NOTE: Severe cases are associated with bleeding from the gums, nose, lungs,
uterus, and gastrointestinal tract.
b. Diagnosis/Control Measures. Specific diagnosis is by isolation of the virus
from blood. Control measures are the same as for Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
Section X. MITE-BORNE DISEASES
5-45. MITES
Mites are tiny members of the class Arachnida barely visible to the naked
eye. Two genera of mites, Trombicula and Sarcoptes, are of military
medical importance.
a. Trombicula. The various species of Trombicula are found worldwide. The
larvae (chiggers, or "red bugs") attack the skin of humans and cause an itching
dermatitis of varying severity.
The larva of Trombicula akamushi is the principal vector for scrub typhus.
T. akamushi abounds mainly in the scrub and brush of Asia and the
Southwest Pacific islands.
The species of Trombicula found in the U.S. are not known to transmit
disease, but the larvae feed on man and frequently cause great annoyance to some
individuals.
Nymphs and adults of trombiculid mites feed on insect eggs and immatures of insects
and other arthropods.
b. Sarcoptes. These mange, itch, or scabies mites are distributed worldwide.
Of particular importance is Sarcoptes scabiei, the etiologic agent for human scabies.
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