disease and acute post streptococcal glomerulonephritis have been
reported (Carapetis et al., 1997; Carapetis and Currie, 1996; and reviewed in Hay et al., 2013).
Mites of Medical and Veterinary importance
Sarcoptes scabiei L, Scabies
• The healthy host immune system is able to limit mite numbers in primary infestations to 10–20 adult
mites, and with subsequent re-infestations mite numbers are reported to drop to less than five.
• Occasionally, the host becomes completely protected (Mellanby, 1944; Rodriguez-Cadenas et al., 2010).
• Crusted scabies, a severe manifestation of the disease, occurs in people with a non-protective immune
response to the mite (Roberts et al., 2005) and is a rare manifestation characterised by hyperinfestation
of the skin with thousands of mites/g of skin, often leading to sepsis and death.
• The mite complement inhibitors have been shown to be present in the mite gut and released with the
mite faeces into the epidermal burrows.
• It is hypothesised that they likely suppress the local host innate immune response in the mite-infested
epidermis and consequently provide favourable conditions for the growth of co-infecting bacteria (Swe
et al., in press).
• In support of this increased growth, Streptococcus pyogenes and Staphylococcus aureus were observed
in whole blood bactericidal assays in the presence of mite complement inhibitors (Mika et al., 2012b;
Swe and Fischer, 2014)
Mites of Medical and Veterinary importance
Sarcoptes scabiei L, Scabies
Diagnosis
Traditional method is usually used to diagnose the occurrence of scabies
To diagnose scabies, your doctor examines your skin, looking for signs of mites, including the
characteristic burrows. When your
doctor locates a mite burrow, he or she may take a scraping from that area of your skin to
examine under a microscope.
• (Scabies is a challenging disease to diagnose due to difficulties in isolation of Sarcoptes mite on
the human host in OS4 and physical signs confounding with other skin diseases. There is no in
vitro propagation system of S. scabiei var. hominis for antigen preparation. Routinely used
diagnostic methods are direct observation of clinical signs including the typical history of
pruritus, presence of inflammatory papules, and visible lesions on the host body. The microscopic
identification of scabies mites or eggs in infected skin scrapings is rarely carried out but shows
less than 50% sensitivity.)
• Clinical diagnosis is often complicated because visible lesions on scabies patients are sometimes
masked by eczema or impetigo or are atypical. Alternative diagnostic options include polymerase
chain reaction (PCR)14 and dermatoscopy,15 both of which have been demonstrated as
informative in patients where mites or mite DNA can be located. This practice is uncommon
worldwide and not easily applied to clinical health settings
 Mites of Medical and Veterinary importance
Sarcoptes scabiei L, Scabies
Diagnosis
• No commercial immunodiagnostic or molecular based tests for human scabies is currently
available.
• Because of the lack of sensitivity in the present diagnostic methods for human scabies, there is a
great need for the development of a reliable serodiagnostic test such as enzymelinked
immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to control scabies at both the individual and community level.
There is no commercially available ELISA for the diagnosis of scabies in humans
• But an ELISA has been developed for detection of mange in animals utilizing whole mite antigen
(WMA) extracts from S. scabiei var. suis. However, the reported specificity and sensitivity of these
tests are variable. (Haas et al., 2005; Wells et al., 2012).
• Now a days, Expressed sequence tag (EST) libraries from S. scabiei var. hominis and var. vulpus
are available, and include homologues of multiple house dust mite (HDM) allergens, opening new
possibilities in scabies research.
• Sarcoptes scabiei recombinant proteins are now being produced that are leading to advances in
understanding the biology of the mite and protective and aberrant immune responses observed
in scabies, and potentially novel therapeutic avenues for patients (Walton, 2010; Zhang et al.,
2012; Gu et al., 2014a; Liu et al., 2014).
 Mites of Medical and Veterinary importance
Sarcoptes scabiei L, Scabies, Management
• There are currently limited commercial treatment options available for the management of scabies, and
none have sufficient ovicidal activity to allow a single treatment, necessitating the need for repeated
treatment to kill newly hatched larvae (Mounsey et al., 2008).
• Use of topical creams called scabicides, which kill the mites and their eggs.
• Present treatments include malathion (0.5%), permethrin (5%), and ivermectin (200 microgram/kg). Clinical
assessment of treatment failure in scabies is problematic, particularly due to frequent re-infestations and
residual symptoms. The intensive use of pyrethroids worldwide has led to the development of resistance in
many arthropods, as demonstrated with head lice (Van Leeuwen et al., 2010). Ivermectin, as the sole oral
therapy, is not approved for children aged < 5 years and pregnant women.
• Tea tree oil, although not currently marketed as an acaricide, shows promise as a topical therapy for scabies
in preliminary in vitro studies (Walton et al., 2004c) and as a combination treatment in vivo for crusted
scabies (Davis et al., 2013).
• Tea tree oil (5%) is miticidal, ovicidal, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, and thus could block progression
to pyoderma and secondary sepsis, as well as reducing skin hypersensitivity. A clinical trial is required to
asses this agent’s efficacy in the patient, especially in children.
• In addition, well-designed randomised control trials of other acaricidal herbal or traditional medicines and
the use of prophylactic measures to prevent the transmission of scabies are greatly needed (FitzGerald et al.,
2014; Strong and Johnstone, 2011).
 Mites of Medical and Veterinary importance
Sarcoptes scabiei L, Scabies, Management

