Sarcoptes scabiei

Infection risk is assumed to increase with social group size, and thus be a cost of group living. We assess infection risk and costs with respect to group size using data from an epidemic of sarcoptic mange (Sarcoptes scabiei) among grey wolves (Canis lupus). We demonstrate that group size does not predict infection risk and that individual costs of infection, in terms of reduced survival, can be entirely offset by having sufficient numbers of pack-mates. Infected individuals experience increased mortality hazards with increasing proportions of infected pack-mates, but healthy individuals remain unaffected. The social support of group hunting and territory defence are two possible mechanisms mediating infection costs. This is likely a common phenomenon among other social species and chronic infections, but difficult to detect in systems where infection status cannot be measured continuously over time.

Scabies, a mite infestation frequently sexually transmitted, dates back to antiquity but remains a challenging parasite for study in clinical practice and community settings. Its history is one of centuries of slow progress to recognize the mite and to finally establish its nexus to the clinical syndrome of pruritis with several protean manifestations and different epidemiological patterns. Contemporary methods of management are briefly reviewed, with the future promise of improved evolutionary knowledge associated with the advent of molecular and genetic technology. Current information indicates that humans and earlier protohumans were most likely the source of animal scabies, first of dogs, and later of other species with subsequent spread to wildlife. Morphologically identical variants of Sarcoptes scabiei are nonetheless host specific, as determined by recent DNA studies, and invite future investigations into the dynamics of this troublesome sexually transmissible agent, with the goal of improved recognition and control.

This study was aimed to evaluate the efficacy of crude aqueous-methanol and aqueous extracts of neem (Azadirachta indica) seed kernel against sarcoptic mange of sheep. Crude aqueous-methanol (AME) and aqueous extracts (AE) of neem seed kernel (NSK) were prepared and formulated as 10% and 20% ointments (w/w), using Vaseline as vehicle. Forty-two lambs of Pak Karakul breed, having natural infection of sarcoptic mange were divided into seven experimental groups. Skin scrapings and clinical examination were carried out at scheduled intervals after treatment. Ivermectin (positive control) completely cleared infesting mites from animals after 10 days and 20% AME after 16 days. While, clinical mange was completely cured after 16 and 20 days with ivermectin and 20% AME, respectively, under field conditions. Only the higher concentration (20% AME) of NSK extracts completely cured the clinical mange, suggesting a dose-dependent response. Our results consolidate the belief that use of folk remedies can provide an effective and economic way of combating sarcoptic mange in sheep.

Four new cases of sarcoptic mange in cats are described. Two cats resided in areas known to be frequented by foxes, another cohabited with a dog recently diagnosed with sarcoptic mange, while the final cat lived with a mixed breed dog that had been treated for sarcoptic mange 7 months previously. Three cases were diagnosed on the basis of characteristic mite size and morphology in skin scraping from representative lesions, situated on the head (two cases) or head and distal hind limbs (one case). Mites were highly mobile and abundant in all instances, and easily detected also in skin biopsy specimens procured from two cases. Eosinophilic inflammation, hyperkeratosis and parakeratosis were prominent in the tissue sections. In the remaining case, the diagnosis was presumptive, based on characteristic lesions, cohabitation with a canine scabies patient and positive response to scabicide therapy. Pruritus was not a prominent clinical feature in any patient and was considered to be absent in three of the four cases. Lesions in three cats with long-standing disease were reminiscent of crusted scabies (synonym: Norwegian scabies, parakeratotic scabies) as seen in human patients. In three cases, in-contact human carriers developed itchy cutaneous papular lesions. Two cases responded promptly to therapy with systemic avermectin drugs, while one responded to topical treatment with lime sulphur and the remaining cat received both a lime sulphur rinse and ivermectin. Sarcoptic mange should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cats with non-pruritic crusting skin diseases, especially when there is contact with foxes or dogs, and when owners have itchy papular lesions.

The transmission of scabies occurs with the burrowing of Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis mites into the skin. Infestation invariably leads to the development of localized cutaneous inflammation, pruritis and skin lesions. Classical transmission studies document an initial increase in S. scabiei numbers subsequent to primary infestation with a gradual reduction as host immunity develops. However, certain individuals fail to control infection and develop severe crusting of the skin, accompanied with extremely high mite burdens, elevated antibody levels and eosinophilia. These individuals have the nonhealing form of the human disease known as crusted scabies. The genetic predisposition for susceptibility or resistance to S. scabiei infection in humans is hypothesized to correlate with the dominance of an IgE-driven Th2 response in severe disease or an interferon-c-dominated Th1 response that promotes parasite control. However, recent data reveals complexities in cytokine regulation in the skin and the mechanisms of acquired resistance and immune escape. In this review, we consider the recent immunological and biomolecular advances in understanding the human host immune response to S. scabiei infestations in the context of earlier studies and attempt to reconcile apparent differences and emphasize those aspects of the Th1 ⁄ Th2 model that are supported or refined.

