Transmission

Puppy with sarcoptic mange
Caroldermoid 2006, Wikimedia Commons
  • Close contact
  • Adults and larvae can be transferred from one skin surface to another

Pathogenesis

  • Erythema with papule formation
  • Scale and crust formation
    • Alopecia
  • Intense pruritus for 1 week
    • Self-inflicted trauma
    • Scab formation
  • Wrinkling and thickening of skin


Sarcoptes scabiei

  • Causes scabies
  • Strains of S. scabiei can be passed between different animals and cause clinical signs although the infection is likely to resolve spontaneously and be unlikely to establish

Diagnosis

  • Skin scraping until capillary blood appears
    • Adults, eggs, immature mites and faecal pellets can be seen microscopically
  • Place material on a microscope slide
  • Add 10% KOH
  • Warm slide over bunsen flame

Treatment

  • Acaricide
    • For more information on acaricides click here
  • Treat both infected and in-contact animals
  • Older products have to be given in repeat treatments
  • Avermectins are effective in farm animals
  • Selamectin is available as a good spot-on for dogs


In Dogs

In Cats

In Pigs

In Cattle

In Sheep

In Horses

  • Caused by Sarcoptes scabiei
  • Highly contagious
  • Mainly in pigs, dogs, also horses, cattle, sheep, goats and cats
  • Intense pruritus due hypersensitivity to mites borrowing through stratum corneum
  • Usually starts with external pinnae -> head -> neck -> generalised
  • Grossly:
  • Microscopically:
    • Hyperplastic, spongiotic, superficial perivascular dermatitis
    • Crusting, eosinophil infiltration
    • Mites are not commonly seen, but eggs and feces may be found in stratumn corneum