• Another research agenda is the informed design and development of acaricides based on molecular
studies of mite essential proteins.
• Building on the hypothesis that scabies mite intestinal proteases are essential for mite survival, a
number of mite proteases have been a focal point of recent scabies mite molecular research (reviewed
in Holt et al., 2013) with the aim to develop new treatment options.
• One serine protease (Beckham et al., 2009), one aspartic protease (Mahmood et al., 2013) and five
cysteine proteases (Holt et al., 2004) were demonstrated to be present in the mite gut and proposed to
have central roles in the digestion of host proteins, thereby defining them as possibly suitable targets for
drug development.
 Mites of Medical and Veterinary importance
Animal scabies (mange)
• Sarcoptes scabiei causes sarcoptic mange in companion, livestock and wild animals.
• Mange has been reported from 10 orders, 27 families and 104 species of domestic, free-ranging and wild
mammals (Currier et al., 2011).
• There are no accurate estimates of the prevalence of sarcoptic mange in many of the different affected
animal populations globally (Alasaad et al., 2013).
• New outbreaks in wildlife are being continually reported worldwide (Holz et al., 2011).
• Cross-infectivity between animal hosts was first postulated in emerging epizootics in sympatric wild
animal host populations, with increased morbidity and mortality observed with apparent domestic to
wildlife transmission.
• However recent molecular analyses indicate outbreaks are primarily host-associated and mites collected
from sympatric wild animals in Europe clearly show a lack of gene flow between carnivore, herbivore and
omnivore host-derived Sarcoptes populations (Oleaga et al., 2013).
• It now seems apparent that Sarcoptes is not a single panmictic population and genetic subdivision occurs
according to the host with secondary subclustering related to geographical location within host groups,
as reported previously (Walton et al., 2004a; further reviewed in Holt and Fischer, 2013; Alasaad
et al., 2014).
Animal scabies (mange)
Symptoms
Animal scabies (mange)
Diagnosis
• Veterinarians usually attempt diagnosis with skin scrapings from multiple areas, which are then
examined under a microscope for mites.
• Sarcoptes mites, because they may be present in relatively low numbers, and because they are often
removed by dogs chewing at themselves, may be difficult to demonstrate. As a result, diagnosis in
sarcoptic mange is often based on symptoms rather than actual confirmation of the presence of mites.
• (In dogs) a common and simple way of determining if a dog or other animals has mange is if it displays
what is called a "pedal-pinna reflex", which is when the animal moves one of its hind legs in a
scratching motion as the ear is being manipulated and scratched gently by the examiner; because the
mites proliferate on the ear margins in nearly all cases at some point, this method works over 95% of
the time.
• It is helpful in cases where all symptoms of mange are present but no mites are observed with a
microscope. The test is also positive in animals with ear mites, an ear canal infection caused by a
different but closely related mite (treatment is often the same). In some countries, an
available serologic test may be useful in diagnosis.
Animal scabies (mange)
Management
• Affected dogs are sometimes isolated from other dogs and their bedding, and places they have occupied must be thoroughly cleaned.
Other dogs in contact with a diagnosed case should be evaluated and treated. A number of parasitical treatments are useful in treating
canine scabies. Sulfurated lime (a mixture of calcium polysulfides) rinses applied weekly or biweekly are effective (the concentrated form
for use on plants as a fungicide must be diluted 1:16 or 1:32 for use on animal skin).
• Selamectin is licensed for treatment in dogs by veterinary prescription in several countries; it is applied as a dose directly to the skin, once
per month (the drug does not wash off). A related and older drug ivermectin is also effective and can be given by mouth for two to four
weekly treatments or until two negative skin scrapings are achieved. Oral ivermectin is not safe to use on some collie-like herding dogs,
however, due to possible homozygous MDR1 (P-glycoprotein) mutations that increase its toxicity by allowing it into the brain. Ivermectin
injections are also effective and given in either weekly or every two weeks in one to four doses, although the same MDR1 dog restrictions
apply.
• Affected cats can be treated with fipronil and milbemycin oxime (Eldredge 2008)
• Topical 0.01% ivermectin in oil (Acarexx) has been reported to be effective in humans, and all mite infections in many types of animals
(especially in ear mite infections where the animal cannot lick the treated area), and is so poorly absorbed that systemic toxicity is less likely
in these sites. Nevertheless, topical ivermectin has not been well enough tested to be approved for this use in dogs, and is theoretically
much more dangerous in zones where the animal can potentially lick the treated area. Selamectin applied to the skin (topically) has some of
the same theoretical problems in collies and MDR1 dogs as ivermectin, but it has nevertheless been approved for use for all dogs provided
that the animal can be observed for 8 hours after the first monthly treatment. Topical permethrin is also effective in both dogs and humans,
but is toxic to cats.
• Afoxolaner (oral treatment with a chewable tablet containing afoxolaner 2.27% w/w) has been shown to be efficient against both
sarcoptic and demodectic mange in dogs (Beugnet et al ., 2016; Hampel et al., 2018).
• Sarcoptic mange is transmissible to humans who come into prolonged contact with infested animals (Borgman 2006) and is distinguished
from human scabies by its distribution on skin surfaces covered by clothing. For treatment of sarcoptic infection in humans, see scabies. For
demodetic infection in humans, which is not as severe as it is in animals with thicker coats (such as dogs), see Demodex folliculorum.
Animal scabies (mange)
Management
• Animal molecular epidemiology studies and population dynamics will assist in Sarcoptes vaccine
development.
• Transmission of the scabies mite is primarily based on the close proximity of the host.
• In mange-affected high density animal populations, a vaccine would be highly advantageous, but conversely
of limited use for sporadic outbreaks.
• Vaccination is generally most efficacious in tiny populations facing very high infection rates. The increasing
use of barn raised livestock with a high population density, in parallel with the increasing institutional care of
the elderly and very young in human populations, suggest a scabies vaccine may be a necessity in the future.
• The development of animal models of scabies will be useful for continued studies of the immune response
and development of resistance as evidenced in the dog mite/rabbit host (Arlian et al., 1985), porcine mange
(Mounsey et al., 2010a), and rabbit mange models (Casais et al., 2014).
• This will lead to the development of novel immunotherapeutic and immunodiagnostic measures (Tarigan
and Huntley, 2005; Toet et al., in press) as evidenced in the number of vaccination studies against scabies
already completed (reviewed in Liu et al., 2014).
• Mouse studies are currently underway for the development of a scabies DNA vaccine (Gu et al., 2014a).
However, it seems increasingly apparent from recent molecular studies that candidate vaccine and
diagnostic molecules will need to be tested for efficacy against the different host-associated varieties of
mites.
 Scab mites
Psoroptes ovis, Psoroptes cuniculi (Astigmatina; Psoroptidae)