Four new cases of sarcoptic mange in cats are described. Two cats resided in areas known to be frequented by foxes, another cohabited with a dog recently diagnosed with sarcoptic mange, while the final cat lived with a mixed breed dog that had been treated for sarcoptic mange 7 months previously. Three cases were diagnosed on the basis of characteristic mite size and morphology in skin scraping from representative lesions, situated on the head (two cases) or head and distal hind limbs (one case). Mites were highly mobile and abundant in all instances, and easily detected also in skin biopsy specimens procured from two cases. Eosinophilic inflammation, hyperkeratosis and parakeratosis were prominent in the tissue sections. In the remaining case, the diagnosis was presumptive, based on characteristic lesions, cohabitation with a canine scabies patient and positive response to scabicide therapy. Pruritus was not a prominent clinical feature in any patient and was considered to be absent in three of the four cases. Lesions in three cats with long-standing disease were reminiscent of crusted scabies (synonym: Norwegian scabies, parakeratotic scabies) as seen in human patients. In three cases, in-contact human carriers developed itchy cutaneous papular lesions. Two cases responded promptly to therapy with systemic avermectin drugs, while one responded to topical treatment with lime sulphur and the remaining cat received both a lime sulphur rinse and ivermectin. Sarcoptic mange should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cats with non-pruritic crusting skin diseases, especially when there is contact with foxes or dogs, and when owners have itchy papular lesions.

Professor Jorge Alvar and his colleagues from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III in Madrid, Spain, open this volume with a comprehensive review of canine leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania infantum. In addition to its importance to owners of pet dogs and those used for hunting, this infection is of great significance in human medicine as the main reservoir of human visceral leishmaniasis caused by L. infantum. The authors describe fully the recent application of molecular techniques to study of the canine infection, which have improved its diagnosis and added to current knowledge of its epidemiology and pathogenesis. These advances in turn have led to improved methods of controlling infection in dogs, including the use of insecticide-impregnated collars to reduce the prevalence of sand fly bites, and so diminish the reservoir of human infection.

The guideline has been prepared by the Japanese Dermatological Association to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment of scabies, as oral therapy became available on August 2006 under health insurance and its clinical use was expected to increase. For making a proper diagnosis, the following three points should be taken into consideration: (i) clinical symptoms; (ii) detection of the mite (Sarcoptes scabiei); and (iii) epidemiological symptoms. The diagnosis is confirmed if the mites or eggs are identified by microscopy or dermoscopy and so forth. Topical sulfur preparations, with only limited usefulness, are the only available topical drugs approved by health insurance coverage for treating scabies. Currently, crotamiton, benzyl benzoate and gamma-benzene hexachloride are also used clinically. It is important to apply these to the whole-body, including hands, fingers and genitals. The dose for ivermectin is a single administration p.o. of approximately 200 microg/kg bodyweight with water before a meal. Administration of a second dose is considered, if new specific lesions develop or the mites are detected. For treating crusted scabies, concomitant administration of oral ivermectin and the topical preparation is necessary. Some safe and useful topical drug preparations are needed to be approved by health insurance.

Milbemycin oxime tablets were evaluated for efficacy against sarcoptic mange mites in naturally infested dogs. Sixty-five dogs were allocated
to two groups and were housed individually. Fifty of the dogs were treated orally with milbemycin oxime at the proposed dose. The other
fifteen were treated orally with vehicle. Study day 0 was defined as the first day of treatment administration. Dogs were treated on days 0, 7
and 14, and efficacy was assessed by counting viable mites recovered from skin scrapings. To enumerate Sarcoptes scabiei mites, skin scrapings were taken on each of Days-1, 14, 28, 42 and 56. Clinical signs of mange and the extent of sarcoptic lesions were evaluated on each dog when scrapings were made. Evaluation of the efficacy of the treatment was based on the absence of mites supported by the absence of clinical signs associated with canine sarcoptic mange. Treatment with milbemycin oxime at weekly intervals resulted in a rapid reduction of mites and improved clinical signs. Percentage reductions in geometric mean mite counts for milbemycin oxime, compared with vehicle, on days 14, 28, 42, and 56 were 90, 96, 100, and 100%, respectively. The overall cure rates at Day 56, based on zero mite counts and resolution of clinical signs were 100% of dogs. Weekly treatment with maximum dose (2.0g/kg) rate of milbemycin oxime for continually three weeks, was effective against naturally acquired infestations of sarcoptes scabiei in dogs, reducing mites counts by 100%.

