48 CHAPTER 1 Pruritic dermatoses
Cheyletiella spp.
infestation (cheyletiellosis)
DEFINITION
Cheyletiellosis (walking dandruff) is a scaling or
crusting, variably pruritic dermatitis due to the
presence of Cheyletiella spp. mites living on the
skin surface.
ETIOLOGY AND PATHOGENESIS
Three species of mites are responsible for the
majority of clinical cases in dogs, cats, and rabbits.
Although none are host specific, C. yasguri is
found more frequently in dogs, C. blakei in cats,
and C. parasitovorax in rabbits1. The mites live on
the skin surface and the eggs are attached to the
hair shafts. The mites are characterized by promi-
nent hooks at the end of accessory mouthparts
(47). The life cycle is approximately 35 days and
is completed on one host. The adult female can
live off the host for a variable period, about 1014
days2,3. The mites are easily transmitted from one
animal to another via direct contact, which is how
infestation generally occurs. Occasionally,
transmission may occur by coming into contact
with mites in the environment.
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4750 Cheyletiellosis. Adult Cheyletiella yasguri
(47); typical signs of scale on the dorsal trunk of
a dog (48); crusted erythematous papules on the
dorsal trunk of a cat (49); zoonotic lesions on
the abdomen of a child in contact with an
infested pet (50).
CLINICAL FEATURES
Diffuse scaling over the dorsum of the animal
(48) is the characteristic feature of infestation in
dogs and rabbits1,3. Pruritus in dogs is usually
mild, but it may be severe in some animals and
absent in others. Intensely pruritic animals may
have mild to minimal scaling, possibly as a conse-
quence of overgrooming and self-trauma.
Although variably pruritic scaling may be a
feature in cats, small (0.20.4 cm [0.080.16 in])
crusted papules with an erythematous base (49)
and found over the dorsum are a more common
finding4, particularly in long-haired cats. In these
individuals the lesions are generally pruritic5.
Both dogs and cats can be asymptomatic carriers.
People associated with infected animals will show
signs in 3040% of cases3. The classic signs are
small, pruritic, erythematous papules in groups of
two or three, usually on the arms and trunk (i.e.
the parts in contact with infested animals) (50).
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSES
Flea bite hypersensitivity
Staphylococcal folliculitis
Pediculosis
Atopic dermatitis
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