What is scabies?

CScabies is a contagious infestation caused by a mite that affects humans and other mammals, such as dogs, cats, horses, cows, pigs, and others. There are approximately 40 known species of scabies. Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis is the etiologic agent of human scabies and is a full-time ectoparasite living, eating, and breeding on the human host. The female mates, burrows into the upper epidermis, lays her eggs, and eventually dies after 1 month. The mite and its feces cause severe pruritus.