Prevalence and Severity of Demodex folliculorum and Demodex brevis Infestation and Their Association with Common Skin Diseases in Northwest Iran.

Background: Demodex spp., a cosmopolitan mite, can exist as a commensal or parasitic organism. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of Demodex spp. infestation in patients with common skin diseases and explore the potential association between demodicosis and these conditions in Urmia, northwest Iran.

Methods: A total of 246 patients attending the Skin Polyclinic of Iranian Urmia Taleghani Hospital were enrolled in the study. Samples were taken from the nose wings, cheeks, and forehead regions of the face area of the persons using the standard superficial skin biopsy method.

Results: Demodicosis was detected in 43 (16.3%) patients, with 42 cases attributed to D. folliculorum and 1 case to D. brevis infestation. The highest positivity was found in the 31-50 (21.4%) and 51-72 (22.2%) age groups. In the relationship between demodicosis and skin diseases, Demodex spp. was found in 13 (32.5%) of 40 patients who had skin disease; 6 of these patients with rosacea (42.9%) and 7 with eczema (29.2%). Mite infestation was found in 6 (37.5%) of 16 patients who had hemodialysis due to renal insufficiency. Furthermore, 46.7% of positive patients reported using common goods. The prevalence of demodicosis was similar among patients residing in villages (17.2%) and cities (17.6%).

Conclusion: This study sheds light on the potential association between Demodex infestation and common skin diseases such as rosacea and eczema in Urmia, Iran. Therefore, there is a pressing need to augment research endeavors on demodicosis.