A Papulovesicular Rash in a Farmer and His Wife

Diagnosis: infestation with Sarcoptes scabiei variant bovis. Sarcoptes scabiei var. bovis was isolated from skin scraping samples obtained from the cows (figure 1). In addition, multiple eggs and scybala were found on direct microscopy. Antiscabious treatment of the animals was performed. The pruritus of both patients spontaneously resolved within 3 days after treatment of the animals. The rash disappeared within 1 week. Infestation with Sarcoptes scabiei var. bovis (cattle itch mite) can produce a pruritic rash in humans (figure 2), which generally manifests 24-96 h after contact with the affected animal (figure 3) and is also known as "dairyman's itch" [1]. Typical lesions are papules and papulovesicles with central excoriation. The rash is not restricted to spots of direct contact with the affected animal. Man is an inadequate host. Persistent lesions result from reinfestation [2]. In our case, other members of the family were not affected, because they were not directly involved in the care of the cows.