Demodex

Demodex

Demodex is a genus of tiny mites that live in or near hair follicles of mammals. Two species live on humans: Demodex folliculorum and D. brevis. D. canis lives on the domestic dog. The presence of DemodEx on mammals is common and usually does not cause any symptoms.

About Demodex in brief

Summary DemodexDemodex is a genus of tiny mites that live in or near hair follicles of mammals. Two species live on humans: Demodex folliculorum and D. brevis. D. canis lives on the domestic dog. The presence of DemodEx on mammals is common and usually does not cause any symptoms. Occasionally some skin diseases can be caused by the mites. The natural host of D. canis is the domestic dogs. Although it can temporarily infect humans, D.Canis mites cannot survive on human skin and will die shortly after exposure and are therefore not considered to be zoonotic.

The mites are transferred between hosts through contact with hair, eyebrows, and the sebaceous glands of the face. Since D.canis is a part of the natural fauna part of a canine’s skin, it is not considered contagious.