Background: Scabies is a disease of worldwide significance, causing considerable morbidity in both humans and other animals. The scabies mite Sarcoptes scabiei burrows into the skin of its host, obtaining nutrition from host skin and blood. Aspartic proteases mediate a range of diverse and essential physiological functions such as tissue invasion and migration, digestion, moulting and reproduction in a number of parasitic organisms. We investigated whether aspartic proteases may play role in scabies mite digestive processes.

Forty-eight dairy ewes and 45 lambs naturally infested with sarcoptic mange, were divided into three equal groups and treated with moxidectin 1% inj. sol. at a dose rate of 0.2 mg moxidectin kg −1 bodyweight once or twice ten days apart. During the study, the skin lesions were scored and the number of mites recovered in facial skin scrapings from the animals were recorded. Moxidectin was found to be effective against ovine sarcoptic mange, when given twice; the percentage reduction of mites was 100% (p < 0.0001) and the skin lesions disappeared completely (p = 0.0001). In sheep treated once only, the percentage reduction of mites varied from 75% to 92%. Treated ewes produced up to 22.4% more milk than the infested ones (p = 0.0001). Treated lambs had up to 15% greater final weight and up to 23.7% more growth than infested controls (p = 0.0001). It is concluded that two injections of moxidectin 1% inj. sol. at a dose rate of 0.2 mg kg −1 bodyweight, given ten days apart, were effective against ovine sarcoptic mange. Furthermore, it is considered that sarcoptic mange adversely affects the production of the infested animals.

Scabies remains a significant public health problem worldwide. Research into aspects of Sarcoptes scabiei biology and host-parasite interactions has been impeded by an inability to maintain mites in vitro and by limited access to parasite material and infected subjects. The generation of comprehensive expressed sequence tag libraries has enabled the initial characterisation of molecules of interest to diagnostics, vaccines, and drug resistance. The recent development and utilisation of animal models, combined with next-generation technologies, is anticipated to lead to new strategies to prevent, diagnose, and treat scabies, ultimately improving skin health in both human and veterinary settings. This article will summarise recent molecular and immunologic advances on scabies, and will address priorities for the exciting &#39;next chapter&#39; of scabies research.

The authors report 10 cases of localised sarcoptic mange in dogs. In each case, lesions were localised to one precise area of the skin. Pruritus was present in nine cases and absent in one. Affected areas were the feet (one case), the face and/or the pinnae (six cases), the abdominal skin (one case), the flank (one case) and the lumbar area (one case). The types of lesions were erythema, papules, lichenification, scales, crusts and alopecia. Parasites were found in all cases except one, in which anti-immunoglobulin G Sarcoptes serology was positive. The acaricidal treatments given were lindane, ivermectin or selamectin and were all successful.

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Sarcoptes mite from collection to DNA extraction forms the cornerstone for studies on Sarcoptes scabiei. Whilst the new science era took a shy leap into the different facets of mite studies, the cornerstone was almost entirely neglected. Mite collection, cleaning, storage and DNA extraction were, basically, humble attempts to extrapolate, adapt, modify or 'pirate' those existing methods to the peculiarities of Sarcoptes research. These aspects usually constituted few lines, bashfully mentioned, in the materials and methods section of some papers, which arose in unique problems concerning cost-effectiveness, time profitability, safety and even worse, the credibility of the results, creating contradictory conclusions in some cases. This 'noisy' situation encouraged us to collect, classify and review, for the first time to our knowledge, some aspects relating to studies on Sarcoptes mite from collection to DNA extraction, which will be useful for further studies on Sarcoptes, and have implications for the effective control of the diseases Sarcoptes mite causes. Further studies are needed, especially to compare the profitability, safety, sensibility and specificity of the different methods of this neglected realm of the ubiquitous ectoparasite.

