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Parasitology Research Mar 2024Scabies is an itchy skin disease caused by the burrowing mite Sarcoptes scabiei. During their lifespan, the female mites invade the stratum corneum and create tunnels,... (Review)
Review
Scabies is an itchy skin disease caused by the burrowing mite Sarcoptes scabiei. During their lifespan, the female mites invade the stratum corneum and create tunnels, in which they reside, move, feed, deposit fecal pellets, and lay eggs. Recently, scabies was included in the World Health Organization roadmap for neglected tropical diseases 2021-2030. This review attempts to summarize our knowledge about the mite's biology and the disease pathogenesis, pathological changes, and complications. Generally, the host-parasite interaction in scabies is highly complex and involves different mechanisms, some of which are yet largely unknown. Elucidation of the nature of such interaction as well as the underlying mechanisms could allow a better understanding of the mite's biology and the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic options for scabies control programs. Moreover, identification of the molecular basis of such interaction could unveil novel targets for acaricidal agents and vaccines.
Topics: Female; Animals; Scabies; Sarcoptes scabiei; Acaricides; Eggs; Epidermis
PubMed: 38433167
DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08173-6 -
BMC Public Health Feb 2024Dermatitis caused by insects and mites, diagnosed as papular urticaria or scabies, is a common skin disease. However, there is still a lack of studies about the effects...
BACKGROUND
Dermatitis caused by insects and mites, diagnosed as papular urticaria or scabies, is a common skin disease. However, there is still a lack of studies about the effects of weather and air pollution on outpatient visits for this disease. This study aims to explore the impacts of meteorological and environmental factors on daily visits of dermatitis outpatients.
METHODS
Analyses are conducted on a total of 43,101 outpatient visiting records during the years 2015-2020 from the largest dermatology specialist hospital in Guangzhou, China. Hierarchical cluster models based on Pearson correlation between risk factors are utilized to select regression variables. Linear regression models are fitted to identify the statistically significant associations between the risk factors and daily visits, taking into account the short-term effects of temperatures. Permutation importance is adopted to evaluate the predictive ability of these factors.
RESULTS
Short-term temperatures have positive associations with daily visits and exhibit strong predictive abilities. In terms of total outpatients, the one-day lagged temperature not only has a significant impact on daily visits, but also has the highest median value of permutation importance. This conclusion is robust across most subgroups except for subgroups of summer and scabies, wherein the three-day lagged temperature has a negative effect. By contrast, air pollution has insignificant associations with daily visits and exhibits weak predictive abilities. Moreover, weekdays, holidays and trends have significant impacts on daily visits, but with weak predictive abilities.
CONCLUSIONS
Our study suggests that short-term temperatures have positive associations with daily visits and exhibit strong predictive abilities. Nevertheless, air pollution has insignificant associations with daily visits and exhibits weak predictive abilities. The results of this study provide a reference for local authorities to formulate intervention measures and establish an environment-based disease early warning system.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Air Pollutants; Outpatients; Mites; Scabies; Air Pollution; Weather; China; Dermatitis; Insecta; Particulate Matter
PubMed: 38419007
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18067-y -
PLOS Global Public Health 2024Scabies, a parasitic infection caused by Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis, is a public health problem with significant morbidity worldwide, particularly in low-resource...
BACKGROUND
Scabies, a parasitic infection caused by Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis, is a public health problem with significant morbidity worldwide, particularly in low-resource countries. Impetigo, a complication of scabies infection, is a risk factor for sepsis, glomerulonephritis and possibly acute rheumatic fever. Currently, the majority of epidemiological data has been collected in rural populations in the Pacific with limited applicability to urban populations in sub-Saharan Africa, where scabies is also believed to be a problem. To inform future public health programs, more reliable information about the burden of disease is required.
METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS
In July/August 2022, we conducted a cross sectional, cluster-randomised, household survey in Pikine/Dakar using the 'International Association for the Control of Scabies (IACS)' criteria to diagnose scabies and impetigo. All participants underwent a standardised clinical examination by post-graduate dermatology students. For those diagnosed with scabies, an age-adapted 'Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI)' questionnaire was filled. We recruited and examined 1697 participants to detect 27 cases of scabies (prevalence: 1.6%, 95% CI 0.8-3.2), mostly in school aged children. Ten participants suffered from impetigo (prevalence: 0.6%, 95% CI 0.3-1.3), 5 of which were dually infected with scabies. Risk factors for scabies infection were young age, male gender and Koranic school attendance. Of those found to have scabies, in 7 out of 22 cases (31.8%) it had a large effect on their lives according to the DLQI questionnaires filled.
CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE
This study adds to the mapping of the burden of scabies across Africa to support public health action. With a low prevalence of scabies that is concentrated amongst poor households and children attending Koranic schools, a focused public health approach targeting Koranic schools and poor households seems to be most appropriate in this community.
PubMed: 38417092
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0002942 -
Open Forum Infectious Diseases Feb 2024Patients with skin of color (SOC) present diseases differently in many circumstances, yet there is a lack of information regarding the presentation and diagnosis of... (Review)
Review
Investigating and Summarizing Information Resources Related to the Clinical Presentation and Diagnosis of Cutaneous Manifestations of Infectious Diseases in Patients With Skin of Color.
