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Dermatological diseases and infestations
Research Guide
What is Dermatological diseases and infestations?
Dermatological diseases and infestations are a cluster of ectoparasitic conditions such as scabies, bed bugs, lice, and tungiasis that affect the skin of humans and animals, involving their biology, epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, control, insecticide resistance, molecular analysis, and public health implications.
This field encompasses 38,731 published works on ectoparasitic diseases including scabies, bed bugs, lice, and tungiasis. Research covers biology, epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, and control of these infestations in humans and animals. Key studies address tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease, which produce cutaneous lesions linked to spirochetes isolated from Ixodes dammini ticks.
Topic Hierarchy
Research Sub-Topics
Scabies Epidemiology and Control
This sub-topic investigates the prevalence, transmission dynamics, and outbreak management of Sarcoptes scabiei infestations in endemic communities. Researchers evaluate mass drug administration strategies using ivermectin and permethrin.
Insecticide Resistance in Ectoparasites
Studies analyze genetic mutations and phenotypic resistance to permethrin, ivermectin, and other acaricides in scabies mites, lice, and bed bugs. Research develops resistance monitoring tools and novel chemical alternatives.
Bed Bug Infestation Management
This area covers behavioral ecology, integrated pest management, and non-chemical control methods for Cimex lectularius in urban environments. Researchers assess heat treatments, pheromones, and resistance patterns.
Molecular Taxonomy of Human Lice
Researchers use phylogenomics to delineate Pediculus humanus subspecies, track population genetics, and study vector competence for pathogens like Bartonella. This includes mitochondrial DNA analyses of global lice strains.
Tungiasis Public Health Impact
This sub-topic explores the morbidity, disability-adjusted life years, and socioeconomic effects of Tunga penetrans in resource-poor settings. Studies evaluate prevention through footwear and environmental management.
Why It Matters
Dermatological diseases and infestations impact global public health through widespread prevalence and treatment challenges, as shown in analyses of skin condition burdens. For instance, Burgdorfer et al. (1982) isolated a treponema-like spirochete from Ixodes dammini ticks, causally relating it to long-lasting cutaneous lesions in rabbits 10 to 12 weeks post-infection, highlighting diagnostic and vector control needs. Wormser et al. (2006) provided evidence-based guidelines for managing Lyme disease alongside human granulocytic anaplasmosis and babesiosis, specifying antibiotic regimens like doxycycline for early Lyme disease to prevent dissemination. Steere et al. (1983) recovered spirochetes from patient blood, skin lesions, and cerebrospinal fluid, demonstrating their role in erythema chronicum migrans and enabling targeted therapies. These advances support clinical practice in infectious diseases, reducing morbidity from tick-borne dermatological manifestations.
Reading Guide
Where to Start
"Lyme Disease—a Tick-Borne Spirochetosis?" by Burgdorfer et al. (1982) is the starting paper, as it first isolates the spirochete from Ixodes dammini ticks and links it to cutaneous lesions, providing foundational evidence on tick-borne dermatological pathology.
Key Papers Explained
Burgdorfer et al. (1982) in "Lyme Disease—a Tick-Borne Spirochetosis?" first detects the spirochete in ticks and rabbit lesions. Steere et al. (1983) in "The Spirochetal Etiology of Lyme Disease" builds on this by isolating spirochetes from human patients and ticks. Barbour (1985) in "Isolation and cultivation of Lyme disease spirochetes." advances cultivation techniques from these isolates. Wormser et al. (2006) in "The Clinical Assessment, Treatment, and Prevention of Lyme Disease, Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis, and Babesiosis: Clinical Practice Guidelines by the Infectious Diseases Society of America" synthesizes findings into clinical guidelines.
Paper Timeline
Most-cited paper highlighted in red. Papers ordered chronologically.
Advanced Directions
Current frontiers focus on tick-borne rickettsioses, as Parola et al. (2013) in "Update on Tick-Borne Rickettsioses around the World: a Geographic Approach" maps global distributions and emerging pathogens. No recent preprints or news available, so research emphasizes epidemiology and resistance in ectoparasites like scabies and lice.
