Canine scabies in humans: a case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND

Sarcoptes scabiei causes mange in many domestic and wild mammals, and it has been reported to be transmitted from animals to humans. Canine scabies is known to infest humans, as well.

CASE REPORT: We report a 27-year-old woman who presented with severe pruritic papules on the trunk and arms. The patient reported that she had just bought a puppy which was also itchy. Direct microscopy from the dog showed scabies mites. The patient was treated by 5% permethrin which accomplished full recovery.

DISCUSSION: Canine scabies in humans is a challenging disease to diagnose since mites are hard to find on skin scrapings of dogs and the burrows that are the hallmark of scabies are absent. Dermatological examination of the lesions in our patient did not show any burrows or a specific dermoscopic image of scabies. Instead, we observed curvilinear crusts on most of the papules.

CONCLUSION

To our knowledge, dermoscopic appearance of canine scabies in humans has not been described before. We think this special pattern of excoriations is the result of superficially dug tunnels that had been torn leaving vacant curved linear remnants behind, and this may provide a good support for the diagnosis of canine scabies contributing to the spectrum of entodermoscopy.