Terminology

There are several complications with the terminology:

Acariasis is a term for a rash

Rash

A rash is a change of the skin which affects its color, appearance or texture. A rash may be localized in one part of the body, or affect all the skin. Rashes may cause the skin to change color, itch, become warm, bumpy, chapped, dry, cracked or blistered, swell and may be painful. The causes, and...

, caused by mites, sometimes with a papillae (pruritic dermatitis), and usually accompanied by severe itch

Itch

Itch is a sensation that causes the desire or reflex to scratch. Itch has resisted many attempts to classify it as any one type of sensory experience. Modern science has shown that itch has many similarities to pain, and while both are unpleasant sensory experiences, their behavioral response...

ing sensations.

The closely related term, mange

Mange

Mange is the common name for a class of persistent contagious skin diseases caused by parasitic mites. Since mites also infect plants, birds, and reptiles, the term "mange," suggesting poor condition of the hairy coat due to the infection, is sometimes reserved only for pathological...

, is commonly used with domestic animals (pets) and also livestock and wild mammals, whenever hair-loss is involved. Sarcoptes

Sarcoptes

Sarcoptes is a genus of mite.In some contexts, the types are all considered subordinate to Sarcoptes scabiei.* Sarcoptes scabiei var. bovis* Sarcoptes scabiei var. canis* Sarcoptes scabiei var. caprae* Sarcoptes scabiei var. equi...

and Demodex species are involved in mange, but both of these genuses are also involved in human skin diseases (by convention only, not called mange). Sarcoptes in humans is especially severe sympomatically, and causes the condition known as scabies

Scabies

Scabies , known colloquially as the seven-year itch, is a contagious skin infection that occurs among humans and other animals. It is caused by a tiny and usually not directly visible parasite, the mite Sarcoptes scabiei, which burrows under the host's skin, causing intense allergic itching...

.

Another genus of mite which causing itching but rarely causes hair loss because it burrows only at the kerratin level, is Cheyletiella. Various species of this genus of mite also affect a wide variety of mammals, including humans.

Mite infestation sometimes implies an ectoparasitic, cutaneous condition such as dermatitis

Dermatitis

-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...

. However, it is possible for mites to invade the gasrointestinal and urinary

Urinary system

The urinary system is the organ system that produces, stores, and eliminates urine. In humans it includes two kidneys, two ureters, the bladder and the urethra.-Kidney:...

 tracts.

MeSH

Mesh

Mesh consists of semi-permeable barrier made of connected strands of metal, fiber, or other flexible/ductile material. Mesh is similar to web or net in that it has many attached or woven strands.-Types of mesh:...

 uses the term "Mite Infestations" as pertaining to Acariformes

Acariformes

The Acariformes are the more diverse of the two superorders of mites. There are over 32,000 described species in 351 families, and an estimated total of 440,000 to 929,000, including undescribed species.-Systematics and taxonomy:...

. However, mites not in this grouping can be associated with human disease. (See "Classification", below.)

The term Acari refers to tick

Tick

Ticks are small arachnids in the order Ixodida, along with mites, constitute the subclass Acarina. Ticks are ectoparasites , living by hematophagy on the blood of mammals, birds, and sometimes reptiles and amphibians...

s and 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 together, which can cause ambiguity. (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 are a paraphyletic

Paraphyly

A group of taxa is said to be paraphyletic if the group consists of all the descendants of a hypothetical closest common ancestor minus one or more monophyletic groups of descendants...

 grouping).

Mites can be associated with disease in at least three different ways: (1) cutaneous dermatitis, (2) production of allergin, and (3) as a vector for parasitic disease

Parasitic disease

A parasitic disease is an infectious disease caused or transmitted by a parasite. Many parasites do not cause diseases. Parasitic diseases can affect practically all living organisms, including plants and mammals...

s. The language used to describe mite infestation often does not distinguish among these.

Classification

Most of the mites which cause this affliction to humans are from the order Acari, hence the name Acariasis. The entire taxonomic classification to order would be:

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Arthropoda
• Subphylum: Chelicerata
  Chelicerata
  The subphylum Chelicerata constitutes one of the major subdivisions of the phylum Arthropoda, and includes horseshoe crabs, scorpions, spiders and mites...
  
