Demodex folliculorum and Demodex brevis (Acari: Demodecidae) and their association with facial and non-facial pathologies

ABSTRACT

The mites Demodex folliculorum (Simon) and Demodex brevis Akbulatova are part of the regular human skin fauna, found in the pilosebaceous unit, and their infestations might cause the disease known as demodicosis. Inflammatory response is triggered by this interaction in patients, causing the appearance of several facial dermatoses. In the present revision, mites will be characterized and their association with dermatological diseases shall be discussed, as well as diagnostic methods, immune response to their infestations, and the major treatments used for Demodex-related cases. Demodex infestations both in hair follicles (D. folliculorum) and in sebaceous glands (D. brevis) might lead to the aggravation of dermato-facial pathologies, and trigger a local inflammatory reaction in many cases, associated with mite density and their potential as vectors of pathogenic microorganisms. The treatments for these Demodex-associated pathologies have proven to be effective, particularly in decreasing density, and consequently, in mitigating symptoms and the overall patient clinical condition.

KEYWORDS:

• Blepharitis
• demodectic rosacea
• ectoparasites
• immunocompromised host
• skin mites

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Universidade do Vale do Taquari – Univates for their financial support and for providing the material required to conduct this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Author’s contributions

ANP, LV and GLS drafted the manuscript and wrote the article. FM prepared the figure and helped to draft the manuscript. GLS, ANP and LJ participated in its design and coordinated the manuscript draft. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.