Sarcoptes (sar-kop'tes)

Scabis communis, a species of Acarus (itch mite) from the horse, the sheep, and the dog, chicken, pig, and other animals that occasionally attacks man and produces eruptions similar to that of scabies. These parasites cannot live in the human skin and accordingly do not form burrows. S. scabiei (var. hominis). The itch mite; a minute parasitic species with numerous pointed tubercles, spines, and hairs on the dorsal surface. The females burrow deep in the epidermis to lay their eggs, and thus produce scabies. The mite occurs both in man_ and in certain of the lower animals, receiving special names, such as S. howuinis, S. equi, S. can is, S. suis, S. cat i, S. cuniculi, S. vulpis, and S. caprae. Some of the varieties that usually infest lower animals also attack man, producing a scabies of short duration. S. squamiferus. A species infesting dogs, swine, goats, sheep, etc., and producing mange. [Gr., sarx, flesh, -fkoptein, to cut.]