{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,31]],"date-time":"2026-08-31T14:21:07Z","timestamp":1788186067869,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":46,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"23","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,29]],"date-time":"2025-11-29T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1764374400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJMS"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Scabies, caused by Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis, remains difficult to diagnose in histological routine when mite fragments are sparse or degraded. We explored whether Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) microscopy can detect chitin-associated spectral signatures of scabies mites in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) human skin sections and distinguish them from surrounding host tissue. FFPE sections from six patients with histologically confirmed crusted scabies were analysed by FTIR imaging, univariate mapping of selected bands, and multivariate image analysis within the 1000\u20131200 cm\u22121 carbohydrate region. Spectra from mite exoskeleton, stratum corneum, and dermis were compared, and absorbance at 1072 cm\u22121 was quantified across all samples. Mite regions showed consistently higher 1072 cm\u22121 absorbance than adjacent epidermal and dermal compartments, and unsupervised clustering reproducibly delineated mite-associated domains that co-localised with structures identified on haematoxylin-and-eosin-stained sections. Within this small, preliminary proof-of-concept cohort and in the absence of healthy or disease controls, the data do not allow estimation of clinical diagnostic performance at the patient level, but demonstrate the technical feasibility and analytical robustness of FTIR microscopy for intra-lesional detection of chitin-rich parasite structures in scabies lesions and provide a framework for future comparative studies in larger, prospectively collected cohorts.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms262311597","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,1]],"date-time":"2025-12-01T08:13:49Z","timestamp":1764576829000},"page":"11597","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Exploring Fourier-Transform Infrared Microscopy for Scabies Mite Detection in Human Tissue Sections: A Preliminary Technical Feasibility Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"26","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0002-7306-5457","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Maximilian","family":"Lammer","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergy, Medical University Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Matthias","family":"Schmuth","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergy, Medical University Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0008-1720-6319","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Paul","family":"Bellmann","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergy, Medical University Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4900-3742","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Verena","family":"Moosbrugger-Martinz","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergy, Medical University Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Bernhard","family":"Zelger","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Private Dermatological Practice, Specialized in Dermatopathology, Mariahilfpark 1\/6, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Birgit","family":"Moser","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergy, Medical University Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Roland","family":"Stalder","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Mineralogy and Petrography, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6272-3242","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Christian Wolfgang","family":"Huck","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Analytical Chemistry and Radiochemistry, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Miranda","family":"Klosterhuber","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Medical University Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0203-213X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Johannes Dominikus","family":"Pallua","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Analytical Chemistry and Radiochemistry, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria"},{"name":"Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Medical University Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,29]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Micali, G., Lacarrubba, F., Verz\u00ec, A.E., Chosidow, O., and Schwartz, R.A. (2016). Scabies: Advances in Non-invasive Diagnosis. PLoS Neglected Trop. Dis., 10.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0004691"},{"key":"ref_2","first-page":"e34390","article-title":"Sight the Mite: A Meta-Analysis on the Diagnosis of Scabies","volume":"15","author":"Shoukat","year":"2023","journal-title":"Cureus"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"143","DOI":"10.1155\/2011\/698494","article-title":"Detection of scabies: A systematic review of diagnostic methods","volume":"22","author":"Leung","year":"2011","journal-title":"Can. J. Infect. Dis. Med. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"439","DOI":"10.1046\/j.1525-1470.2001.01973.x","article-title":"High-magnification videodermatoscopy: A new non-invasive diagnostic tool for scabies in children","volume":"18","author":"Lacarrubba","year":"2001","journal-title":"Pediatr. Dermatol."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1540","DOI":"10.1503\/cmaj.061753","article-title":"Diagnosis of scabies with dermoscopy","volume":"178","author":"Neynaber","year":"2008","journal-title":"Can. Med. Assoc. J."