Hair follicle mites (Demodex spp.) of medical and veterinary concern.

A review is presented, including some new data, of the biology of ten species of hair follicle mites (Demodex spp.) of man and domestic animals. Major topics covered are taxonomy, host-parasite interactions, and problems in need of resolution. To this last, some information is provided on the question of species validity, the degree of host specificity and synhospitaly, population dynamics and incidence, transference and host behavior, pathogenesis and disease transmission, and control. A key is provided for species discrimination.