University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

2007 Outbreak of Human Pruritic Dermatitis in Chicago, Illinois Caused by an Itch Mite, Pyemotes herfsi (Oudemans, 1936) (Acarina: Heterostigmata: Pyemotidae)

Zaborski, Edmond R.

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/18171

Description

Title
2007 Outbreak of Human Pruritic Dermatitis in Chicago, Illinois Caused by an Itch Mite, Pyemotes herfsi (Oudemans, 1936) (Acarina: Heterostigmata: Pyemotidae)
Author(s)
Zaborski, Edmond R.
Issue Date
2008-05-20
Keyword(s)
  • human dermatitis
  • itch mite
  • Pyemotes herfsi
  • Pyemotidae
  • periodical cicada
  • Magicicada
  • eggnest
  • INHS Division of Biodiversity and Ecological Entomology
  • Illinois Department of Public Health
  • Science in support of public and environmental health
Abstract
  • To conduct field sampling of mites (Acarina) that cause multiple cases of dermatistis in matitis in humans.
  • In August of 2007, a request was received from the Illinois Department of Public Health for assistance in identifying the causative agent of an unusually large outbreak of unexplained “insect bites” from neighborhoods in Cook and Du Page Counties. The causative agent was suspected to be an itch mite, Pyemotes herfsi (Oudemans, 1936), that had been implicated in outbreaks during 2004 and 2005 in parts of Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri and Texas; however, leaf and sticky card samples sent to entomologists in Nebraska did not yield an identification of the causative agent. The specific objectives of the work reported herein were: 1) to conduct field sampling of oak leaf galls and other suspected habitats to isolate the causative agent of the outbreak, 2) to identify the amplifying insect host of Pyemotes mites, if these prove to be the causative agent, and 3) to obtain independent confirmation of identification of the causative agent from a second entomologist who specializes in the appropriate group of mites or other arthropods.
Publisher
Division of Biodiversity and Ecological Entomology
Series/Report Name or Number
Technical Report INHS 2008 (17)
Type of Resource
text
Language
en
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/18171
Sponsor(s)/Grant Number(s)
INHS Technical Report Prepared for Illinois Department of Public Health
Copyright and License Information
This document is a product of the Illinois Natural History Survey, and has been selected and made available by the Illinois Natural History Survey and the University Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It is intended solely for noncommercial research and educational use, and proper attribution is requested.

Owning Collections

Technical Reports - Illinois Natural History Survey PRIMARY
Reports produced by INHS staff, usually as deliverables for assessment projects funded by federal or state agencies or non-governmental organizations.