Development of a rapid scabies immunodiagnostic assay based on transcriptomic analysis of Sarcoptes scabiei var. nyctereutis

Abstract

Scabies is a highly contagious skin disease caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei that affects many mammals. However, the sensitivity of traditional tests for scabies diagnosis in humans is less than 50%. To simplify the diagnosis of scabies, methods that are simple, sensitive, specific, and cost-effective are required. We developed an immunodiagnostic test based on S. scabiei var. nyctereutis RNA-seq data collected from Japanese raccoon dogs with sarcoptic mange. Three candidate antigens—a highly expressed hypothetical protein “QR98_0091190,” another mite allergen known as “SMIPP-Cc,” and an abundant “vitellogenin-like protein”—were evaluated by western-blot analysis. A lateral flow immunoassay, using specific antibodies against the vitellogenin-like protein, successfully detected scabies in the skin flakes of S. scabiei-infected raccoon dogs. This assay can potentially diagnose scabies more accurately in wildlife, as well as in humans.