Scabies, caused by an infestation of the skin with the itch mite (Sarcoptes scabiei), is highly contagious and classified as a prevalent neglected tropical diseases. The current diagnostic approach relies solely on clinical judgment based on symptoms, history, and microscopic observation by an experienced dermatologist. To enhance sensitivity and specificity, we developed an alternative method based on mite-derived DNA. Our method involves a quick DNA release from skin scraping samples and Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) targeting the scabies mite-specific DNA sequences, enabling diagnosis within 30 minutes. Importantly, no cross-reactivity was observed when the sample was contaminated by two house dust mite species, and false positives were barely detected. Currently, we are in the process of developing a Point-of-Care Testing (POCT) kit for a scabies survey targeting school-age children in Timor-Leste as a global health project.

• Wonyong Kwun(Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Seoul National University College of Medicine)
• Hanna Jin(Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Seoul National University College of Medicine)
• Min-Ho Choi(Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Seoul National University College of Medicine)
• Ju Hyeon Kim(Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Seoul National University College of Medicine)