subject: Scabies Mites And Their Life Cycle [print this page] Scabies Mites And Their Life Cycle
As an obligate parasite, the scabies mite will spend its' entire life cycle on a human's body. Other less serious traces of scabies may be found in mammals such as cats, dogs, horses, pigs, and ferrets. These same mites may cause irritation to a human's skin as well; however, they will only cause a light rash or itch that will heal on its own. The mammal mite will eventually die off, unable to survive on human skin.
The life cycle of a scabies mite can last anywhere from a couple days to a few months, but can last for as long as the infection is untreated! Their eggs will begin to incubate and hatch within 3 to 4 days, although it's estimated that 90% of the hatched mites will not survive. These six-legged larvae will travel to the skin's surface in order to burrow into the fresh, uncut skin. Within a few days of hatching, these larvae will have created short burrows, called molting pouches, all over the infected area. Eventually, the larvae will molt into larger nymphs and then finally evolve into adults. These mites will mate once in their whole life cycle. The females will live for around 1 to 2 months; once impregnated, they will be fertile for the remainder of their life. On the other hand, the males typically die soon after mating.
Pregnant females will construct "serpentine burrows," which uses proteolytic enzymes to dissolve the first layer of the skin the stratum corneum of the epidermis. In the process of burrowing, they will lay a trail of their eggs. They will continue to lengthen their burrows, laying eggs for the rest of their life. Females are typically the ones most commonly passed from one person to another, usually by direct skin-to-skin contact. An accurate diagnosis and swift treatment will ensure minimal spread of the infection.
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