Papers at a Glance
| # | Paper | Year | Venue | Citations | Open Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lyme Disease—a Tick-Borne Spirochetosis? | 1982 | Science | 2.9K | ✕ |
| 2 | The Clinical Assessment, Treatment, and Prevention of Lyme Dis... | 2006 | Clinical Infectious Di... | 2.1K | ✓ |
| 3 | The Spirochetal Etiology of Lyme Disease | 1983 | New England Journal of... | 1.6K | ✕ |
| 4 | The Global Burden of Skin Disease in 2010: An Analysis of the ... | 2013 | Journal of Investigati... | 1.6K | ✓ |
| 5 | Isolation and cultivation of Lyme disease spirochetes. | 1985 | PubMed | 1.6K | ✕ |
| 6 | Update on Tick-Borne Rickettsioses around the World: a Geograp... | 2013 | Clinical Microbiology ... | 1.4K | ✓ |
| 7 | Amphibian fungal panzootic causes catastrophic and ongoing los... | 2019 | Science | 1.3K | ✓ |
| 8 | Dermatology in General Medicine. | 1988 | Annals of Internal Med... | 1.2K | ✕ |
| 9 | Methodology series module 3: Cross-sectional studies | 2016 | Indian Journal of Derm... | 1.2K | ✓ |
| 10 | Veterinary Clinical Parasitology | 1955 | Iowa State College Pre... | 1.1K | ✓ |
Frequently Asked Questions
What spirochete causes Lyme disease cutaneous lesions?
A treponema-like spirochete isolated from Ixodes dammini ticks causes Lyme disease, producing long-lasting cutaneous lesions in rabbits 10 to 12 weeks after infection. "Lyme Disease—a Tick-Borne Spirochetosis?" by Burgdorfer et al. (1982) detected this spirochete in adult ticks. The isolates relate causally to the disease's skin manifestations.
How are Lyme disease and related tick-borne diseases treated?
Evidence-based guidelines recommend doxycycline for early Lyme disease, with alternatives for pregnant patients or children. "The Clinical Assessment, Treatment, and Prevention of Lyme Disease, Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis, and Babesiosis: Clinical Practice Guidelines by the Infectious Diseases Society of America" by Wormser et al. (2006) outlines management for these conditions. The guidelines replace prior versions with updated evidence.
What is the etiology of Lyme disease spirochetes?
Spirochetes were recovered from blood, erythema chronicum migrans skin lesions, and cerebrospinal fluid of Lyme disease patients, as well as from Ixodes dammini ticks. "The Spirochetal Etiology of Lyme Disease" by Steere et al. (1983) isolated these from 3 of 56 patients and 21 of 110 ticks. The findings confirm the spirochetal cause of the disease.
How are Lyme disease spirochetes isolated and cultivated?
Lyme disease spirochetes are isolated and cultivated from Ixodes dammini ticks, tracing methods to relapsing fever borreliae cultivation. "Isolation and cultivation of Lyme disease spirochetes." by Barbour (1985) details in vitro growth conditions. These reveal metabolic characteristics of the spirochetes.
What study designs are used in dermatological research?
Cross-sectional studies measure outcomes and exposures simultaneously in participants. "Methodology series module 3: Cross-sectional studies" by Setia (2016) describes this observational design, distinguishing it from case-control and cohort studies. It suits prevalence assessments in skin disease epidemiology.
Open Research Questions
- ? How does insecticide resistance develop in ectoparasites like lice and bed bugs?
- ? What molecular markers distinguish scabies and tungiasis strains across human and animal hosts?
- ? Which epidemiological factors drive outbreaks of impetigo linked to scabies in endemic regions?
- ? How can public health interventions overcome treatment protocol failures in tick-borne dermatoses?
- ? What are the long-term cutaneous effects of spirochete persistence post-Lyme disease treatment?
Recent Trends
The field maintains 38,731 works with no specified 5-year growth rate.
High-citation papers from 1982-2013, such as Burgdorfer et al. with 2868 citations, continue dominating.
1982No recent preprints or news in the last 6-12 months indicate steady focus on foundational tick-borne dermatoses without new surges.
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