Otodectes cynotis

Ornithonyssus
Phylum	Arthropoda
Class	Arachnida
Order	Mesostigmata
Family	Macronyssidae
Genus	Ornithonyssus
Species	O.cynotis

Also known as:

Ear mite

Otodectes cynotis C. Antonczyk 2008

Otodectes cynotis Caroldermoid 2006, wikimedia commons

Otodectes cynotis mites are surface mites. They are the cause of otodectic skin infestation, the most common mange of dogs and cats in the world. They are also found in the fox and the ferret. The mites inhabit the inner ear and feed on ear debris, they appear white in colour.

Identification

The mites have closed keratinous bars, apodemes on their ventral surface. They are smaller in size than psoroptes cuniculi and have short pedicles on their first and second pairs of legs.

Lifecycle

The Life cycle of an Otodectes mite takes 3 weeks. The females lay around five eggs a day on the surface of the ear canal. Four days later, larvae hatch and become nymphs. There are two nymphal stages before an adult mite is formed.

Pathogenesis

The majority of cats harbour the mites, however only a few show symptoms. Transmission of the mites occurs whilst kittens are suckling. The mites are a common cause of otitis externa in dogs, which leads to the production of a brown waxy exudate. Secondary infection can also occur.