Sarcoptic mange

Prof. Dr. H. Mehlhorn, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf

• Causes mange in sheep cattle and pigs
• The mange usually starts on relatively hairless areas
• A widespread and economically significant disease of pigs

Importance of Sarcoptes scabiei var bovis in cattle in Europe

Sarcoptic mange, like psoroptic mange, in cattle tends to be associated with growing cattle, can be equally severe and under certain conditions spread over the whole body surface of the animal. This parasitic mite has a wide range of mammalian hosts including man and it is suggested that there is only one species of S. scabiei as infestations differ more in physiology than morphology, hence Sarcoptes scabiei var bovis. Outbreaks usually occur in housed cattle, including dairy cattle and being highly contagious is easily spread via transfer of mites by physical contact generally onto the head and neck region and spreads from there. Mild infestations result in scaly skin with some hair loss but in time and as the disease progresses skin thickening and wrinkling and marked hair loss occur. Again altered skin function and pruritus can result in economic loss. Most reported cases in dairy cattle over the last 30 years suggest significant loss of productivity but despite the prevalence of this disease quantifiable data are limited.

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