The transmission of scabies occurs with the burrowing of Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis mites into the skin. Infestation invariably leads to the development of localized cutaneous inflammation, pruritis and skin lesions. Classical transmission studies document an initial increase in S. scabiei numbers subsequent to primary infestation with a gradual reduction as host immunity develops. However, certain individuals fail to control infection and develop severe crusting of the skin, accompanied with extremely high mite burdens, elevated antibody levels and eosinophilia. These individuals have the nonhealing form of the human disease known as crusted scabies. The genetic predisposition for susceptibility or resistance to S. scabiei infection in humans is hypothesized to correlate with the dominance of an IgE-driven Th2 response in severe disease or an interferon-γ-dominated Th1 response that promotes parasite control. However, recent data reveals complexities in cytokine regulation in the skin and the mechanisms of acquired resistance and immune escape. In this review, we consider the recent immunological and biomolecular advances in understanding the human host immune response to S. scabiei infestations in the context of earlier studies and attempt to reconcile apparent differences and emphasize those aspects of the Th1/Th2 model that are supported or refined.

Background: In Zambia, translocation of wildlife from National Parks to private owned game ranches demands that only animals free of infectious diseases that could adversely affect the expansion of the wildlife industry should be translocated to game ranches. Sarcoptes mange (Sarcoptes scarbiei) has been involved in the reduction of wildlife populations in some species.

Resistance of Sarcoptes scabiei to various topical therapies has been described, but clinical assessment of treatment failure is problematic and in-vitro assays are generally not available. We describe a simple in-vitro analysis used to evaluate the relative efficacy of a range of topical, oral, and herbal treatments available in Australia for the treatment of scabies. S. scabiei var. hominis mites were collected from skin scrapings obtained from 7 crusted scabies patients over a period of 2 years (1997 and 1998). Larvae, nymphal instars, and adult mites were tested within 3 h of collection and continuously exposed to selected commercially available treatment products until death, with the elapsed time recorded. Neem was the only product to show little acaricidal activity. Survival curves indicated that, of the other agents, 5% permethrin (Lyclear) had the slowest killing time, with 35% of mites still alive after 3 h, and 4% still alive after 18-22 h of constant exposure. In contras...

Professor Jorge Alvar and his colleagues from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III in Madrid, Spain, open this volume with a comprehensive review of canine leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania infantum. In addition to its importance to owners of pet dogs and those used for hunting, this infection is of great significance in human medicine as the main reservoir of human visceral leishmaniasis caused by L. infantum. The authors describe fully the recent application of molecular techniques to study of the canine infection, which have improved its diagnosis and added to current knowledge of its epidemiology and pathogenesis. These advances in turn have led to improved methods of controlling infection in dogs, including the use of insecticide-impregnated collars to reduce the prevalence of sand fly bites, and so diminish the reservoir of human infection.

We have identified and partially sequenced 8 ABC transporters from an EST dataset of Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis, the causative agent of scabies. Analysis confirmed that most of the known ABC subfamilies are represented in the EST dataset including several members of the multidrug resistance protein subfamily (ABC-C). Although P-glycoprotein (ABC-B) sequences were not found in the EST dataset, a partial P-glycoprotein sequence was subsequently obtained using a degenerate PCR strategy and library screening. Thus a total of 9 potential S. scabiei ABC transporters representing the subfamilies A, B, C, E, F and H have been identified. Ivermectin is currently used in the treatment of hyper-infested (crusted) scabies, and has also been identified as a potentially effective acaricide for mass treatment programmes in scabiesendemic communities. The observation of clinical and in vitro ivermectin resistance in 2 crusted scabies patients who received multiple treatments has raised serious concerns regarding the sustainability of such programmes. One possible mechanism for ivermectin resistance is through ABC transporters such as P-glycoprotein. This work forms an important foundation for further studies to elucidate the potential role of ABC transporters in ivermectin resistance of S. scabiei.

