Mange
| Mange | |
|---|---|
| Classification and external resources | |
 Dog with skin irritation and hair loss caused by mange |
|
| DiseasesDB | 33039 |
| eMedicine | article/1203895 |
| MeSH | D008924 |
 |
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (May 2011) |
Mange (
/ˈmeɪnʒ/) is a class of persistent contagious skin diseases caused by parasitic mites.[1] The term is sometimes reserved for the infestation of domestic animals.[2] Another term used to describe mite infestation is acariasis.
These mites embed themselves either in hair follicles or skin, depending upon their type. They generally infest domestic animals, including dogs and cats and also other canines, livestock (such as sheep scab), wild animals and even humans (such as scabies).
Contents |
[edit] Types of mange
Two types of mites produce canine mange, and each type has characteristic symptoms.
[edit] Demodectic mange
Also called demodicosis or Red Mange, demodectic mange in dogs is caused by a sensitivity to and overpopulation of Demodex canis if the animal's immune system is unable to keep the mites under control. There are two types of demodectic mange: localized and generalized. Localized consists of 4 spots or less. Most dogs are immune to demodectic mange, however dogs with compromised immune systems and the elderly are at a higher risk. It is not contagious to humans.
[edit] Sarcoptic mange
Also known as canine scabies, sarcoptic mange is a highly contagious infestation of Sarcoptes scabiei canis, a burrowing mite. The canine sarcoptic mite can also infest humans (scabies), cats, pigs, horses, sheep and various other species.
These mites are in the family Sarcoptidae. They dig into and through the skin, causing intense itching and crusting that can quickly become infected. Hair loss and crusting frequently appear first on elbows and ears. Skin damage can occur from the dog's intense scratching and biting. Secondary skin infection is also common. Dogs with chronic sarcoptic mange are often in poor condition.
[edit] Treatment
Dogs affected with demodectic mange do not need to be isolated from other dogs. Demodectic mange is generally only contagious from mother to pup during suckling. Demodectic mange is not contagious after weaning. Many puppies will grow out of demodectic mange as their immune systems mature. Demodectic mange can recur if the immune system is compromised such as after steroid treatment or other immune-compromising illness. Treatment with ivermectin is often prescribed by vets along with skin scrapings. Ivermectin is often continued until two negative skin scrapings are achieved.
In cases of Sarcoptic mange, affected dogs need to be isolated from other dogs and their bedding, and places they have occupied must be thoroughly cleaned. Other dogs in contact with a diagnosed case should be evaluated and treated.
There are a number of parasitical treatments useful in treating canine scabies. Sulfurated lime rinses applied weekly or bi-weekly are effective. Selamectin is licensed for treatment by veterinary prescription in several countries; it is applied as a drip-on directly to the skin. Unlicensed, but frequently used, ivermectin is given by mouth for two to four weekly treatments; this drug is not safe to use on some collie-like herding dogs, however, due to possible homozygous MDR1 (P-glycoprotein) mutations that increase its toxicity. Other ivermectin drugs are also effective, but none are licensed for use on dogs. Topical 1% ivermectin has been reported to be effective in humans and many types of animals (especially in ear mite infections where the animal cannot lick the treated area), and is so poorly absorbed that systemic toxicity is less likely in these sites. Nevertheless, topical ivermectin has not been well enough tested to be approved for this use in dogs, and is theoretically much more dangerous in zones where the animal can potentially lick the treated area.
[edit] Diagnosis
Veterinarians usually attempt diagnosis with skin scrapings from multiple areas, which are then examined under a microscope for mites. Sarcoptes, because they may be present in relatively low numbers, and because they are often removed by dogs chewing at themselves, may be difficult to demonstrate. As a result, diagnosis in Sarcoptic mange is often based on symptoms rather than actual confirmation of the presence of mites. A common and simple way of determining if a dog has mange is if it displays what is called a "Pedal-Pinna reflex", which is when the dog moves one of its hind legs in a scratching motion as the ear is being manipulated and scratched gently by the examiner; because the mites proliferate on the ear margins in nearly all cases at some point, this method works over 95% of the time.[3] It is helpful in cases where all symptoms of mange are present but no mites are observed with a microscope. In some countries, a serologic test is available that may be useful in diagnosis.
[edit] See also
 |
Look up mange in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. |
[edit] References
 |
This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations where appropriate. (April 2009) |
- ^ "Mange – Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary". Merriam-webster.com. 2010-08-13. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Mange. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
- ^ mange at Dorland's Medical Dictionary
- ^ "Sarcoptic Mites and Mange: Also Known As Scabies in Dogs and Cats". Thepetcenter.com. http://www.thepetcenter.com/exa/mites.html. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
[edit] Further reading
- Feline mange
- Successful herbal treatment of dog mange
- Herbal dog scabies treatment with NEEM
- Red Mange (Demodicosis) on Veterinary Partner
- Demodectic mange in cats on Veterinary Partner
- Sarcoptic Mange on Veterinary Partner
- Sarcoptic Mange in the Pet Health Library
- Mange in Red Foxes (Wildlife Online)
- Bornstein, Set; Mörner, Torsten; Samuel, William M. (2001). "Sarcoptes scabiei and Sarcoptic Mange". In Samuel, William M.; Pybus, Margo J.; Kocan, A. Alan. Parasitic Diseases of Wild Mammals. pp. 107–19. ISBN 978-0-8138-2978-4. http://books.google.com/books?id=mzOaXzmAytAC&pg=PA107.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
