Laboratory Evidence of the Presence of Demodex in Urine La-boratory: A Case Report

Folliculorum mites (Demodex folliculorum, and D. brevis) are part of the common external parasites in humans as the exclusive host of them. The highest focus of these mites is on those parts of the body that have fat glands and fatty products in the skin. This is proven by the dermal – epidermal separation method. In the present study, the presence of Demodex is reported in a urine sample containing hematuria, which has not been observed so far according to the previous investigations. The case was related to a 44-yr-old woman with symptoms of headache, chills, and joint pain referring to the medical diagnostic laboratory of Sanandaj, Kurdistan Province, northwest of Iran. After historiography and collecting the urine sample as middle, the live parasite of Demodex was observed. The presence or migration of mite in the atypical areas of the body (genital, urinary, eye, etc.), which are close to hairy tissues (especially in women), may be one of the causes of allergic reactions and clinical symptoms in people.

The Prevalence of Ocular Demodex folliculorum in 2253 Young Males The Prevalence of Ocular Demodex folliculorum

AimTo determine the prevalence and influencing factors of Demodex folliculorum (DF) in the eyelashes of healthy young males.MethodsAn epidemiological cross-sectional prevalence study was conducted. A total of 2253 healthy young males (aged 17-24 years) were studied for the presence of DF within eyelash follicles. The presence of DF was analyzed according to various factors.ResultsThe total prevalence of DF was 20.73% in our study. Subjects with history of myopia correction surgery had a statistically significant increase in the positive rate of DF (P<0.001). The positive rate was higher in subjects with ocular symptoms than in those without symptoms (P<0.05). Factors such as the educational level, long-term residence, annual household income, sleep time, time of using electronic products, smoke and drinking habits, had no significant correlation with the DF positive rate (all P>0.05). According to the multivariate logistic regression analysis, the history of myopic correction surgery was the risk factors of DF infection (P<0.001). There was no correlation between ocular discomfort and DF infection (P>0.05).ConclusionsThe prevalence of DF in eyelash follicles in healthy young men was relatively high. The history of myopic correction surgery was an important risk factor for the infection.

Prevalence of Demodex Folliculorum and Demodex Brevis in Patients with Blepharitis and Chalazion

Purpose: Demodex folliculorum and Demodex brevis are common ectoparasites on skin that also can lead to blepharitis and chalazion. The aim of our study is to determine the prevalence of Demodex spp. in eyelashes of patients diagnosed with chronic blepharitis and chalazion. Methods: This study included 330 patients diagnosed with chronic blepharitis, 70 patients diagnosed with chalazion and 130 volunteers without any ocular problems. Patient eyelashes were examined under a light microscope at magnifications of × 40, × 100 and × 400. Demodex spp. were determined. Results: Parasite prevalence was significantly higher in blepharitis (75.5%) and chalazion groups (70%) compared to the control group (16.2%) (p <0.001). The prevalence of D. folliculorum in the blepharitis group and D. brevis in the chalazion group was found to be significantly higher compared to other groups (p <0.05). The average number of mites per eyelash was found to be significantly higher in patients with Demodex positive blepharitis (p = 0.001) and in chalazion patients (p = 0.047) than in the control group. It has been determined that mite positivity increases with age in blepharitis and control groups (p <0.05). In the group with blepharitis, it was found that mite positivity was significant in the presence of symptoms (p = 0.0001) and Demodex positivity decreased as the education level of individuals increased (p = 0.039). Conclusion: The results of the study show that Demodex acari infestations should be considered in chronic blepharitis and chalazion.

Demodex folliculorum (Trombidiformes: Demodicidae) and Demodex brevis Prevalence in an Extreme Environment of Chile

The prevalence of mites of the genus Demodex and their associations with host age, gender, workplace, and comorbid skin and ocular conditions were studied in participants in Antofagasta, Chile, which is in a region with an extreme environment. We examined 680 participants aged 18–88 yr using standardized surface skin biopsies. Among them, Demodex had a prevalence of 13.5 % (95% confidence interval, 10.88–16.17). A slightly higher prevalence was observed in males (51.1%; 95% confidence interval, 40.9–61.3; nonsignificant) and participants in the 69–88 yr age group (50.0%; 95% confidence interval, 23.8–76.2; P &lt; 0.05). Regarding the species involved, Demodex folliculorum was found in 89.1% (CI 82.7–95.5) of cases, while D. brevis was found in the remaining 10.9% of cases. A higher prevalence (25.0% CI 16.1–33.91) was observed in participants who worked indoors in generally enclosed and dust-rich environments (such as theaters, libraries, and administrative offices). There was also a strong association between Demodex prevalence and conjunctival hyperemia, with 35.9% (95% confidence interval, 9.1–35; OR 17.9) of the Demodex positive participants having this pathology compared to 10.3% of the noninfested participants. In summary, the prevalence of Demodex in Antofagasta, Chile (13.5%) was toward the lower end of the range reported among other regions around the world. Environmental factors such as exposure to the sun (including ultraviolet rays) or environmental pollution may affect the mites. In addition, Demodex genetics (related to virulence) and the ocular or skin microbiota may positively or negatively influence infestation and pathology.

Occurrence of Demodex infestation in chronic blepharitis in a tertiary care hospital in North-East India

Background: Chronic blepharitis is frequently encountered by ophthalmologists. Demodex mites (Demodex folliculorum and Demodex brevis) can play a role in its pathogenesis, especially in treatment-resistant cases. Demodex infestation often remains underdiagnosed and undertreated. Definitive diagnosis can be made with lash-sampling. Objective of the study was to find the association between Demodex infestation and chronic blepharitis.Methods: The study included 80 patients diagnosed with chronic blepharitis and 80 controls without blepharitis. Four eyelashes were epilated from each lower and upper lids of the right and left eye (a total of sixteen samples) of each participant. Eyelash samples were examined under a light microscope and Demodex species were identified and counted.Results: Demodex mites were detected in 45 cases (56.25%) and 14 controls (17.5%). Significant association was found between demodex infestation and blepharitis as odd’s ratio was found to be 6.0612 and p value <0.0001. D. folliculorum was detected in 42 cases, D. brevis in 2 cases while in one case, both were detected. The mean age for Demodex positive cases and controls were 49.78±13.25 and 64±7.86 years, respectively. Amongst the cases, Demodex was detected in 57.69% males (30 out of 52) and 53.55% females (15 out of 28).Conclusions: There is significant co-relation between Demodex infestation and chronic blepharitis. Demodex infestation should be part of the differential diagnosis of chronic blepharitis.