Live Mites Research Articles

Efficacy of a chewable tablet containing sarolaner, moxidectin and pyrantel for the treatment of generalised demodicosis in dogs.

Demodicosis is common in dogs and is caused by proliferation of commensal Demodex canis mites. To evaluate the efficacy of sarolaner in combination with moxidectin and pyrantel (SMP) for the treatment of generalised demodicosis in dogs. One hundred and thirty dogs with generalised demodicosis. In two separate randomised masked studies (laboratory and field studies), dogs received monthly oral SMP or afoxolaner + milbemycin oxime (AM). In the laboratory study, dogs received three monthly treatments with biweekly mite counts and clinical evaluations. In the field study, mite counts and clinical evaluations were performed monthly and treatments were administered until two consecutive skin scrapings were negative. Both products were tolerated well. In the laboratory study, mite counts for SMP were significantly (p < 0.001) reduced by 88.8% on Day (D)14, by 99.2% on D29, and no live mites were detected thereafter with no statistically significant difference (p = 0.96) between the two treatment groups. In the field study, SMP provided 92.4%, 98.1%, 100% and 100% reduction in arithmetic mean live mite counts on D30, D60, D90 and D120, and was non-inferior to the control product on D30 and D60. Clinical signs of demodicosis improved in all dogs. Monthly administration of SMP was effective for the treatment of generalised demodicosis in dogs as it eliminated Demodex mites after two monthly treatments in the laboratory study, and at most after three monthly treatments in the field study.

Administering Fluralaner in Drinking Water for Treatment of Dermanyssus gallinae Infestation in Hy-Line W80 Laying Hens

Background: Poultry red mites, or Dermanyssus gallinae, pose a threat to the welfare and productivity of laying hens. Moreover, the increasing resistance of these mites to conventional miticides highlights the urgent need for alternative treatment options. There are also documented cases of poultry red mite infestations in humans. Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of fluralaner against Dermanyssus gallinae infestation in hens. Methods: Fluralaner was selected as a novel treatment for poultry red mite due to its effectiveness and safety profile. The presence of live mites in the drinking water tank served as the indicator of infestation. Live mites were counted on nine occasions throughout the study. Fluralaner was administered at three doses of 0.5 mg/kg in drinking water with a seven-day interval between each dose. The efficacy of fluralaner was assessed, with an efficacy percentage exceeding 90% considered indicative of antiparasitic efficacy. Results: The overall efficacy of Fluralaner in the current study exceeded 90% by day 5 and reached 100% by day 17. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that fluralaner is an effective alternative treatment, achieving efficacy rates exceeding 90% against poultry red mite infestation in laying hens.

Heightened sensitivity in high-grooming honey bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae).

Honey bees use grooming to defend against the devastating parasite Varroa destructor Anderson and Trueman. We observed the grooming responses of individual bees from colonies previously chosen for high- and low-grooming behavior using a combination of mite mortality and mite damage. Our aim was to gain insight into specific aspects of grooming behavior to compare if high-grooming bees could discriminate between a standardized stimulus (chalk dust) and a stimulus of live Varroa mites and if bees from high-grooming colonies had greater sensitivity across different body regions than bees from low-grooming colonies. We hypothesized that individuals from high-grooming colonies would be more sensitive to both stimuli than bees from low-grooming colonies across different body regions and that bees would have a greater response to Varroa than a standardized irritant (chalk dust). Individuals from high-grooming colonies responded with longer bouts of intense grooming when either stimulus was applied to the head or thorax, compared to sham-stimulated controls, while bees from low-grooming colonies showed no differences between stimulated and sham-stimulated bees. Further, high-grooming bees from colonies with high mite damage exhibited greater grooming to Varroa than high-grooming colonies with only moderate mite damage rates. This study provides new insights into Varroa-specific aspects of grooming, showing that although a standardized stimulus (chalk dust) may be used to assess general grooming ability in individual bee grooming assays, it does not capture the same range of responses as a stimulus of Varroa. Thus, continuing to use Varroa mites in grooming assays should help select colonies with more precise sensitivity to Varroa.

