Dermatozoonosis

/ˌdɜːmətəˌzuːəˈnoʊsɪs/ noun

Definition

A disease or condition caused by parasitic animal organisms living in or on the skin.

Etymology

From 'dermatozoon' + '-osis' (disease condition). This medical term systematically categorizes skin diseases caused by animal parasites, developed as parasitology became a medical specialty.

Kelly Says

Scabies and pediculosis (lice infestation) are forms of dermatozoonosis that have plagued humanity for millennia—ancient Egyptian mummies show evidence of these parasitic skin infections.

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