Abstract
ObjectivesTo explore epidemiological features of demodicosis relevant to UK veterinary general practitioners. Breed risk factors were proposed as distinct between juvenile‐onset and adult‐onset disease.Materials and MethodsThe study used anonymised clinical data on dogs under primary veterinary care at practices enrolled in the UK VetCompass Programme. Case inclusion required recording of a final demodicosis diagnosis for a dermatological condition that was present during the 2013 study period. Risk factor analysis used multivariable logistic regression modelling.ResultsIn dogs aged <2 years (juvenile‐onset), the 1‐year period prevalence was 0.48% (95% confidence interval: 0.45 to 0.52). Compared with crossbred dogs, seven breeds showed increased odds of diagnosis with demodex: British bulldog, Staffordshire bull terrier, Chinese shar‐pei, dogue de Bordeaux, pug, French bulldog and boxer. Additionally, six breeds showed reduced odds of juvenile demodicosis: Lhasa apso, bichon frise, Labrador retriever, German shepherd dog, shih‐tzu and Chihuahua. In dogs aged >4 years (adult‐onset), the 1‐year period prevalence was 0.05% (95% confidence interval: 0.0.04 to 0.06). Six breeds showed increased odds of demodicosis compared with crossbred dogs: Chinese shar‐pei, shih‐tzu, West Highland white terrier, pug, boxer and Border terrier.Clinical SignificanceJuvenile‐onset demodicosis is much more common (about 10 times higher) than the adult‐onset form. Knowledge of the predisposed breeds for these two presentations can assist with diagnosis and support the concept of distinct aetiopathogenetic phenotypes.
Highlights
Demodicosis is a relatively common skin disease in dogs that occurs when the normally harmless and commensal Demodex spp. mites in hair follicles and/or sebaceous glands multiply to excessive numbers (Miller et al 2013)
The present study aimed to explore epidemiological features of canine demodicosis as relevant to veterinary practitioners in the UK, based on the general population of dogs under primary veterinary care practices enrolled in the UK VetCompass Programme
Prevalence From dogs of all ages, there were 788 demodicosis cases confirmed from 455,553 dogs under veterinary care during 2013 at 304 clinics to give a 1-year period prevalence for demodicosis overall of 0.17%
Summary
Demodicosis is a relatively common skin disease in dogs that occurs when the normally harmless and commensal Demodex spp. mites in hair follicles and/or sebaceous glands multiply to excessive numbers (Miller et al 2013). Two species of demodectic mites are associated with disease in dogs. 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 2009, Miller et al 2013). Demodicosis is often associated with secondary bacterial skin infection (Kuznetsova et al 2012), and deep and extensive pyoderma can lead to serious, debilitating or even life-threatening morbidity in generalised disease (Miller et al 2013). Due to the suspected genetic factors involved, breeding from affected dogs is often discouraged and greater understanding of breed-associations is needed (Scott et al 2001)
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