Human otoacariasis in a 40-year old Filipino male: A case report

@#A 40-year old male, Filipino, farmer, from Bakun, Benguet, presented with a 9 months history of itchiness of right ear. He reported that he was able to collect 4-5 insects every time he cleans his ear. Consult was done with an Ears, Nose and Throat specialist and video-otoscopic examination revealed multi pie animate foreign body (mites) at different stages of development. The patient underwent 5 sessions of ear flushing with warm water at intervals of 2 weeks for 3 months. Collected insects were referred to an entomologist and were identified as Suadasia pontifica Oudemans, belonging to family: Acaridae. Follow up consult after 5 sessions of ear flushing revealed complete removal of mite infestation of his right ear. Patient was instructed to do ear flushing twice daily using warm water mixed with 70% isopropyl alcohol to eradicate any eggs left behind. No other medications were given. Based on Philippine Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Health Research and Development Information Network, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, this is the first reported case of human otoacariasis in the Philippines.

Norwegian scabies - rare case of atypical manifestation

Abstract Human scabies affects all social classes and different races around the world. It is highly contagious, but the exact figures on its prevalence are unknown. A 19-year-old male patient was admitted to the emergency room reporting fever (38°C) and multiple lesions throughout the body, except face, soles, and palms. Lesions were non-pruritic, which hampered the initial diagnostic suspicion. Skin biopsy was performed, and the final diagnosis was crusted scabies (Norwegian). It was concluded that human scabies is a significant epidemic disease, due to its different clinical manifestations, and because it is extremely contagious.

Demodex folliculorum on the eyelash follicule of diabetic patients / Demodex folliculorum nos cílios de pacientes diabéticos

PURPOSE: To compare the prevalence of Demodex folliculorum on the eyelashes of patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy and healthy voluntaries. METHODS: Type 2 diabetic patients with proliferative retinopathy and age- and gender-matched healthy voluntaries (group control) underwent a slit lamp examination which three eyelashes containing cylindrical dandruff were removed from each lid by fine forceps. The lashes were dyed with fluorescein and the presence of Demodex folliculorum was verified by direct visualization under a light microscope. The mites were recognized based on its morphology and peculiar movement. The results were expressed in "positive" when at least one mite on one lash was found and "negative" when no mite was identified. The Chi-square test was used for comparing mites' presence in both groups. RESULTS: Forty-two patients were included in each group. The age ranged from 50 to 60 years old, with a mean of 56.4 ± 5.2 years. The male:female ratio was 0.6:1. There was no statistically significant difference with regard to age and gender in both groups (p>0.05). Demodex folliculorum was significantly more prevalent in diabetic patients (54.8 percent) than in control patients (38.1 percent) (p=0.048). CONCLUSION: Demodex folliculorum was more prevalent in diabetic patients than in healthy voluntaries, independently of gender and age.

OBJETIVO: Comparar a prevalência de Demodex folliculorum nos cílios de pacientes com retinopatia diabética proliferativa e voluntários normais. MÉTODOS: Pacientes com diabetes mellitus tipo 2 apresentando retinopatia proliferativa e voluntários normais com mesma distribuição de sexo e idade (grupo controle) foram submetidos a exame em lâmpada de fenda. Três cílios com secreção "em colarete" foram removidos de cada pálpebra com pinça delicada. Os cílios foram corados com fluoresceína e a presença de Demodex folliculorum foi verificada por visualização direta através de microscópio de luz. As larvas foram reconhecidas baseadas em sua morfologia e movimentos peculiares. Os resultados foram expressos em "positivo" quando foi encontrada pelo menos uma larva em um cílio e "negativo" quando nenhuma larva foi encontrada. O teste de Chi quadrado foi utilizado para comparar a presença das larvas nos dois grupos. RESULTADOS: Quarenta e dois pacientes foram incluídos em cada grupo. A idade variou de 50 a 60 anos com média de 56,4 ± 5,2 anos. A relação masculino:feminino foi de 0,6:1. Não houve diferença estatisticamente significante com relação ao sexo e idade entre os dois grupos (p>0,05). Demodex folliculorum foi significantemente mais prevalente em pacientes com diabetes (54,8 por cento) que no grupo controle (38,1 por cento) (p=0,048). CONCLUSÃO: Demodex foliculorum foi mais prevalente em pacientes diabéticos que em voluntários normais, independentemente do sexo e da idade.

Acarosis y zoonosis relacionadas / Animal mites transmissible to humans and associated zoonosis

Mites that affect animals (acariasis) can occasionally be transmitted to humans by incidental contact producing pruritus and dermatitis. Animals such as dogs, cats, mice, birds and reptiles, harbour several mite species. Hemophage mites and those that feed on lymph have the potential of transmitting important zoonotic agents (cuales??). The presence of lesions of unclear origin and a history of contact with pets or wild animals should alert towards the possibility of acariasis. Diagnosis is based on direct visualization of the mite,analysis of its morphology and obtaining information on the animal host. Awareness of these acarosis and the responsible care of pets and animals are the most relevant preventive measures.

Los ácaros de animales (acariasis) pueden transmitirse en forma accidental al hombre al estar en contacto con ellos, produciendo lesiones características (pápulas o vesículas) y ocasionando una dermatitis pruriginosa (acarosis). Existen diversas especies de ácaros, que se encuentran en perros, gatos, roedores, aves y reptiles. Los ácaros hematófagos o los que se alimentan de linfa tienen el potencial de transmitir importantes agentes zoonóticos. La presencia de lesiones sin una etiología clara y el antecedente de contacto con animales, tanto mascotas como animales silvestres, ayudan a plantear esta etiología. El diagnóstico se realiza con la visualización del acaro, morfología y tipo de hospedero animal. El conocimiento de estas acarosis y el control responsable de mascotas y animales, son las principales medidas de prevención.