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"268","DOI":"10.1128\/CMR.00042-06","article-title":"Problems in diagnosing scabies, a global disease in human and animal populations","volume":"20","author":"Walton","year":"2007","journal-title":"Clin. Microbiol. Rev."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"715","DOI":"10.1016\/S0190-9622(81)80204-6","article-title":"The Burrow Ink Test and the scabies mite","volume":"4","author":"Woodley","year":"1981","journal-title":"J. Am. Acad. Dermatol."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"53","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jaad.2006.07.025","article-title":"Accuracy of standard dermoscopy for diagnosing scabies","volume":"56","author":"Dupuy","year":"2007","journal-title":"J. Am. Acad. Dermatol."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"318","DOI":"10.2174\/092986709787002664","article-title":"Development and application of Fourier-transform infrared chemical imaging of tumour in human tissue","volume":"16","author":"Petter","year":"2009","journal-title":"Curr. Med. Chem."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1155","DOI":"10.1007\/s00216-007-1511-9","article-title":"Towards a practical Fourier transform infrared chemical imaging protocol for cancer histopathology","volume":"389","author":"Bhargava","year":"2007","journal-title":"Anal. Bioanal. Chem."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"353","DOI":"10.1148\/rg.302095741","article-title":"Role of imaging in clinical islet transplantation","volume":"30","author":"Low","year":"2010","journal-title":"Radiographics"},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Bird, B., Miljkovic, M., Romeo, M.J., Smith, J., Stone, N., George, M.W., and Diem, M. (2008). Infrared micro-spectral imaging: Distinction of tissue types in axillary lymph node histology. BMC Clin. Pathol., 8.","DOI":"10.1186\/1472-6890-8-8"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"469","DOI":"10.1038\/nbt1080","article-title":"Infrared spectroscopic imaging for histopathologic recognition","volume":"23","author":"Fernandez","year":"2005","journal-title":"Nat. Biotechnol."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"671","DOI":"10.1007\/s00216-009-2737-5","article-title":"Trends in Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic imaging","volume":"394","author":"Steiner","year":"2009","journal-title":"Anal. Bioanal. Chem."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Nannan, L., Untereiner, V., Proult, I., Boulagnon-Rombi, C., Colin-Pierre, C., Sockalingum, G.D., and Br\u00e9zillon, S. (2020). Label-Free Infrared Spectral Histology of Skin Tissue Part I: Impact of Lumican on Extracellular Matrix Integrity. Front. Cell Dev. Biol., 8.","DOI":"10.3389\/fcell.2020.00320"},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e117","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijid.2011.10.005","article-title":"Epidemiology of scabies in the West Bank, Palestinian Territories (Occupied)","volume":"16","author":"Amro","year":"2012","journal-title":"Int. J. Infect. Dis."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Castro, P., Lima, C., Zorn, T.M.T., and Zezell, D.M. (2018, January 12\u201315). FTIR spectroscopy: An optical method to study wound healing process. Proceedings of the Latin America Optics and Photonics Conference, Lima, Peru.","DOI":"10.1364\/LAOP.2018.Th4A.42"},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"50","DOI":"10.1016\/j.compbiomed.2018.06.023","article-title":"Discrimination of skin cancer cells using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy","volume":"100","author":"Naranjo","year":"2018","journal-title":"Comput. Biol. Med."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3213","DOI":"10.1039\/c0an00505c","article-title":"FTIR microspectroscopy of melanocytic skin lesions: A preliminary study","volume":"135","author":"Tosi","year":"2010","journal-title":"Analyst"},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2482","DOI":"10.1039\/c3an00353a","article-title":"Changes of skin collagen orientation associated with chronological aging as probed by polarized-FTIR micro-imaging","volume":"139","author":"Nguyen","year":"2014","journal-title":"Analyst"},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Klaassen, M., De Vries, E.G., and Masen, M.A. (2020). Interpersonal differences in the friction response of skin relate to FTIR measures for skin lipids and hydration. Colloids Surf. B Biointerfaces, 189.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.colsurfb.2020.110883"},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"434","DOI":"10.1046\/j.1523-1747.2001.01258.x","article-title":"In vivo confocal Raman microspectroscopy of the skin: Non-invasive determination of molecular concentration profiles","volume":"116","author":"Caspers","year":"2001","journal-title":"J. Investig. Dermatol."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1344","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bbamem.2008.01.022","article-title":"Molecular organization of the lipid matrix in intact Stratum corneum using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy","volume":"1778","author":"Boncheva","year":"2008","journal-title":"Biochim. Biophys. Acta (BBA)\u2014Biomembr."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"14217","DOI":"10.1007\/s00289-024-05381-z","article-title":"Characterization of chitin and description of its antimicrobial properties obtained from Cydalima perspectalis adults","volume":"81","author":"Altun","year":"2024","journal-title":"Polym. Bull."