Abstract
Sheep scab, caused by Psoroptes ovis mites, represents a significant threat to sheep health and welfare. Infestations are diagnosed by parasite identification in skin scrapings, and more recently with a commercial ELISA against serum antibodies to the Pso o 2 mite allergen. However, little is known about the performance of the ELISA in non-UK sheep populations. In this study, six Swifter sheep were experimentally infested with P. ovis. Lesion sizes were monitored and serum IgG against Pso o 2 and the novel Pso-EIP-1 antigens were measured by ELISA. Although all sheep showed signs of infestation, serum from two animals failed to react with Pso o 2. However, they did react to Pso-EIP-1. This indicates that cases of sheep scab in (Swifter) sheep may remain undetected using the Pso o 2 ELISA, which may have implications for routine screening of non- UK sheep breeds.
Highlights
The mite Psoroptes ovis causes sheep scab, termed psoroptic mange, a disease that is considered to be the most important ectoparasitic disease in sheep in the UK, from both welfare and economic perspectives (Nieuwhof and Bishop, 2005)
The aim of this research was to validate the use of the Pso o 2 antigen test in Swifter sheep, a non-UK sheep breed common in Belgium and the Netherlands
The serological responses are shown for the six infested sheep from the sheep scab ELISA test (Pso o 2 antigen)
Summary
The mite Psoroptes ovis causes sheep scab, termed psoroptic mange, a disease that is considered to be the most important ectoparasitic disease in sheep in the UK, from both welfare and economic perspectives (Nieuwhof and Bishop, 2005). It has been shown that the cost of sheep scab to the UK sheep industry could be as high as £78200 million per annum (Nixon et al, 2020). These costs include performance loss, costs of preventive measurements and treatment of affected animals. To counter this, Nunn et al (2011) developed a serological test capable of detecting sheep scab within two weeks of an infestation and prior to the appearance of clinical signs (Nunn et al, 2011). The aim of this research was to validate the use of the Pso o 2 antigen test in Swifter sheep, a non-UK sheep breed common in Belgium and the Netherlands
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