Symptoms and Sign

• Psoroptes mites are parasitic mites that have adapted to feeding on the surface of the skin by abrading the outer layer and
feeding on the resulting serous exudate.
• Sheep scab is one of the most important ectoparasitic diseases of sheep
• Sheep will scratch, rub, nibble and kick at affected areas and large proportions of fleece may be lost.
• The highly contagious (transmissible) disease causes restlessness, scratching, wool-loss, head tossing, bleeding wounds and loss of condition.

• The skin becomes hardened and often develops raw patches that are open to infection from bacteria.

• Loss of condition due to secondary bacterial infection and lack of rest through constant irritation occurs.
• In extreme cases the disease is highly debilitating, causing significant morbidity and mortality associated with epileptiform-like seizures (mental stress)
(van den Broek and Huntley, 2003), (Kirkwood, 1986; van den Broek and Huntley, 2003).

• In advanced cases death may occur

• Sheep scab is often referred to as a winter disease as most cases occur from autumn through to spring, although a number of cases do occur in the
summer months.

(Psoroptes infection is endemic in sheep in different areas of the world (i.e. all areas of the British Isles, with an estimated 7,000 outbreaks in 2004 (Bisdorff et al., 2006) and is also a major welfare
problem in cattle and goats, particularly in continental Europe (Jones et al., 2008; Millar et al., 2011). Sheep scab was eradicated in Australia in the late 1800s after an extensive quarantine and control
effort, having been introduced with the first sheep importations in 1788. It remains a notifiable disease in all jurisdictions in Australia due to the serious implications of reintroduction. )
 Scab mites
Psoroptes ovis, Psoroptes cuniculi (Astigmatina; Psoroptidae)
Symptoms and Sign
• In the early stages of infection, when the mite numbers are low, there might not be any obvious clinical signs. Sheep with
sub-clinical scab can look perfectly normal and can unknowingly be introduced to the flock (Bates, 1997). Psoroptes
ovis mites pierce the epidermis of the skin to feed mainly on lymph. Yellowish pustules develop that rupture, the
exudation forms typical yellowish crusts and the fleece becomes moist and matted. Earlier crusts will darken and come
away from the skin with the remaining wool.
• The intense irritation results in the sheep becoming hypersensitive, ‘nibbling’ characteristically when touched, or even
rolling on the ground in an involuntary paroxysm. The interaction of bacteria and digestive enzymes on the skin surface of
the sheep may be responsible for the excessive inflammatory reactions evident in clinical sheep scab (Hamilton et al.,
2003).
• Sheep with scab show increased incidences of scratching with the hind leg, rubbing or itching their sides and tail on
inanimate objects like a fence or wall, mouthing movements, head turning and pulling on their wool, stretching backwards
and tossing their heads, trying to use ears or horns as an itching tool and chewing affected limbs. The time spent in these
activities eventually interrupts their normal lying and eating behaviour pattern.
• The movement of mites is strongly directed towards areas of high temperature but away from higher light intensity. This
behaviour probably helps the mites maintain their position on a host animal, and helps them locate the skin surface of a
new host when they are displaced into the environment (Pegler and Wall, 2004). The mites can survive off host for 16-18
days, and they are found on areas where infected sheep like to rub against, or in wool casts.
• It has been suggested that P. ovis elicits an early innate cutaneous response in sheep that is then augmented by the
development of an adaptive immune response. The intensity of the response is dependent on the population density of
mites (van den Broek et al., 2004).
Scab mites
Psoroptes ovis, Psoroptes cuniculi (Astigmatina; Psoroptidae)
Life Cycle and Biology
• The mite is specific to sheep but is a major problem in cattle in some areas of the world.
• The mite is just visible to the naked eye; its entire development takes place on the skin
surface, although it can remain viable off host for 16-18 days.
• The female only requires fertilising once before she lays 2-3 eggs per day, which
hatch after 1-2 days, and she lives for about 40 days.
• After hatching, the parasite passes through the larval stages, the nymph stages, then on
to adulthood. During the nymph stages the mite does not feed, which is an important
factor to consider when using injectable endectocides to treat scab.
• The male usually attaches itself to the pubescent female, but copulation does not take
place until the female has moulted to the adult stage. The life cycle is completed in 14 to
17 days in ideal conditions (Lewis, 1997).
Scab mites
Psoroptes ovis, Psoroptes cuniculi (Astigmatina; Psoroptidae)
Symptoms
Scab mites
Psoroptes ovis, Psoroptes cuniculi (Astigmatina; Psoroptidae)
Prevention and Treatment
• Control of sheep scab depends on coordinated plunge dipping or endectocide injection involving all flocks in a geographically defined area
and taking into account the survival of the scab mite off the host, the time taken to kill mites and the persistence of the product used.
Coordinated action between neighbours and effective biosecurity are therefore essential.
• Minimise direct contact with other flocks by paying attention to fence maintenance and double fencing if possible.

