Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
CHAPTER 4
The Role of Proteolytically
Inactive Serine Proteases
from Sarcoptes scabiei in
Complement Evasion
SIMONE REYNOLDS
a,b
AND KATJA FISCHER*
a
a
Queensland Institute of Medical Research and Australian Centre for
International and Tropical Health and Nutrition, University of Queensland,
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia;
b
School of Veterinary Sciences,
University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Australia
4.1 Scabies and Associated Bacterial Skin Infections
Scabies is an infectious skin disease caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei.Itisa
major public-health problem with an estimated 300 million cases reported
globally, particularly in regions where poverty, overcrowding, and limited
resources are common.
1
Within the general population of economically
developed countries, the numbers of reported cases from care centers, nursing
homes, and hospitals are increasing.
2,3
In tropical Australia, scabies is highly
prevalent in remote indigenous populations. Skin damage due to scabies mite
infestations has been postulated to be an important link in the pathogenesis of
acute rheumatic fever and heart disease (RF/RHD), poststreptococcal glu-
merulonephritis, and systemic sepsis.
4-6
Indeed, indigenous people are affected
