Clinical therapeutic management of camel mange: a case report

The camel has received very little attention in contrast to other domesticated animals, especially in developing nations such as Ethiopia. As a result, camels are susceptible to several illnesses, including mange mites. In the present study, a camel whose main complaint was itching, rubs against an object and is kept extensively was treated clinically at Kombolcha City Administration Veterinary Clinic, Northeast, Ethiopia. Upon physical examination, the body temperature was 37.2 °C. The camel was emaciated, and the hair was rough. The clinical manifestations of the camel mange in the present study included hair loss on the head, with skin crust around the lower flank, hand quarters and the head and inside of the thigh and thickening and corrugation of the skin of the inguinal area, including the skin of the prepuce. The patient was clinically diagnosed with camel mange and not confirmed by laboratory diagnosis. However, therapeutic diagnosis based on three subcutaneous injections of ivermectin (1 ml/50 kg body weight) administered at ten-day intervals, together with two topical applications of amitraz applied midway between consecutive injections, this treatment was followed by the disappearance of clinical signs. Additionally, the owner was instructed to separate healthy camels from those that were contaminated, clean the fomites before and after usage, and treat the herds whenever one or more camels had clinical symptoms. There was no recurrence of infestation within five months of follow-up. Therefore, the combination of ivermectin and topical amitraz appeared effective in the clinical management of camel mange in this case. Detailed epidemiological and therapeutic investigations are warranted.