New records of Micromegistus bakeri, Trägårdh 1948 (Acari: Mesostigmata: Parantennulidae), a mite symbiotic on carabid beetles, and notes on the species’ distribution and host specificity

Micromegistus bakeri is a purported commensal mite that spends most of its life on the ground beetle Scarites subterraneus. It is thought to sustain itself by feeding on the beetle’s dermal fluids and opportunistically scavenging on nearby organic debris, although the nature of this relationship, and whether it’s beneficial, detrimental or neutral to the host, is unclear. This species has previously been recorded in Mississippi, Texas, and Kansas. This study reports the first record of M. bakeri in Pennsylvania based on our collecting, as well as the first records for Ohio, Michigan, Missouri, Arizona, and Canada, based on previously unpublished museum records. The literature and our own survey of carabid beetles indicate that M. bakeri has a strong preference for S. subterraneus as a host and is not common on other carabids. Our own data shows a prevalence of 27% of S. subterraneus (10 out of 37) carrying M. bakeri, with an average of 3.1 (range 1–8) mites per infested beetle; none of the other 31 carabid species collected during this study carried M. bakeri. This study represents the first publicly available COI barcode sequence for this taxon. We also provide photographs of live mites and summarize suspected sightings from additional locations across North America obtained via the citizen science websites BugGuide and iNaturalist. These records indicate that M. bakeri is present throughout the known distribution of its beetle host. Suspected M. bakeri were observed on other Scarites species in North America, but their presence on these hosts needs to be confirmed via examination of physical specimens. It should be noted that the westernmost record for the species is in Arizona, based on a male specimen that exhibits 6.6% divergence in COI barcode sequence with specimens from Pennsylvania. The specimen is otherwise essentially morphologically identical to males of eastern USA, and it is therefore uncertain whether it represents a cryptic species or merely high intraspecific genetic divergence over a large geographic distance.

Some essential oils as potential control agents for varroa mite (Varroa destructor) in infected honey bees (Apis mellifera).

Ecto-parasite, varroa mite, (Varroa destructor), is the primary pest affecting the apiculture sector globally in various regions. This study examined the toxicity of nine essential oils to Apis mellifera L. and the acaricidal impact of those oils against V. destructor. The acaricidal effects of nine essential oils, extracted from plant materials were used. In the screening experiment, 10 mg of the active ingredients of the plant material extracts were prepared in an alcohol solution with concentrations of 5%, 10%, and 15%. For each type of plant extract, five female V. destructor were transferred to a Petri dish with five worker bees incubated at 70% humidity and 33°-34° for 2 days, for each treatment four replicates were used compared to the control. Forty-eight hours following treatment, the number of dead and live mites was counted to determine the mortality rate. In the second assay experiment, the best five essential oils of the previous experiment were selected to re-assess their effectiveness on varroa mites and honeybee workers by using a concentration of 15%. Five females of V. destructor were transferred to a Petri dish with 10 adult bees and treated with the solution of the selected oils. Five replicates and control treatments were taken for each sample simultaneously. Dead and live bees were counted for each replicate at 48 hours after treatment. There were no significant differences between the concentrations used of each oil on the rate of death of mites, and its effectiveness ranged between 70.0% and 53.3% compared to the control groups. In addition, the best oil used was bitter melon, with a death rate of 80% at a concentration of 15%, while peppermint oil showed the lowest death rate of 45% at a concentration of (5%). However, all these treatments were statistically highly significant compared with the natural death rate in control (2%). In the second test, the results of the statistical analysis indicated that there were highly significant differences (P0.05 <0.0001) in the average numbers of dead varroa mites compared to the control when using a 15% concentration of five selected oils. On the other hand, there was no statistically significant difference in the honey bee workers' mortality rate between the treatment and control groups (P0.05 <0.3390), and it was relatively low for all treatments except the basil oil, where the bee mortality rate was 16% compared to the control (10%). It is clear from this experiment that bitter melon oil can be used to control varroa mites and it can be considered safe for honey bees as well as for the environment.

