Immunomodulation
Guides
Demodex canis
dog follicle mite
Demodex canis is a microscopic follicular mite that inhabits the skin of domestic dogs as a commensal organism, living primarily in hair follicles and sebaceous glands of the facial region. Under normal conditions, it occurs in small numbers and feeds on cellular debris and sebum without causing symptoms. However, when host immune function is compromised or mite populations proliferate excessively, the mite becomes pathogenic, causing demodicosis—a non-contagious inflammatory skin disease characterized by alopecia, erythema, and secondary infections. The mite exhibits increased activity during evening hours and has been observed to regulate host cholinergic immunosuppressive pathways, potentially facilitating its own proliferation. Three Demodex species (D. canis, D. injai, and D. cornei) can cause canine demodicosis, with D. canis being the most common.
Ixodes affinis
Ixodes affinis is a hard-bodied tick species distributed across the southeastern United States, Mexico, Central America, and South America. Unlike its congener Ixodes scapularis, this species does not bite humans but serves as a competent vector for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, the causative agent of Lyme disease. Immature stages feed on birds and small mammals, while adults parasitize larger mammals including deer and dogs. Its expanding range into southeastern Virginia and association with migratory birds has raised concerns about its role in pathogen dispersal.
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