Cheyletiellosis
Encyclopedia
Cheyletiella is a genus of mite
s that live on the skin surface of dog
s, cat
s, rabbit
s, and human
s.
The adult mites are about 0.385 millimeters long, have eight legs that have combs instead of claws, and have palpi
that end in prominent hooks. They do not burrow into the skin but live in the keratin
level. Their entire 21 day life cycle
is on one host. They cannot survive off the host for more than 10 days.
caused by mite
s of the genus
Cheyletiella. It is also known as walking dandruff due to skin scales being carried by the mites.
Cheyletiellosis is seen more commonly in areas where flea
s are less prevalent, because of the decreased use of flea products that are also efficacious for the treatment of this mite.
Cheyletiellosis is highly contagious. Transmission is by direct contact with an affected animal.
of the animal. Symptoms in humans include multiple red, itchy bumps on the arms, trunk, and buttocks. Because humans are an irregular host for the mite, the symptoms usually go away in about three weeks.
tape applied to the skin.
appropriate for the affected animal, often an anti-flea
product. Fipronil
works well, especially in cats.
In unresponsive cases, ivermectin is used, Selamectin
is also recommended for treatment. None of these products are approved for treatment of cheyletiellosis. Other pets in the same household should also be treated, and the house or kennel must be treated with an environmental flea
spray.
C. yasguri and C. blakei can transiently affect humans.
Mite
Mites, along with ticks, are small arthropods belonging to the subclass Acari and the class Arachnida. The scientific discipline devoted to the study of ticks and mites is called acarology.-Diversity and systematics:...
s that live on the skin surface of dog
Dog
The domestic dog is a domesticated form of the gray wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both feral and pet varieties. The dog may have been the first animal to be domesticated, and has been the most widely kept working, hunting, and companion animal in...
s, cat
Cat
The cat , also known as the domestic cat or housecat to distinguish it from other felids and felines, is a small, usually furry, domesticated, carnivorous mammal that is valued by humans for its companionship and for its ability to hunt vermin and household pests...
s, rabbit
Rabbit
Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, found in several parts of the world...
s, and human
Human
Humans are the only living species in the Homo genus...
s.
The adult mites are about 0.385 millimeters long, have eight legs that have combs instead of claws, and have palpi
Pedipalp
Pedipalps , are the second pair of appendages of the prosoma in the subphylum Chelicerata. They are traditionally thought to be homologous with mandibles in Crustacea and insects, although more recent studies Pedipalps (commonly shortened to palps or palpi), are the second pair of appendages of the...
that end in prominent hooks. They do not burrow into the skin but live in the keratin
Keratin
Keratin refers to a family of fibrous structural proteins. Keratin is the key of structural material making up the outer layer of human skin. It is also the key structural component of hair and nails...
level. Their entire 21 day life cycle
Biological life cycle
A life cycle is a period involving all different generations of a species succeeding each other through means of reproduction, whether through asexual reproduction or sexual reproduction...
is on one host. They cannot survive off the host for more than 10 days.
Cheyletiellosis
Cheyletiellosis (also known as "Cheyletiella dermatitis") is a mild dermatitisDermatitis
-Etymology:Dermatitis derives from Greek derma "skin" + -itis "inflammation" and genetic disorder.-Terminology:There are several different types of dermatitis. The different kinds usually have in common an allergic reaction to specific allergens. The term may describe eczema, which is also called...
caused by mite
Mite
Mites, along with ticks, are small arthropods belonging to the subclass Acari and the class Arachnida. The scientific discipline devoted to the study of ticks and mites is called acarology.-Diversity and systematics:...
s of the genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Cheyletiella. It is also known as walking dandruff due to skin scales being carried by the mites.
Cheyletiellosis is seen more commonly in areas where flea
Flea
Flea is the common name for insects of the order Siphonaptera which are wingless insects with mouthparts adapted for piercing skin and sucking blood...
s are less prevalent, because of the decreased use of flea products that are also efficacious for the treatment of this mite.
Cheyletiellosis is highly contagious. Transmission is by direct contact with an affected animal.
Presentation
Symptoms in animals vary from no signs to intense itching, scales on the skin, and hair loss. The lesions are usually on the dorsumDorsum (biology)
In anatomy, the dorsum is the upper side of animals that typically run, fly, or swim in a horizontal position, and the back side of animals that walk upright. In vertebrates the dorsum contains the backbone. The term dorsal refers to anatomical structures that are either situated toward or grow...
of the animal. Symptoms in humans include multiple red, itchy bumps on the arms, trunk, and buttocks. Because humans are an irregular host for the mite, the symptoms usually go away in about three weeks.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is by finding the mites or eggs microscopically in a skin scraping, combing, or on acetateCellulose acetate
Cellulose acetate , first prepared in 1865, is the acetate ester of cellulose. Cellulose acetate is used as a film base in photography, as a component in some adhesives, and as a frame material for eyeglasses; it is also used as a synthetic fiber and in the manufacture of cigarette filters and...
tape applied to the skin.
Treatment
The most common treatment in animals is weekly use of some form of topical pesticidePesticide
Pesticides are substances or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest.A pesticide may be a chemical unicycle, biological agent , antimicrobial, disinfectant or device used against any pest...
appropriate for the affected animal, often an anti-flea
Flea
Flea is the common name for insects of the order Siphonaptera which are wingless insects with mouthparts adapted for piercing skin and sucking blood...
product. Fipronil
Fipronil
Fipronil is a broad spectrum insecticide that disrupts the insect central nervous system by blocking the passage of chloride ions through the GABA receptor and glutamate-gated chloride channels, components of the central nervous system. This causes hyperexcitation of contaminated insects' nerves...
works well, especially in cats.
In unresponsive cases, ivermectin is used, Selamectin
Selamectin
Selamectin is a topical parasiticide and antihelminthic used on dogs and cats, distributed by Pfizer. It prevents heartworms, fleas, ear mites, sarcoptic mange , and certain types of ticks in dogs, and prevents heartworms, fleas, ear mites, hookworms, and roundworms in cats...
is also recommended for treatment. None of these products are approved for treatment of cheyletiellosis. Other pets in the same household should also be treated, and the house or kennel must be treated with an environmental flea
Flea
Flea is the common name for insects of the order Siphonaptera which are wingless insects with mouthparts adapted for piercing skin and sucking blood...
spray.
Species
- Cheyletiella blakei Smiley, 1970 — infests cats (Felis catus), USA (Washington DC)
- Cheyletiella parasitivorax — infests rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), France
- Cheyletiella romerolagi (Fain, 1972) — infests Romerolagus diazi, USA (New York)
- Cheyletiella strandtmanni Smiley, 1970 — infests hares (LepusHareHares and jackrabbits are leporids belonging to the genus Lepus. Hares less than one year old are called leverets. Four species commonly known as types of hare are classified outside of Lepus: the hispid hare , and three species known as red rock hares .Hares are very fast-moving...
sp.), Taiwan - Cheyletiella yasguri Smiley, 1965 — infests dogs
C. yasguri and C. blakei can transiently affect humans.