Supplementary Data: How to eliminate scabies parasites from fomites – a high throughput ex vivo experimental study.
Description
Research Hypothesis: To date, no field studies have been performed to validate decontamination measures for scabies infested textiles. As there is no in vitro culture, previous experimental research was limited in parasite numbers and did not consider the egg stage. Accordingly, the existing decontamination protocols are based on poor statistical power and vary significantly, resulting in confusion of patients and medical workers. We aimed to generate statistically valid experimental data as a basis to develop standardized guidelines with clear and simple directions for scabies outbreaks. Over 5,500 adult mites and 2,300 eggs of S. scabiei were obtained from a porcine model, exposed to 89 different conditions, and individually monitored in custom designed wire mesh pouches (video) in experimental groups of 20-25. Initial in vitro mite survival and egg hatching assays (Supplemental Table 1) informed subsequent real life ex vivo experiments (Supplemental Table 2), resulting in a simple strategic flowchart for decontamination.