Sarcoptes scabiei: Morphology, Behavior, Life Cycle and Pathogenic Implications in Human and Animal Hosts
Overview
This paper provides a comprehensive overview of Sarcoptes scabiei, a parasitic mite responsible for scabies in humans and mange in animals. It examines the mite's morphological characteristics, behavioral patterns including host-seeking mechanisms, and its four-stage life cycle, while discussing the pathogenic implications of infection and the mite's ability to evade immune responses.
What this coursework covers
- Introduction discussing scabiei as a parasitic skin disease and its pathogenic properties
- Morphology section detailing the physical characteristics of male and female mites
- Life cycle section describing the four developmental stages and their durations
- Behavior section examining host-seeking mechanisms and stimulus responses
Preview
Assignment
Name
Institution
Sacroptes Scabiei
Introduction
Sarcoptes scabiei is a mite that causes skin disease scabiei in human beings and mange in other animals. The parasitic mite barrows the skin causing burning sensations that consequently result in itching by the host and equally giving an avenue for bacterial attacks. The mite produces and deposits several layers of proteins through feces that they deposit on the burrows hence blocking itself from the attack of the host’s immune system. This explains the change in the skin of the hosts of those affected by the disease. Scabiei is now classified among dangerous skin infections that bring along other diseases like rheumatic fever meaning that the scabiei mite may be pathogenic bacteria carriers.
Morphology, behavior and life cycle
Morphology
Sarcoptes scabiei has an oval body like that of a tortoise that is vertically flat and a convex dorsal. The dorsal close up is lateral, the spines are cuticle as well as the striations. Both the male and the females have four pairs of short legs with all terminal segments having legs with claws. Both males and females have legs III and IV that do not go beyond the lateral posterior margins of the idiosoma while legs I and II extend past the anterior margin. Legs III of the male and legs III and Legs IV of the females reach the end at the long setae. Their mouths parts are short and rounded.