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Gazette Letters
Letters CATTLE HEALTH
Psoroptic mange in a Scottish beef herd PSOROPTIC mange can have a profound effect on infested cattle, resulting in intense pruritis and a chronic hypersensitive reaction (Ginn and others 2007). The species of mite that causes psoroptic mange in cattle is morphologically indistinguishable from the Psoroptes ovis responsible for sheep scab and is currently referred to as the cattle adapted strain of Psoroptes species (Mitchell and others 2012). Occasional cases have
been reported from Ireland (DAFM 2009, 2010) and Great Britain (Millar and others 2011), but until recently there had been no diagnosis made in cattle in Scotland since the early 1980s (Linklater and Gillespie 1984). We would like to provide details of a case of psoroptic mange in a cow and calf imported to south-east Scotland from Ireland. The diagnosis was made in a twomonth-old British Blue calf. Three weeks after arrival on the holding, the calf was presented to the private veterinary surgeon showing pruritis and patches of partial alopecia over the left thorax and left thigh. There was some exudation from the skin
and areas of crusting particularly over the thoracic region. Two days later, the dam of the calf became pruritic and areas of erosion were apparent over the left scapula and pelvic region. Typical Psoroptes species mites were seen on microscopic examination of skin scrapings and scabs from the calf. The affected animals and the rest of the cattle that were on the holding were treated with doramectin injection (Dectomax 10 mg/ml solution for injection for cattle and sheep; Elanco Animal Health). Contrary to advice and at his own discretion, the farmer concurrently treated all cattle with 4 per cent permethrin pour on (Flypor; Novartis Animal Health). Four weeks May 17, 2014 | Veterinary Record | 509
Downloaded from http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/ on November 10, 2014 - Published by group.bmj.com
Letters later, the affected cattle received the same treatment, while the rest of the group were treated with 4 per cent permethrin pour on (Flypor, Novartis Animal Health) only. Skin scrapings taken from the initial clinical cases at the time of repeat treatment were found to contain only dead Psoroptes mites. Treatment appeared to have been successful and no further clinical case has occurred. The cattle were turned out to grass in late April, so further monitoring in the short term will be difficult. We will remain vigilant for the reappearance of clinical signs particularly at housing caused by the reemergence of quiescent mites that may have survived treatment. The diagnosis of a condition that was considered to be absent from the region, that can result in severe clinical disease (DAFM 2009, 2010) and that can be difficult to eliminate with treatment (Mitchell and others 2012) is clearly of concern to the industry. However, in Ireland, the disease has been removed from the list of notifiable diseases by the enactment of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2014. In Belgium, the disease is endemic but it is not recognised as a clinical problem in dairy herds, being associated principally with the Belgian Blue breed. Indeed, it would appear that certain genetic lines of this breed develop a more severe hypersensitive reaction to the mite than other breeds (Losson and others 1999). However, it is important to note that Mitchell and others (2012) detail outbreaks in five dairy herds in Great Britain. In cattle where the hypersensitive response is less pronounced, there may be no clinical sign of infestation, although these subclinical infestations may play an important part in facilitating spread within and between herds. In the cases that have occurred in Great Britain, successful control was achieved on some farms using doramectin injection (Dectomax 10 mg/ml solution for injection for cattle and sheep; Elanco Animal Health) twice with an interval of four weeks, and on others using 4 per cent permethrin pour on (Flypor; Novartis Animal Health) at an increased frequency of treatment under the cascade (Mitchell and others 2012). In Belgium, treatment of affected animals twice