We describe multiple hypervariable microsatellites that will provide a highly informative genetic marker system for the sarcoptid mite Sarcoptes scabiei. Eighteen positive clones containing the highly repetitive sequence (GA)n were isolated from a partial genomic library of S. scabiei. Ten of these clones were characterised by sequencing and primers were designed from the unique sequences flanking eight microsatellite loci. Genomic DNA was subsequently extracted from individual mites and the repeat blocks were amplified by way of [gamma 33P] ATP end-labelled polymerase chain reaction. Fragment length polymorphisms were revealed in three of the loci when resolved on polyacrylamide sequencing gels. The high levels of allelic variability demonstrated between individual mites enable these three loci to form a DNA fingerprinting system that will be suitable for epidemiological and taxonomic studies both within and between host species.