Efficacy of a chewable tablet containing sarolaner, moxidectin, and pyrantel (Simparica Trio®) in the treatment of sarcoptic mange caused by Sarcoptes scabiei mite infestations in dogs

BackgroundInfestation with Sarcoptes scabiei in dogs is a debilitating disease if left untreated and is transmissible to humans. Two field studies were conducted to confirm the efficacy of orally administered sarolaner in combination with moxidectin and pyrantel (Simparica Trio®) in the treatment of sarcoptic mange in dogs.MethodsClient-owned dogs with S. scabiei infestation were enrolled and received 2 monthly treatments. In the first, small-scale study, 12 dogs each were allocated randomly to treatment with either placebo or Simparica Trio®. Skin scrapings to detect live mites and assessment of clinical signs of sarcoptic mange were conducted on Days 0, 14, 30, 44, and 60. Efficacy was calculated based on the percent reduction in arithmetic mean live mite counts relative to placebo. In the second, large-scale study, 75 dogs were allocated randomly to treatment with Simparica Trio® and 37 to treatment with afoxolaner + milbemycin oxime (NexGard Spectra®). Skin scrapings to detect live mites and assessment of clinical signs of sarcoptic mange were conducted on Days 0, 14, 30, and 60. The parasitological cure rate (percentage of dogs without live mites) was determined and non-inferiority of Simparica Trio® to the control product was assessed.ResultsIn the small-scale study, 2 monthly doses of Simparica Trio® resulted in a significant reduction (P ≤ 0.0050) in live S. scabiei mite numbers and provided a 99.2% reduction relative to placebo by Day 60. Clinical signs of sarcoptic mange improved throughout the study in Simparica Trio®-treated dogs. In the large-scale study, the parasitological cure rate on Days 30 and 60 was 97.3% and 100% in the Simparica Trio® group and 91.9% and 100% in the afoxolaner + milbemycin oxime group, respectively. The parasitological cure rate for Simparica Trio® was non-inferior to afoxolaner + milbemycin oxime at both time points. Clinical signs of sarcoptic mange improved throughout the study in both groups.ConclusionsTwo-monthly doses of Simparica Trio® reduced S. scabiei mite counts by 99.2% relative to placebo in one study and eliminated S. scabiei mites in 100% of dogs in the second study, thus confirming that Simparica Trio® is highly effective in the treatment of sarcoptic mange in dogs caused by S. scabiei var. canis.Graphical abstract

An Outbreak of Sarcoptic Mange in Free-Ranging Arabian Oryx (Oryx leucoryx) in the United Arab Emirates, and Treatment with Ivermectin-Medicated Pelleted Feed.

At a visit to an unfenced desert conservation reserve in Dubai, United Arab Emirates in February 2022, severe skin disease was noted among resident Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx), manifesting as dark grayish to black bark-like thickened skin. Between and 45% and 60% of the oryx showed unrest and pruritus. Sarcoptes scabiei was detected at necropsy of six adult animals. Treatment with ivermectin-medicated pellets at 0.3 mg/kg estimated body weight over two periods of 7 d with a 14-d interval between treatments resulted in improved body and skin condition and hair regrowth. Although severe hyperkeratosis was still present shortly after treatment, no live Sarcoptes mites were found in parasitological examination of skin scrapings of two necropsied animals. By 4 mo post treatment the oryx had returned to normal body condition and coat condition.

