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Treatment of sarcoptic mite infestation and mite hypersensitivity in pigs with injectable doramectin
C Cargill1, P Davies, I Carmichael
1South Australian Research Institute, Adelaide, Australia.
Abstract:
Thirty-two pigs were infested experimentally with Sarcoptes scabiei var suis and allocated randomly to a medicated group (injected intramuscularly with 300 micrograms doramectin/kg) or an unmedicated group (injected intramuscularly with 1 ml saline/33 kg). They were observed daily for 15 minutes for signs of pruritus, and the ear lesions were assessed and skin scrapings examined for mites on days 7, 14, 21 and 28 after treatment. In the 16 pigs treated with doramectin the ear lesions resolved completely within 14 days, no mites were recorded on 15 of them on day 7 or on any of them on days 14, 21 and 28; pruritus was greatly reduced from day 7 onwards (range 0 to 0-62 rubbing episodes per pig per day) and papular skin lesions were absent from 15 of the pigs at slaughter on day 28. In comparison, the ear lesions in the 16 unmedicated pigs failed to resolve in 15 of them. Mites were present on 15 of them at different times during the experiment; the numbers of rubbing episodes ranged from 0.88 to 4.65 per pig per day and all the pigs had papular skin lesions at slaughter. In the unmedicated pigs, both the degree of pruritus and the presence and severity of papular skin lesions at slaughter were greater in those with zero or low mite counts than in those with high mite counts.
Insights
Doramectin effectively treated pigs infested with Sarcoptes scabiei var suis. Treatment resolved ear lesions and reduced pruritus within 14 days, demonstrating doramectin
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Parasitology
- Animal Dermatology
- Livestock Health
Background:
- Sarcoptes scabiei var suis infestation causes significant pruritus and skin lesions in pigs.
- Economic losses in swine production are often linked to sarcoptic mange.
- Effective treatment strategies are crucial for animal welfare and farm productivity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of doramectin in treating pigs experimentally infested with Sarcoptes scabiei var suis.
- To assess the impact of doramectin treatment on clinical signs such as pruritus and skin lesions.
- To determine the antiparasitic effect of doramectin against Sarcoptes scabiei var suis.
Main Methods:
- Thirty-two pigs were experimentally infested with Sarcoptes scabiei var suis.
- Pigs were randomly assigned to a doramectin-medicated group or an unmedicated control group.
- Clinical signs (pruritus, ear lesions) and mite presence were monitored daily and via skin scrapings post-treatment.
Main Results:
- Doramectin treatment led to complete resolution of ear lesions within 14 days.
- Mite presence was eliminated in 15/16 doramectin-treated pigs by day 7 and all by day 14.
- Pruritus was significantly reduced in doramectin-treated pigs from day 7 onwards.
- Unmedicated pigs showed persistent lesions, continued mite presence, and higher pruritus levels.
- In unmedicated pigs, pruritus and lesions were paradoxically worse with lower mite counts.
Conclusions:
- Intramuscular injection of doramectin is highly effective in treating Sarcoptes scabiei var suis infestations in pigs.
- Doramectin rapidly resolves clinical signs, including pruritus and ear lesions, and eliminates mites.
- The study supports doramectin as a valuable therapeutic agent for managing swine sarcoptic mange.
