Parasite
Sarcoptes scabiei
Burrowing mite that causes scabies
sar-KOP-teez SKAY-bee-eye
High-yield clue
Intense itching worse at night with thin burrow tracks in web spaces is the classic scabies clue.
Overview
A microscopic mite (arthropod ectoparasite) that burrows into the epidermis and lays eggs, producing scabies with intense itching. It matters as the classic burrowing skin ectoparasite of microbiology coursework.
Classification
- Arthropod ectoparasite
- Arachnid mite
- Eight-legged adult
- Epidermal burrower
Lab & identification clues
- Skin-scraping mineral-oil prep vocabulary
- Mite, eggs, or fecal pellets (scybala) on microscopy
- Burrow-track surface feature
- Dermoscopy 'delta-wing' mite sign concept
Associations
- Skin-to-skin close-contact transmission
- Crusted (Norwegian) scabies in immunocompromised
- Web-space/wrist/waist distribution vocabulary
- Household/crowding outbreak epidemiology
Commonly confused with
- Pediculus (lice)
- Allergic dermatitis
Frequently asked questions
What is Sarcoptes scabiei?
A microscopic mite (arthropod ectoparasite) that burrows into the epidermis and lays eggs, producing scabies with intense itching. It matters as the classic burrowing skin ectoparasite of microbiology coursework.
What are the lab clues for Sarcoptes scabiei?
Lab clues for Sarcoptes scabiei include Skin-scraping mineral-oil prep vocabulary; Mite, eggs, or fecal pellets (scybala) on microscopy; Burrow-track surface feature; Dermoscopy 'delta-wing' mite sign concept.
What is Sarcoptes scabiei commonly confused with?
Sarcoptes scabiei is commonly confused with Pediculus (lice) and Allergic dermatitis.
Original student-study summary. Sources checked: OpenStax Microbiology 2e, NCBI Bookshelf Medical Microbiology, and CDC topic pages where applicable; reviewed 2026-06. Educational only; no diagnosis, treatment, dosing, or specimen-handling guidance.