The immunology of scabies

Scabies is an inflammatory skin disease caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei. The mite itself provokes little dermatitis. The rash and itch associated with scabies is probably a manifestation of immune response. The immune response may help to limit the number of infesting organisms either directly by toxic products generated during the reaction or indirectly by evoking scratch. Critical studies using purified antigens from scabies mites in vivo and in vitro will be necessary in order to clarify the nature of the antigens involved and the role of different types of immune responses in producing clinical disease.