Psorergatic mange in two ring‐tailed lemurs (Lemur catta)

Abstract

Two 6‐year‐old ring‐tailed lemurs (Lemur catta), housed in two different zoological institutions, were evaluated for nonpruritic nodules located on the eyelids, lips and chest. The first lemur was anaesthetized for diagnostic investigations. Although pan‐herpes polymerase chain reaction was positive and bacterial culture yielded Staphylococcus warneri, histopathology of skin biopsies revealed a severe chronic dermatitis and folliculitis with intralesional arthropods, identified as Psorobia sp. on skin scrapings. The second lemur was also diagnosed a psorergatic mange. After several treatment failures, weekly topical applications of amitraz were performed and a minimum of five applications were necessary to notice the complete resolution of the lesions. Amitraz toxicity was not observed, despite the first lemur being pregnant at the time of treatment. This is the first report of psorergatic mange in a prosimian species and the first reported use of amitraz as a successful treatment for this disease.