Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Demodicosis with new Demodex mite in 3-month Doberman dog
By Alvarez, L et al.·Published in Annals of tropical medicine and parasitology·2007·Departamento de Patologí·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: First report of an unclassified Demodex mite causing demodicosis in a Venezuelan dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 3-month-old male Doberman Pinscher in Venezuela was brought in for skin problems, particularly around the eyes and face. Tests revealed that he had a skin condition called demodicosis, caused by two types of Demodex mites, including a newly identified unclassified type. While the common Demodex canis mites were present in much larger numbers, it’s still uncertain if the unclassified mites are harmful. The findings suggest that thorough skin scraping tests can help identify other mite infestations that might be overlooked.
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Abstract
For the first time in Venezuela, a case of canine demodicosis apparently caused by a simultaneous infection with an unclassified Demodex and Demodex canis has been observed. The most severely affected area of the dog involved, a 3-month-old male Doberman Pinscher, was the head, particularly the peri-orbital skin. Skin samples of the affected areas were taken and evaluated by both light and scanning electron microscopy. The mites of the unclassified Demodex were smaller than those of D. canis and appeared relatively stout. In the skin scrapings, D. canis outnumbered the unclassified Demodex by a ratio of 30:1, making it unclear if the unclassified Demodex is pathogenic to dogs. A combination of superficial and deep skin scrapings, from a suspected case of demodicosis, may help to reveal other infestations of the unclassified Demodex that would otherwise be masked by concurrent infections with D. canis.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17716436/