What is the Importance of Demodex folliculorum and D. brevis in the Etiology of Blepharitis?

Abstract

A An na ah ht ta ar r K Ke el li im me el le er r: : Blefarit; ektoparazitik infestasyonlar A AB BS ST TR RA AC CT T O Ob bj je ec ct ti iv ve e: : It was reported that, Demodex folliculorum (DF) and D. brevis (DB) may cause an infestation in healthy subjects and, may be important for some eye problems such as blepharitis, or these parasites can bring the present disease into a more serious condition. In this study, we aimed to determine which demodex species' density increase in patients with blepharitis and whether the demodex density on face differs from healthy subjects. M Ma at te er ri ia al l a an nd d M Me et th ho od ds s: : In the study, the presence of demodex species was analyzed on eyelashes and faces of 96 patients with blepharitis and 197 healthy subjects. Samples taken through standard superficial skin biopsy technique and eyelash epilation were analyzed with the light microscope. R Re es su ul lt ts s: : The mean age of the patients with blepharitis was 46.90±16.92 (15-89) years, whereas the mean age of control group was 39.54±17.61 (12-84) years. Among eyelash samples of the patients, 78 (81.25%) samples were found DF positive, whereas 25 (26.04%) of them were found DB positive; on the contrary 30 (15.22%) and 7 (3.55%) of the control group was DF and DB positive, respectively. Among the eyelash samples of the patients, the demodex incidence was statistically significantly higher compared to the control group (p<0.001). There was no significant difference in terms of demodex positivities on face. All patients who were demodex positive on the facial area were also found demodex positive for eyelash samples whereas 8 (24.2%) of eyelash samples were Demodex spp positive in the control group (p<0.001). C Co on nc cl lu us si io on n: : The results of our study underline that the presence of Demodex spp on facial area may be one the important factors in the pathogenesis of blepharitis. In conclusion, we suggest that taking the demodicosis presence into consideration as a worsening factor may help in the management of blepharitis.

Investigation of Demodex Parasite Existence in Treatment-Resistant Chronic Blepharitis Cases

“…Demodex enfestasyonunun bütün dünyada yaygın olduğu, ırk ve cinsiyet farkı göstermediği ancak enfestasyonun yaşla doğru orantılı olarak arttığı bildirilmiştir (6). Dünya genelinde insanlarda sıklıkla tespit edilen bu parazit, deri için saprofit bir organizma olarak kabul edilirken, kronik göz kapağı hastalıklarında patojen olabileceği bazı çalışmalarla gösterilmiştir (7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12). Ayrıca Demodex ile ilişkili blefarit olgularında görülen silindirik kepeklenmenin Demodex enfestasyonu için tipik olduğu bildirilmiştir (11,12).…”

The effect of blood glucose regulation on the presence of opportunisticDemodex folliculorummites in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

“…Demodex mite infestation is associated with rosacea, pityriasis folliculorum, acne vulgaris and blepharitis. 8–11 The presence of D. folliculorum infestation is associated with immune suppression and has a higher prevalence in patients with chronic renal failure, diabetes mellitus and HIV. It may cause skin conditions, including pruritis and itching, in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.…”

The Incidence of Demodex folliculorum in the Combination of Allergic Rhinitis and Diabetes Mellitus

“…Although the Demodex mite is present in most people, clinical findings emerge in a very small minority. Weakness occurring in the immune system causes Demodex proliferation and the passage to the dermis of the mite (4). It is thought that the disease is caused by a combination of factors such as mites in the dermis layer causing a mechanical obstruction in follicles, the forming of a foreign body reaction, the development of delayed type hypersensitivity against mite antigens and the expression of products causing local damage and bacterial proliferation (5).…”