Ectoparasites

Ectoparasites
Skin and Scalp Parasites and Pathogens

Common Name of Organism

Latin Name

Body Parts Affected

Diagnosis Type

Where Found

Source of Parasite

“Chiggers” (Trombiculidae) – Trombiculosis

Arachnida: Trombiculidae, Scrub Typhus

skin

visual identification under magnification, microscopy

worldwide (mesic habitats), Asia Pacific

high grass, weeds

Dormancy Period: Scrub Typhus, 21 days

Leptotrombidium deliense is considered a dangerous pest in East Asia and the South Pacific because it often carries Orientia tsutsugamushi, the tiny bacterium that causes scrub typhus, which is known alternatively as the Japanese river disease, scrub disease, or tsutsugamushi. The mites are infected by the Rickettsia passed down from parent to offspring before eggs are laid in a process called transovarial transmission. Symptoms of scrub typhus in humans include fever, headache, muscle pain, cough, and gastrointestinal symptoms.

The chiggers’ digestive enzymes in the saliva cause “the intensely itchy welts”. Humans are possible hosts. The length of the mite’s cycle normally lasts two to 12 months. After about six days, the prelarvae grow into their larval stage. the mite may still be attached for up to 3 days. The itching can be alleviated through use of over-the-counter topical corticosteroids and antihistamines. According to Mayo Clinic, the chiggers “fall off after a few days, leaving behind red, itchy welts”, which normally heal on their own within one to two weeks. Hot showers or baths also help reduce itching. There is an estimated one million new scrub typhus infections each year, and over one billion people around the world are at risk. Without appropriate treatment, the case fatality rate of scrub typhus can reach 30%

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trombiculidae

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=%22Trombiculidae%22&t=newext&atb=v356-1&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images

Therapure Remedies: For skin only: Neem Soap with scrub glove, VitgaBath with CP SO, CP BVC, CP C, CP PAR-D. CP PAR-M, CP PIN, CP PRS, CP SPQ, CP 1-5, Steamer Therapy with CP B or R Tinctures, Therapure Bug Juice.

Therapure Remedies for resultant Scrub Typhus: JJ 5, IV Silver / Vitamin C, CP ABO, CP ANT, CP BCB, CP DNG, CP FNG, CP FVR, CP IFP, CP LAC, CP LIV, CP W

Conventional Therapies for Skin and Internal Infeciton: doxycycline, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, Rifampicin, azithromycin. Deeply clean affected bed and other areas with bleach with hot water and hot dry. Therapure Bug Juice rubbed into the bite.

Bed bug

Cimicidae: Cimex lectularius and Cimex hemipterus

skin

visual

worldwide

clothing, bedding, personal possessions

Dormancy Period: Bug can be dormant up to 12 months. No vectored diseases are known.

Although they move away from the host after feeding, they remain within the confines of their host’s roost, nest or dwelling. They may be considered to be micro-predatory bloodsuckers. Adult bedbugs have been reported to live three to twelve months if in an untreated household situation. The effects of cimicid feeding on the host include causing an immune response that results in discomfort, the transmission of pathogens, secondary infections at the wound site, physiological changes such as iron deficiency, and reduced fitness. Although viruses and other pathogens can be acquired by cimicids, they rarely transmit them to their hosts, unless the host is immune compromised.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cimicidae

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=%22Cimicidae%22&t=newext&atb=v356-1&iax=images&ia=images

Body louse – Pediculosis

Pediculus humanus humanus

all skin areas

visual identification under magnification (Vagabond’s disease)

common worldwide

skin-to-skin contact such as sexual activity and via sharing clothing or bedding

Dormancy Period: From vectored pathogens up to 20 days.