with macrocyclic lactone injection at an interval, of 10 days maximum, or clipping and washing with amitraz two or three times with a one-week interval or pour-on application of flumethrin with a 10-day interval, is generally advised. There are no licensed treatments in the UK for dairy cattle which must be treated under the cascade. The prospects of successful treatment are enhanced by treating the whole herd in the same way, ensuring that the nutritional state of the animals is good, and clipping scab material and removing it from the environment. Clipping all cattle in the herd is also advised as a preventative measure in Belgium. 510 | Veterinary Record | May 17, 2014
As the recent index cases in Great Britain have involved the importation of pedigree beef cattle, particularly Belgian Blues, we recommend that imported cattle should be isolated from their new herd for a period of at least one month during which time they should be observed for signs of psoroptic mange. A final veterinary inspection can be carried out towards the end of this period and before the animals are introduced to the herd. At the request of the Scottish Government, SAC Consulting Veterinary Services (SAC C VS) will examine skin scrapings free of charge from any animal in Scotland that is suspected of being affected by psoroptic mange or where psoroptic mange cannot be excluded from the differential diagnosis of pruritis in cattle. In addition, SAC C VS would be grateful to receive a serum sample from any suspected case. Samples will be forwarded to the Moredun Research Institute where serological tests to detect exposure of sheep or cattle to P ovis are under going validation. We would like to thank Koen De Bleecker, Animal Health Care Flanders, Belgium; Mícheál Casey, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Ireland; Sian Mitchell, AHVLA – Carmarthen, and Jozef Laureyns, University of Ghent, Belgium, for their advice based on their first-hand experience of psoroptic mange in cattle. Alwyn Jones, George Caldow, SAC C VS, Greycrook, St Boswells, Melrose TD6 0EQ Neil Cameron, Morven McGregor, Greenside Veterinary Practice, Greenside Farm, St Boswells TD6 0AJ e-mail: [email protected]
References
DAFM (2009) Regional Veterinary Laboratories Surveillance Report 2009. www.agriculture. gov.ie/media/migration/animalhealthwelfare/ veterinary/veterinaryresearchlaboratoryservice/ RVLSurveillanceReport2009291010.pdf. Accessed May 12, 2014 DAFM (2010) February 2010 Monthly RVL Report. www.agriculture.gov.ie/animalhealthwelfare/ laboratoryservices/regionalveterinarylaboratoryreports/ rvlmonthlyreports2010/february2010rvlmonthlyreport. Accessed May 12, 2014 GINN, P. E., MANSELL, J. E. K. L, & RAKICH, P. M. (2007) Skin and appendages. In Jubb, Kennedy and Palmer’s Pathology of Domestic Animals. 5th edn. Ed M. G. Maxie. Elsevier. pp 721-722 LINKLATER, K. A. & GILLESPIE, I. D. (1984) Outbreak of psoroptic mange in cattle. Veterinary Record 115, 211-212 LOSSON, B. J., LONNEUX, J. F. & LEKIMME, M. (1999) The pathology of Psoroptes ovis infestation in cattle with a special emphasis on breed difference. Veterinary Parasitology, 83, 219-229 MILLAR, M., MILNES, A., WOOD, K., MITCHELL, S. & KENDALL, B. (2011) Psoroptic mange in cattle confirmed in England. Veterinary Record 168, 334-334 MITCHELL, E. S., JONES, J. R., FOSTER, A. P., MILLAR, M., MILNES, A. & WILLIAMS, J. (2012) Clinical features of psoroptic mange in cattle in England and Wales. Veterinary Record 170, 359-359
doi: 10.1136/vr.g3292
Downloaded from http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/ on November 10, 2014 - Published by group.bmj.com
Psoroptic mange in a Scottish beef herd Alwyn Jones, George Caldow, Neil Cameron and Morven McGregor Veterinary Record 2014 174: 509-510
doi: 10.1136/vr.g3292 Updated information and services can be found at: http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/174/20/509.4
These include:
References Email alerting service
This article cites 22 articles, 0 of which you can access for free at: http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/174/20/509.4#BIBL Receive free email alerts when new articles cite this article. Sign up in the box at the top right corner of the online article.