Patients with skin of color (SOC) present diseases differently in many circumstances, yet there is a lack of information regarding the presentation and diagnosis of cutaneous manifestations in such patients experiencing infectious diseases. Therefore, we conducted a scoping review to investigate and summarize information pertaining to the clinical presentation and diagnosis of cutaneous manifestations of infectious diseases in patients with SOC focusing on the following viral, bacterial, toxin-mediated, and infestation diseases and fungal infections: human immunodeficiency virus, shingles, impetigo, scarlet fever, Lyme disease, toxic shock syndrome, scabies, rickettsioses, and cutaneous fungal infections. This scoping review identified literature gaps regarding cutaneous manifestations of infectious diseases in patients with SOC such as a lack of visual examples and more precise descriptions of common infectious diseases. The lack of better-quality literature and educational resources describing cutaneous manifestations of infectious diseases in patients with SOC may contribute to care barriers; therefore, more research and collaboration are needed in the specialties of both infectious diseases and dermatology.
PubMed: 38390461
DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofad692 -
Frontiers in Chemistry 2024, a flowering plant from the Malvaceae family traditionally used to treat ailments such as boils and scabies, is here investigated for its potential health benefits. The...
, a flowering plant from the Malvaceae family traditionally used to treat ailments such as boils and scabies, is here investigated for its potential health benefits. The study focused on evaluating its antioxidant and antidiabetic properties , as well as the anxiolytic and antidepressant activities of the methanol extract of leaf (MEBP). The study employed various assays to evaluate antioxidant activity, including 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, reducing power capacity, and quantification of the total phenolic and flavonoid contents of MEBP. Additionally, anxiolytic and antidepressant activities were evaluated through four tests: elevated plus-maze test (EPMT), light-dark box test (LDBT), forced swimming test (FST), and tail suspension test (TST). Antidiabetic effect was determined using α-amylase inhibition assay. Docking analysis was performed using BIOVIA and Schrödinger Maestro (v11.1), and the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion/toxicity (ADME/T) properties of bioactive substances were investigated using a web-based technique. MEBP exhibited moderate antioxidant activity in DPPH radical scavenging and reducing power capacity assays, with a dose-dependent response. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents measured were 70 ± 1.53 mg and 22.33 ± 1.20 mg, respectively. MEBP demonstrated significant effects in α-amylase inhibition comparable to acarbose. In behavioral tests, MEBP dose-dependently altered time spent in open arms/light box and closed arms/dark box, indicating anxiolytic effects. Moreover, MEBP significantly reduced immobility duration in FST and TST, suggesting antidepressant properties. Molecular docking analysis revealed favorable interactions between beta-sitosterol and specific targets, suggesting the potential mediation of anxiolytic and antidiabetic effects. Overall, MEBP exhibits notable anxiolytic and antidepressant properties, along with moderate antioxidant and antidiabetic activities.
PubMed: 38389724
DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2024.1341308 -
Clinical Case Reports Feb 2024Scabies is a highly infectious parasitic skin disease, The most common lesions are solid and 2-3 mm in diameter (papules). Very few cases will develop into nodular...
Scabies is a highly infectious parasitic skin disease, The most common lesions are solid and 2-3 mm in diameter (papules). Very few cases will develop into nodular scabies, and microscopy is frequently negative in patients with clinically diagnosed nodular scabies. The accuracy of microscopy depends on the expertise of the operator, particularly in finding burrows and extracting the relevant material.
PubMed: 38385053
DOI: 10.1002/ccr3.8542 -
Case Reports in Dermatology 2024Scabies is a common parasitic infestation caused by the mite Scabies can mimic other entities clinically, resulting in misdiagnosis. The presence of a mite in the...
INTRODUCTION
Scabies is a common parasitic infestation caused by the mite Scabies can mimic other entities clinically, resulting in misdiagnosis. The presence of a mite in the stratum corneum on biopsy specimens is diagnostic of scabies. However, there are instances when mites are not visible, and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining may be misleading. An example is when IHC demonstrates Cluster of Differentiation 1a and S100 positivity. The main differential diagnosis for this finding is Langerhans cell histiocytosis, a group of idiopathic disorders of bone marrow-derived Langerhans cells, with manifestations ranging from isolated to life-threatening multisystem disease.
CASE PRESENTATION
We present a case of a patient who was diagnosed with Langerhans cell histiocytosis based on histological findings, further review with a repeat reading and deeper sectioning of her biopsy revealed a mite in the stratum corneum, altering the diagnosis, course, and management. She subsequently developed persistent post-scabietic nodules, an underreported entity that may occur following infestation and persist for up to a year. These lesions are self-limiting and do not require repeated courses of treatment.
CONCLUSION
Langerhans cell hyperplasia may be seen in a multitude of entities, including scabies. Familiarity with this phenomenon is crucial to avoid unnecessary invasive investigations, aggressive management and alleviate patients' concerns.
PubMed: 38370392
DOI: 10.1159/000536369 -
Dermatology Practical & Conceptual Jan 2024
PubMed: 38364437
DOI: 10.5826/dpc.1401a80 -
Dermatology Practical & Conceptual Jan 2024
PubMed: 38364400
DOI: 10.5826/dpc.1401a29