Background: Sarcoptes scabiei infection is a contagious disease affecting both humans and animals. The transmission occurs either by direct contact or from the environment where mites could survive several days remaining infective. The number of products available for environmental control of S. scabiei is very limited. The objective of the present study was to assess the efficacy of biocides or repellents against S. scabiei var suis. Methods: Tested products included pyrethroids: permethrin, esdepallethrin and bioresmethrin, bifenthrin, cypermethrin and imiprothrin, cyfluthrin, tetramethrin and sumithrin. We also tested repellents: DEET, icaridin and IR3535. Sarcoptes scabiei var suis mites were collected from experimentally-infected pigs. For each test, 20 live mites of all motile stages were placed in a plastic Petri dish and sprayed uniformly by each product. Control mites were sprayed by distilled water. The study was performed in triplicate under room conditions and the mites were inspected under a stereomicroscope at intervals 30, 40, 50, 60 min, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 24 h) after exposure to the products. Results: All the products, except the combination of tetramethrin and sumithrin (A-PAR®), were able to kill all mites within 24 h. The median survival time was 50 ± 30.4 min, 120 ± 309 min, 10 ± 5.9 min, 40 ± 36.8 min, 15 ± 7.3 min, 180 ± 417 min and 1440 ± 600 min when mites were exposed to permethrin 4 %, permethrin 0.6 %, esdepallethrin and bioresmethrin, bifenthrin, cypermethrin and imiprothrin, cyfluthrin, tetramethrin and sumithrin, respectively. The median survival time was 20 ± 6.5 min, 15 ± 4.3 min, 30 ± 42.1 min and 15 ± 4.9 min for DEET 25, DEET 50, icaridin 20 and IR3535 20 %, respectively. Conclusions: The results of the present study could support evidence-based use of biocides and repellents in households, hospitals and farms.

Few studies have compared ivermectin directly with topical agents in developing countries. We compared the effectiveness of oral ivermectin (200 g/kg) with topical 25% benzyl benzoate and monosulfiram soap in 210 subjects of age 5 to 65 years with scabies. Subjects with persistent lesions after 2 weeks received a second course of treatment. All lesions had resolved after 2 weeks in 77 of 98 (79%) subjects treated with ivermectin and in 60 of 102 (59%) subjects treated topically (P ‫ס‬ 0.003). The improvement in severity score was greater in the ivermectin group than in the topical treatment group (P < 0.001). The overall cure rate after 4 weeks was 95% in the ivermectin group and 86% in the topical treatment group (P ‫ס‬ 0.04). Compared with topical benzyl benzoate and monosulfiram in the treatment of scabies, ivermectin was at least as effective and led to more rapid improvement.

The Spanish ibex (Capra pyrenaica hispanica) population of the ''Sierras de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas'' Nature Park (Spain) was isolated as the result of a severe epidemic of sarcoptic mange. In this context, the dynamic characteristics of the disease were analyzed in a wild group consisting of 35 animals from the beginning of the epizootic (when the mating period started) to the extinction of the population due to mange. Monthly tracking permitted the sequential characterization of the pathology in each animal. The duration of the disease was 2 to 3 mo, evolving to severe disease and terminating in death. Incidence and prevalence rates in terms of morbidity and severity, and mortality and lethality were calculated. At the end of the mating season, 81% of the population were affected. There were no statistically significant differences in severity of the disease across sex or age categories of the animals. Most of the carcasses were found in caves used as refuge and/or near rivers or streams. Additionally, 46 of the 63 (73%) ibex captured in different areas of the nature park were naturally infected with the Sarcoptes scabiei. Infected ibex were examined for number of mites during the initial stage of the disease (n ϭ 3), in the development stage (n ϭ 12), in the consolidation stage (n ϭ 17), and in the chronic stage (n ϭ 14). The prevalence of mites in different anatomical regions was determined in each of these phases of the infection. A histological study of the skin lesions was conducted in 22 animals. Both the clinical and the pathological (macroscopic and microscopic) aspects of the sarcoptic mange in Spanish ibex corresponded to the classic description of sarcoptic mange in other wild and domestic small ruminants.

La scoperta dell’eziologia acarica della scabbia è tuttora un argomento discusso in quanto solo dal 1927 sono stati resi noti documenti che posso indirizzare verso una soluzione definitiva.  Fino al 1927, infatti, l’unico testo conosciuto era Osservazioni intorno a Pellicelli del corpo umano fatte dal dottor Gio: Cosimo Bonomo, E da lui con altre Osservazioni scritte in una Lettera, all’illustrissimo sig. Francesco Redi, pubblicato nel 1687 e attribuito a Francesco Redi. Negli ultimi decenni, sono emerse nuove interpretazioni, soprattutto ad opera del professor Italo D’Angelo che determinano, con autorevolezza, come questa scoperta sia merito di Giacinto Cestoni e come questo episodio sia il primo caso di applicazione del metodo scientifico galileiano alla Biologia e alla Medicina: in sintesi, il primo momento documentato in cui la Medicina ha cessato di essere Medicina del Non-Senso e si è trasformata nella Medicina attuale. Ma ciò che scaturisce da più approfonditi confronti di nuove fonti con vecchi documenti, è che il ruolo di Francesco Redi è stato quello di annullare, piuttosto che promuovere, la scoperta dell’origine acarica della scabbia e quindi del metodo scientifico galileiano.

