[First report of demodicosis in goats in the Czech Republic]

The first case of demodectic (Acari: Demodecidae) mange in the Czech Republic was diagnosed in a domestic White Shorthaired goat hospitalized in our clinic. A total of 128 solid protruding nodules, similar in size to lens or pea, were found on lateral parts of the neck and trunk and on proximal part sof the limbs. A pasty, creamy mass containing immature and adult mites could be pressed out of the nodules. Parasitological examinations identified the mites as Demodex caprae Railliet, 1895 (Fig. 1). Antiparasitic treatment was started with the pyrethroid deltamethrine (Butox 7.5 Pour On, Roussel Uclaf) although demodectic mange is not given in the spectrum of its applications. Ten ml of the drug were poured onto the back of the animal twice within an interval of 7 days. The next drug tested was another pyrethroid, Neostomosan sol. ad us. vet. (Sanofi Santé Animale) containing tetramethrine and transmix as the effective ingredients and recommended by the manufacturer for the treatment of canine and feline demodicosis. The animal was bathed twice within an interval of 14 days in a 1 : 400 dilution as recommended by the manufacturer. The mites survived the treatments with both drugs and their motility was not affected. The size of nine of the nodules (4.5 to 6.8 mm), measured before and after the treatments, remained unchanged. The third drug tested was amitraz (Taktic, Hoechst) known to be effective against canine demodicosis (Ectodex, Hoechst). Seven baths with 10-day intervals in the drug diluted 1 : 400 resulted in the decrease of the number of nodules to 83 (by 35.2%). The diameters of 7 of the measured nodules diminished by approx. 1.6 mm. No movements of the mites were observed on Day 56 after the treatment, but the immature stages probably survived because new nodules and allergy developed after the patient had been released from the clinic. The unsatisfactory effect of amitraz can be explained by the limited penetration of the drug into the nodules surrounded by fibrous tissue. Demodectic mange was subsequently diagnosed in one highly pregnant animal housed together with the patient. Further cases of demodicosis were detected by intentional examinations in the districts of Nový Jicín and Olomouc (three cases in the latter). It is apparent that the infection may remain undetected at current health checks, although it is world-wide spread and causes considerable losses to the hide-and-skin industry.