Trombidiosis

Last Updated: 2020-11-19

Author(s): Anzengruber, Navarini

Trombidiosis, hay scabies, harvest scabies, autumn bite, autumn scabies, Giesinger bite, Sendlinger bite.

Skin infection caused by autumn mites, especially Neotrombicula autumnalis.

Primarily rodents (e.g. mice) act as a reservoir. At warm temperatures, the larvae can suck in contact with human skin. In the course of time they fall off again. In the course of time, a stabbing reaction is observed.

A few hours after exposure, erythematous wheals and maculae are visible, which in the course of 1-2 days develop into pruriginous, erythematous papules or seropapules with subtle hemorrhaging.

  • Medical history: Walking outdoors in autumn?
  • Clinical picture
  • Repellents
  • Control of primary hosts (mice)

Spontaneous healing after about 2 weeks.

Topical therapy

  • Lotio zinci mollis in Unguentum leniens (mixing ratio) 1:2
  • Polidocanol (5%) in cold cream several times a day
  • Urea Lotion with 2% Menthol (sic!) ad libitum several times daily . Caution cooling strength!
  • Mometason cream, solution, ointment
  1. Mendez D, Freeman AB, Spratt DM, Speare R. Pathology of cutaneous trombidiosis caused by larval trombiculid mites in a wild Lesueur's tree frog (Litoria wilcoxii). Aust Vet J 2010;88:328-30.
  2. Little SE, Carmichael KP, Rakich PM. Trombidiosis-induced dermatitis in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Vet Pathol 1997;34:350-2.
  3. Takahashi M, Misumi H, Urakami H, et al. Trombidiosis in cats caused by the bite of the larval trombiculid mite Helenicula miyagawai (Acari: Trombiculidae). Vet Rec 2004;154:471-2.
  4. Winkler A. [New results in the study of trombidiosis. I]. Hautarzt 1953;4:135-8; contd.