Difference between revisions of "Demodex"

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(Created page with 'right|thumb|150px|''Demodex canis'' - Wikimedia Commons *''Demodex spp.'' found on all domestic mammals and in humans **Each host has its own species …')
 
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**Each host has its own species
 
**Each host has its own species
  
*Causes [[Parasitic skin infections - Pathology#Demodicosis|demodecosis]]
+
*Causes <big>'''[[Demodicosis]]'''</big>
  
 
+
==Recognition==
'''Recognition'''
 
 
*Cigar shaped
 
*Cigar shaped
  
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'''Life cycle'''
+
==Life cycle==
 
*Live as commensal organisms
 
*Live as commensal organisms
  
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'''Pathogenesis and epidemiology'''
 
 
'''Dogs'''
 
*Initial infection is slight hair loss which may resolve spontaneously or could spread over the body
 
 
*Squamous demodecosis
 
**Less serious
 
**Dry reaction
 
**Alopecia, desquamation and skin thickening
 
**Absent to mild pruritus
 
 
*Follicular/pustular demodecosis
 
**More serious
 
**Skin invasion by ''staphylococci''
 
**Skin becomes wrinkled, thickened and contains pustules which ooze serum, blood or pus
 
**Affected animals may be seriously disfigured
 
**Severe pruritus is associated with secondary infection
 
 
*Immune factors are important in determining the severity and occurrence of demodecosis
 
**Familial susceptibility
 
**Immunosuppression
 
**Immunosuppressant therapy
 
 
 
'''Cats'''
 
*Rare
 
 
*Confined to the periocular region
 
 
*Mild squamous type only
 
 
 
'''Cattle'''
 
*Pea-sized nodules in the skin
 
**Each nodule contains several thousand mites
 
 
*Affects hide quality
 
**Economically important in Australia
 
 
 
'''Goats'''
 
*Becoming more common in goats
 
 
*Disease similar to that in cattle
 
 
 
'''Pigs, Sheep and Horses'''
 
*Rare
 
 
 
'''Diagnosis'''
 
*Liquid paraffin applied to a skin fold
 
 
*Deep skin scraping
 
 
 
'''Control'''
 
*Not easily accessible to acaricides due to their deep location in the skin
 
 
*Repeat treatments needed
 
 
*Recovery may take several months
 
  
*To aid [[Ectoparasiticides|acaricide]] penetration, clipping a dog's coat and washing is recommended
 
 
[[Category:Parasites]][[Category:Mites]]
 
[[Category:Parasites]][[Category:Mites]]

Revision as of 22:53, 30 March 2010

Demodex canis - Wikimedia Commons
  • Demodex spp. found on all domestic mammals and in humans
    • Each host has its own species

Recognition

  • Cigar shaped
  • Four pairs of stumpy legs on the anterior end
  • Long and narrow to fit into hair follicles


Life cycle

  • Live as commensal organisms
  • Live in hair follicles and in sebaceous glands
  • Life cycle takes 3 weeks