Diagnostic value of the molecular detection of < i > Sarcoptes scabiei < /i >  from a skin scraping in patients with suspected scabies

by Moonsuk Bae, Ji Yeun Kim, Jiwon Jung, Hye Hee Cha, Na-Young Jeon, Hyun-Jung Lee, Min Jae Kim, Sung Eun Chang, Sung-Han Kim Scabies is a highly contagious parasitic disease associated with long-term residence in nursing homes, and it is a public health burden worldwide. However, atypical skin manifestations are frequent and the widely used diagnostic test based on microscopic examinations has limited sensitivity. We ev aluated the diagnostic value of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from skin scraping in patients with suspected scabies. Adult patients with suspected scabies, unrelated diseases or healthy volunteers were enrolled at a tertiary hospital, in Seoul, South Korea, from December 2017 through October 2018. We classified participants based on the consensus criteria established by the International Alliance for the Control of Scabies in 2018; confirmed (microscopic mite detection), clinical (scabies burrow or typical lesions with two history features including itch and close contact with scabies patien ts), suspected scabies (typical lesion with one history feature or atypical lesion with two history features), or no scabies. PCR was performed on the skin scrapings to target thecytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene ofSarcoptes scabiei. A total of 47 participants, 33 with suspected scabies, 10 with unrelated diseases, and 4 healthy volunteers were enrolled. Of the 33 patients, 22 were classified as confirmed scabies, 2 as clinical scabies, 6 as suspected scabies,...
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Source Type: research