Notoedres
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This article is still under construction. |
| Also known as: | feline scabies |
Notoedres are burrowing mites of cats, rats, man and rabbits. They are also common ectoparasites of tropical bats.
Identification
The Notoedres mite is similar to Sarcoptes although it has less distinct angles on its body surface. The female mites have suckers on legs 1 and 2 and are about 225μm in length. Males are 150μm in length. The anal opening of the Notoedres is distinctly dorsal, not posterior.
Lifecycle
The entire life cycle takes place on a single host and takes between 14 and 21 days to complete. The female mite burrows into the skin and lays eggs in the created tunnels. After the female deposits the eggs, she dies.
Eggs
Laid into the stratum corneum by the burrowing female.
Larvae
Burrow into the skin and go through two nymphal stages before reaching maturity.
Diagnosis
The method of detection for Notoedres is usually via a superficial skin scraping. A single nest in a scraping may yield many mites.
Important Species
Notoedres cati- This species causes feline scabies, an example of a notoedric skin infestation