• Quarantine and treat for scab in all incoming sheep for at least 3 weeks before mixing with the resident stock.
• Areas of common grazing, where sheep can freely roam from one area to another, can lead to rapid disease spread and considerable
problems in tracing flock origins and ensuring satisfactory treatment. A collaborative approach to controlling sheep scab, particularly in
areas with dense sheep populations, is likely to be more successful than the frequently unsuccessful efforts of individual farms (Sargison et
al., 2006).

• Consider that mites can survive in the environment. Remember that livestock lorries and shearing equipment can also spread scab.
• If sheep scab is confirmed on a holding, a notice may be served requiring the keeper to treat the sheep within a specified period. The
person on whom the notice is served should then either, a) treat the sheep with an approved product, or b) ensure that sheep are
slaughtered. Strict movement restrictions are enforced where scab is confirmed.
• Organophosphate (OP) plunge dips are effective and broad spectrum, no resistance has been reported and a single dip will protect against
re-infestation.
• Endectocides (injectable products) control both internal and external parasites. Injection sites and dose rates may vary depending on the
product so it is crucial to follow the manufacturers instructions carefully. Some provide poor protection against re-infestation.
Knemidokiptic Mange in Pet Birds: Scaly Face and Scaly Leg Disease
Knemidocoptes pilae, K. jamaiscensis, K. mutans (Astigmata: Epidermaptidae)
• These mites invade the feather follicles and epidermis of the
face, cere, and limbs.
• The mites apparently spend their entire life cycle on the host.
• The mites burrow and feed on keratin of the cornified
epithelium and form pouch-like cavities.
• The method of transmission of the mite is not known, but
prolonged contact appears to be necessary. One theory on
transmission of the mite suggests that they can be
transmitted only in the nest to the featherless offspring.
• Another theory suggests that susceptibility is a genetically
linked, immune related condition. Some investigators believe
multiple predisposing factors are necessary for expression of
the disease and that clinical disease may occur later in life,
long after exposure. Cases
Knemidokiptic Mange in Pet Birds
Symptoms
• Early lesions, if recognized, include inflammation of the skin and a fine, white, crusty
coating or film starting at the cere or the angle of the mouth.
• As the disease progresses, lesions may be found on the beak, eyelids, throat, vent, legs
and toes.
• In chronic cases, overgrowth and deformity of the beak are common.
• Horny appendages may grow from facial lesions.
• Lesions of the legs progress by thickening of the skin covering the legs.
• This proliferation of skin may interfere with movement of the hocks and toes.
• In neglected cases, birds may develop gangrene of the leg due to pressure from the leg
band. Feet and toes can become severely altered.
• The definitive diagnosis of scaly face and leg disease can be made by observing clinical
signs and lesions, and by identifying the small round mites in skin scrapings.
• Mites, if present, are easily observable microscopically when a skin scraping is placed in
5-10% potassium hydroxide.
Knemidokiptic Mange in Pet Birds: Scaly Face and Scaly Leg
Disease
Symptoms
Knemidokiptic Mange in Pet Birds: Scaly Face and Scaly Leg Disease
Treatment
• Benzyl benzoate
Apply daily for 4 days, then once 7 days later.
• Dettol
Dilute to 10%. Apply daily for 2 weeks.
• Goodwinol
Apply for several minutes, remove scabs, then apply for 5 treatments every other
day for 3 weeks.
• Ivermectin
Intramuscular injection or oral administration, 200 micro g/Kg of body weight.
Repeat in 10 to 14 days.

Preventive measures……………………………..
Demodicosis, Demodex mites
• Demodex mites are burrowing follicle mites feeding
on sebum which produced by the sebaceous glands
in hair follicles. Approximately 60 Demodex spp.
have been reported in many domestic mammals as
well as in humans.
• (Sebum is a light yellow, oily substance that is secreted by the sebaceous glands that
help keep the skin and hair moisturized. eported in many domestic mammals as well as
in humans) .

