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Experiments on the Survival and Behaviour of the Itch Mite, Sarcoptes scabiei DeG. var. hominis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

Extract

(1) Adult female Sarcoptes were killed by 49°C. (120°F.) in 10 minutes and by 47·5°C. (117·5°F.) in 30 minutes.

(2) At 28°C. (82°F.) no Sarcoptes survived for two days and the majority died in 24 hours.

(3) At 13°C. (55°F.) and 90 per cent. R.H. the majority of the mites died within a week, but a few survived longer, even up to 14 days.

(4) At temperatures below 13°C. (55°F.) the mites survived for a shorter time.

(5) Sarcoptes gives no reactions, positive or negative to unidirectional light.

(6) Below 15°C. (59°F.) Sarcoptes is in chill coma. Little movement occurs below 20°C. (68°F.).

(7) In temperature gradient mites seldom, if ever, go below 24°C. (75°F.). They will walk into high temperatures which prove rapidly lethal.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1942

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References

Mellanby, K. (1941). Brit. med. J., no. 4211, 405407.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mellanby, K. (1942). Public Health, 55, 150151.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Munro, J. W. (1919). J.R.A.M.C., 33, 141.Google Scholar