acariasis

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Acariasis is an infestation with mites. Examples include scabies and chiggers.

Acariasis is a term for a rash, caused by mites, sometimes with a papillae (pruritic dermatitis), and usually accompanied by severe itching and creepy-crawly sensations. Most of the mites which cause this affliction to humans are from the order Acari, hence the name Acariasis. The entire taxonomic classification to order would be:

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Arthropoda
• Subphylum: Chelicerata
• Class: Arachnida
• Order: Acari

At the order level, there is still substantial argument among researchers as to how to categorize Acari. Some call it a subclass, others a superorder. Acarina (See the Taxonomy section)

Medical doctors and Dermatologists can still misdiagnose this rash as many are unfamiliar with parasitism, not trained in it, or if they do consider it, can't see the mites.

Different methods for detection is recognized for different acariasis infections. Human acariasis with mites can occur in gastrointestinal tract, lungs, urinary tracts and other organs which not have been well studied. For intestinal acariasis with symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and phohemefecia, human acariasis are diagnosed by detection of mites in stools.^[1]For pulmonary acariasis, the presence of mites in sputum is determined by identifying the presence and number of mites in sputnum of patients with respiratory symtomps. Both physical and chemical methods for liquefaction of sputum have been developed. ^[2]

Reports exist of human infestation by Dermanyssus gallinae, Ornithonyssus bacoti, Ornithonyssus bursa, Ornithonyssus sylviarum, and Pyemotes tritici, all mites previously believed not to prey on humans.^[3] According to personal accounts found at the above referenced site, Acariasis can cause great disruption to the lives of those afflicted. It has been previously been linked to Androlaelaps casalis. However, based on this mites life style as a predator on other mite species (e.g. the earlier mentioned Dermanyssus gallinae)^[4], it is highly unlikely to be the cause of Acariasis.

References

External links

Birdmites.org Education and Research