Demodex folliculorum and D. brevis are found in different habitats in the skin: the former in the hair follicles, the latter in the sebaceous glands. Both seem minor pathogens--merely harvesting the cells of their respective habitats. D. folliculorum was found aggregated (all stages) and plugging the follicular orifices; D. brevis, on the other hand, was usually solitary. In one case marked degeneration of the sebaceous gland, with leukocyte invasion, was associated with D. brevis. No correlations were discovered between either of these species and the gross condition of the skin. Positive samples were obtained from both mainland and island populationf of Aborigines. Incidence values obtained were 66.6% for males and 80% for females; in the latter, the sample was small (5) and their ages over 34 years.
other ethnic groups. So far, the dermatophyles generally responsible for ringworm in fhc Ausfralian Aborigines show interesting differenc'es from those usually isolated from other races in Ausfralia. The main examples are : Trichophyton tonsurans and T. violaceum ,• and, a granular varianf ofT. rubrum and a type o/M. canis both of which were described by fhe aufhors. With a few notable exceptions, ring-worm in fhc Australian Aborigines has attracted little medical interest or scienfific atfcnlion. For example, Foelsche, a police inspecfor, wrote about ringworm affecting Northern Territory Aborigines in /882. The dermatophyte responsible was not defined and described until 1973.The writers bdieve fhaf much more ivork is needed fo darify fhe various aspcds of ringworm among the Australian Aborigines.
BACKGROUNDin thousands rather than hundreds of kilometres ; Four Fads communications and transport are frequently In Australia, ringworm is notably more difficult: some places are conveniently reached common among full-blood Aborigines and part-only ^^Y a»' while others are linked 113-rough bush Aborigines than among other ethnic groups tracks which are not passable m the wet season, living in conipai-able areas.The Aboriginal population is often sj^ai'se and ", , ! , r r 1 , widely scattered and the people are frequenth'
SUMMARY
Demodex folliculorum and D. brevis have been found in taken from full‐blood Australian Aborigines. The incidence of demodicid infestations was highest among males, 66%, in two groups of Aborigines but the mites were absent in a third group.
No regular correlation was found between the clinical appearance of the skin and the presence of the mites. One interesting case is mentioned.
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