Scabies, a parasitic skin infestation by the burrowing "itch" mite Sarcoptes scabiei, causes significant health problems for children and adults worldwide. Crusted scabies is a particularly severe form of scabies in which mites multiply into the millions, causing extensive skin crusting. The symptoms and signs of scabies suggest host immunity to the scabies mite, but the specific resistant response in humans remains largely uncharacterized. We used 4 scabies mite recombinant proteins with sequence homology to extensively studied house dust mite allergens to investigate a differential immune response between ordinary scabies and the debilitating crusted form of the disease. Subjects with either disease form showed serum IgE against recombinant S. scabiei cysteine and serine proteases and apolipoprotein, whereas naive subjects showed minimal IgE reactivity. Significantly (P < 0.05) greater serum IgE and IgG4 binding to mite apolipoprotein occurred in subjects with crusted scabies than in those with ordinary scabies. Both subject groups showed strong proliferative responses (peripheral blood mononuclear cells) to the scabies antigens, but the crusted scabies group showed increased secretion of the Th2 cytokines interleukin 5 (IL-5) and IL-13 and decreased Th1 cytokine gamma interferon (IFN-␥) in response to the active cysteine protease. These data confirm that a nonprotective allergic response occurs in the crusted disease form and demonstrate that clinical severity is associated with differences in the type and magnitude of the antibody and cellular responses to scabies proteins. A quantitative IgE inhibition assay identified IgE immunoreactivity of scabies mite antigens distinct from that of house dust mite antigens, which is potentially important for specific scabies diagnosis and therapy.

The acaricidal activity of the petroleum ether extract of leaves of Tetrastigma leucostaphylum (Dennst.) Alston (family: Vitaceae) against Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus was assessed using adult immersion test (AIT). The per cent of adult mortality, inhibition of fecundity, and blocking of hatching of eggs were studied at different concentrations. The extract at 10% concentration showed 88.96% inhibition of fecundity, 58.32% of adult tick mortality, and 50% inhibition of hatching. Peak mortality rate was observed after day 5 of treatment. Mortality of engorged female ticks, inhibition of fecundity, and hatching of eggs were concentration dependent. The LC 50 value of the extract against R. (B.) annulatus was 10.46%. The HPTLC profiling of the petroleum ether extract revealed the presence of at least seven polyvalent components. In the petroleum ether extract, nicotine was identified as one of the components up to a concentration of 5.4%. However, nicotine did not reveal any acaricidal activity up to 20000 ppm (2%). Coconut oil, used as diluent for dissolving the extract, did not reveal any acaricidal effects. The results are indicative of the involvement of synergistic or additive action of the bioactive components in the tick mortality and inhibition of the oviposition.

No commercial immunodiagnostic tests for human scabies are currently available, and existing animal tests are not sufficiently sensitive. The recombinant Sarcoptes scabiei apolipoprotein antigen Sar s 14.3 is a promising immunodiagnostic, eliciting high levels of IgE and IgG in infected people. Limited data are available regarding the temporal development of antibodies to Sar s 14.3, an issue of relevance in terms of immunodiagnosis. We utilised a porcine model to prospectively compare specific antibody responses to a primary infestation by ELISA, to Sar s 14.3 and to S. scabiei whole mite antigen extract (WMA). Differences in the antibody profile between antigens were apparent, with Sar s 14.3 responses detected earlier, and declining significantly after peak infestation compared to WMA. Both antigens resulted in .90% diagnostic sensitivity from weeks 8-16 post infestation. These data provide important information on the temporal development of humoral immune responses in scabies and further supports the development of recombinant antigen based immunodiagnostic tests for recent scabies infestations.