Body lice may lay eggs on the host hairs and clothing, but clothing is where the majority of eggs are usually secured. The most important pathogens which are transmitted by them are Rickettsia prowazekii (causes epidemic typhus), Borrelia recurrentis (causes relapsing fever), and Bartonella quintana (causes trench fever). Adult lice can live for about thirty days, but if they are separated from their host they will die within two days.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_louse

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=%22Pediculus+humanus%22&t=newext&atb=v356-1&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images

Therapure Remedies for resultant vectored dieseases: JJ 5, IV Silver / Vitamin C, CP ABO, CP ANT, CP BCB, CP DNG, CP FNG, CP FVR, CP IFP, CP LAC, CP LIV, CP W.

Conventional Therapies for Skin and Internal Infection: doxycycline, erythromycin, or azithromycin. Deeply clean affected clothing, bed and other areas with bleach, in hot water with hot dry. Therapure Bug Juice rubbed into the affected area.

Crab louse – Phthiriasis (crabs)

Pthirus pubis

pubic area, eyelashes, scalp

visual identification under magnification

common worldwide

skin-to-skin contact such as sexual activity and via sharing clothing or bedding

Dormancy Period: Adult louse live for up to 30 days. No vectored diseases are known.

Feeding exclusively on blood, the crab louse usually is found in the person’s pubic hair. Although the louse cannot jump, it can also live in other areas of the body that are covered with coarse hair, such as the peri-anal area, the entire body (in men), and the eyelashes (in children).

The total life cycle from egg to adult is 16–25 days. Adults live for up to 30 days. Crab lice feed exclusively on blood, and take a blood meal 4–5 times daily. Outside the host they can survive for 24–48 hours. Crab lice are transmitted from person to person most commonly via sexual contact, although fomites (bedding, clothing) may play a minor role in their transmission. Crab lice are not known to transmit disease; however, secondary bacterial infection can occur from scratching of the skin. Symptoms of crab louse infestation in the pubic area include itching, redness and inflammation.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crab_louse

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=%22Crab+louse%22&t=newext&atb=v356-1&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images

Conventional Therapies for Skin: doxycycline, erythromycin, ivermectin, azithromycin. Deeply clean affected clothing, bed and other areas with bleach, in hot water with hot dry. Therapure Bug Juice rubbed into the affected area.

Demodex – Demodicosis

Demodex folliculorum/brevis/canis

eyebrow, eyelashes, skin, face, scalp

microscopy of eyelash or eyebrow hair follicle, cellophane tape method (CTP), squeezing method, skin scrapings

pandemic, worldwide

Commensal, prolonged skin-to-skin contact

Dormancy Period: The total lifespan of a Demodex mite is several weeks, with skin diseases evolving over days or months.

Demodex canis lives on the domestic dog, can become mange, and are easily transferred from them. Demodicosis is most often seen in folliculitis (inflammation of the hair follicles of the skin). It may result in small pustules (pimples) at the base of a hair shaft on inflamed, congested skin. Demodicosis may also cause itching, swelling, and erythema of the eyelid margins. Scales at the base of the eyelashes may develop. Typically, patients complain of eyestrain. Older people are much more likely to carry face mites; about a third of children and young adults, half of adults, and two-thirds of elderly people carry them. The lower rate in children may be because children produce less sebum, or simply have had less time to acquire the mite. The six-legged larvae hatch after 3–4 days, and the larvae develop into adults in about 7 days. The total lifespan of a Demodex mite is several weeks.

Demodex mites are involved in psoriasis, allergic rhinitis, and seborrheic dermatitis in immuno-suppressed individuals. a correlation between Demodex infestation and acne vulgaris exists, suggesting it may play a role in promoting acne, including in immunocompetent infants displaying pityriasis and erythema toxicum neonatorum. Studies suggest an association between mite infestation and rosacea.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demodex

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=%22Demodex%C2%A0%E2%80%93%C2%A0Demodicosis%22&t=newext&atb=v356-1&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images

Conventional Therapies for Skin: doxycycline, erythromycin, ivermectin, azithromycin. Deeply clean affected clothing, bed and other areas with bleach, in hot water with hot dry.

