Notoedres

Also known as:

feline scabies

• Known as feline scabies

• Also common ectoparasite of tropical bats

• Parasite of cats, rats, man and rabbits

Recognition

• Similar to Sarcoptes

• Less distinct angles on body surface

• Females have suckers on legs 1 and 2

• Females are about 225μm in length and males 150μm

• Anal opening is distinctly dorsal (not posterior)

Pathogenesis

• Infection begins on the ear tips and spreads over the body

• Notoedres cati in notoedric skin infestation

• Causes dermatitis

• Burrowing of females damages keratinocytes leading to cytokine release

• Hypersensitivity reaction may occur

Diagnosis

• Superficial skin scraping

• A single nest in a scraping may yield many mites