Sarcoptic mange is a highly contagious skin disease that can have a devastating impact on affected wild mammal populations. There are notable variations in the clinical and pathologic picture of sarcoptic mange among species and among conspecifics. However, the origin of these variations is unclear. We propose a classification scheme for skin lesions associated with Sarcoptes scabiei infestation to provide a basis for a subsequent risk factor analysis. We conducted a casecontrol study focused on macroscopic and histologic examination of the skin, using 279 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) found dead or shot in Switzerland between November 2004 and February 2006. All animals were submitted to gross necropsy following a detailed protocol. Selection criteria for cases (n5147) vs. controls (n5111) were the presence or absence of mange-like lesions, mite detection by isolation or histologic examination, and serologic testing for S. scabiei antibodies. Characteristic features of mange lesions were scored macroscopically in all foxes and histologically in 67 cases and 15 controls. We classified skin lesions and associated necropsy findings into three types of mange: A) early stage (n545): focal-extensive skin lesions, thin crusts, mild to moderate alopecia, few mites, numerous eosinophils, and mild lymph node enlargement; B) hyperkeratotic, fatal form (n586): generalized skin lesions, thick crusts with or without alopecia, foul odor, abundance of mites, numerous bacteria and yeasts, numerous lymphocytes and mast cells, severe lymph node enlargement, and emaciation; C) alopecic, healing form (n516): focal lesions, no crusts, severe alopecia, hyperpigmentation and lichenification, absence of mites, mixed cell infiltration, and rare mild lymph node enlargement. We hypothesize that after stage A, the animal either enters stage B and dies, or stage C and survives, depending on largely unknown extrinsic or intrinsic factors affecting the host ability to control mite infestation.

Background: Permethrin is the active component of topical creams widely used to treat human scabies. Recent evidence has demonstrated that scabies mites are becoming increasingly tolerant to topical permethrin and oral ivermectin. An effective approach to manage pesticide resistance is the addition of synergists to counteract metabolic resistance. Synergists are also useful for laboratory investigation of resistance mechanisms through their ability to inhibit specific metabolic pathways.

Wildlife reintroductions select or treat individuals for good health with the expectation that these individuals will fare better than infected animals. However, these individuals, new to their environment, may also be particularly susceptible to circulating infections and this may result in high morbidity and mortality, potentially jeopardizing the goals of recovery. Here, using the reintroduction of the grey wolf (Canis lupus) into Yellowstone National Park as a case study, we address the question of how parasites invade a reintroduced population and consider the impact of these invasions on population performance. We find that several viral parasites rapidly invaded the population inside the park, likely via spillover from resident canid species, and we contrast these with the slower invasion of sarcoptic mange, caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei. The spatio-temporal patterns of mange invasion were largely consistent with patterns of host connectivity and density, and we demonstrate that the area of highest resource quality, supporting the greatest density of wolves, is also the region that appears most susceptible to repeated disease invasion and parasite-induced declines. The success of wolf reintroduction appears not to have been jeopardized by infectious disease, but now shows signs of regulation or limitation modulated by parasites.

Sarcoptes scabiei was detected for the first time in skin scrapings, hair pluckings, and histologic sections from a blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur) from the Shimshali Pamir in the Karakorum range of the western Himalaya in Pakistan (36u289N, 75u369E). Local reports suggest many hundred animals have been affected by a severe skin disease over a 10-yr period, but the shy nature of this species and the extreme climate that they inhabit meant only a single affected animal was available for detailed evaluation. The severe skin lesions were confined to the forelegs and brisket, and many Sarcoptes scabiei mites were present in all the samples examined. Histologic preparations of the skin showed hyperkeratotic and parakeratotic hyperkeratosis of the epidermis with a severe exudative dermatosis with many polymorphonuclear neutrophils and gram-positive cocci, yet no eosinophils. These findings might suggest the lack of an appropriate immune response to the parasite or other coping strategies because there has been no abatement of the clinical signs in affected animals over several years. Treatment options are limited due to the behavior of the species and its habitat. The blue sheep is a primary source of prey for the endangered snow leopard (Panthera uncia) and continued depletion could have serious consequences for the survival of the latter.

