STUDY REGARDING THE ROLE AND MEDICAL AND SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF DEMODEX SPP. PARASITISM IN DOGS AND HUMANS

Canine demodicosis is one of the most prevalent diseases caused by ectoparasite species of the Demodex genus, found in the pilosebaceous follicles. In human patients, demodicosis evolves as blepharitis or papular-pustular dermatosis, frequently located in the facial area. The study was conducted on a group of 110 dogs and 17 human patients, respectively. The present study focused on highlighting and describing the role of the Demodex spp. mites on the skin of dogs and humans from a morphological, epidemiological, clinical, histopathological, and diagnostic perspective as well as highlighting the importance of the medical and social implications. The results of the research show the fact that demodicosis remains a multi-factor disease, which can be undoubtedly confirmed by the presence of the mite in various life stages, visible both through skin scrapes performed from lesions and through histopathological sections that reveal the presence of mite fragments. Regardless of the disease history and evolution, epidemiological factors, or applied therapeutic protocol, the presence of the Demodex spp. mite in skin lesions has medical and social implications.