Commentary
We found a set of interesting articles related to the intersection of animals and humans. Whether wild animals in our backyards, pet-to-human or human-to-pet interactions carry risks that need to be understood. In this case the yuk-factor is preeminent.
Say Demodex to most animal health pros and images of mange or localized alopecia on a puppy’s face come immediately to mind. Although different species, Demodex sp. appear to be a normal part of human skin flora. Using DNA analysis, researchers found signs of Demodex on 100 percent of the adult humans they tested, a finding supported by previous cadaver examinations.
Source: The Conversation, December 7, 2022. Link. Demodex mites are tiny. The larger of the two human species, D. folliculorum, is about a third of a millimeter long, while D. brevis spans less than a quarter of a millimeter. They also carry a range of bacterial species on their bodies.
Source: A comparison of canine and human demodicosis, Cal Poly Pomona. Link.