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Survival of adults and developmental stages ofSarcoptes scabiei var.canis when off the host

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Abstract

All life-stages ofSarcoptes scabiei var.canis survive in the hosts' environment for several days to several weeks depending on r.h. and temperature. Survival of larvae was comparable to males; survival of nymphs was comparable to females. Females and nymphs generally survived longer than larvae and males.

Low temperature (10–15°) and high r.h. prolonged survival of all life stages. At 10–15°C, females and nymphs survived 1–3 weeks at 97% r.h., 1–2 weeks at 75% r.h. and 5–8 days at 45% r.h. At 20–25°C, survival was significantly reduced but all life-stages survived at least 2 days at 25% r.h. and 5–6 days at 75–100% r.h. Long survival off the host coupled with host-seeking behavior of these mites make it likely that environmental contamination is a source of scabies in domestic and wild mammals, and in humans.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Wright State University, 45435, Dayton, OH, USA

    L. G. Arlian, D. L. Vyszenski-Moher & M. J. Pole

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  1. L. G. Arlian
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  2. D. L. Vyszenski-Moher
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  3. M. J. Pole
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Arlian, L.G., Vyszenski-Moher, D.L. & Pole, M.J. Survival of adults and developmental stages ofSarcoptes scabiei var.canis when off the host. Exp Appl Acarol 6, 181–187 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01193978

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