What is the best treatment for managing chorioptic mange in South American camelids? A critically appraised topic.

Abstract

Whether as pets or livestock, South American camelids (SACs) have grown in popularity in recent decades and are now widespread. Disease management is therefore becoming more important, for productivity and welfare reasons. Very few treatments are currently approved for these species, and none for the treatment of mange. Yet acariases are common in SACs and result in loss of productivity, poor animal welfare and sometimes death. Chorioptic mange is a known therapeutic challenge in several species. The present paper reviews and assesses the published protocols for treating this disease in SACs. No successful protocol was tested in more than one trial. Three treatment protocols demonstrated complete cure in all animals; they concerned 14, two and 25 animals, respectively. All the studies had several weaknesses, most prominently small sample size and unstandardised outcome assessment. Herd sample sizes ranged from two to 50 animals. Due to insufficient evidence, no definitive conclusions can be drawn. Several protocols show promising results; newer options should be tested.