Mites - Rats
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Rats
The rat is affected by both burrowing and fur mite species:
Burrowing Mites
Rats may rarely be infected with the burrowing mite Notoedres muris aka ear mites.
Fur Mites
Radfordia ensifera is the most common species. It is transferred by direct contact.
Clinical signs
There may be no clinical signs, or the rat may develop small scaly lesions around the head and shoulders.
Treatment
Two injections of Ivermectin administered subcutaneously 7 days apart are reported to be effective. The environment should be treated with insecticidal sprays.
References
Bond, Hendricks, Loeffler (2009) Veterinary Dermatology RVC Intergrated BVetMed Course, Royal Veterinary College
Merck & Co (2009) The Merck Veterinary Manual (Ninth Edition), Merial