From:
Shelley Knudsen
Date: 2001-12-05 23:37:00 UTC
Subject: Sarcoptes and Demodex mites
Hello,
Yes, ferrets can get both Sarcoptes and Demodex mites,
although they are not common in ferrets. Sarcoptes is
contagious to people, but is easily cured. It is also
difficult to find on a skin scraping, as they will burrow into
the skin, so you may have to do several deep skin scrapings to
find them. If you do find them under a microscope, you can
pick them out as they have triangular spines on their backs
which is unique to Sarcoptes. The FDA approved treatment is
Revolution, although Ivermectin and Frontline are also used
with pretty good success. Usually diagnosis is by response to
treatment, rather than discovery of the mites, since it is so
hard to find them from a skin scraping.
Demodex mites are found on most animals normally without any
problems. As you said, they usually only become problematic
in animals with suppressed immune systems, or in some cases in
association with a debilitating disease. The isolation of a
few Demodex mites from a skin scraping is not considered
diagnostic, since they can be found normally without any
disease association, however a very large number of mites
found in association with clinical signs can be considered a
diagnosis. The FDA treatment is Mitaban (Amitraz), and it is
also about the only treatment that works - Demodectic mange is
not easily cured. Demodex is host specific - not contagious
to people.
Can you tell I just finished a parasitology course? Anyway,
hope that helps.
Dooks to your fuzzies,
Shelley Knudsen
Class of 2004 KSU Veterinary College
ferrets@kansas.net sknudsen@vet.ksu.edu
http://www.tcgcs.com/~ferrets
785-565-9041 cel402-984-4217
"There ain't no limit in this life to how far you can get,
but if you're going all the way, you gotta break a sweat."
- Chad Brock