Notes
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Gazette Letters
Letters CATTLE HEALTH
Psoroptic mange in a Scottish beef herd PSOROPTIC mange can have a profound effect on infested cattle, resulting in intense pruritis and a chronic hypersensitive reaction (Ginn and others 2007). The species of mite that causes psoroptic mange in cattle is morphologically indistinguishable from the Psoroptes ovis responsible for sheep scab and is currently referred to as the cattle adapted strain of Psoroptes species (Mitchell and others 2012). Occasional cases have
been reported from Ireland (DAFM 2009, 2010) and Great Britain (Millar and others 2011), but until recently there had been no diagnosis made in cattle in Scotland since the early 1980s (Linklater and Gillespie 1984). We would like to provide details of a case of psoroptic mange in a cow and calf imported to south-east Scotland from Ireland. The diagnosis was made in a twomonth-old British Blue calf. Three weeks after arrival on the holding, the calf was presented to the private veterinary surgeon showing pruritis and patches of partial alopecia over the left thorax and left thigh. There was some exudation from the skin
and areas of crusting particularly over the thoracic region. Two days later, the dam of the calf became pruritic and areas of erosion were apparent over the left scapula and pelvic region. Typical Psoroptes species mites were seen on microscopic examination of skin scrapings and scabs from the calf. The affected animals and the rest of the cattle that were on the holding were treated with doramectin injection (Dectomax 10 mg/ml solution for injection for cattle and sheep; Elanco Animal Health). Contrary to advice and at his own discretion, the farmer concurrently treated all cattle with 4 per cent permethrin pour on (Flypor; Novartis Animal Health). Four weeks May 17, 2014 | Veterinary Record | 509
Downloaded from http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/ on November 10, 2014 - Published by group.bmj.com
Letters later, the affected cattle received the same treatment, while the rest of the group were treated with 4 per cent permethrin pour on (Flypor, Novartis Animal Health) only. Skin scrapings taken from the initial clinical cases at the time of repeat treatment were found to contain only dead Psoroptes mites. Treatment appeared to have been successful and no further clinical case has occurred. The cattle were turned out to grass in late April, so further monitoring in the short term will be difficult. We will remain vigilant for the reappearance of clinical signs particularly at housing caused by the reemergence of quiescent mites that may have survived treatment. The diagnosis of a condition that was considered to be absent from the region, that can result in severe clinical disease (DAFM 2009, 2010) and that can be difficult to eliminate with treatment (Mitchell and others 2012) is clearly of concern to the industry. However, in Ireland, the disease has been removed from the list of notifiable diseases by the enactment of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2014. In Belgium, the disease is endemic but it is not recognised as a clinical problem in dairy herds, being associated principally with the Belgian Blue breed. Indeed, it would appear that certain genetic lines of this breed develop a more severe hypersensitive reaction to the mite than other breeds (Losson and others 1999). However, it is important to note that Mitchell and others (2012) detail outbreaks in five dairy herds in Great Britain. In cattle where the hypersensitive response is less pronounced, there may be no clinical sign of infestation, although these subclinical infestations may play an important part in facilitating spread within and between herds. In the cases that have occurred in Great Britain, successful control was achieved on some farms using doramectin injection (Dectomax 10 mg/ml solution for injection for cattle and sheep; Elanco Animal Health) twice with an interval of four weeks, and on others using 4 per cent permethrin pour on (Flypor; Novartis Animal Health) at an increased frequency of treatment under the cascade (Mitchell and others 2012). In Belgium, treatment of affected animals twice with macrocyclic lactone injection at an interval, of 10 days maximum, or clipping and washing with amitraz two or three times with a one-week interval or pour-on application of flumethrin with a 10-day interval, is generally advised. There are no licensed treatments in the UK for dairy cattle which must be treated under the cascade. The prospects of successful treatment are enhanced by treating the whole herd in the same way, ensuring that the nutritional state of the animals is good, and clipping scab material and removing it from the environment. Clipping all cattle in the herd is also advised as a preventative measure in Belgium. 510 | Veterinary Record | May 17, 2014
