Treatment of sarcoptic and chorioptic mange in an alpaca (Vicugna pacos) herd with a combination of topical amitraz and subcutaneous ivermectin

Case Report: Successful Treatment of Sarcoptic Mange in European Camelids

“…However, in other studies, topical treatment with doramectin, eprinomectin or moxidectin had limited efficacy in treating sarcoptic mange in alpacas (7,(15)(16)(17). This may be due to hyperkeratosis, a typical lesion developed in alpaca affected by sarcoptic mange which can influence the penetration and absorption of topical molecules (6). Another cause suggested for the poor efficacy of topical acaricides is the lack of lanolin (the woold grease), which can limit their efficacy (6,18).…”

“…This may be due to hyperkeratosis, a typical lesion developed in alpaca affected by sarcoptic mange which can influence the penetration and absorption of topical molecules (6). Another cause suggested for the poor efficacy of topical acaricides is the lack of lanolin (the woold grease), which can limit their efficacy (6,18). Considering these, in the first case study we used a combined treatment with topical amitraz and subcutaneous eprinomectin, only after the thick crusts were removed with keratolytics in order to facilitate the absorption of the topical acaricide.…”

“…However, we used this protocol on only one patient, and it could be very time consuming and costly in the case of bigger herds. In another study, the successful treatment of a mixed infestation with sarcoptic and chorioptic mange mites in one alpaca was achieved using a combination of topical amitraz and 0.5 mg/kg subcutaneous ivermectin for nine consecutive weeks ( 6 ). Combined treatments seem to be more efficient, especially when associated with local shampooing with chlorhexidine, vitamins, and environmental treatment ( 2 , 6 ).…”

“…The most common conditions are related to the digestive tract, metabolic disorders, skin lesions and eye problems (2)(3)(4). Several types of mites have been reported in alpacas; however, sarcoptic mange seems to be the most severe in regard with the clinical manifestations (2,5,6). Lesions due to scabiosis appear first in the head area, and they can extend to the legs or even the whole body, manifested in the form of alopecia and excoriations (2).…”

“…Even though there is a wide range of ectoparasitic molecules effective against sarcoptic mange, in camelids, the treatment is more challenging as pour-on solutions are not well absorbed ( 7 ) and the systematic formulations are poorly efficient. Up to now, there are no specific products available for the treatment of sarcoptic mange in camelids and all the reports about effective treatments are involving a long period of time ( 2 , 6 , 8 ). Here, we report two clinical scenarios of sarcoptic mange: a case of an infestation with Sarcoptes mites in an alpaca with severe ear skin lesions from a zoo in Romania and its progress after successful treatment with a combination of amitraz and injectable eprinomectin and a case of infestation with Sarcoptes mites in two adult llamas from Italy and successful treatment with 2% subcutaneous moxidectin.…”