The mite has an unsegmented body with 8 legs.
Clinical features:
(1) The patient is exposed to rats, mice, gerbils or hamsters.
(2) The patient develops a pruritic dermatitis with papules or seropapules.
(3) The rodents may be asymptomatic. Mites are detected where the rodents live.
(4) Removal of the rodents or control of the mites (acaricide, exterminator) resolves the dermatitis.
The mite can be detected in cages, in litter, and in corners or cracks of living area. The mite spends only a short time on a host to feed, so application of an antiparasitic agent is not necessary. The patient may benefit from an antihistamine and topical steroids to control the pruritis.
Exposures to rats or mice may include:
(1) animal lab technicians
(2) residents of a rat-infested building
(3) pet rat
Occasionally an outbreak involving a large number of people may be involved.
