Sarcoptes scabiei
Sarcoptes scabiei
Taxonomy
- Kingdom Animalia
- Phylum Arthropoda
- Class Arachnida
- Order Astigmata
- Family Sarcoptidae
- Genus Sarcoptes
Final host
All domestic mammals and humans
Morphology
Adults: small burrowing astigmatic mites (≈ 0.25-0.4 mm) with circular bodies and short legs (the two hind pair of legs not visible from above) The dorsal surface of the body is covered with transverse ridges and a central patch of triangular scales The gnathosoma is rounded Legs 1 and 2 of females or 1-3 of males bearing a terminal sucker-like pulvillus The two hind pair of legs of the female and the last pair of legs in the mail lack a sucker and instead terminate in long setae
Cycle
Direct The entire life cycle (egg, larva, nymphal stages and adult) occurs on the host
Location
Strateum corneum of the epidermis
Feeding
Lymph and skin desquamated cells
Diagnostic
Larvae, nymphs and adults
Transmission
Larvae, nymphs and adults