Honey bees (Apis mellifera) preselected for Varroa sensitive hygiene discriminate between live and dead Varroa destructor and inanimate objects

Varroa destructor is one of the main causes of colony losses of the western honey bee (Apis mellifera). Many efforts exist to breed honey bees resistant to V. destructor. Varroa sensitive hygiene (VSH) is a commonly selected behavioural trait; VSH workers remove the pupae of mite infested brood cells with high efficiency, interrupting the reproduction of the mite. The cues and triggers for this behaviour are not yet fully understood. To determine what elicits this removal behaviour, we examined preselected VSH workers´ responses to four different groups of objects inserted into freshly capped cells: live mites, dead mites, odour reduced mites, and glass beads. These were also compared to control cells that were opened and closed without inserting any object. The pupae in cells containing inorganic objects (glass beads) were removed at similar rates to the control, demonstrating that an object alone does not trigger a removal response. Dead and odour reduced mites were removed at a higher frequency than control cells, but less frequently than live mites. Workers sometimes removed items resting near the top of the cell without removing the pupa. Our results demonstrate that although mite odour from dead mites triggers removal behaviour, the pupa of cells containing live mites were removed more frequently, suggesting that other cues (i.e. odour from feeding wound) or signals (i.e. pupal movement to signal distress) are important. Future research should focus on elucidating these other cues or signals from the brood and mites, as mite presence alone seems to be insufficient.

Recovery of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Acariformes: Astigmata: Pyroglyphidae) is influenced by vacuuming protocol, fabric type and the viability of dust mites

Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Trouessart, 1897) (Acariformes: Astigmata: Pyroglyphidae) is amongst the most common house dust mites (HDMs) species in Europe. Vacuuming is commonly employed as a method for the recovery for the subsequent quantification of mite densities. The vacuuming protocols employed and their efficiencies are frequently unreported. In this study, a constant-flow vacuum sampler was used to evaluate the recovery of laboratory-reared D. pteronyssinus from cotton, denim or fleece. Two vacuuming protocols were employed. Protocol 1 (P1) entailed a single unidirectional pass of the vacuum head across the fabrics for 60, 90 or 120 seconds. For Protocol 2 (P2), fabrics were vacuumed twice (laterally followed by diagonally) for the same time periods. Vacuuming was carried out on fabrics seeded with live mites (LM), dead mites (DM), and live mites, which were applied to fabric surfaces for 10 minutes and then euthanized by freezing prior to vacuum sampling (EM). There was a significant difference (P&lt;0.001) in mean HDMs recovery with regard to mite viability (LM, DM, EM), fabric type (cotton, denim, fleece), duration of sampling (60, 90, 120s) and vacuuming protocols employed (P1, P2). The numbers of mites recovered from fleece (compared to cotton and denim) were lower for each treatment type where LM and EM were deployed. Overall, the use of protocol 2 resulted in the greatest mean percentage recovery (&gt;80%) of dust mites for all fabrics combined. Recovery rates were also influenced by entrapment of mites (or active attachment) in the fabric microstructure within the weave. The results have implications for the standardisation of mite recovery from fabrics by means of vacuuming.

Mange: Epidemiology and ivermectin efficacy in goats and application of zero-inflated negative binomial regression in Uba Debre Tsehay, southern Ethiopia

Mites are one of the most common and widely distributed ectoparasites of goats in Ethiopia, contributing to major burdens in livestock productivity in the country. Between February 2021 and July 2021, this study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of mange mites, assess the potential risk factors, identify the species infesting goats, and evaluate the efficacy of ivermectin in naturally infested goats in the Uba Debere Tsehay district of Gofa Zone, Southern Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study, longitudinal field efficacy, and questionnaire survey were conducted. A total of 384 goats suspected of having mange were scraped for mite prevalence and count. The mite count data were analyzed using zero-inflated negative binomial (ZINB) models with explanatory variables. The ZINB models indicated that a substantial proportion of the observed zero mite count reflected a failure to detect mites in suspected goats, meaning that the estimated true prevalence was much higher than the apparent prevalence as calculated using a simple proportion of nonzero mite counts. Overall prevalence of mange was 21.87% (84/384) in the study areas. Sarcoptes species (21.09%) and Demodex species (0.78%) were the mite genera identified in this study. Among goats with poor, medium, and good body conditions, mite prevalence was 36.3%, 12.3%, and 10.9%, respectively. Both the prevalence and intensity of infestation were significantly associated with body condition scores, but other risk factors were not. The questionnaire survey indicated that 85.94% of the participants preferred to use modern treatment options (ivermectin 1%, injection) and 76.56% (98/128) respondents replied that ivermectin treatment is effective. Wilcoxon rank-sum test analysis shows that there was significantly (P<0.05) fewer mites counted on goats treated with ivermectin than on untreated goats at each count up to day 56 after treatment. No live mites were found on any treated animal on days 28 and 56. Mixed ANOVA indicated that there was a significant difference within treatment groups. This study showed that mites are one of the constraints to goat production in the study area and ivermectin was highly effective against Demodex and Sarcoptes mites in goats. Hence, there is a need to create awareness about the impact of mange on goat production, and appropriate ivermectin treatment against mites should be implemented.

