Eradication of porcine sarcoptic mange within a health declared production model

The success of a large-scale eradication programme against sarcoptic mange was evaluated in piglet producing herds belonging to the health class LSO 2000. These farms are monitored to be free from sarcoptic mange, swine enzootic pneumoniae, swine dysentery and progressive atrophic rhinitis. The local veterinarians were instructed to eradicate sarcoptic mange from the herds by 2 ivermectin injections 14 days apart or 3 treatments with phoxim pour-on 6 days apart before the farms were able to join the health class. The study consisted of a questionnaire administered to the farmers, farm visits and follow-ups associated with the regular control of the health class. A questionnaire was sent to all of the 379 accepted farrowing farms. Altogether 323 farmers had initiated an eradication programme at least 7 months before the questionnaire was distributed and 96% of them believed that the mange eradication programme had been successful. In most of the successful herds (90%), the local veterinarian had treated the animals by the recommended methods, and the majority of the farmers (88%) had cleaned and sprayed the pens with insecticides on the days of treatment. Three out of the 7 unsuccessful farms had employed methods other than those recommended. Twenty-five herds were randomly selected for an intensified control. The rubbing index was < or = 0.1 in all herds visited, indicating freedom from mange. Sows or gilts, 15-20 animals per farm, were skin scraped and no Sarcoptes scabiei was found. The same animals were blood sampled and serum antibodies to S. scabiei were measured by an indirect ELISA. All except 1 farm had low optical density (OD) values in most of the samples. The owner of that farm had become uncertain about the mange status of the herd and had recently retreated all animals with acaricides. The number of complaints about mange in the finishing units buying health class feeder pigs was low. The study demonstrates that it is possible to run an eradication programme against sarcoptic mange, in which a large number of farmers together with their veterinarians participate. It is possible to eradicate mange not only at the herd but also at the population level. The ELISA test employed proved to be a possible tool to monitor the efficacy of mange-eradication programmes.