Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2014) 3(3): 651-656

ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 3 Number 3 (2014) pp. 651-656 http://www.ijcmas.com

Original Research Article Infestation of ear mites Psoroptes cuniculi on farm rabbits and its anthropozoonosis in Gudli village of District,

G.Swarnakar*, D.Sharma, B.Sanger and K. Roat

Regional Disease Diagnostic centre, Veterinary Hospital, Udaipur-313001, India Parasitology Lab., Department of Zoology Government Meera Girls College, Udaipur-313001, India *Corresponding author

A B S T R A C T

Ear mite infestation in farm rabbits is caused by the parasite Psoroptes cuniculi. K e y w o r d s They are mainly affected ear pinnae of farm rabbit, which turn into larger, thicker crusted lesions with surrounding hair loss. If sick animals are not treated timely Ear mite these ectoparasites may spread and affect the head, neck, legs, abdomen and infestation; perianal region, the blood oozes out from the scratched regions and subsequent Psoroptes hearing loss and secondary bacterial infection make situation more complicated. cuniculi; Diagnosis is being carried out by clinical signs, dermatological and microscopic blood oozes; examination of skin scrapings from affected region. One such incidence has been hearing loss. recorded in a farm having 189 rabbits at Gudli village of of .

Introduction

Anthropozoonosis is disease that the pinnae, where crust and scabs are transmitted from rabbits to humans. Ear created. Itchy ears, erythema, and crusting mites Psoroptes cuniculi infestation in lesion of the external ear canal, and pain farm rabbit are very common and on palpation are the main clinical findings. widespread ectoparasitic problem in both Psoroptes cuniculi causes otoacariasis pet and commercial rabbit population. with severe erythematous, crustaceous, This ectoparasitic infection is due to stress and exudative pruritic skin inflammation. condition, dirty living conditions, lack of Psoroptes cuniculi are become serious, if proper nutrition, over-crowding, severe of left untreated; they can lead to infection, heat and cold environmental conditions. d e afness, emaciation and finally death P. cuniculi tend to disperse more rapidly resulting in considerable economic losses. through a farm rabbits. Ear mites Further its zoonotic importance cannot be Psoroptes cuniculi are mainly found inside rule out and it can easily infest human

651 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2014) 3(3): 651-656 beings (Harkness, et al., 1977; Burke, et minimum favorable feed taking rates. An al., 1992; Harrenstien et al., 1995; Cutler, ear inspection observed marked, dense, 1998; Praag, 2002 and Acar et al., 2007). adherent crusts and erythema covering the external ear canal and internal surfaces of Otoacariasis is an important disease of both pinnae (Fig. 1). However, in many domestic rabbits throughout the world. P. cases Psoroptes affected mainly in area of cuniculi infestation in rabbits have been ear, head, neck, abdomen, legs and reported in the USA (Yeatts, 1994), Italy perianal region of farm rabbits reported (Fichi et al., 2007), Turkey (Kurtdede et severe itching, infections, lesions and al., 2007), Korea ((Kyung-Yeon and Oh- swelling (fig. 2, 3 and 4). In older or sick Deog, 2010) and Romania (Narcisa animals, or if not treated properly, the Mederle, 2010). In India very few research parasite can spread to other regions on the work on P. cuniculi in Hyderabad body. (Ayodhya, 2013). Scanty reports on mite infestation have been reported on ear mites Diagnosis was performed by clinical signs Psoroptes cuniculi infestation in Southern and microscopic examination of the skin Rajasthan of India and primary report of lesions. Psoroptes cuniculi infestation of its anthropozoonosis. Therefore, proposed the ears and body of rabbits, with severe study has been described Infestation of lesions on the skin of the caudoventral ear mites Psoroptes cuniculi on farm abdomen were observed. Infestation with rabbits and its anthropozoonosis in Gudli the mite P. cuniculi from affected rabbits village of Udaipur District . was diagnosed by skin scrapings and microscopy. Many mites were detected on Materials and Methods microscopic examination of material scraped from the external ear canal mixed 189 skin scraped samples were collected with mineral oil (Fig.5). Psoroptes from ear and head region of affected cuniculi was the only species detected rabbits due to ear mite Psoroptes cuniculi from the lesions. Eggs and hatching of egg from Gudli village of Udaipur district. of Psoroptes cuniculi were also revealed Psoroptes cuniculi infected skins of in many infected skin sample of rabbits rabbits were scraped with the help of a (Fig. 6). If sick animal not treated timely scalpel blade. The blade was used these ectoparasites may spread vigorously. smoothly to scrape on the infected skin. Anthropozoonosis was observed in Gudli The skin scraped sample were put on village of Udaipur District. The infections microscopic slide, mixed with potassium of Psoroptes cuniculi were chronically hydroxide (10%) then give heat for mix spread to the animal attendant, his family the sample with potassium hydroxide and and to supervisor of the farm rabbits and observed under stereomicroscope. showed white spots on his legs (fig. 7). Results and Discussion The ear mites Psoroptes cuniculi are universal ectoparasites and frequently The rabbit ear mite, Psoroptes cuniculi, found on rabbits, goats, horses, mice, rat produces abundant red-brown crusts in the and sheep. In rabbits, lesions are limited to ear canal. Domestic rabbits presented with the ears (Saunders, 1979). The P. cuniculi frequently shaking of the head, intense ectoparasites were presented with all ear pruritus, scratch at his ears or one or both crust, ears with intensely itchy, secondary ears may drop and weight loss and