Flea, jigger

Siphonaptera: Pulicinae

skin

visual identification under magnification

worldwide

environment

Dormancy Period: Several months without food. Numerous dangerous vectors can emerge up to years later.

Fleas feed on a wide variety of warm-blooded vertebrates including dogs, cats, rabbits, squirrels, ferrets, rats, mice, birds, and sometimes humans. Female fleas can lay 5000 or more eggs over their life, an adult flea only lives for 2 or 3 months. Without a host to provide a blood meal. A flea’s life can be as short as a few days, or can live for up to a year and a half, can live for several months without eating, so long as they do not emerge from their puparia.

Fleas are vectors for viral, bacterial and rickettsial diseases of humans and other animals, as well as of protozoan and helminth parasites. Bacterial diseases carried by fleas include murine or endemic typhus and bubonic plague. Fleas can transmit Rickettsia typhi, Rickettsia felis, Bartonella henselae, and the myxomatosis virus. They can carry Hymenolepiasis tapeworms and Trypanosome protozoans. The chigoe flea or jigger (Tunga penetrans) causes the disease tungiasis, a major public health problem around the world. Fleas that specialize as parasites on specific mammals may use other mammals as hosts; thus, humans may easily be bitten by both cleaned or dirty cats and dogs fleas.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flea

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=%22flea%22&t=newext&atb=v356-1&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images

Therapure Remedies: For skin only: Neem Soap with scrub glove, VitaBath with CP SO, CP BVC, CP C, CP PAR-D. CP PAR-M, CP PIN, CP PRS, CP SPQ, CP 1-5, Steamer Therapy with CP B or R Tinctures. Therapure Bug Juice.

Conventional Therapies for Skin: pyriproxyfen or methoprene, selamectin, fipronil, imidacloprid. Deeply clean affected clothing, bed and other areas with bleach, in hot water with hot dry. Therapure Bug Juice rubbed into affected areas.

Head louse – Pediculosis

Pediculus humanus capitis

hair follicles

visual identification under magnification

common worldwide

head-to-head contact

Dormancy Period: Adult lice will die within 2 days without a blood meal. Rare vectors in Africa with up to 20 days incubation.

Head lice feed only on human blood and are only able to survive on human head hair. They only spread by human to human contact. When adults, they are about 2 to 3 mm long. When not attached to a human, they are unable to live beyond three days. In Ethiopia, head lice appear to be able to spread louse-born epidemic typhus and Bartonella quintana. Elsewhere head lice do not appear to carry these infections.

During its lifespan of 4 weeks a female louse lays 50-150 eggs. Eggs hatch within 6–9 days, each nymphal stage last for 4–5 days and accordingly the period from egg to adults lasts for 18–24 days. Adult lice live for an additional 3–4 weeks. Although any part of the scalp may be colonized, lice favor the nape of the neck and the area behind the ears, where the eggs are usually laid. Head lice are repelled by light and move towards shadows or dark-colored objects in their vicinity.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_louse

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_lice_infestation

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=%22head+lice+pediculosis%22&t=ftsa&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images

Therapure Remedies: For skin only: Neem Soap with scrub glove, VitgaBath with CP SO, CP BVC, CP C, CP PAR-D. CP PAR-M, CP PIN, CP PRS, CP SPQ, CP 1-5, Steamer Therapy with CP B or R Tinctures.

Conventional Therapies for Skin: malathion, ivermectin, dimethicone, permethrin, Abametapir. Wet combing, shaving, medical creams, and hot air (hair dryer).

House mouse, common rat, tropical rat mite — Rodent mite dermatitis

Liponyssoides sanguineus, Ornithonyssus bacoti, Laelaps echidnina

skin

visual identification under magnification

worldwide

rodent infestations

Dormancy Period: Rickettsialpox is generally mild and resolves within 2–3 weeks if untreated. There are no known deaths resulting from the disease. Other vectors have been lab tested but not proven outside the lab.

