HUMAN SKIN PARASITES

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A variety of mites are known to bite humans and cause irritation, itchy papules and rashes. Most of these mites are actually parasites of other animals not humans, but will bite humans when their normal hosts are not present. They are mostly nest parasites of birds, rodents and other animals. Nest parasitic mites blood-feed on their normal hosts and then return to the host's nest. Most species do not remain on the animal or human that they feed on. However, a few mites, such as the dog mite (Cheyletiella species) and scabies mites, remain on the host. Chigger mites only blood feed in the nymph stage (the stage that hatches from the egg) and is predatory the rest of their lives.

Mite bites cause red papules which can be extremely itchy. Free-living mites tend to bite in areas where clothing rubs. Conversely, scabies mites, which live in the skin tend to occur most frequently on the hands and wrists, armpits and groin area - parts of the body where the skin is thin.

SPECIES OF BITING MITES

Bat Mite, Chirptonyssus robustipes


Cat Mite, Cheyletiella blakei


Chicken Mite, Dermanyssus gallinae


Chigger Mite, Eutrombicula sp.


Dog Mite, Cheyletiella yasguri


Fowl Mite, Ornithonyssus sylviarum


Rabbit Mite, Cheyletiella parasitovorax


Rat Mite, Ornithonyssus bacoti


Scabies Mite, Sarcoptes scabei


Straw Itch Mite, Pyemotes tritici

 

Other mites known to cause contact dermatitis include a variety of grain mites in the genera

Tyrophagus, 


Glyephagus 


and Acarus.