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Problems in Diagnosing Scabies, a Global Disease in Human and Animal Populations

Walton, S. and Currie, Bart J. (2007). Problems in Diagnosing Scabies, a Global Disease in Human and Animal Populations. Clinical Microbiology Reviews,20(2):268-279.

Document type: Journal Article
Citation counts: Scopus Citation Count Cited 94 times in Scopus Article | Citations
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IRMA ID 0HON0118xPUB6
Title Problems in Diagnosing Scabies, a Global Disease in Human and Animal Populations
Author Walton, S.
Currie, Bart J.
Journal Name Clinical Microbiology Reviews
Publication Date 2007
Volume Number 20
Issue Number 2
ISSN 0893-8512   (check CDU catalogue open catalogue search in new window)
Scopus ID 2-s2.0-34248198412
Start Page 268
End Page 279
Total Pages 12
Place of Publication US
Publisher American Society for Microbiology
Field of Research 1108 - Medical Microbiology
HERDC Category C1 - Journal Article (DEST)
Abstract Scabies is a worldwide disease and a major public health problem in many developing countries, related primarily to poverty and overcrowding. In remote Aboriginal communities in northern Australia, prevalences of up to 50% among children have been described, despite the availability of effective chemotherapy. Sarcoptic mange is also an important veterinary disease engendering significant morbidity and mortality in wild, domestic, and fanned animals. Scabies is caused by the ectoparasitic mite Sarcoptes scabiei burrowing into the host epidermis. Clinical symptoms include intensely itchy lesions that often are a precursor to secondary bacterial pyoderma, septicemia, and, in humans, poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis. Although diagnosed scabies cases can be successfully treated, the rash of the primary infestation takes 4 to 6 weeks to develop, and thus, transmission to others often occurs prior to therapy. In humans, the symptoms of scabies infestations can mimic other dermatological skin diseases, and traditional tests to diagnose scabies are less than 50% accurate. To aid early identification of disease and thus treatment, a simple, cheap, sensitive, and specific test for routine diagnosis of active scabies is essential. Recent developments leading to the expression and purification of S. scabiei recombinant antigens have identified a number of molecules with diagnostic potential, and current studies include the investigation and assessment of the accuracy of these recombinant proteins in identifying antibodies in individuals with active scabies and in differentiating those with past exposure. Early identification of disease will enable selective treatment of those affected, reduce transmission and the requirement for mass treatment, limit the potential.for escalating mite resistance, and provide another means of controlling scabies in populations in areas of endemicity.
DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/CMR.00042-06   (check subscription with CDU E-Gateway service for CDU Staff and Students  check subscription with CDU E-Gateway in new window)
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URL http://cmr.asm.org/cgi/reprint/20/2/268?maxtoshow=&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=Problems+in+Diagnosing+Scabies%2C+a+Global+Disease+in+Human+and+Animal+Populations&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&resourcetype=HWCIT
 
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