It can transmit human disease, is associated with causing rodent mite dermatitis in humans and is noted for carrying Rickettsia akari, which causes rickettsialpox. Rodent mites are capable of surviving for long periods without feeding and traveling long distances when seeking hosts. Cases have been reported in homes, libraries, hospitals and care homes. A similar condition, known as gamasoidosis, is caused by avian mites.

No human disease has been definitively found to be naturally vectored by these mites. Lab demonstrations have proved that they are at least capable of vectoring murine typhus, rickettsialpox, tularemia, plague, coxsackievirus, and Q fever, although it has not been known to do so outside the lab. The mite was reported as capable of vectoring human typhus, but these reports are not generally accepted.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodent_mite_dermatitis

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=%22rodent+mite+dermatitis%22&t=ftsa&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images

Conventional therapies for vector are varied.

Conventional Therapies for Skin: pyriproxyfen or methoprene, selamectin, fipronil, imidacloprid. Deeply clean affected clothing, bed, dwelling, and other areas with bleach, in hot water with hot dry. Therapure Bug Juice rubbed into affected areas decreases itch and swelling.

Mosquito

Insecta: Diptera

skin

visual

worldwide

high grass, weeds, wet areas

Dormancy Period: Up to several years with vectored diseases.

Mosquito-borne diseases or illnesses are caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites transmitted by mosquitoes. Nearly 700 million people contract mosquito-borne illnesses each year, resulting in more than a million deaths.

Diseases transmitted by mosquitoes include malaria, dengue, West Nile virus, chikungunya, yellow fever, filariasis, tularemia, dirofilariasis, Japanese encephalitis, Saint Louis encephalitis, Western equine encephalitis, Eastern equine encephalitis, Venezuelan equine encephalitis, Ross River fever, Barmah Forest fever, La Crosse encephalitis, and Zika fever, as well as newly detected Keystone virus and Rift Valley fever.

When a mosquito bites a human, it injects saliva and anti-coagulants. With the initial bite to an individual, there is no reaction, but with subsequent bites, the body’s immune system develops antibodies. The bites become inflamed and itchy within 24 hours. Avoid all mosquito bites, but especially those from larger black-and-white mosquitos.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosquito-borne_disease

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosquito

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=%22mosquito+bites%22&t=ftsa&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images

Therapure Remedies: For skin only: Neem Soap with scrub glove, VitaBath with CP SO, CP BVC, CP C, CP PAR-D. CP PAR-M, CP PIN, CP PRS, CP SPQ, CP 1-5, Steamer Therapy with CP B or R Tinctures. Bug Juice Natural Insect Repellent.

Conventional Therapies for vectored diseases: Varied depending on the disease.

Conventional Therapies for Skin: calamine lotion, with hot dry. Therapure Bug Juice rubbed into the bite.

Northern fowl mite, Red mite, Tropical fowl mite — Gamasoidosis

Ornithonyssus sylviarum, similar to Dermanyssus gallinae, Ornithonyssus bursa

skin

visual identification under magnification

worldwide

nesting birds, poultry farming

Dormancy Period: Up to many years depending on the related vector.

Diagnosis can be challenging as the small size of avian mites make them “barely visible to the unaided eye”. Dermanyssus gallinae can also infest various body parts, including the ear canal and scalp. commonly found in the bedroom or where the patient sleeps, as they prefer to stay close to their host for optimal feeding. D. gallinae generally visit their host for up to 1–2 hours, leave after completing their blood meal, and typically feed every 2–4 days. They are able to move extremely quickly, and can take less than 1 second to bite; enough time to inject their saliva and to induce rash and itching.They locate potential hosts through temperature changes, vibrations, chemical signals and CO2.

They primarily infect egg laying chickens, canaries, sparrows, starlings, pigeons, and poultry and also cats, dogs, hamsters, gerbils.This blood-feeding parasite is broadly distributed, and has been reported on 72 host species of North American birds in 26 families.