Demodex mite on
eyelashes
 Human demodicosis
caused by (Demodex folliculorum, D. brevis)
(Trombidiformes: Demidicidae)
• Humans are colonised by two Demodex spp., D. folliculorum and D. brevis.
• These mites are found primarily in the facial epidermis with the two species differing
marginally in sizes and habitats.
• D. folliculorum mites live in or around hair follicles, feeding on the dead skin cells,
oils, and hormones that build up there. These mites usually live on the face,
including the eyelids and eyelashes.
• Demodex folliculorum is found mainly in the upper segment of the sebaceous duct of
the hair follicle, while D. brevis is mainly found in the sebaceous and Meibomian
glands (Lacey et al., 2011).
• D. folliculorum mites are more common in males than in females, with people aged
20–30 years old the most likely to be affected.
• They are described as negatively phototaxic but details of their life cycle remain
uncertain (Lacey et al., 2011). Currently Demodex mites are primarily identified
microscopically by skin scrapings, however non-invasive dermoscopy will likely
improve diagnosis in the future (Segal et al., 2010).
• Demodex mites can cause substantial cutaneous barrier disruption when feeding and
have been shown to penetrate the dermis (reviewed in Forton, 2012).
• Demodex mites accumulate bacteria in their intestinal systems. As they lack an anus
(Desch and Nutting, 1972, 1977), gut contents including bacteria, digestive enzymes
and faeces are released all at once when a mite dies and decomposes. This process is
thought to trigger an immune reaction, inflammation and tissue damage
Human demodicosis
caused by (Demodex folliculorum, D. brevis)
Symptoms
• When present in low density the mites cause no symptoms.
• However, if they reach high densities Demodex mites may play a role in
promoting rosacea, a common facial skin disease, known to affect between 5%
and 20% of the world’s population (reviewed in Jarmuda et al., 2012).
• The characteristic symptoms of rosacea are erythema (permanent redness) and
telangiectasia (small widened blood vessels visible near the surface of the skin).
In advanced rosacea red papules and pustules develop.
• While the pathogenesis of rosacea remains unclear and is likely multifactorial, a
recent meta-analysis has shown a statistically significant association between
Demodex infection and rosacea (Zhao et al., 2010).
• Roseceais correlates with a generalised increase in inflammation markers and
has been described as a vascular system disorder (Smith et al., 2007)
 Human demodicosis
Diagnosis
• Since D. folliculorum aren’t visible to the naked eye, you’ll need to see a doctor to get a definitive diagnosis.
• To diagnose these mites, your doctor will scrape a small sample of follicular tissues and oils from your face. A
skin biopsy shown under a microscope can determine the presence of these mites on the face.

Complications
• People who have large amounts of the mites on their face may be diagnosed with demodicosis. Symptoms
of demodicosis include:
• scales around the hair follicles
• red skin
• sensitive skin
• itchy skin
• Your doctor can prescribe a cream that can help get rid of the mites as well as their eggs.
• D. folliculorum can also cause complications with preexisting skin conditions. It may worsen acne outbreaks,
rosacea rashes, and dermatitis patches. Controlling the mites may help the outcome of these types of
inflammatory skin conditions.
 Human demodicosis
How is Demodex folliculorum treated?
• Certain home treatments can help get rid of D. folliculorum while also preventing them from spreading. Gently scrub your eyelashes with a 50 percent
solution of tea tree oil. Then apply tea tree oil to kill any eggs left behind. The tea tree oil should get rid of mites and mite eggs.
• In most cases, you don’t need to do anything about the mites unless they’re causing symptoms.
• Medical treatments
• Medical treatments are used when there is a large number of mites on your face. For D. folliculorum on the eyelashes, a medicated ointment may be
used. This helps trap the mites and prevent them from laying their eggs in other hair follicles.
• Creams, gels, and face washes with the following active ingredients may also help:
• benzyl benzoate
• salicylic acid
• selenium sulfide
• sulfur
• Your doctor may also prescribe:
• crotamiton (Eurax)
• Ivermectin (Stromectol)
• metronidazole (Flagyl)
• permethrin (Nix, Elimite)
Demodectic mange
(Demodex canis, Demodex cati)
• There are multiple host specific Demodex spp. in domestic and companion animals, among them:
D. canis being the most commonly seen in dogs (Ravera et al., 2013),
D. cati and Demodex gatoi in cats (Bernstein et al., in press; Frank et al., 2013),
and Demodex caprae, Demodex ovis and Demodex bovis causing skin nodules in domestic goats, sheep and
cattle, respectively (Scott et al., 2001).
In animals the pathogenic potential of Demodex mites is well documented, as demodectic
mange is a potentially lethal condition (Plant et al., 2011).

