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[Sarcoptes scabiei]

Although they do not cause scabies in humans, the follicle mites, Demodex folliculorum and Demodex brevis, are sometimes found in human skin biopsies and should not be confused with the human scabies mite (Sarcoptes scabiei). The adult Demodex mites are long and slender, measuring approximately 0.30 mm long by 0.05 mm wide, and can be found in the pilosebaceous follicles on the face, nose, forehead, and eyelids; they usually do not cause problems in humans. A different species of Demodex mite (Demodex canis) causes demodectic mange in dogs but does not affect humans.

A	B

A: Adult Demodex mite.  Image courtesy of Dr. CSBR Prasad, Vindhya Clinic and Diagnostic Lab, India.
B: Close-up of the anterior end of the mite in Figure A, showing the mouthparts (gnathosoma) and legs (podosoma).

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C, D: Cross-sections of skin showing Demodex mites, stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E).  Images courtesy of the Westchester Medical Center, Valhalla, NY.