Varroa destructor (Mesostigmata: Varroidae) in Costa Rica: population dynamics and its influence on the colony condition of Africanized honey bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

The development of Varroa destructor Anderson & Trueman (Mesostigmata: Varroidae) population dynamics in Africanized honey bees, Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) colonies was monitored from February to July 2004 in Atenas, Costa Rica. A correlation between the mite infestation level and the colony condition was evaluated. For each colony, infestation of varroa in adult bees was measured twice a month. Sticky boards were placed on the bottom boards of each colony to collect fallen mites. The condition of the colonies was evaluated by measuring the amount of brood and adult bees. Our results consistently showed that mite infestation on adult bees increased significantly in the experimental colonies, rising to 10.0% by the end of the experiment. In addition, the mean mite fall increased significantly over the course of the study in the treated (R= 0.72, P<0.05) and untreated colonies (R= 0.74, P<0.05) to a level of 63.8 and 73.5 mites per day, respectively. The increase in varroa infestation coincided with a decrease in the amount of brood. Furthermore, adult bees with deformed wings or even without wings crawling in front of their hive occurred in highly infested colonies (mite infestation = 10.0% or more). Rev. Biol. Trop. 56 (4): 1741-1747. Epub 2008 December 12.

La dinámica poblacional del ácaro Varroa destructor Anderson & Trueman (Mesostigmata: Varroidae) en abejas africanizadas, Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) fue monitoreada de febrero a julio 2004, en Atenas, Costa Rica. Asimismo, se analizó la relación entre el nivel de infestación de varroa y la condición de la colmena. La infestación del ácaro V. destructor fue evaluada en abejas adultas dos veces al mes. Además, se colocaron trampas adhesivas en el fondo de la colmena para recoger los ácaros que caen naturalmente. La condición de la colmena fue determinada midiendo la cantidad de cría y la población de abejas adultas. La infestación del ácaro V. destructor en abejas adultas aumentó significativamente durante el estudio hasta alcanzar un 10.0%. Igualmente, la caída natural de ácaros se incrementó, tanto en colmenas que fueron tratadas previa-mente con un acaricida químico (R= 0.72, P<0.05) como en colmenas sin tratamiento (R= 0.74, P<0.05), hasta llegar a 63.8 y 73.5 ácaros por día, respectivamente. El aumento de la infestación en las colmenas coincidió con una disminución en la cantidad de cría. La presencia de abejas adultas con alas deformes o sin alas, arrastrándose en frente de la colmena, fue observada en colmenas altamente infestadas con el ácaro de la varroa (infestación superior = 10.0%).

The First Outbreak of Chorioptes texanus (Acari: Psoroptidae) Infestation in a Cattle Farm in Korea

Mites in the genus Chorioptes cause a mild form of skin disease in both domestic and wild ruminants. In July 2006, dermatitis characterized by alopecia, marked lichenification, accumulation of crust, and fissuring was recognized in 14 out of 200 Holstein dairy cattle raised in the cattle farm of the National Institute of Animal Science in Cheonan, Republic of Korea. Skin lesions were distributed mainly over the tail base, and sacral and perineal regions. Microscopic examinations of skin scraping samples from severely affected areas revealed numerous mites of all developmental stages. Morphologically, pedicels of the mites were short and unjointed. The tarsal suckers occurred on the pedicels of all the legs in the male worm and on the first, second, and fourth pair of legs in the adult female worm. A single long seta at the tarsus of legs III and the length of legs II being about twice as long as legs IV in adult male mites were observed. Arising anterior to the inner-most spatulate seta was a short seta with an average of 26.4 +/- 5.8 micrometer in length. Also, the length of setae #4 on the opisthosomal lobes was relatively short. Based on these observations, the mites were identified as Choriptes texanus. Although the chorioptic mange may not influence the mortality rate in the affected farm, reports indicate that a decline in milk production can be observed. This is the first report of chorioptic infestation in a cattle farm from Korea.

Survey and Treatment of Pulmonary Acariasis among the Workers Involving inTraditional Chinese Medicinal Materials / 中国寄生虫学与寄生虫病杂志

Objective To investigate the prevalence of pulmonary acariasis among the employees working on traditional Chinese medicinal materials and observe the effect of treatment. Methods History inquiry, detection of mites in sputum, blood examination for eosinophils and specific antibodies, x-ray chest film were carried out for 327 workers involving in traditional Chinese medicinal materials. Mites were found in sputum in 121 persons who were then treated with metronidazole, twice a day with a daily dosage of 0.8g for seven days as a course of treatment. Two courses were conducted with an interval of 7-10 day. Prevalence and morbidity in different groups of occupation, age, and sex were analyzed. Results The overall infection rate of mites in sputum was 37.0% (121/327) with an average morbidity of 12.5% (41/327). Among the four types of worker investigated, the highest infection rate (51.8%), and morbidity (18.6%) were in those working in transfer warehouse; the second highest infection rate (40.7%) and morbidity (15.7%) were in employees in factory of Chinese traditional medicine. Both groups showed a significant difference with others(?2inf=11.36,P0.05). After treatment with metronidazole, 88.4% showed negative in sputum examination for mites and the efficacy of the treatment for pulmonary acariasis was 92.3%. Conclusions Employees engaged in traditional Chinese medicinal materials are one of the groups at the highest risk of pulmonary acariasis. Metronidazole is effective in treating the infection.