ml

Search


Resource Type
 Video (49)
 Image (447)
 Animation (129)
 Protocol (41)
Tags
 Cell Biology (249)
 Genetics (80)
Humans (366)
 Environment (274)
 Diversity (108)
 Teaching (353)

ASM Updates

  

Banner

Microscopic Examinations of Skin Infections—Ectoparasites Send Print

  Votes (0) | Hits (5973) | Comments (0)
Created: Tuesday, 06 February 2007
Last update: Wednesday, 28 September 2011
Author
View / Comment
Preview
Sarcoptes scabiei (Enlarged view)

Slide 1. Sarcoptes scabiei
Under low-power magnification, the scabies mite is visible in this KOH preparation of skin scrapings from a burrow in a patient with scabies.

View / Comment
Preview
Demodex folliculorum (Enlarged view)

Slide 2. Demodex folliculorum (10x magnification)
This KOH preparation of follicle secretions shows the small worm-shaped mite, Demodex folliculorum, a normal inhabitant of human hair follicles. Ordinarily, the mites do not cause disease, but in large numbers they can produce papules, pustules, nodules, blepharitis, or follicular plugging with fine white scales, especially on the face.

View / Comment
Preview
Phthirus pubis (Enlarged view)

Slide 3. Phthirus pubis (20x magnification)
The pubic, or crab, louse is about 1-mm long and has three pairs of legs with hook-like claws that enable it to grasp the body hairs on which it lives. Usually found in the pubic area, the lice also live on the abdomen, thighs, and axillae, or, uncommonly, on the scalp, face, eyelashes, and eyebrows.

View / Comment
Preview
Pediculus humanus corporis (Enlarged view)

Slide 4. Pediculus humanus corporis (20x magnification)
The body louse is about 3-mm long, lives and lays its eggs in the seams of clothing, and attaches to body hair when drawing a blood meal from its host. The louse in the photograph ate shortly before the slide was made. The head louse, Pediculus humanus capitis, looks similar, but lives in scalp hair, on which it lays its eggs (nits).

Information

These images are from the original published atlas: Tenover, F. C., and J. V. Hirschmann. 1990. Interpretation of Gram stains and other common microbiologic slide preparations. The UpJohn Company, Kalamazoo, Mich. Permission granted to the ASM MicrobeLibrary by Pfizer Inc.

This atlas was written to help clinicians, microbiologists, and laboratory personnel identify organisms in infected materials stained by techniques commonly used in most clinical laboratories. Please refer to the atlas' main page for more information and a guide to all of the images.

Related Content
ShareIcon Share





Tags: Cell biology (251) , Microbes in humans (376)