Is Demodex really non-pathogenic?

Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo

Gil Patrus Pena²  José De Souza Andrade Filho¹ 

[1] ,Prefeitura de Belo Horizonte Laboratório Distrital Centro-SulMinas Gerais ,Brasil

关键词: Demodex;    Skin diseases;    Host-parasite relationship;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S0036-46652000000300012

来源: SciELO

【 摘 要 】

Although usually considered a non-pathogenic parasite in parasitological textbooks, Demodex folliculorum has been implicated as a causative agent for some dermatological conditions, such as rosacea-like eruptions and some types of blepharitis. Several anecdotal reports have demonstrated unequivocal tissue damage directly related to the presence of the parasite. However, this seems to be exceedingly rare, in contrast with the marked prevalence of this infestation. We have had the opportunity to observe one of such cases. A 38-year-old woman presented with rosacea-like papular lesions in her right cheek. Histopathological examination revealed granulomatous dermal inflammation with a well-preserved mite phagocytized by a multinucleated giant cell. This finding may be taken as an evidence for the pathogenicity of the parasite, inasmuch as it does not explain how such a common parasite is able to produce such a rare disease.

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