From:
dr_bruce_williams
Date: 2001-12-06 22:36:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Do ferrets get sarcoptic or demodex skin mites?
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., "Lynn McIntosh" <faiml@u...> wrote:
> Do ferrets get sarcoptic mites of the skin (i.e. mange)? What
about
> demodex mites?
I won't rehash the excellent information already posted here, but let
me add just a little bit. Ferrets can indeed get demodex mites, but
as Shelly said, they are usually associated with some form of
immunosuppression. I have seen only a few cases, and the majority
had distemper (a very immunosuppressive disease.) Long-term
prednisone would also be expected to result in Demodex infection.
The identification of a mite or two on a skin scrape in the absence
of clinical signs would not necessitate a diagnosis of mange - all
mammalians species have demodex mite - bet you have some in your
eyebrows right now. It is only when they get out of control that
clincal signs result. they are communicable only within a species -
dogs don't get human demodex, which don't get hamster demodex, etc -
only dog to dog, or presumably ferret to ferret (although you'd
likely need to immunosuppressed ferrets.
Regarding sarcoptes - we see very little of it in this country, but
it has historically been a problem in New Zealand. It particularly
affects the feet, and is intensely pruritic (itchy), with the animals
often mangling their own feet. Yes, the claws are also sorely
affected.
With kindest regards,
Bruce Williams, dVM