• Currently diagnosis requires microscopic analysis of a deep skin scrape, a hair pluck sample or an acetate
tape impression (Pereira et al., 2012), combined with the observation of concurrent clinical signs.
Treatment with macrocyclic lactones is the current therapy (reviewed in Ferrer et al., in press), but non-
compliance with long-term treatment regimes is a challenge, as it is with many other parasitic mite
infestations.
• The fact that Demodex cannot be cultured and no molecular databases exist for this parasite
has been a major limitation to biological investigation.
• An impact of mite burden on the healthy skin microbiota is equally possible in animals as
observed in humans. The skin microbiome of dogs has been recently investigated (Rodrigues
Hoffmann et al., 2014), hence this aspect of democidosis in animals is likely to be assessed in
the near future
Demodex in Dogs
• Symptoms of Demodex in Dogs When demodex first appears, it may just look like a small spot of hair loss,
possibly from rubbing the area.
• However, if you notice any crusting on the skin or the hair loss spreads contact your veterinarian for an
appointment.
• Symptoms of demodex to look for include: Hair loss in patches Rubbing their face or head Redness or
inflammation of the skin Excessive oil on the skin Crusting on the skin Paws that are swelling Types
Demodex has three distinct varieties.
Localized: This type of demodex will affect only a few parts of the body, usually the face. It will appear as just a
small lesion around the face and is commonly seen in puppies. Most cases of localized demodex will resolve
without any treatments as the puppies immune systems mature.
Generalized This type of demodex will affect larger areas of skin or possibly the entire body. Generalized
demodex will many times cause secondary bacterial infections. These bacterial infections will cause intense
itching and a foul odor. It can be very difficult to fully eliminate all the mites.
Demodectic Pododermatitis This type of demodex is located on the feet only. It causes secondary bacterial
infections that are located between the pads and the toes. This type is the most difficult to fully cure.
Read more at: https://wagwalking.com/condition/demodex-
Demodex in Dogs
Diagnosis of Demodex in Dogs Your veterinarian will begin by taking a complete medical history on
your dog.
They will also ask you about any changes in diet or environment
. Then, your veterinarian will complete a full physical examination on your dog, paying close
attention to any bald spots or noticeable lesions.
Your veterinarian will do a complete blood count and will also do a skin scraping of an affected area.
The skin scraping will be placed under a microscope and your veterinarian will look for mites.
Demodex canis mites are fairly easy to spot under the microscope.
If your dog is a mature dog, your veterinarian may also search for the reason the Demodex canis
mites were able to multiply uncontrollably. There is usually an underlying cause that is suppressing
the immune system and sometimes it is extremely difficult to find what that cause is.
Read more at: https://wagwalking.com/condition/demodex-
Demodex in Dogs
Treatment
Once your veterinarian has diagnosed demodex they will begin
treatments to get rid of the overgrowth of mites.
Anti-mite creams can be used as well as anti-inflammatory creams and
corticosteroid creams.
Your veterinarian may also recommend using benzoyl peroxide on larger
areas.
Your veterinarian will probably trim the hair around the affected areas.
This will allow the prescribed creams to work more effectively on the
affected areas.
Some cases of demodex may require the use of anti-parasitic medications.
Your veterinarian will prescribe the medications they feel will work best
on your dog. Antibiotics may also be used in cases where bacterial
infections from the demodex have occurred.
Read more at: https://wagwalking.com/condition/demodex-
Chiggers (Trombiculidae; Leptotrombidium pallidum
and others) (Trombidiformes: Prostigmata)
• Globally, nearly 3,000 species of Trombiculidae, or harvest mites, have been reported.
• They are ubiquitous in hot and humid regions, and in temperate regions they are more prevalent
during summer.
• The most common hosts of their parasitic larvae (chiggers) are small rodents and humans can be
accidental hosts (reviewed in Zhan et al., 2013).
• Six species of the genus Leptotrombidium transmit chigger-borne rickettsiosis or scrub typhus, caused
by the obligate intracellular bacterium Orientia tsutsugamushi.
• The most dominant disease-carrying Leptotrombidium spp. are Leptotrombidium pallidum and
Leptotrombidium scuttellare, which are endemic in Asia, the Pacific region and Australia.
• Accordingly, scrub typhus is highly prevalent in the Asia–Pacific region including Japan, Korea, the
eastern part of Russia, India, Pakistan, the southwestern Pacific islands (Kelly et al., 2009), China (Zhan
et al., 2013) and Australia (Graves and Stenos, 2009).
• Mortality rates of up to 40% have been reported (Tamura et al., 1995), more than one million cases are
recorded annually and more than one billion people are estimated to be at risk (Kim et al., 2014).
• Leptotrombidium mites may serve as vectors for other pathogens affecting humans such as Hantaan
virus (Houck et al., 2001) causing epidemic haemorrhagic fever and Bartonella tamiae, the causative
agent of human bartonellosis (Kabeya et al., 2010).
Chiggers
Chiggers
infest Animals
• Infestation with trombiculid mite larvae is a common cause of dermatitis in domestic animals
with Neotrombicula autumnalis, Euschoengastia latchmani, Straelensia cynotis and Walchia
americana being the most common mite species known to cause trombiculidosis in cats, dogs
and horses (reviewed in Le Net et al., 2002; Ramirez et al., 2009).
• In contrast to other parasitic mites, chiggers appear to have a wide range of hosts and a low
host specificity.
• An extremely high species diversity of chigger mites was reported in Yunnan Province, China.
This was found in an extensive epidemiological study examining the chigger populations of over
10,000 small mammal individual hosts harbouring almost 100,000 chiggers, which were
individually identified microscopically (Zhan et al., 2013).
• The study investigated only larval chigger mites which were identified, based on morphological
features, to represent 224 species, 22 genera and three subfamilies of the family Trombiculidae.
Leptotrombidium scuttellare and Leptotrombidium deliense, both vectors for scrub typhus, were
identified as the dominant mite species. Nevertheless a single species of rodent could harbour
more than 100 morphologically different species of chigger mites. V
Chiggers
Biology and Feeding Habit
For the major part of their life cycle, Trombiculidae are free-living predatory soil dwellers, feeding on
small arthropods and their eggs (Zhan et al., 2013).
Only their obligate parasitic larval stage, the chigger, takes on the vector role for the above-
mentioned bacterial diseases.
Compared with the 1–2 year phase of the free living nymphs and adult mites, the parasitic chigger
stage is relatively short-lived (3–5 days) and non-burrowing.
Chiggers exhibit an extremely efficient mode of concentrated feeding on extra-orally digested
epidermal and/or occasionally dermal tissue (Shatrov et al., 2014).
Chiggers have a special fluid which liquefies flesh enabling the chigger to “suck” it’s meal. During this time,
you would expect to feel an itch where they’re active. Their digestive fluids usually irritate our skin and
creates a red blotch. In a day or two, this area may develop a blister.
This highly nutritive liquid is acquired through a feeding canal, the stylostome, which is formed by
hyperkeratotic host skin cells within the first 24 h of attachment. Only after the tube is built,
presumably through mutual interaction between larval secretions and the epidermal skin cells, does
feeding occur.
At this stage, the epidermal layer at the site of attachment is thickened, hyperkeratinised and
eroded. As scabs are formed on the skin surface, the host’s terminal dermal blood vessels become
increasingly dilated and leukocytes infiltrate the area.
Interestingly, chiggers tend to attach closely to each other and often aggregate on scabs left from
previous larvae (Shatrov et al., 2014). The observed crowding may be a strategy to share the effort of
modifying the host space for efficient and safe feeding
Chiggers
Treatment/ Control
• CHIGGER REPELLENTS
• Since chiggers will readily climb over clothing to get to your flesh, use PERMETHRIN AEROSOL on shoes and
pants.
• Permethrin is odorless, easy to mix and works well at keeping many pests off you when afield.
• Spray clothing in the morning just prior to going afield. Treatments will last 6-8 hours so taking the can with
you might be needed.
Recreational areas, such as lawns, parks, campgrounds, and golf courses, can be
treated with such insecticides as diazinon - sprays, granulars, dusts; carbaryl (Sevin)
- sprays, and malathion - sprays, dusts. Retreatment may be necessary after 2-3
weeks.
Mite dermatitis
(Cheyletiella blakei, Ornythonyssus bacoti, Liponyssoides sanguineus,
Dermanyssus gallinae, and others)
• The term dermatitis, defined as an inflammation of the skin, characterised by itchy, erythematous,
vesicular, weeping and crusting patches, is broadly applied to a range of common, persistent and often
multifactorial skin conditions.
• The cause of dermatitis is presumed to be a combination of genetic and multiple environmental factors,
amongst which the role of house dust mite allergens has been the subject of recent research (reviewed
in Marsella and Samuelson, 2009; Fuiano and Incorvaia, 2012; Garritsen et al., 2013).
• Parasitic mites release proteins homologous to house dust mite allergens, presumably playing a similar
role in dermatitis caused by mite infestations.
Cheyletiella dermatitis
• In humans Cheyletiella dermatitis is typically the result of contact with an infected companion pet.
• In dogs, cats and rabbits the causative mite species are Cheyletiella yasguri, C. blakei and Cheyletiella parasitivorax, respectively.
• The most obvious clinical signs in infested animals are white, dorsal flakes (‘walking dandruff’) and possibly crusts, either
asymptomatic or causing alopecia and pruritus (McClain et al., 2009).
• Importantly, the severity of dermatological problems is disproportionate to the number of mites present. Consequently diagnosis
by microscopy is difficult and treatment is often indicated without direct microscopic evidence (Saevik et al., 2004).
• Skin conditions in humans due to Cheyletiella spp. are reported frequently as these mites are highly contagious to humans.
• However, Cheyletiella mites do not burrow or reproduce on human skin, and they have been described to adopt a ‘bite and run’
behaviour on the human host (Wagner and Stallmeister, 2000).
• Nevertheless, Cheyletiella mite bites on human skin result in pruritic papules, urticarial weals or excoriated erosions in the body
areas that have been in close contact with the infested pet.
• In the absence or upon treatment of the infected pet, symptoms in humans disappear without treatment within 3 weeks (Wagner
and Stallmeister, 2000).
• Cheyletiella mites are non-burrowing and free-living, but are obligate feeders, on the epidermal surface, on skin debris. They may
release allergens, which would explain pruritic symptoms.
• Cheyletiella mite eggs are attached to the hair shaft of the animal host in a characteristic bundle of finely woven egg threads
(Saevik et al., 2004). Females can survive off the host for up to 10 days, and transmission from host
Cheyletiella dermatitis

