Table 1. Biological and epidemiological characteristics of the six major EPSD.

Characteristics	Scabies	Pediculosis capitis	Pediculosis corporis	Pediculosis pubis	Tungiasis	HrCLM
Biological
Infective agent	Sarcoptes scabiei	Pediculus humanus var. capitis	Pediculus humanus var. corporis	Phthirus pubis	Tunga penetrans	Animal hookworm species such as A. caninum, A. braziliense, Uncinaria stenocephala
Taxonomical classification	Acaridae (mite)	Phtiraptera (louse)	Phtiraptera (louse)	Phtiraptera (louse)	Siphonaptera (flea)	Helminths (nematode)
Life-cycle	Completely on-host	Completely on-host	Completely on-host	Completely on-host	Partially on-hosta	Partially on-host (biological impasse)
Epidemiological
Transmission
Person-to-personb	+++	+++	+++	(+)
Sexual	+			+++
Fomite	+	+	+++	+	(+)	(+)
Soil-to-skin					+++	+++
Capacity to transfer pathogenic microorganisms
Actively	Not known	(+)	+++		+	Not known
Passively	+	++	++	++	+++	++
Occurrence	Worldwide	Worldwide	Restricted mainly to cold-climate regions	Worldwide	Caribbean, sub-Saharan Africa, South America	Predominantly in hot-climate countries
Seasonal variation	Peak during cold seasonc	Peak during cold seasonc	Inconsistent data	Peak during cold season	Peak in hot and dry season	Peak in rainy season
Animal reservoir	nod	no	no	no	Dogs, cats, pigs, ratse	Dogs, catse

EPSD, epidermal parasitic skin diseases; HrCLM, hookworm-related cutaneous larva migrans.
+, rare; ++, frequent; +++, very frequent.
^a Female fleas penetrate into the epidermis, develop and produce eggs; Eggs develop into larvae, pupae, adults off-host in soil.
^b Other than sexual.
^c Only in cold-climate countries.
^d Sarcoptic mange may be transmitted to humans from pet dogs but causes self-limiting manifestations.
^e Other animals may serve as a reservoir.