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Brunner, A., Unterberger, S.H., Auer, H., Hautz, T., Schneeberger, S., Stalder, R., Badzoka, J., Kappacher, C., Huck, C.W., and Zelger, B. (2024). Suitability of Fourier transform infrared microscopy for the diagnosis of cystic echinococcosis in human tissue sections. J. Biophotonics, 17.","DOI":"10.1002\/jbio.202300513"},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4135","DOI":"10.1039\/C7AY01132F","article-title":"Retrospective case study on the suitability of mid-infrared microscopic imaging for the diagnosis of mucormycosis in human tissue sections","volume":"9","author":"Pallua","year":"2017","journal-title":"Anal. Methods"},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"7","DOI":"10.1117\/1.429915","article-title":"Infrared spectroscopic imaging of the biochemical modifications induced in the cerebellum of the Niemann\u2013Pick type C mouse","volume":"4","author":"Kidder","year":"1999","journal-title":"J. Biomed. Opt."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3965","DOI":"10.1039\/c2an35483g","article-title":"Fourier transform infrared imaging analysis in discrimination studies of squamous cell carcinoma","volume":"137","author":"Pallua","year":"2012","journal-title":"Analyst"},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Du\u010di\u0107, T., Sanchez-Mata, A., Castillo-Sanchez, J., Algarra, M., and Gonzalez-Munoz, E. (2023). Monitoring oocyte-based human pluripotency acquisition using synchrotron-based FTIR microspectroscopy reveals specific biomolecular trajectories. Spectrochim. Acta Part A Mol. Biomol. Spectrosc., 297.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.saa.2023.122713"},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4","DOI":"10.1002\/jrs.4607","article-title":"Raman spectroscopy of lipids: A review","volume":"46","author":"Czamara","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Raman Spectrosc."},{"key":"ref_31","unstructured":"Mantsch, H.H., and Chapman, D. (1996). Infrared Spectroscopy of Biomolecules, Wiley-Liss."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Gremlich, H.-U., and Yan, B. (2001). Infrared and Raman Spectroscopy of Biological Materials, CRC Press.","DOI":"10.1201\/b16936"},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Salzer, R., and Siesler, H.W. (2009). Infrared and Raman Spectroscopic Imaging, Vch Pub.","DOI":"10.1002\/9783527628230"},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Bhargava, R., and Levin, I. (2006). Spectrochemical Analysis Using Infrared Multichannel Detectors, Wiley-Blackwell.","DOI":"10.1002\/9780470988541"},{"key":"ref_35","unstructured":"Colthup, N.B., Daly, L.H., and Wiberley, S.E. (1990). Introduction to Infrared and Raman Spectroscopy, Academic Press."},{"key":"ref_36","unstructured":"Lin-Vien, D., Colthup, N.B., Fateley, W.G., and Grasselli, J.G. (1991). The Handbook of Infrared and Raman Characteristic Frequencies of Organic Molecules, Academic Press."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"769","DOI":"10.1016\/S1473-3099(06)70654-5","article-title":"Scabies: A ubiquitous neglected skin disease","volume":"6","author":"Hengge","year":"2006","journal-title":"Lancet Infect. Dis."},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"28","DOI":"10.12703\/r\/10-28","article-title":"Recent advances in understanding and treating scabies","volume":"10","author":"Welch","year":"2021","journal-title":"Fac. Rev."},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"adv00112","DOI":"10.2340\/00015555-3468","article-title":"The Management of Scabies in the 21st Century: Past, Advances and Potentials","volume":"100","author":"Bernigaud","year":"2020","journal-title":"Acta Derm. Venereol."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"279","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1529-8019.2009.01243.x","article-title":"Scabies","volume":"22","author":"Hicks","year":"2009","journal-title":"Dermatol. Ther."},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1735","DOI":"10.1039\/C7AN01871A","article-title":"Clinical applications of infrared and Raman spectroscopy: State of play and future challenges","volume":"143","author":"Baker","year":"2018","journal-title":"Analyst"},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1073","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bbabio.2007.06.004","article-title":"Infrared spectroscopy of proteins","volume":"1767","author":"Barth","year":"2007","journal-title":"Biochim. Biophys. Acta"},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"100003","DOI":"10.1016\/j.clispe.2020.100003","article-title":"Shining a light on clinical spectroscopy: Translation of diagnostic IR, 2D-IR and Raman spectroscopy towards the clinic","volume":"1","author":"Butler","year":"2019","journal-title":"Clin. Spectrosc."},{"key":"ref_44","first-page":"1","article-title":"Infrared spectroscopy and microscopy in cancer research and diagnosis","volume":"2","author":"Bellisola","year":"2012","journal-title":"Am. J. Cancer Res."},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"38","DOI":"10.1007\/s00292-001-0505-1","article-title":"Zehn Clues zur histopathologischen Diagnose von infekti\u00f6sen Hautkrankheiten","volume":"23","author":"Zelger","year":"2002","journal-title":"Der Pathol."},{"key":"ref_46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Toplak, M., Read, S.T., Sandt, C., and Borondics, F. (2021). Quasar: Easy Machine Learning for Biospectroscopy. Cells, 10.","DOI":"10.3390\/cells10092300"}],"container-title":["International Journal of Molecular Sciences"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1422-0067\/26\/23\/11597\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,1]],"date-time":"2025-12-01T08:32:37Z","timestamp":1764577957000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1422-0067\/26\/23\/11597"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,29]]},"references-count":46,"journal-issue":{"issue":"23","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,12]]}},"alternative-id":["ijms262311597"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ijms262311597","relation":{},"ISSN":["1422-0067"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1422-0067","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,29]]}}}