Dermatoparasitoses in Referral Patients to the Laboratory

Dermatoparasitic infestations due to the mites Demodex spp. and Sarcoptes scabie are prevalent dermatological disorders worldwide.

Referral patients from the Departments of Dermatology, Infectious Diseases, and from the psychologists, in some cases, to the laboratory of Medical Helminthology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran were examined and documented for demodicosis and scabies from March 2009 to December 2020. All patients' data were collected and then analyzed statistically by SDATA version 14, using the Chi-square test.

Out of 494-suspected patients suffering from dermal disorders, 99 patients (20.04%) and 20 cases (4.04%) were found infested with demodicosis and scabies, respectively. Most demodicosis cases belonged to the 46-60 year age group while the infestation rate of scabies was higher in the age group under 5 years (P=<0.0001). Demodicosis was seen more prevalent in women than men, and scabies were higher in men (P =0.15). The cases of demodicosis in fall and scabies in winter and spring were more frequent. Demodicosis picked up in 2015 and 2017 (P=0.03), while the prevalent year for scabies was in 2016 (P=0.77). Both current ectoparasites declined dramatically by Covid-19 pandemic.

Demodicosis and scabies have been found correlated with age, and no statistical association was seen between the gender and seasonal factors. Besides, the obvious decline of demodicosis and scabies infestation rates during the Covid-19 outbreak can mention that social distance and hygiene standards have negative effects on dermatoparasites transmission.