Demodex Parasite

Demodex By Kaden

What Is Demodex?

Parasite

• A Parasitic Mite
• Lives in/near hair follicales in mammals
• 65 known species
• Adult mites are 0.3–0.4 mm (0.012–0.016 in) long
• Females are lager and rounder than males

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Exists

• Only two species live with humans (Demodex folliculorum and Demodex brevis)
• One species lives on the domestic dog (Demodex canis)

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Where they live

• Found mostly on the face but can spread to other areas
• Commonly found near the nose, the eyelashes, and the eyebrows
• D. folliculorum is found in hair follicles
• D. brevis lives in sebaceous glands connected to hair follicles

• Rufli, T.; Mumcuoglu, Y. (1981). "The hair follicle mites Demodex folliculorum and Demodex brevis: biology and medical importance. A review". Dermatologica. Retrieved October 8, 2016
• Rush, Aisha (2000). "Demodex folliculorum". Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan. Retrieved 9 October 2016
• Liu, Jingbo; Sheha, Hosam; Tseng, Scheffer C. G. (October 2010). "Pathogenic role of Demodex mites in blepharitis Retrieved October 8, 2016
• "2011-2012 Annual Evidence Update on Acne vulgaris" (PDF). University of Nottingham Centre of Evidence Based Dermatology. 2012. p. 10. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
• MacKenzie, Debora (August 30, 2012). "Rosacea may be caused by mite faeces in your pores". New Scientist. Retrieved October 7, 2016
• Thoemmes, Megan S.; Fergus, Daniel J.; Urban, Julie; Trautwein, Michelle; Dunn, Robert R.; Kolokotronis, Sergios-Orestis (27 August 2014). "Ubiquity and Diversity of Human-Associated Demodex Mites" Retrieved October 6, 2016

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Fun Facts

Treatment

Most effective method

• Ether (not allowed in the US) or another volatile fluid like Acetone is brushed vigorously against the site of the mite. Wait five mintues, and repeat with fluid that is 70% alcohol.

Not as effective

• Mercury Oxide 1% ointment

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Food and Move

• Semi-transparent, elongated body, eight short legs, and covered in scales
• They eat skin cells and sebum (oils)
• They walk at a speed of 8-16 cm per hour
• Avoid light
• Total lifespan of several weeks

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History

Current Research

• It is found that the older you get the better the chance of you carrying the parasite. About a third of children and young adults, half of adults, and two-thirds of elderly people carried them.
• Very little attention was paid to these mites until recently when an association popped up about these mites and rosacea

What makes it a parasite?

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Alone one of these mites will not kill you, or harm you. Most of the time these mites and humans have a commensalism relationship but it started to be classified as a parasitic relationship when found that an infestation can cause inflammation, hair loss, severe acne, and other skin diseases.

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Founded

• D. folliculorum was first described in 1842 by G. Simon but was originally found by a frenchman named Berger in earwax in 1840
• D. brevis was identified as separate in 1963 by Akbulatova

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