An Epidemic of Canine Scabies in Man

Abstract

Fifteen patients had a pruritic dermatitis that resulted from contact with five puppies from a single litter infested with<i>Sarcoptes scabiei</i>var<i>canis</i>. This is, to our knowledge, the largest known such epidemic from a single source and probably reflects a condition not frequently recognized. There was no relation between the duration of contact and the degree of involvement. All patients had negative skin scrapings, although the mite was easily demonstrated in the puppies.