Ectoparasites

Background

A taxonomically diverse group of organisms that infest the superficial skin of human beings (and other animals).
Refers to pathogens such as ticks, fleas, lice, parasitic flies and mites that attach or burrow into the skin and remain there for a relatively long period of time (2) (not classically blood-sucking arthropods, such as mosquitoes)[1]

Identification

Arthropods[2]
- Insects (3 distinct body parts: head, thorax, and abdomen; head has 2 antennae; thorax has 6 legs; many also have 2 pairs of wings)
  - Fleas
  - Flies
  - Lice
- Arachnids (2 body parts: prosoma and opisthosoma; 8 legs; do NOT have wings or antennae)
  - Ticks
  - Mites (e.g. scabies)

Differential Diagnosis

Domestic U.S. Ectoparasites

Bed bugs
Lice
Scabies (Mites)
Ticks
Fleas
Pseudoparasites
Delusional parasitosis (Ekbom syndrome)

See also travel-related skin conditions

Ectoparasite & Related Images

Bed bug
Myiasis
Scabies
Ixodes tick
Lice
Fleas
Pseudoparasites

See Also

Parasites

External Links

https://parasite.org.au/para-site/contents/arthropod-intoduction.html

Video

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References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Parasites [Internet]. [cited 2017 Dec 28]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/about.html
https://parasite.org.au/para-site/contents/arthropod-intoduction.html

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