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Host preference of the sheep scab mite, Psoroptes ovis
T Meintjes1, L J Fourie, I G Horak
1Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa.
Journal of the South African Veterinary Association
|January 8, 2003
Abstract:
Sheep scab mites, Psoroptes ovis, collected from a Merino donor sheep, were used to infest Merino and Dorper sheep, and Angora and Boer goats. Mites were placed on the sheep on 1 or 2 occasions and on 5 occasions on the goats. All the animals were examined at regular intervals for the presence of scab lesions and living mites. Both sheep breeds developed lesions, but those on the Merino sheep were always larger than those on the Dorper sheep at the same intervals after infestation. None of the goats developed lesions or showed signs of irritation, or harboured any mites.