Efficacy of Felpreva®, a new spot-on formulation containing tigolaner, emodepside and praziquantel, applied as a single application to cats artificially infested with ear mites (Otodectes cynotis)

The efficacy of Felpreva® (Vetoquinol), a new spot-on application containing the novel acaricide and insecticide tigolaner in combination with emodepside and praziquantel, was evaluated in cats artificially infested with ear mites (Otodectes cynotis). A total of three pivotal dose confirmation studies were conducted, two of them designed as non-interference studies. Cats were artificially infested with O. cynotis mites and randomly allocated into groups of 8 cats based on pre-treatment mite counts. Cats were treated once on Day 0, either with Felpreva® (14.5 ​mg/kg tigolaner, 3 ​mg/kg emodepside and 12 ​mg/kg praziquantel) or with placebo. Studies with a non-interference design included two additional groups of cats, treated with Profender® spot-on solution (Vetoquinol) (3 ​mg/kg emodepside and 12 ​mg/kg praziquantel) and tigolaner as a mono product (14.5 ​mg/kg tigolaner). Efficacy was evaluated on Day 28/Day 30 based on total live mite counts after ear flushing. Efficacy was claimed when: (i) at least six control cats per group were adequately infested with mites; (ii) calculated efficacy was ≥ 90% based on geometric mean mite counts; and (iii) the difference in mite counts between Felpreva®-treated cats and control cats was statistically significant (P ​≤ ​0.05). In two of the three studies, Felpreva®-treated cats were mite-free (100% efficacy) on Day 28/Day 30 and almost full efficacy (99.6%) was seen in the third study. The difference in mite counts between Felpreva®-treated cats and control cats was significant (P ​< ​0.0001) in all three studies. All control cats were adequately infested in all three studies. The efficacy of Felpreva® against ear mite (Otodectes cynotis) infection in cats was confirmed.

Efficacy of Neem Oil (Azadirachta indica) and Clove Oil (Syzygium aromaticum) against Ear Mites in Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

Ear mites are a common ectoparasite that causes a skin disease known as mange in rabbits. Its infestation will contribute to poor growth, decrease production performances and in severe cases, cause mortality. To date, chemical pesticides are still widely used to control rabbit mites, where long-term use will contribute to the evolution of mite resistance. Essential oils have become an alternative method due to their efficacy and safety. This study was aimed to determine the efficacy of clove oil and neem oil against rabbit ear mites. The rabbits were divided into four treatment groups: T1, T2 and T3 and T4, each having three rabbits. These groups were topically treated with ivermectin (control group), clove oil, neem oil, 50:50 of clove and neem oil respectively on days 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28. The number of mites was counted and recorded as post-treatment evaluations by microscopic examination of skin scrapings from each group. The number of mites were progressively decreased in T2, but fluctuated in T1, T3 and T4. The number of live mites for each treatment was not statistically different (p&gt;0.05) between treatments for days 0, 7 and 21, but the number of mites was statistically different (p&lt;0.05) between all treatments for days 14 and 28. T4 that was treated with both clove and neem oil showed the highest efficacy with 94% for day 14 post-treatment, while treatment with neem oil (T3) showed the highest efficacy (89.7%) for day 28 after treatment. The results revealed that the mixture of both oils was the most effective against rabbit ear mites, however comparing the two oils, neem was more effective than clove oil in controlling the mites.