Sequence analysis of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene of Sarcoptes scabiei isolated from goats and rabbits in East Java, Indonesia, Veterinary World, 12(7): 959-964. Abstract Aim: This study aimed to sequence the Cytochrome c oxidase (COX-1) gene sequence from mitochondrial DNA of Sarcoptes scabiei isolated from Lamongan goats and Mojokerto rabbits, align it with DNA isolated from Zi'gong rabbit (GenBank accession No. EU256389.1), and produce a phylogenetic analysis of S. scabiei COX-1 gene. Materials and Methods: S. scabiei mites were obtained from goats and rabbits, and DNA was extracted using QIAamp DNA Mini Kit. The forward and reverse primer sequences were designed based on the DNA sequence of an S. scabiei COX-1 gene isolated from the Zi'gong rabbit (5'-TCTTAGGGGCTGGATTTAGTATG-3' and 5'-AGTTCCTCTACCAGTTCCAC-3', respectively). To confirm sequencing output, the sequence resulting from the reverse primer was inverted and aligned to the sequence from the forward primer using Clone Manager Professional Version 9 for Windows (Scientific & Educational Software; http://www.scied.com). This alignment was subsequently used to build a phylogenetic tree, using the Neighbor-Joining method, in the MEGA6 program (https://www.megasoftware.net/). Results: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products from S. scabiei isolates from Lamongan goats and Mojokerto rabbits produced bands of around 290 bp with 2% agarose gel electrophoresis. Comparing the DNA sequences of the S. scabiei COX-1 gene with those isolated from Lamongan goats and Mojokerto rabbits showed 99% homology. Conclusion: PCR products of the S. scabiei COX-1 gene isolated from Lamongan goats and Mojokerto rabbits were around 290 bp long. The sequences had more than 99% homology. The sequences of the COX-1 gene of S. scabiei from Lamongan goats and Mojokerto rabbits were relatively close to the sequence of the gene in S. scabiei obtained from various hosts according to National Center for Biotechnology Information data.

Background: Scabies is a parasitic skin infestation caused by the burrowing mite Sarcoptes scabiei. It is common worldwide and spreads rapidly under crowded conditions, such as those found in socially disadvantaged communities of Indigenous populations and in developing countries. Pruritic scabies lesions facilitate opportunistic bacterial infections, particularly Group A streptococci. Streptococcal infections cause significant sequelae and the increased community streptococcal burden has led to extreme levels of acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease in Australia's Indigenous communities. In addition, emerging resistance to currently available therapeutics emphasizes the need to identify potential targets for novel chemotherapeutic and/or immunological intervention. Scabies research has been severely limited by the availability of parasites, and scabies remains a truly neglected infectious disease. We report development of a tractable model for scabies in the pig, Sus domestica.

The endosymbiont Wolbachia has been detected in a range of filarial nematodes and parasitic mites and is known to affect host reproductive compatibility and potentially evolutionary processes. PCR of Wolbachia surface protein (wsp), ftsZ and 16SrRNA genes from individual Sarcoptes scabiei mites obtained from a series of individual hosts, and database searches of an S. scabiei var. hominis EST library failed to detect Wolbachia genes. Therefore, Wolbachia appears not to be involved in the genetic subdivision observed between varieties of host-associated S. scabiei or, involved in the inflammatory disease pathogenesis of scabies unlike its activity in filarial infection. q

Sarcoptes scabiei infestation was diagnosed in two freshly dead free-ranging pampas foxes (Pseudalopex gymnocercus) in the Gran Chaco, Bolivia. Diagnosis was made based on histologic evaluation of skin biopsies and identification of the parasite from skin scrapings. Characteristic gross lesions consistent with mange were noted in 19 of 94 observations of free-ranging pampas foxes in the region from December 1998 to January 2000. None of 16 crab-eating foxes (Cerdocyon thous) observed during the same time period had visible lesions consistent with scabies. These are the first case reports of S. scabiei in pampas foxes.

Scabies is a human skin disease due to the burrowing ectoparasite Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis resulting in intense itching and inflammation and manifesting as a skin allergy. Because of insufficient mite material and lack of in vitro propagation system for antigen preparation, scabies is a challenging disease to develop serological diagnostics. For allergen characterization, full-length S. scabiei tropomyosin (Sar s 10) was cloned, expressed in pET-15b, and assessed for reactivity with IgE antibodies from human sera. IgE binding was observed to Sar s 10 with sera collected from subjects with ordinary scabies, house dust mite (HDM)-positive and naive subjects and a diagnostic sensitivity of < 30% was observed. S. scabiei paramyosin (Sar s 11) was cloned, and expressed in pET-28a in three overlapping fragments designated Sspara1, Sspara2, and Sspara3. IgE and IgG binding was observed to Sspara2 and Sspara3 antigens with sera collected from ordinary scabies, and HDM-positive subjects, but no binding was observed with sera collected from naive subjects. Sspara2 displayed excellent diagnostic potential with 98% sensitivity and 90% specificity observed for IgE binding and 70% sensitivity for IgG. In contrast, the diagnostic sensitivity of Sspara3 was 84% for IgE binding and 40% for IgG binding. In combination, Sspara2 and Sspara3 provided an IgE sensitivity of 94%. This study shows that IgE binding to Sspara2 and Sspara3 is a highly sensitive method for diagnosis of scabies infestation in clinical practice. The developed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay helps direct future development of a specific diagnostic tool for scabies.