Pyemotes ventricosusDermatitis, Southeastern France

Pascal Del Giudice,Véronique Blanc-Amrane,Evelyne Counillon,Philippe Bahadoran,Mariléna Lazar,François Desruelles,Pierre Marty,Christian Boissy,Eric Caumes,Pascal Delaunay,Jean-Paul Ortonne,Olivier Chosidow,Arezki Izri

doi:10.3201/eid1411.080288

Abstract

We investigated 42 patients who had unusual pruritic dermatitis associated with a specific clinical sign (comet sign) in 23 houses in southeastern France from May through September 2007. Pyemotes ventricosus, a parasite of the furniture beetle Anobium punctatum, was the cause of this condition.

Highlights

In 2006, we described an outbreak of unusual dermatitis in southeastern France [1]
The Study From May through September 2007, all patients referred to the dermatology department at Fréjus Hospital (Fréjus, France) with suspected arthropod-bite dermatitis were examined; patients were checked for the comet sign
In 2006, we described an outbreak of an unusual dermatitis associated with a specific clinical sign that we called the comet sign [1]

Summary

Introduction

In 2006, we described an outbreak of unusual dermatitis in southeastern France [1]. Patients affected had highly erythematous pruritic macules typical of arthropod bites, sometimes associated with a linear erythematous macular tract that we called the comet sign (Figure 1). The Study From May through September 2007, all patients referred to the dermatology department at Fréjus Hospital (Fréjus, France) with suspected arthropod-bite dermatitis were examined; patients were checked for the comet sign. Ecoenvironments (surrounding terrain and home interior) of patients with typical macules associated with the comet sign were investigated. A. punctatum (Figure 2, panel A) was found in all 14 homes and P. ventricosus was found in 12 (83%).

Results

Conclusion