''Cheyletiella'' is a genus of

mite Mites are small arachnids (eight-legged arthropods). Mites span two large orders of arachnids, the Acariformes and the Parasitiformes, which were historically grouped together in the subclass Acari, but genetic analysis does not show clear evid ...

s that live on the skin surface of

dog The dog (''Canis familiaris'' or ''Canis lupus familiaris'') is a domesticated descendant of the wolf. Also called the domestic dog, it is derived from the extinct Pleistocene wolf, and the modern wolf is the dog's nearest living relative. Do ...

cat The cat (''Felis catus'') is a domestic species of small carnivorous mammal. It is the only domesticated species in the family Felidae and is commonly referred to as the domestic cat or house cat to distinguish it from the wild members of ...

s, and

rabbit Rabbits, also known as bunnies or bunny rabbits, are small mammals in the family Leporidae (which also contains the hares) of the order Lagomorpha (which also contains the pikas). ''Oryctolagus cuniculus'' includes the European rabbit speci ...

s. The adult mites are about 0.385 millimeters long, have eight legs with combs instead of claws, and have

palpi Pedipalps (commonly shortened to palps or palpi) are the second pair of appendages of Chelicerata, chelicerates – a group of arthropods including spiders, scorpions, horseshoe crabs, and sea spiders. The pedipalps are lateral to the chelicerae ...

that end in prominent hooks. They do not burrow into the skin, but live in the

keratin Keratin () is one of a family of structural fibrous proteins also known as ''scleroproteins''. Alpha-keratin (α-keratin) is a type of keratin found in vertebrates. It is the key structural material making up scales, hair, nails, feathers, ho ...

level. Their entire 21-day

life cycle Life cycle, life-cycle, or lifecycle may refer to: Science and academia *Biological life cycle, the sequence of life stages that an organism undergoes from birth to reproduction ending with the production of the offspring *Life-cycle hypothesis, ...

is on one host. They cannot survive off the host for more than 10 days.

Cheyletiellosis

Cheyletiellosis (also known as ''Cheyletiella'' dermatitis),"Freedberg, et al. (2003). ''Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine''. (6th ed.). McGraw-Hill. . is a mild

dermatitis Dermatitis is inflammation of the skin, typically characterized by itchiness, redness and a rash. In cases of short duration, there may be small blisters, while in long-term cases the skin may become thickened. The area of skin involved can v ...

caused by

s of the

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

''Cheyletiella''. It is also known as walking dandruff due to skin scales being carried by the mites. Cheyletiellosis is seen more commonly in areas where

flea Flea, the common name for the order Siphonaptera, includes 2,500 species of small flightless insects that live as external parasites of mammals and birds. Fleas live by ingesting the blood of their hosts. Adult fleas grow to about long, a ...

s are less prevalent, because of the decreased use of flea products that are also efficacious for the treatment of this mite. Cheyletiellosis is highly contagious. Transmission is by direct contact with an affected animal.

Presentation

Symptoms in animals vary from no signs to intense itching, scales on the skin, and hair loss. The lesions are usually on the

back The human back, also called the dorsum, is the large posterior area of the human body, rising from the top of the buttocks to the back of the neck. It is the surface of the body opposite from the chest and the abdomen. The vertebral column run ...

of the animal. Symptoms in humans include multiple red, itchy bumps on the arms, trunk, and buttocks. Because humans are not a host for the mite, the symptoms usually go away in about three weeks. Though the medical community does not consider a human mite infestation a legitimate diagnosis, it will treat the symptoms if necessary.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is by finding the mites or eggs microscopically in a skin scraping, combing, or on acetate tape applied to the skin.

Treatment

The most common treatment in animals is weekly use of some form of topical

pesticide Pesticides are substances that are meant to control pests. This includes herbicide, insecticide, nematicide, molluscicide, piscicide, avicide, rodenticide, bactericide, insect repellent, animal repellent, microbicide, fungicide, and lampri ...

appropriate for the affected animal, often an anti

product.

