Description

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Chorioptic mange in sheep and goats is due to the mite CHORIOPTES BOVIS. In goats signs can start at the neck then spread to the back, root of the tail, and rest of the body. 'Foot mange' affects the skin of the feet and legs especially in the pasterns and digital areas. Chorioptic mange of the scrotum is suspected to cause infertility in rams. Eradicated from sheep in the U.S.Chorioptes caprae infest the skin of the lower leg. Itchiness may be noticed and there may be small crusty scabs.



Female in phase-contrast microscopy.

Additional information

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Chorioptes is host-specific. The life cycle is 2 to 3 weeks, it won’t survive off the host longer than a day. 



Female in phase-contrast microscopy. Females have suckers on legs 1, 2 and 4.The fourth legs are long, those of the male are short. Chorioptes mites, which are surface-inhabiting parasites found principally on the feet of domesticated animals, produce chorioptic mange, a common cause of dermatitis in cattle, sheep, goats, and occasionally horses in most parts of the world.

Linked information / topic details

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Signs

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Chorioptes bovis is common in Europe, New Zealand, and Australia during the winter. It has been eradicated in sheep in the USA and is a reportable disease.

Anamnesis

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Papules and crusts are seen on the feet and legs. Chorioptes can give lessions on the scrotum and distal rear limbs of sheep, in goats the lower limbs, abdomen and the hindquarters are infested.
The lessions can give allopecia, erythema, excoriation, crusts and pruritus.

Causes

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CHORIOPTES OVIS. C. BOVIS has also been indentified on infested goats. C caprae is fairly common in goats.

Diagnosis

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Starts in the neck then spreads to the back, root of the tail, and rest of the body in goats. In sheep/goat is called foot mange, and is mainly found in the skin of the feet and legs, especially in the pasterns and digital areas. Itching in sheep/goat will cause foot stomping. Chorioptic mange of the scrotum is suspected to cause infertility in rams.
Diagnosis is made by finding and identifying the mite in skin scrapings [ see figure ]

Blood / Urine tests

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Other lab tests

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Imaging

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Diagnostic tests

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Follow up:

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References:

Cortinas R, Jones CJ. Ectoparasites of Cattle and Small Ruminants. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Food Animal Practice 2006;22:673-693 [Web Reference]
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Smith MC. Diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of common small ruminant parasites. AABP Proceedings 2005;38:123-127
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Sargison N. Differential diagnosis of sheep skin conditions part 1: ectoparasitic diseases. UK Vet Livestock 2005;10:No.3:55-62
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Bates P. Therapies for ectoparasitism in sheep. In Practice 2004;26:538-547
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Taylor M. Parasites of goats: a guide to diagnosis and control. In Practice 2002;24:76-89
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Jackson P. Skin diseases in goats. In Pract 1986;8:5-10 [Web Reference]

Clinical signs typically appearing in this disorder:

- Skin pain

- Male infertility

- Alopecia, thinning, shedding, easily epilated, loss of, hair

- Hyperkeratosis, thick skin

- Hypotonic, wrinkled skin

- Moist skin, hair or feathers

- Pruritus, itching skin

- Skin crusts, scabs

- Skin erythema, inflammation, redness

- Skin papules

- Skin pustules

- Skin scales, flakes, peeling

- Skin ulcer, erosion, excoriation

Treatment
Treatment

Animals need to be treated individually with acaricidal compounds applied with a stiff brush or in a leg bath. Retreat in 10-12 days
If necessary, the animals can be treated using sprays or dips containing organophosphates (diazinon, metrifonate, propetamphos) or pyrethroids (deltamethrin, flumethrin) as permitted.