Development and Evaluation of a New Effective Tool and Method for Assessing Varroadestructor (Acari: Varroidae) Mite Populations in Honey Bee Colonies.

A new device for assessing Varroa destructor (Anderson-Truman) mite infestations in honey bee colonies was designed, tested, and evaluated against the sugar roll method, a widely used method by beekeepers. The Varroa Shaker Device (VSD) is constructed of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe that separates into three parts. Inside the shaker there are two mesh sizes; the larger mesh separates the bees from the mites, and the smaller mesh captures the mites. The VSD can be used by shaking bees with only water as the wash solution. The recovery of mites using the VSD is &gt;90%, which is such as that recorded for using the sugar roll method. Our tests demonstrated that the VSD accurately assessed mite loads when fewer than 250 bees were sampled and shaken with 250 mL of water for one minute. To assure accurate mite counts are achieved with any sampling device, honey bees should be taken from frames with an open and/or capped brood where the mites are more likely located. The VSD can be used in both laboratory and field settings to accurately assess honey bee colonies for levels of mite infestation or for collecting live mites for research purposes.

Adolescent Scalp Dermatitis Associated with Dermatophagoides spp. (Acariformes; Pyroglyphidae) Mite

Dermatophagoides spp. (Acariformes; Pyroglyphidae), house dust-mite well known as the causative agent of atopic hypersensitivity and allergy could potentially cause severe dermatitis. Herein we report an uncommon case of scalp dermatitis associated with the presence of Dermatophagoides spp. A 17-year old male presented with patchy alopecia on the scalp without intense peeling or itching, surround by unchanged skin and hair. Initially, superficial fungal infection was suspected; however, parasitological examination revealed the presence of live mites. All the anatomical measurements and parameters from the specimens were compatible with Dermatophagoides spp. Dermatophagoides spp. are not yet confirmed as causative agents of parasitic infestation, but the presence of these mites could have caused an allergic reaction followed by dermatitis with mild-to-moderate clinical manifestations. However, true parasitism as well as phoresy could also be considered. The clinical manifestations caused by house-dust mite cannot be easily recognized and the lack of diagnostic tools is a hindrance that often leads to misdiagnosis and inadequate therapy.

Study of the therapeutic efficacy of the drug "okvet" in otodectosis of cats

Due to the annual growth in the number of domestic and neglected carnivores (dogs and cats), conditions are created for the wide spread of parasitic infestations. The aim of our research was to determine the extensiveness of the invasion of dogs and cats by otodectosis in the districts of St. Petersburg and to study the effectiveness of the OKVET preparation developed by LLC NVC Agrovetzashchita in otodectosis of cats. To achieve the goal, 98 dogs and 109 cats were examined, in which scrapings from the outer and inner surface of the auricle were examined. It was found that the extensiveness of invasion (EI) in all examined cats and dogs was 17.8%. At the same time, EI among cats is 16.4%; dogs - 1.4%. To study the effectiveness of the OKVET preparation, the animals were divided into 3 groups of 8 cats each with a confirmed diagnosis of otodectosis. On the day before the use of the drug, more than 10 live mites were found in scrapings in all phases of development, as well as eggs of Otodectes cynotis in one p.z. microscope (magnification 10 X 10). On the 28th day after the application of the drug, the presence of no more than two live ticks in the adult phase and eggs in one p.z. was noted. microscope. Efficacy of the drug was 91.6% at a dose of 1 pipette of 0.5 ml per animal, with a weight of more than 8 kg - 2 pipettes of 0.5 ml, twice with an interval of 10 days.

