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The cellular immune response to scabies in a porcine model
Conference presentation

The cellular immune response to scabies in a porcine model

Xiao Song Liu
USC Research Conference, 2013 (Sunshine Coast, Australia, 01-Jul-2013–05-Jul-2013)
University of the Sunshine Coast
2013
url
https://www.usc.edu.au/View
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Abstract

Clinical Sciences scabies immune response
Scabies is an intensely itching skin disorder caused by infestation of the mite Sarcoptes scabiei. While most people develop a relatively benign rash with low mite numbers, a fraction of patients develop into severe, sometimes deadly crusted scabies after infection. The immune mechanisms that lead to the development of crusted scabies are largely unknown. Recently, a porcine scabies model has been established by our group. Pigs infested with scabies mites develop similar clinical manifestations to humans, including ordinary and crusted scabies. This model therefore provides us with the opportunity to dissect the mechanisms that lead to the development of crusted scabies. Preliminary analysis shows that that one week after skin scabies mite infestation, the numbers of peripheral blood IFNγ secreting CD4+ T cells and T regulatory cells are increased, although total blood T cells numbers remain normal. While overall increases in T cells are observed in the skin from week 2 to 12 after infection, specifi c IFNg secreting CD4+ T cell and T regulatory cell infiltration is only observed on week 2, but not on week 8. Interestingly, peripheral blood isolated from a crusted scabies pig has higher numbers of IL-17 secreting γδ T cells, suggesting that the IL-17 secreting γδ T cells may have a role in the pathogenesis of crusted scabies development. The trial is currently still ongoing and more data will be collected prior to the presentation.

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