Abstract
Various materials related to the life physiology of the scabies mite in and on the human skin have been identified by morphology. The role they could play as possible activators of both cellular and humoral arms of the host's immune system is discussed. Subtle aberrations of this reactive process could be basically responsible for the wide spectrum of clinical and histological aspects reported in scabies. Possible lines for future research on host-parasite relationship in scabies are proposed.