Diagnosis and treatment of demodicosis in dogs and cats

Abstract

Background Demodicosis is a common disease in small animal veterinary practice worldwide with a variety of diagnostic and therapeutic options. Objectives To provide consensus recommendations on the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of demodicosis in dogs and cats. Methods and materials The authors served as a Guideline Panel (GP) and reviewed the literature available before December 2018. The GP prepared a detailed literature review and made recommendations on selected topics. A draft of the document was presented at the North American Veterinary Dermatology Forum in Maui, HI, USA (May 2018) and at the European Veterinary Dermatology Congress in Dubrovnik, Croatia (September 2018) and was made available via the World Wide Web to the member organizations of the World Association for Veterinary Dermatology for a period of three months. Comments were solicited and responses were incorporated into the final document. Conclusions In young dogs with generalized demodicosis, genetic and immunological factors seem to play a role in the pathogenesis and affected dogs should not be bred. In old dogs and cats, underlying immunosuppressive conditions contributing to demodicosis should be explored. Deep skin scrapings are the diagnostic gold standard for demodicosis, but trichograms and tape squeeze preparations may also be useful under certain circumstances. Amitraz, macrocyclic lactones and more recently isoxazolines have all demonstrated good efficacy in the treatment of canine demodicosis. Therapeutic selection should be guided by local drug legislation, drug availability and individual case parameters. Evidence for successful treatment of feline demodicosis is strongest for lime sulfur dips and amitraz baths.

Detection of Breinlia sp. (Nematoda) in the Leadbeater's possum (Gymnobelideus leadbeateri)

“…Minimal pathology was associated with the presence of microfilariae in this possum specimen, despite his geriatric age, concurrent demodicosis and a history of chronic dermatitis, which could otherwise indicate a compromised immune status ( Mueller et al, 2020 ). The cause of death of this individual is unknown, but was likely age-related.…”

Mange skin diseases in dogs and cats in Jataí, Brazil: A retrospective study with notes on zoonotic aspects

“…Although demodicosis is not transmitted to humans from animals, its high prevalence should be highlighted owing to the clinical presentation and possibility of worsening of this condition. Secondary bacterial infections can progress to the development of follicular pustules, crusts, exudation, and ulcerations, and severely affected dogs can develop septicemia and even die (Mueller et al, 2020). According to Bensingnor and Carlotti (2000), 10% cases of localized demodicosis progress to generalized demodicosis; thus, early diagnosis and treatment are important to prevent disease spread.…”

Juvenile‐onset and adult‐onset demodicosis in dogs in the UK: prevalence and breed associations

“…, Mueller et al . ). The clinical presentation of demodicosis shows wide variation in the age at onset, the extent and severity of the lesions and the presence of secondary infection, in addition to the mite species involved (Ordeix et al .…”