Human Skin
Tropical Rat Mite Dermatitis (Ornythonyssus bacoti) (Mesostigmata:
Macronyssidae)
• Tropical Rat Mite Dermatitis is caused by the non-burrowing haematophagous mite, O. bacoti.
• This worldwide epizootic animal mite naturally occurrs on rats, mice and other small rodents.
• If their natural host is diminished, O. bacoti mites will feed on humans.
• The first case report of tropical rat mites causing dermatitis in humans came from Australia,
followed by cases in the USA and in Germany (reviewed in Beck and Folster-Holst, 2009).
• It has recently been estimated that approximately 80% of the wild rodents in Germany are
infested by this parasite (Beck and Folster-Holst, 2009).
• Compared with other mites discussed earlier, O. bacoti mites are long-lived and can survive
without a host for up to 6 months.
• They are considered to be ‘‘house infesting’’ rather than infesting individual hosts.
• Public care facilities, particularly after extermination of a house mouse or rat problem, have been
reported to be invaded by these mites.
• In addition, private households with well-kept rodent pets, as well as modern, well maintained
animal research facilities (Kelaher et al., 2005), can function as reservoirs for mite populations.
• It is only the females and nymphs that nocturnally feed on the host. Eggs are laid in nests in the
environment and not on the host. Considering its relatively low host specificity and its
independence from the host for most of its life cycle, this mite species occupies a large range of
possible ecological niches and is therefore difficult to target with control strategies
Tropical Rat Mite Dermatitis (Ornythonyssus
bacoti)
House mouse mite, Liponyssoides sanguineus
(Mesostigmata: Dermanyssidae)
• The primary host of L. sanguineus is the common house mouse and likely other small
rodents, serving as reservoir hosts for the bacterium Rickettsia akari (reviewed in
McClain et al., 2009).
• Only nymphs and adult mites feed for short periods of 1–2 h on blood and can transmit
rickettsial pox to humans as accidental hosts (Krusell et al., 2002; Ozturk et al., 2003).
• Transovarial transmission of the bacterium has been reported by Nichols et al. (1952).
• As for many other non-human parasitic mites, L. sanguineus can be considered ‘‘house
infesting’’ and becomes a problem to humans when a pre-existing mouse population has
been eradicated.
• Liponyssoides sanguineus was first described to form clusters in crowded apartment
buildings in large cities on the east coast of the USA, but is likely distributed sylvatically
worldwide, with rickettsialpox being under-reported (Diaz, 2010).
House mouse mite, Liponyssoides sanguineus
(Mesostigmata: Dermanyssidae)