Gamasoidosis, particularly caused by D. gallinae mite may be a vector or reservoir of several zoonotic pathogens, such as Chlamydia psittaci, Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, Salmonella spp.,Mycobacterium spp., Coxiella burnetii, Bartonella spp., Borrelia afzelii, Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus, Eastern equine encephalitis virus, and Fowlpox virus.

Immunocompromised patients, patients that take corticosteroids, and patients with dementia may have a more severe infestation than healthy patients.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ornithonyssus_sylviarum

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ornithonyssus_bursa

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamasoidosis

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=%22ornithonyssus+sylviarum%22&t=ftsa&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images

Conventional Therapies for vectored diseases: Varied depending on the disease.

Conventional Therapies for Skin: calamine lotion, pyriproxyfen or methoprene, selamectin, fipronil, imidacloprid. Deeply clean affected clothing, bed, dwelling, and other areas with bleach, in hot water with hot dry.

Scabies

Sarcoptes scabiei

skin

microscopy of surface scrapings

worldwide

skin-to-skin contact such as sexual activity and via sharing clothing or bedding

Dormancy Period: Up to six weeks.

Scabies, also sometimes known as the seven-year itch, is a contagious human skin infestation by the tiny (0.2–0.45 mm) mite Sarcoptes scabiei, In a first-ever infection, the infected person usually develops symptoms within two to six weeks. During a second infection, symptoms may begin within 24 hours. The mites burrow into the skin to live and deposit eggs.The symptoms of scabies are due to an allergic reaction to the mites. Scabies is most often spread during a relatively long period of direct skin contact with an infected person (at least 10 minutes) such as that which may occur during sexual activity or living together. Spread of the disease may occur even if the person has not developed symptoms yet.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scabies

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=%22scabies%22&t=ftsa&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images

Conventional Therapies for vectored diseases: Varied depending on the disease.

Conventional Therapies for Skin: lindane, benzyl benzoate, crotamiton, malathion, and sulfur preparations. Ivermectin, permethirin, crotamiton, lindane creme, calamine lotion, with hot dry. Therapure Bug Juice rubbed into the affected areas.

Tick

Arachnida: Ixodidae and Argasidae

skin

visual

worldwide

high grass, leaf litter, weeds

Dormancy Period: Up to several years, depending on the vector.

Ticks are external parasites, living by feeding on the blood of mammals, birds, and sometimes reptiles and amphibians. Ticks have up to seven nymphal stages (instars), each one requiring blood ingestion, and as such, Ticks undergo a multihost life cycle. Because of their hematophagous (blood-ingesting) diets, ticks act as vectors of many serious diseases that affect humans and other animals.

Ticks are extremely resilient animals. They can survive in a near vacuum for as long as half an hour. Their slow metabolism during their dormant periods enables them to go prolonged durations between meals. Even after 18 weeks of starvation, they can endure repeated two-day bouts of dehydration followed by rehydration, but their survivability against dehydration drops rapidly after 36 weeks of starvation.

Species of the bacterial genus Rickettsia are responsible for typhus, rickettsialpox, boutonneuse fever, African tick bite fever, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Flinders Island spotted fever, and Queensland tick typhus (Australian tick typhus). Other tick-borne diseases include Lyme disease and Q fever, Colorado tick fever, Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever, tularemia, tick-borne relapsing fever, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, Bourbon virus, and tick-borne meningoencephalitis, as well as bovine anaplasmosis and the Heartland virus. In the United States, Lyme disease is the most commonly reported vector-borne disease in the country.

Some species, notably the Australian paralysis tick, are also intrinsically venomous and can cause tick paralysis. Tropical bont ticks transmit the heartwater, which can be particularly devastating in cattle. The ticks carried by migratory birds act as reservoirs and vectors of foreign infectious diseases.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ixodidae

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argasidae

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=%22ticks%22&t=ftsa&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images

Conventional Therapies for vectored diseases: Varied depending on the disease.

Ectoparasites Skin and Scalp Parasites and Pathogens

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Ectoparasites
Skin and Scalp Parasites and Pathogens