Severe Myocoptes musculinus infestation and treatment in laboratory mice

Abstract

A contagious disease characterized with severe pruritis, weight loss and alopecia was observed in laboratory mice in Experimental Animal Breeding Unit in University of Akdeniz, Turkey, after recently transferring the animals from Israel. Twenty out of 100 mice were referred to the clinics of the Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Mehmet Akif Ersoy, for a diagnosis. Alopecia and severe itching were observed all over the body, particularly on the abdominal area. Skin scrapings were obtained from affected sites of the skin for a parasitological examination. At the examination of the skin scrapings, treated with 10 % of potassium hydroxide, numerous mange agents and eggs were observed. Agents were diagnosed as Myocoptes musculinus according to their morphological characteristics. Five mice were euthanatized and examined pathologically. At the histopathological examination of the skin samples taken from alopecia and pruritic areas, numerous mange agents were seen in the tunnels in the epidermis. Mild inflammatory reaction including lymphocyte and neutrophil leukocytes were observed in the dermis. After diagnosis, mice were treated with ivermectin (Vilmectin) solution via drinking water (8 mg/L drinking water once a week for 3 wks). All animals were successfully recovered after the treatment

Keywords

• Ivermectin
• mice
• Myocoptes musculinus

Laboratuar farelerinde şiddetli Myocoptes musculinus enfestasyonu ve sağaltımı

Abstract

Akdeniz Üniversitesi deney hayvanları ünitesine İsrail’den getirilen laboratuvar farelerinde deride şiddetli kaşıntı, kilo kaybı ve alopesiyle karakterize bir hastalık saptandı. Yüz fareden 20’si teşhis için Mehmet Akif Ersoy Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi İç Hastalıkları Anabilim Dalına getirildi. Bütün vücutta özellikle karın bölgesinde alopesi ve kaşıntı gözlendi. Parazitolojik muayene için kaşıntılı bölgelerden deri kazıntısı alındı. Potasyum hidroksit ile (%10’luk) muamele edilen deri kazıntılarının parazitolojik incelemesinde çok sayıda akar ve yumurtalarına rastlandı. Akarlar morfolojik karakterlerine göre Myocoptes musculinus olarak teşhis edildi. Farelerden beşi ötenazi edilerek patolojik olarak incelendi. Kaşıntılı ve alopesik sahalardan alınan deri örneklerinin histopatolojik yoklamasında epidermisteki tüneller içerisinde çok sayıda akar’a rastlandı. Dermiste lenfosit ve nötrofil lökositlerden oluşan hafif yangısal reaksiyon saptandı. Teşhisten sonra fareler, içme sularına ivermectin solusyonu (Vilmectin) 8 mg/L dozunda karıştırılarak haftada 1 kez olmak üzere üç defa verilerek tedavi edildi. Sağaltımdan sonra hayvanların tümü iyileşti

Keywords

• Fare
• ivermektin
• Myocoptes musculinus

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10. Wall R, Shearer D (1997): Veterinary Entomology. Chapman & Hall, London. Geliş tarihi: 03.06.2008 / Kabul tarihi: 25.11.2008 Address for correspondence Dr. Sima Sahinduran Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Mehmet Akif Ersoy 15100/Burdur- Turkey [e-mail]