  
• Class: Arachnida
• Order: Acari (At the order level, there is still substantial argument among researchers as to how to categorize Acari. Some call it a subclass, others a superorder, "Acarina".)

Specific species involved include:

• Acariformes
  Acariformes
  The Acariformes are the more diverse of the two superorders of mites. There are over 32,000 described species in 351 families, and an estimated total of 440,000 to 929,000, including undescribed species.-Systematics and taxonomy:...
  
  
  • Trombidiformes
    Trombidiformes
    The Trombidiformes is a large, diverse order of mites, comprising around 125 families and more than 22,000 described species. The group has few synapomorphies by which it can be defined, unlike the other major group of acariform mites, Sarcoptiformes...
    
    
    • Trombicula species (trombiculosis
      Trombiculosis
      Trombiculosis, trombiculiasis, or trombiculidiasis is a rash caused by trombiculid mites.- Prevention :Chiggers are commonly found on the tip of blades of grasses to catch a host, so keeping grass short, and removing brush and wood debris where potential mite hosts may live, can limit their impact...
      
       or chiggers)
    • Demodex species (Demodicosis
      Demodicosis
      Demodicosis, also called demodectic mange or red mange, is caused by a sensitivity to and overpopulation of Demodex canis as the animal's immune system is unable to keep the mites under control....
      
      )
    • Pyemotes tritici
      Pyemotes tritici
      Pyemotes tritici is a species of mite known as the grain itch mite or straw itch mite. There is some evidence that it may be associated with dermatitis in humans....
      
      
    • Cheyletiella
  • Sarcoptiformes
    Sarcoptiformes
    Sarcoptiformes is an order of Acari....
    
    
    • Sarcoptes scabiei
      Sarcoptes scabiei
      Sarcoptes scabiei or the itch mite is a parasitic arthropod that burrows into skin and causes scabies. Animals affected include not only human but also wild and domesticated dogs and cats in which it is one cause of mange...
      
      (Scabies
      Scabies
      Scabies , known colloquially as the seven-year itch, is a contagious skin infection that occurs among humans and other animals. It is caused by a tiny and usually not directly visible parasite, the mite Sarcoptes scabiei, which burrows under the host's skin, causing intense allergic itching...
      
      )

• Parasitiformes
  Parasitiformes
  The Parasitiformes are a superorder of Acari . Many species are parasitic , but not all; for example, about half of the 10,000 known species in the suborder Mesostigmata are predatory and cryptozoan, living in the soil-litter, rotting wood, dung, carrion, nests or house dust...
  
  
  • Dermanyssus gallinae
    Dermanyssus gallinae
    Dermanyssus gallinae is an ectoparasite of poultry and other bird species.-Description:...
    
    
  • Liponyssoides sanguineus
    Liponyssoides sanguineus
    Liponyssoides sanguineus is a species of mite. It infests Mus musculus.It can transmit human disease.It can transmit Rickettsia akari, which causes rickettsialpox.It was previously known as Allodermanyssus sanguineus.-References:...
    
    
  • Ornithonyssus bacoti, Ornithonyssus bursa, Ornithonyssus sylviarum
  • Another candidate is Androlaelaps casalis
    Androlaelaps casalis
    Androlaelaps casalis is a species of mite. It is a predatory mite that lives of other mites and small invertebrates. It cannot bite or sting birds and humans because its manibles are not designed for sucking but for predation on other mites. Because Androlaelaps casalis mites also feed of parasitic...
    
    . However, based on this mites life style as a predator on other mite species (e.g. the earlier mentioned Dermanyssus gallinae), it is highly unlikely to be the cause of Acariasis.

Some of these reflect reports existing of human infestation by mites previously believed not to prey on humans.

Diagnosis

Medical doctors and dermatologists can still misdiagnose this rash as many are unfamiliar with parasitism, not trained in it, or if they do consider it, cannot see the mites.

Different methods for detection are recognized for different acariasis infections. Human acariasis with mites can occur in the gastrointestinal tract, lungs, urinary tracts and other organs which not have been well-studied. For intestinal acariasis with symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and phohemefecia, human acariasis is diagnosed by detection of mites in stools. For pulmonary acariasis, the presence of mites in sputum is determined by identifying the presence and number of mites in the sputum of patients with respiratory symtomps. Both physical and chemical methods for liquefaction of sputum have been developed.

External links

• Birdmites.org Education and Research