Successful therapeutic management of notoedric mange in rodents

A total of six laboratory animals (four rats and two guinea pigs) from "Laboratory Animal Unit, (Govt. Medical College) Patiala" were presented to the Teaching Veterinary Hospital, GADVASU with the history of severe itching, alopecia, erythema, hyperkeratotic skin lesions involving face, head, ears, dorsal body and paws since last 1 month. The other animals of the unit (50 rats and 40 guinea pigs) were reported to have similar lesions. Skin scraping examination from the infested rats and guinea pigs revealed Notoedres spp. mite. The animals were treated with conjunctive drug therapy consisting of ivermectin, enrofloxacin and multivitamins. The treatment resulted in marked clinical improvement on day seven post-treatment and complete healing, with disappearance of crusts and scabs leading to normal skin, was recorded by day 25 post-treatment.