As the recent index cases in Great Britain have involved the importation of pedigree beef cattle, particularly Belgian Blues, we recommend that imported cattle should be isolated from their new herd for a period of at least one month during which time they should be observed for signs of psoroptic mange. A final veterinary inspection can be carried out towards the end of this period and before the animals are introduced to the herd. At the request of the Scottish Government, SAC Consulting Veterinary Services (SAC C VS) will examine skin scrapings free of charge from any animal in Scotland that is suspected of being affected by psoroptic mange or where psoroptic mange cannot be excluded from the differential diagnosis of pruritis in cattle. In addition, SAC C VS would be grateful to receive a serum sample from any suspected case. Samples will be forwarded to the Moredun Research Institute where serological tests to detect exposure of sheep or cattle to P ovis are under going validation. We would like to thank Koen De Bleecker, Animal Health Care Flanders, Belgium; Mícheál Casey, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Ireland; Sian Mitchell, AHVLA – Carmarthen, and Jozef Laureyns, University of Ghent, Belgium, for their advice based on their first-hand experience of psoroptic mange in cattle. Alwyn Jones, George Caldow, SAC C VS, Greycrook, St Boswells, Melrose TD6 0EQ Neil Cameron, Morven McGregor, Greenside Veterinary Practice, Greenside Farm, St Boswells TD6 0AJ e-mail: [email protected]
References
DAFM (2009) Regional Veterinary Laboratories Surveillance Report 2009. www.agriculture. gov.ie/media/migration/animalhealthwelfare/ veterinary/veterinaryresearchlaboratoryservice/ RVLSurveillanceReport2009291010.pdf. Accessed May 12, 2014 DAFM (2010) February 2010 Monthly RVL Report. www.agriculture.gov.ie/animalhealthwelfare/ laboratoryservices/regionalveterinarylaboratoryreports/ rvlmonthlyreports2010/february2010rvlmonthlyreport. Accessed May 12, 2014 GINN, P. E., MANSELL, J. E. K. L, & RAKICH, P. M. (2007) Skin and appendages. In Jubb, Kennedy and Palmer’s Pathology of Domestic Animals. 5th edn. Ed M. G. Maxie. Elsevier. pp 721-722 LINKLATER, K. A. & GILLESPIE, I. D. (1984) Outbreak of psoroptic mange in cattle. Veterinary Record 115, 211-212 LOSSON, B. J., LONNEUX, J. F. & LEKIMME, M. (1999) The pathology of Psoroptes ovis infestation in cattle with a special emphasis on breed difference. Veterinary Parasitology, 83, 219-229 MILLAR, M., MILNES, A., WOOD, K., MITCHELL, S. & KENDALL, B. (2011) Psoroptic mange in cattle confirmed in England. Veterinary Record 168, 334-334 MITCHELL, E. S., JONES, J. R., FOSTER, A. P., MILLAR, M., MILNES, A. & WILLIAMS, J. (2012) Clinical features of psoroptic mange in cattle in England and Wales. Veterinary Record 170, 359-359
doi: 10.1136/vr.g3292
Downloaded from http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/ on November 10, 2014 - Published by group.bmj.com
Psoroptic mange in a Scottish beef herd Alwyn Jones, George Caldow, Neil Cameron and Morven McGregor Veterinary Record 2014 174: 509-510
doi: 10.1136/vr.g3292 Updated information and services can be found at: http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/174/20/509.4
These include:
References Email alerting service
This article cites 22 articles, 0 of which you can access for free at: http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/174/20/509.4#BIBL Receive free email alerts when new articles cite this article. Sign up in the box at the top right corner of the online article.
Notes
To request permissions go to: http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions To order reprints go to: http://journals.bmj.com/cgi/reprintform To subscribe to BMJ go to: http://group.bmj.com/subscribe/