Fipronil Fipronil is a broad-spectrum insecticide that belongs to the phenylpyrazole chemical family. Fipronil disrupts the insect central nervous system by blocking the ligand-gated ion channel of the GABAA receptor and glutamate-gated chloride (GluCl ...

works well, especially in cats. Cats can also be treated with a lime sulfur insecticide dip or a shampoo with non-pyrethrin insecticide for two weeks beyond the conclusion of symptoms. In unresponsive cases,

ivermectin Ivermectin (, '' EYE-vər-MEK-tin'') is an antiparasitic drug. After its discovery in 1975, its first uses were in veterinary medicine to prevent and treat heartworm and acariasis. Approved for human use in 1987, today it is used to treat inf ...

is used.

Selamectin Selamectin (trade names Revolution and Stronghold manufactured by Zoetis, and Revolt manufactured by Aurora Pharmaceuticals, among others) is a topical parasiticide and anthelminthic used on dogs and cats. It treats and prevents infections of ...

is also recommended for treatment. None of these products are approved for treatment of cheyletiellosis. Other pets in the same household should also be treated, and the house or kennel must be treated with an environmental

spray.

Species

* ''

Cheyletiella blakei ''Cheyletiella blakei'' is a small mite and ectoparasitic of domestic cats. It is a zoonosis that can be transmitted from the cat to humans. Its symptoms in human can include dermatosis, extreme pruritis, 'itchiness'. Those who are most susceptib ...

'' Smiley, 1970 — infests cats (''

Felis catus The cat (''Felis catus'') is a domestic species of small carnivorous mammal. It is the only domesticated species in the family Felidae and is commonly referred to as the domestic cat or house cat to distinguish it from the wild members of t ...

''), USA (Washington DC) * ''

Cheyletiella parasitivorax ''Cheyletiella'' is a genus of mites that live on the skin surface of dogs, cats, and rabbits. The adult mites are about 0.385 millimeters long, have eight legs with combs instead of claws, and have palpi that end in prominent hooks. They do n ...

'' — infests rabbits (''

Oryctolagus cuniculus The European rabbit (''Oryctolagus cuniculus'') or coney is a species of rabbit native to the Iberian Peninsula (including Spain, Portugal, and southwestern France), western France, and the northern Atlas Mountains in northwest Africa. It has b ...

''), France * ''

Cheyletiella romerolagi ''Cheyletiella'' is a genus of mites that live on the skin surface of dogs, cats, and rabbits. The adult mites are about 0.385 millimeters long, have eight legs with combs instead of claws, and have palpi that end in prominent hooks. They do n ...

'' (Fain, 1972) — infests ''

Romerolagus diazi The volcano rabbit (''Romerolagus diazi''), also known as teporingo or zacatuche, is a small rabbit that resides in the mountains of Mexico.Hoth, J., A. Velázquez F. Romero, L. León, M. Aranda and D. Bell, 1987. The Volcano Rabbit- a Shrinking ...

'', USA (New York) * ''

Cheyletiella strandtmanni ''Cheyletiella'' is a genus of mites that live on the skin surface of dogs, cats, and rabbits. The adult mites are about 0.385 millimeters long, have eight legs with combs instead of claws, and have palpi that end in prominent hooks. They do n ...

'' Smiley, 1970 — infests hares (''

Lepus Hares and jackrabbits are mammals belonging to the genus ''Lepus''. They are herbivores, and live solitarily or in pairs. They nest in slight depressions called forms, and their young are able to fend for themselves shortly after birth. The gen ...

spp.), Taiwan * ''

Cheyletiella yasguri ''Cheyletiella yasguri'' is a species of mites from the genus ''Cheyletiella ''Cheyletiella'' is a genus of mites that live on the skin surface of dogs, cats, and rabbits. The adult mites are about 0.385 millimeters long, have eight legs wit ...

'' Smiley, 1965 — infests dogs ''C. yasguri'' and ''C. blakei'' can transiently affect humans.

References