The Life Cycle of SCABIES
Scabies, Sarcoptes scabiei, undergoes four stages in its life
SCABIES Sarcoptes scabiei cycle: egg, larva, nymph and adult. Females deposit 2-3
eggs per day as they burrow under the skin . Eggs are
oval and 0.10 to 0.15 mm in length and hatch in 3 to 4
days. After the eggs hatch, the larvae migrate to the skin
surface and burrow into the intact stratum corneum to
construct almost invisible, short burrows called molting
pouches. The larval stage, which emerges from the eggs,
has only 3 pairs of legs and lasts about 3 to 4 days.
After the larvae molt, the resulting nymphs have 4 pairs of
legs . This form molts into slightly larger nymphs before
molting into adults. Larvae and nymphs may often be found
in molting pouches or in hair follicles and look similar to
adults, only smaller. Adults are round, sac-like eyeless
mites. Females are 0.30 to 0.45 mm long and 0.25 to 0.35
mm wide, and males are slightly more than half that size.
Mating occurs after the active male penetrates the molting
pouch of the adult female . Mating takes place only once
and leaves the female fertile for the rest of her life.
Impregnated females leave their molting pouches and
wander on the surface of the skin until they find a suitable
site for a permanent burrow. While on the skin’s surface,
mites hold onto the skin using sucker-like pulvilli attached to
the two most anterior pairs of legs. When the impregnated
female mite finds a suitable location, it begins to make its
characteristic serpentine burrow, laying eggs in the
process. After the impregnated female burrows into the skin,
she remains there and continues to lengthen her burrow and
lay eggs for the rest of her life (1-2 months). Under the
most favorable of conditions, about 10% of her eggs
eventually give rise to adult mites. Males are rarely seen;
they make temporary shallow pits in the skin to feed until
they locate a female’s burrow and mate.
Transmission occurs primarily by the transfer of the
impregnated females during person-to-person,
skin-to-skin contact. Occasionally transmission
may occur via fomites (e.g., bedding or clothing).
Human scabies mites often are found between
the fingers and on the wrists.