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Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2014) 3(3): 651-656

Fig.1 Ear crust showing in the farm rabbit.

Fig.2 Infection showing spread in upper eye and ear pinnae.

Fig.3 P. cuniculi infection spread in leg of farm rabbit.

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Fig..4 Head region vigorously affected by Psoroptes cuniculi .

Fig.5 Microscopic examination of skin sample from ears of farm rabbits observes the ear mite Psoroptes cuniculi

Fig.6 Psoroptes cuniculi coming outside the egg.

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Fig.7 Showing chronic symptom in rabbit attendant of farm rabbits

sore and scabs formation excess secretion typically has to deal with parasites as herd of red and browny waxy formation inside problems which in some cases may one or both ears, resulting of shaking of invalidate the economy of commercial head of farm rabbits that are in agreement rabbits (madsen, 1986). This study with Henry and Griffith (1971), Burke comprises that in farm rabbit population (1992) and Cutler (1998). P. cuniculi has this type of infection more severe than different life stages: egg, larva, single pet rabbit, this infection spread one protonymph, adult mite. The cycle lasts by one all farm population. about 21 days, depending on environmental condition, with eggs This study is a report of P. cuniculi in hatching after 4 days (Praag, 2002). farm rabbits in Gudli village in Udaipur Present study revealed that the mites district of Rajasthan, India and its zoonotic puncture the epidermis of ear, suck lymph importance. Moreover, it is necessary that and give rise to local inflammatory the epidemiological observation on large swelling from which serum exude, scale for detection of ear mite in farm coagulates and forms enormous rabbits. encrustation inside the ear. (Yeatts, 1994; Harrenstien et al., 1995; Baker, 1998 and Acknowledgement Perrucci et al., 2005). The mite causes Authors are grateful to the Head Dr. B. intense pruritus with formation of crusts Bharadwaj, Regional Disease Diagnostic and scabs, which can completely fill the centre, Veterinary Hospital Udaipur, external ear canal and internal surface of Rajasthan for providing the facilities for the pinnae in untreated animals (Bates, the sample collection. 1999; Perrucci et al., 2005). The clinical findings in the present cases are similar to References reported by others (Beck & Acar, A., Kurtdede, A., Ural, K., Cingi, C.C., Kleintierpraxis, 2000 and Ayodhya, 2013). Karakurum, M.C., Yaci, B.B. and Sari B. In wild rabbits parasite diseases often 2007. An Ectopic Case of Psoroptes affect single animals, whereas the cuniculi Infestation in a Pet Rabbit, Turk. intensive production of domestic rabbits J. Vet. Anim. Sci. 31(6): 423-425 . 655

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