Rickettsial pox
Poultry mite dermatitis (, Dermanyssus gallinae)
(Dermanyssidae)
• The poultry red mite, D. gallinae, is a ubiquitous and likely widespread haematophagous ectoparasitic
mite of wild, domestic and synanthropic birds (Roy et al., 2009).
• It has a low host specificity and may also feed on mammalian hosts such as dogs (Di Palma et al., 2012),
horses (Mignon and Losson, 2008), rodents and humans (Bellanger et al., 2008),
• In the latter causing dermatological problems of varying severity (Cafiero et al., 2008, 2011).
• In the poultry industry this mite can be the cause of a decline in poultry welfare, manifesting in the form
of anaemia, dermatitis, restlessness and weight loss, and a decrease in egg production (Bellanger et al.,
2008).
• Blood spots on the eggs is another typical indicator for red mite infestation and this can cause a
reduction in the market value of the eggs.
• In addition, staff or owners are often affected by the itching due to transient poultry mite infection.
Eradication is highly challenging due to its short life cycle, its ability to live off the host for a substantial
time with high resistance to starvation and a suspected resistance to acaricides (Beugnet et al., 1997).
• Aside from its economic importance, D. gallinae is of sanitary significance, as it may be involved in the
transmission either as a reservoir and/or a vector of several pathogens responsible for serious disease in
both animals and humans.
• Viruses (equine encephalitis viruses, the fowl pox virus), bacteria responsible for Q fever (Coxiella
burnetii) and Salmonella Enteritidis (Salmonella enterica), have been found to be associated with D.
gallinae (reviewed in Valiente Moro et al., 2007, 2009a). F
Poultry mite dermatitis (, Dermanyssus
gallinae) (Dermanyssidae)
House Dust Mites
Dermatophagoides farinae (American house dust mite)
Dermatophagoides microceras
D. pteronyssinus (European house dust mite)
Euroglyphus maynei (Mayne's house dust mite)
• House dust mites (HDM, or simply dust mites) are mites found in association with dust
in dwelling
• Pyroglyphidae is a family of non-parasitic mites. It includes the house dust mite that live in
human dwellings, many species that live in the burrows and nests of other animals, and some
pests of dried products stored in humid conditions.
• House dust mites, due to their very small size and translucent bodies, are barely visible to the
unaided eye. A typical house dust mite measures 0.2–0.3 mm in length. For accurate
identification, one needs at least 10× magnification. The body of the house dust mite has a
striated cuticle.
• They feed on skin flakes from animals, including humans, and on some mold, fingi.
House Dust Mites
• Distribution
• Dust mites are found worldwide, but are found more commonly in humid regions. The species Blomia
tropicalis is typically found only in tropical or subtropical regions. Detectable dust mite allergen was
found in the beds of about 84% of surveyed United States homes. In Europe, detectable Der p 1 or Der
f 1 allergen was found in 68% of surveyed homes.

Cause Allergy
• The mite's gut contains potent digestive enzymes (notably Peptidase 1) that persist in their
feces and are major inducers of allergic reactions such as wheezing.
• The mite's exoskeleton can also contribute to allergic reactions. Unlike scabies mites or skin
follicle mites, house dust mites do not burrow under the skin and are not parasitic.
• Severe dust mite infestation in the home has been linked to atopic dermatitis and epidermal
barrier damage has been documented.
• House dust mites are associated with allergic rhinitis and asthma, as well as allergic
conjunctivitis.
 Dust Mite Allery Symptoms
• Dust mite allergy symptoms caused by inflammation of nasal passages include:
• Sneezing, Runny nose, Itchy, red or watery eyes, Nasal congestion
• Itchy nose, roof of mouth or throat, Postnasal drip, Cough
• Facial pressure and pain, Swollen, blue-colored skin under your eyes
• In a child, frequent upward rubbing of the nose
• If your dust mite allergy contributes to asthma, you may also experience:
• Difficult in breathing
• Chest tightness or pain
• An audible whistling or wheezing sound when exhaling
• Trouble sleeping caused by shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing
• Bouts of coughing or wheezing that are worsened by a respiratory virus such as a cold or the flu
• A dust mite allergy can range from mild to severe. A mild case of dust mite allergy may cause an occasional runny nose,
watery eyes and sneezing. In severe cases, the condition may be ongoing (chronic), resulting in persistent sneezing, cough,
congestion, facial pressure or severe asthma attack.
House Dust Mites
Control
In most homes, such items as bedding, furniture and carpeting provide an ideal environment for dust mites.
• Use allergen-proof bed covers. Keep your mattress and pillows in dustproof or allergen-blocking covers. ...
• Wash bedding weekly.
• Keep humidity low.
• Choose bedding wisely.
• Buy washable stuffed toys.
• Remove dust. ...
• Vacuum regularly.
• Proper cleaning of living places
• Efforts to remove these mites from the environment have not been found to be effective sometime.
Dust Mite Allergy
• By taking steps to reduce the number of dust mites in your home, you may get control of dust mite allergy.
• Medications or other treatments are sometimes necessary to relieve symptoms and manage asthma.
• Immunotherapy may be useful in those affected.
• Subcutaneous injections have better evidence than under the tongue dosing.
• Topical steroids as nasal spray or inhalation may be used.
House Dust Mites