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Sarcoptes scabiei

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Sections available in full article	Distribution, Significance, Active Forms, Active Form 1, Resting forms, Resting Form 1, Clinical Effects, Epidemiology, Pathological effects, Other Host Effects, Control, Diagnosis, Useful samples, Specimen storage, Transport of samples, Field diagnosis, Laboratory diagnosis, Sources, Publications,
Contributors	Dr Karen Campbell DVM MS DipACVIM DipACVD
Synonyms	Sarcoptes scabiei var. canis, S. scabiei

Induces marked pruritus → severe itching and scratching → exudation, keratinization, connective tissue proliferation, thickening of skin with alopecia.
Zoonosis. Will transfer to humans in close contact with infected dogs and will induce lesions (usually mild) usually on the body and arms (lesion distribution is different from human strain of S. scabiei). The lesions resolve spontaneously about 1-2 weeks after contact with the dog ceases as the mites of the dog strain will feed and lay eggs but will not reproduce on man.
Thought to be a number of host-adapted strains in a single S. scabieispecies.

Bornstein S, Thebo P & Zakrisson G (1996) Evaluation of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the serological diagnosis of canine sarcoptic mange. Vet Derm 7 , 21-28 (ELISA test for dogs).
Burgess I (1994) Sarcoptes scabiei and scabies. Advances in Parasitology 33 , 273-292 (Review covering primarily human infection but relevant to any species).
Mellanby K (1994) The development of symptoms, parasitic infection and immunity in human scabies. Parasitology 35 , 197-206 (Was and remains the classical description of the development of infection and disease in any host).