Sarcoptes scabiei (scabies, itch mite, mange mite)

Introduction

Also see scabies

Epidemiology

• transmitted through personal contact
  • skin-to-skin contact
  • sexual contact
• the parasite can live up to 48 hours without a host
• outbreaks occur in nursing homes, mental institutions & hospitals

Pathology

• etiologic agent of scabies
• the parasites burrow serpinginous tunnels through the upper layers of the epidermis leaving behind eggs & excrement

Laboratory

• diagnosis is made by microscopic examination of skin scraping in mineral oil
  • 20% KOH dissolves excretions
• eggs, 6-legged larvae, eight-legged nymphs or adults may be seen
• gravid females measure 0.3-0.4 mm in length
• it may be necessary to scrape several lesions to find a live mite

More general terms

• Sarcoptes (sarcoptosis)

Additional terms

• scabies