Do Rats Cause Scabies?
WouterScabies is a common skin infection caused by the bite of a mite. It is highly contagious and affects humans as well as many other wild and domestic animals. The disease has a high morbidity and mortality rate. Although it is not always easy to diagnose, the symptoms can often be cured with proper treatment.
This skin condition is caused by rat mites, which feed on the skin. Rat mites are primarily found on rodents, but can also infect humans. The mites feed on blood, using their fangs to suck skin. Most infestations go away naturally in one to two weeks. However, one study found that three children who had rat mite-caused dermatitis were treated with a combination of selamectin and permethrin, and their bites cleared up after seven days.
Antigen-based tests for scabies infection have been developed. These tests are based on the cross-reactivity of scabies mite antigens in host and mite serum. The first studies were performed with aqueous antigenic extracts from S. scabiei whole mite bodies, which required collecting mites from different animals. These extracts were then applied to wells on ELISA plates. These antigens were matched to the strain of mite responsible for infection.
In a recent study, researchers used antigens extracted from scabies mites to identify pigs infected with S. scabiei var. vulpes. ELISA was able to detect the presence of S. scabiei antibodies in the serum of infected pigs aged six to sixteen weeks. In early stages of the infection, the antibody titer of scabies is below detection limits, and the disease is often not fatal.