THE EFFECT OF PSOROPTOSIS ON THE PRODUCTIVE INDICATORS OF RABBITSY

Psoroptosis is a disease that is widespread and causes great economic damage to farm enterprises and individual rabbit farms, which leads to decreased body weight, deteriorated quality of meat and skins, slow growth and development of young animals, and a drop in prices for available animals. The study analyzed the effect of psoroptosis infestation on rabbits’ hematological parameters, live weight and quality of rabbit meat. For the experiment, 9 Soviet Chinchilla rabbits were used. The experimental group was infected by placing live mites in the auricles and laying crusts with mite eggs taken from the auricles of diseased rabbits. In the first days of infecting, the increase in body weight was lower by 15.6% in the experimental group of rabbits, and the animals lagged behind in growth and development. Erythropenia, hypohemoglobinemia, leukocytosis, anisocytosis and any other changes were found in the animals’ blood. Further, a significant decrease in biological value of rabbit meat was observed. When evaluating the biochemical composition of rabbit meat, it was found that a 14.2% increase in moisture and a 13.2% decrease in protein were observed in meat of the rabbits with psoroptosis.

Therapeutic efficacy of the drug Simparica® for demodicosis in dogs in the Kamianets-Podilskyi, Ukraine

The purpose of our research was to test the therapeutic efficacy of the acaricide «Simparica®» in combination with the biostimulator «Catosal» and the hepatoprotector «Tioprotectin» for demodicosis in dogs in the conditions of veterinary clinics in the Kamianets-Podilskyi, Ukraine. The study has been performed on dogs of different genders, ages and breeds that had a generalized form of demodicosis (affected at least 6 areas on the body of animals), to test the effectiveness of this drug in different treatment schemes. Acarological studies of scrapings from the skin of experimental animals for the presence of live or dead mites Demodex canis or their eggs have been carried out by the vital method according to D.O. Pryselkova. As a result of the conducted researches the choice of acaricidal drugs and development of complex therapeutic measures for demodicosis of dogs has been experimentally substantiated. The drug «Simparica®» has proved to be quite effective against demodicosis of dogs, even with a single use. The dependence of the effectiveness of the use of prolonged acaricide «Simparica®» on clinical forms of demodicosis has been shown. The absolute therapeutic effect of acaricide is obtained in the scaly form of demodicosis. However, in pustular and mixed clinical forms of demodicosis, its effectiveness decreased to 71.4 and 57.1%, respectively. In combination with the drug of pathogenetic therapy «Catosal» for pustular and mixed forms of demodicosis, the therapeutic efficacy of the drug «Simparica®» increases to 85.7%. When added to the scheme of hepatoprotector “Thioprotectin”, it is possible to achieve 100% therapeutic effect in pustular forms of demodicosis. However, in severe mixed form of demodicosis, the effectiveness was not absolute and was only 85.7%. In case of generalized demodicosis of dogs, regardless of clinical forms, it is recommended to use the acaricide «Simparica®» in combination with the drug «Catosal» and in the combination of «Catosal» and «Thioprotectin».

Physiological and biochemical mechanisms of the hen’s body recovery from dermanyssosis associated with deacarization

The purpose of the research is to study the efficacy of the insectoacaricide "5% D-cyphenotrine emulsion" against infestation of birds with Dermanyssus gallinae (dermanyssosis) after the deacarization of the poultry building and to characterize physiological and biochemical mechanisms of the recovery of Hy-Line hens after removed parasites.Materials and methods. A parasitological examination of the poultry farm found D. gallinae in one of the poultry buildings. Given positive results of the drug efficacy against the poultry red mite, we analyzed the morpho-physiological and physiological and biochemical parameters of the hen’s blood before and 10 and 20 days after the treatments. Changes in the ethological status of birds were recorded. We used 0.005% aqueous emulsion of "5% D-cyphenothrin emulsion" for treatment. To obtain it, the drug was diluted with water at a ratio of 1:1000 immediately before use.Results and discussion. After double treatment with "5% D-cyphenotrine emulsion" of the shop with hens from the test group, no live poultry red mite was found. Within 20 days after the disease reduction, representatives of this group showed high concentrations of cortisol which were 2.3–2.4 times (p &lt; 0.001) higher than those of healthy hens. This indicates that the stress state of hens still remains after the parasitizing of D. gallinae. In addition, the recovery process takes a long time and with great stress for all systems of their body. This is also confirmed by a high level of lipid peroxidation. At the same time, high intensity of gluconeogenesis and, as a result, deterioration of lipid and protein metabolism were recorded in the hens in question. The positive results indicate an increasing need for additional energy expenditures which are paramount for the effective and well-timed implementation of adaptation mechanisms. It should be noted here that the values of all the above-mentioned indicators tend to normalize by the end of the study period. The changes noted in the blood of birds indicate the restoration of a number of body systems. The poultry red mite as an emergency factor affects the morphophysiology of the blood, in particular, the level of white blood cells, which is restored by the 10th day after deacarization, which triggers regenerative and reparative processes. There were also changes in the number of cells of the immune system, an increase in hemoglobin concentration to control values and optimization of behavior in representatives of the test group which are largely related to the normalized physiological activity of the thyroid gland after the poultry building deacarization. We found a partial recovery of the hen’s body systems after the poultry building deacarization with the drug "5% D-cyphenotrine emulsion", which is due to the long-term parasitizing of D. gallinae, a stressor of extreme strength.

