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Updated: Oct 12, 2026

Clinical Examination Protocol to Detect Atypical and Classical Scrapie in Sheep
Published on: January 19, 2014
Investigation and treatment of ovine psoroptic otoacariasis
James Patrick Crilly1, Francesca Nunn2, Valentina Busin2
1Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Roslin, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK.
Background:
Psoroptic otoacariasis has been described worldwide and is caused by a mite morphologically indistinguishable from the sheep scab mite Psoroptes ovis. A single treatment of affected sheep with 200 μg/kg of injectable ivermectin is reported to be curative.
Case Report:
Psoroptes mites were isolated following treatment with ivermectin, but treatment with moxidectin at 1 mg/kg caused complete cessation of clinical signs. Affected animals were seropositive to Pso o 2 antigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and had serum haptoglobin concentrations that overlapped with those described for field infections of classical sheep scab.
Conclusions And Clinical Importance:
Psoroptic otoacariasis is not controlled by single treatments of injectable ivermectin but resolves after a single treatment with injectable moxidectin. Pso o 2 ELISA can detect infection with Psoroptes spp. mites but cannot distinguish between sheep scab and psoroptic otoacariasis.
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