Ram with itchy skin and sweating caused by mite infestation

Abstract

A 3-years-old Iranian cross-breed ram with history of repeated local sweating, severe pruritus of body surface was referred to the veterinary clinic. On clinical examination wetness, warmness, pruritus and thickness of affected area were observed. In affected area, hair coat was staring and draggy. Body temperature, heart and respiratory rates were 40.4 degrees C, 120 beat min(-1) and 40 min(-1), respectively. Hematologic indices including packed cell volume, total and differential white blood cell (WBC) and total red blood cell (RBC) were normal. Laboratory examinations of skin scrapings confirmed infestation with Psoroptes ovis. Histopathologic findings included dilation of sweat glands, hyperplasia of sebaceous glands, hyperkeratosis, ulcer and scab formation and eosinophilic dermatitis. History and clinical findings association with the skin scraping and histopathologic findings indicated localized seborrhoeic dermatitis with hyperhidrosis. After treatment with ivermectin at the dose rate of 0.2 mg kg(-1), all clinical signs subsided. This confirmed that the cause of seborrhic dermatitis and hyperhidrosis was mite infestation and other possible causes were ruled out. So this is the first report of localized seborrhoeic dermatitis with hyperhidrosis due to mite infestation in animals.