In vivo Imaging of <b><i>Sarcoptes scabiei</i></b> Infestation Using Optical Coherence Tomography

Abstract

Background:Sarcoptes scabiei can be visualized with different imaging tools. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) may have the potential to describe the changes in skin morphology due to scabies infestation and visualize the parasite. Methods: Five patients from the Departments of Dermatology, Augsburg, Germany, and Roskilde, Denmark, were OCT scanned (VivoSight®; Michelson Diagnostics Ltd., UK). Mites were identified by epiluminescence and light microscopy to confirm the diagnosis. Results: OCT identified S. scabiei mites in all patients in vivo. Mites and burrows were visualized, and some detail on burrow content was provided. Conclusion: OCT can visualize S. scabiei mites in vivo, suggesting that it may be used to study the biology of the mites in vivo and provide early assessment of scabicide therapy. OCT is able to visualize structures in the skin with an 8-µm resolution. Therefore, this technology could potentially allow rapid, non-invasive, in vivo diagnosis and analysis of infestations.

Scabies: Advances in Noninvasive Diagnosis

“…Recently, a study of five patients has suggested that OCT may achieve a correct and straightforward diagnosis of scabies in vivo due to its ability to spot the mite both vertically and horizontally [ 52 ]. It clearly shows the burrows, allows visualizing the mites, and provides an estimation of their size.…”

“…It clearly shows the burrows, allows visualizing the mites, and provides an estimation of their size. In the vertical images, the mite shows up as an ovoid, sharply marginated mass (mango/almond-shaped) of about 0.2 x 0.3 mm located just beneath the stratum corneum [ 52 ]. Its optical density is similar to that of the surrounding skin; however, a hyporeflective and a hyperreflective fringe, respectively corresponding to the burrow and to its scaly wall, are easily appreciable.…”

Optical coherence tomography today: speed, contrast, and multimodality

“…5.2). Previous reviews of OCT focused on advanced screening in the fields of primary care, 53 microscopy, 54 rapid tissue screening, 55 phantoms, 56 high speed, 57 and translational research, 58 while recent application-specific OCT reviews covered ophthalmology, [59][60][61] cardiology, [62][63][64][65][66] dermatology, [67][68][69][70] novel applications in pulmonary medicine, 71 cancer, 72 and optical coherence elastography, 73 as well as OCT post-and signal processing. 74,75 This review focuses on high-speed technology (SS light technology and parallelization of OCT detection), label-free angiography, and multimodal OCT.…”

Advances in optical coherence tomography in dermatology—a review

“…105 The same phenomenon can be observed in differentiating SSSS and TEN, where a SSSS demonstrates a split higher in the epidermis, and TEN shows a split at the DEJ. 104 Parasitic infestations of the skin with scabies mites and larva migrans and the naturally occurring demodex mites have been demonstrated with OCT. [106][107][108] Both larva migrans and scabies mites created subcorneal burrows, though only the scabies mite was visualized with OCT. 106,107 Demodex mites are situated corresponding to hair follicles and their degree of presence can be demonstrated with HD-OCT enabling treatment monitoring in demodexrelated diseases. 108 As mentioned earlier, the nail plate, nail fold, and nail matrix are visualizable with OCT, and various nail involving diseases have been investigated with OCT. [109][110][111] Onychomycosis can be seen as highly scattering elongated structures in the nail plate, 110 though showing a high rate of false positives compared to polymerase chain reaction, fungal cultures, and confocal scanning laser microscopy.…”