Scabies and

Miscellaneous
Parasites
Tina Brown, MS, DVM
Louisiana State University
VMED 5365
March 1, 2007
 Sarcoptic Mange

 The parasite – Sarcoptes scabei

var. canis
 PRURITIC, nonseasonal,
transmissible
 Host specific but can infest man,
cats, ferrets, and foxes
Sarcoptes scabei var. canis
 Life Cycle
 Entire life cycle on host (17-21 days)
 Can live off host in correct environment

 Female mite burrows into superficial

layers of the epidermis to lay eggs
 Male mites live on skin surface
 Transmission
 Highly contagious!  Ears,
Elbows,
 50% exposed dogs Hocks, Abdomen
will be infected
 30% of cases,
exposure unknown
 Mites prefer skin
with little hair
 Zoonosis
 24 hours to 21 days
after exposure
 Papules on arms,
neck, beltline
 Regress spontaneously
.. 12 to 14 days after
contact is terminated
 Severe pruritus
 Clinical Signs
 Dogsand humans may have
hypersensitivity reaction to mite
– A few mites can cause generalized pruritus
3 most pruritic skin diseases in dogs
– 1. Scabies
– 2. Flea allergy
– 3. Food allergy
 Clinical Signs

 Dogs of all ages

 Erythematous papules
 +/- lymphadenopathy
 Occult scabies-no lesions, only
pruritus

 Suspect in ALL cases of spontaneous

pruritus
Clinical Presentation: EAR
Clinical Presentation: HOCKS
Clinical Presentation: ELBOWS
 Diagnosis
 Multiplebroad superficial skin scrapings
 Scrape pinnae, elbows, hocks

– Not areas of excoriation

– Only positive in 20% cases

 Pinna-Pedal Reflex
– Sensitivity as high as 90%
Diagnosis
 Diagnosis
 Fecal sample

 Histopathology
– biopsy papules
– mites rarely found

 Serum antibody
test
 Diagnosis
 Response to treatment is diagnostic
test!!
 If you suspect it treat it
– Remember occult scabies
 Commonly misdiagnosed as allergy
– Atopy
– Flea allergy
– Food allergy
– Contact dermatitis
 Treatment
 Treat all in contact
animals
 Environmental cleanup

 Corticosteroids for
pruritus
– Prednisone 1mg/kg sid for
3-7d
 Treatment-topicals
 Lyme sulfur
– Every 5-7 days for 4 to 6 treatments
 Amitraz (Mitaban®)
 Fipronil (Frontline®)Spray

 Topical (pour-on) Ivermectin

0.5mg/kg q14d
 Treatment: Systemic drugs
 Ivermectin (Ivomec® 1%)
– Very effective
– Extra label use
– Beware in sensitive breeds
– Check heartworm microfilaria status
prior to treatment!
 Treatment: Systemic drugs
 Milbemycin (Interceptor ®)
– Safe in ivermectin sensitive breeds
– 3-4x more expensive than Ivermectin
– As effective as Ivermectin
 Treatment: Systemic drugs
 **Selamectin ( Revolution TM )
– Topical avermectin
– Systemically absorbed
– Safe in ivermectin sensitive breeds
– 95.2% effective after 1 dose and
– 100% effective after 2 doses according to
Pfizer!
 Treatment: Systemic drugs
 Moxidectin

– Extra label use

– Beware in sensitive breeds
– Advantage Multi (Bayer)
 Doramectin

– Extra label use

– Beware in sensitive breeds
 Conclusions
 Expect to see significant reduction in
pruritus after two weeks of treatment
 FAQ

– How long do you isolate from other pets?

 ??Pfizer suggest 30 days
– Can cats get scabies?
 Yes, treat all in contact pets
 Scabies-take home points
 VERY pruritic/papular
– Ddx-flea allergy and food allergy
– Ear pinna, elbows, hocks

 Best diagnosis= response to therapy

 Treatment options-consider breed

 Miscellaneous Parasites
 Notoedres
 Pediculosis
 Cheyletiellosis
 Cuterebriasis
 Otodectic mange
 Myiasis
 Chiggers
 Fly strike
 Cat fur mite
 Ticks
Notoedric Mange (feline scabies)
 Highly contagious parasitic disease
 Poor off-host survival

 Family Sarcoptidae

 Can affect dogs, foxes, rabbits, &

humans
 Clinical Signs
 “Head Mange”
 Intense pruritus

 Papules, scales, crusts, alopecia,

excoriations
 Pinnae, head, neck

 May spread to feet and perineum

 Diagnosis
 Superficial skin scrapings are usually
positive
 Distribution of lesions and intensity
of pruritus are highly suggestive
– Pinnae, head, neck
 Fecal examination may reveal mites
 Histopathology
Notoedres cati
 Treatment

 Lime sulfur dips

– Use E collar for cats
 Amitraz (Mitaban®) dips
 Ivermectin (Ivomec® 1%)

 Treat all in contact animals

 Corticosteroids for pruritus

 Cheyletiellosis - “Walking
Dandruff”
 Live on the skin surface
 Produce a mild dermatitis
 Mites can survive off the host for 10
to 14 days
 Highly contagious

 Affects cats, dogs, rabbits and

exposed humans
 Clinical Signs

 Dorsally oriented
dry scaling with
little or no pruritus

 Increasing scale
and pruritus as
disease progresses
 Diagnosis-Cheyletiella
 Identification of the mite or its egg
– Direct examination with a magnifying
glass
– Multiple superficial skin scrapes
– Scotch tape impressions of dorsum
– Flea comb
 Response to treatment
 Treatment
 Treat all in contact animals and
environment
 Easy to treat

– Lime sulfur
– Selamectin (Revolution)
– Fipronil spray
– Ivermectin
 Otodectic Mange - Ear Mites
 Otodectes cynotis
– Lives in external ear canal
– Does not survive in the
environment

 Contagious disease
– Affects dogs, cats, and
ferrets as 1° hosts
– Rarely in exposed humans
 Clinical Signs
 Otitis externa

 “Ectopic”infestations occur when

mites colonize the skin
– often cause no disease
– some animals have a pruritic dermatitis
 Diagnosis
 Direct otoscopic examination
 Microscopic examination of wax

 Skin scrapings

 Scotch tape impressions

 Treatment
 Treat all in contact
animals
 Clean ears to
remove debris
 Miticidal ear
preparations
 Trombicula

 Diagnosis based on
history, macroscopic
evidence of parasite
and skin scrapes

 Treatment with
parasiticidal dips or
topical otic
parasiticide
 Cat Fur Mite
 “Saltand Pepper” appearance to dull
and dirty coat
 Not highly contagious
 Scrape, tape prep
 Pediculosis - Lice
 Spread by direct contact or by
contaminated brushes or bedding
 Eggs attached to hairs of the host
= nits
 Pediculosis

 Can be very
pruritic
 Diagnosis tape
prep
 Treat all in
contact animals
 Cuterebriasis
 Cuterebra fly eggs
 Skin lesions localized to the head,
neck, or trunk
 When larvae enlarge  nodule with
fistula
Misc parasites-take home points
 Notoedres (feline mange)
– Very pruritic
– Scrapes diagnostic
 Cheyletiella (walking dandruff)
– Scrape, tape prep, direct exam
 Otodectes

– Ectopic infestations head and neck

Questions ?