Molecular approaches to the analysis of epidemiology, drug resistance and host immune responses to the scabies mite Sarcoptes scabiei

D C Holt; Kate E Mounsey; S Pizzutto; A Slender; Shelley F Walton

Conference poster

Molecular approaches to the analysis of epidemiology, drug resistance and host immune responses to the scabies mite Sarcoptes scabiei

D C Holt, Kate E Mounsey, S Pizzutto, A Slender and Shelley F Walton

American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) Annual Meeting, 54th (Washington, United States, 11-Dec-2005–15-Dec-2005)

2005

Files and links (1)

url

http://www.abstractsonline.com/viewer/viewAbstractPrintFriendly.asp?CKey={7D39BFE7-0CC4-47FD-BBAC-A0DF9F322AF0}&SKey={C906ED0C-31F9-43D2-8488-E4A4F65C59E0}&MKey={090C586A-03E6-44DA-B6CD-E06983A9C814}&AKey={F80697F6-E207-4950-99FC-3AE41F9B4B10}View

Webpage

Abstract

Medical Microbiology

Scabies is a parasitic infestation of the skin by the astigmata mite Sarcoptes scabiei. Despite the availability of chemotherapy, scabies remains a major cause of morbidity in many remote Aboriginal communities in Australia, as well as in other socially disadvantaged populations, with approximately 300 million people affected world wide. Preliminary analysis of a large EST dataset resulted in the identification of numerous putative antigens and allergens of the scabies mite, including homologues of most of the known house dust mite allergens. Many of these have been expressed as recombinant molecules and are being utilised in the characterisation of the host immune and inflammatory responses, including analysis of the differing responses between patients with crusted (severe) and ordinary scabies. Also of significance are molecules which have been implicated in drug resistance in other organisms. These are currently being investigated in light of our recent evidence of both clinical and in vitro ivermectin resistance of mites from patients who have received multiple doses of the drug. Using this data we have also been able to extend our work examining the genetic epidemiology and transmission dynamics of the mite. We have extended our multi-locus genotyping system from 3 to 15 hypervariable microsatellite markers and have included several mitochondrial genes, to substantiate our previous data showing that gene flow between human and dog derived scabies mite populations is extremely rare within endemic communities. This genetic division also has important implications in for the development of vaccines and diagnostic tests as well as for the emergence and monitoring of drug resistance in S. scabiei.

Details

Title: Molecular approaches to the analysis of epidemiology, drug resistance and host immune responses to the scabies mite Sarcoptes scabiei
Authors: D C Holt (Author) - Menzies School of Health Research
Kate E Mounsey (Author) - Menzies School of Health Research
S Pizzutto (Author) - Menzies School of Health Research
A Slender (Author) - Menzies School of Health Research
Shelley F Walton (Author) - Menzies School of Health Research
Conference details: American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) Annual Meeting, 54th (Washington, United States, 11-Dec-2005–15-Dec-2005)
Date published: 2005
Organisation Unit: School of Health - Biomedicine; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Health and Sport Sciences - Legacy; School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99450273802621
Output Type: Conference poster

Metrics

603 Record Views