In Vitro Efficacy of Carica papaya, Chromolaena odorata and Piper betle Leaves Extracts against Sarcoptes scabiei var. canis

Increasing concern on the efficacy of antimicrobials has spurred a demand for research on natural-based alternatives. This study assessed the efficacy of Carica papaya, Chromolaena odorata and Piper betle leaves extracts against mites (Sarcoptes scabiei var. canis). Efficacy was defined as the percent reduction in the number of live mites after 6 h of exposure to the treatments. The study utilized 100% fresh crude extract (FCE), 50% fresh crude extract in water (FCW), 50% ethanolic extract reconstituted in 60% ethanol (EEE) and 50% ethanolic extract reconstituted in distilled water (EEW) of the plants for the in vitro assay against S. scabiei var. canis. All plants exhibited varying acaricidal efficacy at different extraction procedures. Their FCW, EEE and EEW showed excellent acaricidal efficacy with P. betle showing maximum efficacy within 30 min of exposure. Thus, the three plants are potential sources of natural-based products for the treatment of canine sarcoptic mange. Further pharmacological and in vivo studies are recommended to validate their acaricidal efficacy.

Efficacy of afoxolaner for the treatment of ear mite infestation under field conditions

Otodectes cynotis is a commonly occurring surface mite that can be easily transmitted between suitable hosts, including dogs, causing otocariosis. The activity of the systemic insecticide afoxolaner against O. cynotis has been tested once under experimental conditions, showing a high efficacy. The present study aimed to i) assess the efficacy of two consecutive monthly oral administrations of afoxolaner (NexGard®) against O. cynotis in naturally infested dogs under field conditions and ii) evaluate its impact in reducing bacteria or fungal secondary infections. Dogs, positive for O. cynotis (n = 20), were included in the study and allocated in two groups of ten animals each (G1, control group, and G2, treated group). The first group of ear mite-infested dogs was treated with a placebo, while afoxolaner was administered orally to the second group of dogs at Day 0 (D0) and Day 30 (D30), following label instructions. Otoscopic assessments, deep-swab method and swab samples were performed on all dogs (Days 0, 30, 42) to evaluate the presence or absence of live mites and their number throughout the study, as well as to conduct bacterial and fungal assessments. No adverse events likely related were recorded throughout the study. By Day 42 (D42), all dog’s ears were flushed to recover ear mites. All treated dogs became negative, as well as two dogs of the control group. The treatment efficacy of afoxolaner was 100 % based on the arithmetic means of the live mite counts. The clinical scores did not change significantly in the control group, whereas they significantly improved in the treated one from D0 to D30 (p-value = 5.47 10−5). No live mites were present in the afoxolaner-treated group at D42 (p-value = 0.00073). In this field study, two oral administrations of afoxolaner at the recommended dose allowed a complete cure of the infestation. Bacterial and Malassezia pachydermatis infections were detected in both groups, although no significant trend was associated to the ear mite treatment.