Sarcoptes scabiei Infection in a Bonnet Monkey (Macaca radiata) Perumal Nagarajan, BVSc, MSc, MBA Ramasamy Venkatesan, BVSc Jerald Mahesh Kumar, BVSc, MVSc (Pathology) Subeer S. Majumda, PhD

Primate Research Center, National Institute of Immunology, JNU Campus, New Delhi, India 110067

KEY WORDS: Mange, , untreated cases in with compromised macaque, ivermectin immune systems may result in death. Sarcoptic mange spread when the ABSTRACT host is exposed to another mammal. Sarcoptic A 15-year-old colony-born Bonnet macaque mange mites live year-round, but they are (Macaca radiatae) developed alopecia with most common in the colder months. The pur- active dermatitis, accumulation of thick pose of this report is to describe a case of scales, and fissuring of the skin, which were sarcoptic mange in a Bonnet macaque to alert observed during routine health monitoring handlers of exotic animals as to the suscepti- of the in seminatural environment. bility and zoonotic potential for S. scabiei. Examination of a skin sample revealed the presence of Sarcoptes scabiei mites. Papular MATERIALS AND METHODS and vesicular lesions were abundant over on During routine health monitoring of the the back and head regions of the animal, macaque colony at the Primate Research with a flaky and scaly appearance on the Center, National Institute Of Immunology, skin. Ivermectin was administered at 200 New Delhi, India, a colony-born, 15-year- µg/kg of bodyweight by SC injection once old Bonnet macaque (Macaca radiata) was daily for 5 days. Antihistamines and B-com- found to have generalized alopecia spread- plex vitamins were also administered to the ing from the head to the back region. There animal. These treatments were effective in was also accumulation of thick scales in the ridding the animal of the infestation. This head and back regions of the animal. case is reported to alert keepers of exotic Parasite infestation was suspected, and fur- animals that macaques are susceptible to ther investigation was carried out to confirm infestation by S. scabiei. the cause of the skin condition. The animal was maintained in open enclo- INTRODUCTION sure in a seminatural environment, as recom- Sarcoptic mange mites are parasites mended by Guidelines for Care and Use of of mammals that cause mange infestation. Animals in Scientific Research, Institut The mites, which spend their life on their National des Sciences Appliquées, New host causing various skin disorders, are dis- Delhi, India in an animal facility registered tributed worldwide and may affect domestic with the Committee for the Purpose of Control and wild animals, including pigs, foxes, and Supervision of Experiments on Animals. gorillas, and raccoons.1–4 Animals with mange The macaques were fed with commercial pri- sometimes suffer weight loss and severe, mate pelleted feed, bread, fruits, and vegeta-

Intern J Appl Res Vet Med • Vol. 2, No. 2, 2004 123 bles provided in consecutive days.3 Antihistamines and B- various combi- complex syrup also were given as support- nations three ive therapy. Gradual improvement of the times daily. condition was observed after treatment. Water was avail- able ad libitum. DISCUSSION A skin scrap- Sarcoptes spp mites are ectoparasites of all ing was per- mammals, but each mammalian host has its formed after own race of S. scabiei. However, there is no immobilization remarkable morphological difference among of the animal mites that infest different hosts.6 Zahler et al7 with ketamine reported that the genus Sarcoptes consists of A hydrochloride a single heterogenous species genotypically. (20 mg/kg). The Sarcoptes in humans (Sarcoptes scabiei var affected area hominis) and other strains of S. scabiei are was scraped morphologically indistinguishable from each with a drop of other.6,8,9 Generally, Sarcoptes mites from glycerin or liq- another animal species are temporary inhabi- B uid paraffin tants of humans; they tend to cause transient Figure 1. Lesions observed either on the rashes, but don’t lay eggs.10 on head (A) and back (B) of Bonnet monkey with sar- skin or scalpel The burrows into the stratum coptic mange. blade.5 The skin corneum and feed on cells of stratum granu- samples were losum and stratum spinosum. Epidermal soaked in 10% potassium hydroxide for 12 damage induces epithelial hyperplasia and hours and mounted on the slide for micro- development of parakeratotic crust.11 scopic examination. Sarcoptes infestation in animals is charac- terized by hair loss, thickening and wrin- RESULTS kling of the skin, and scab and crust The affected animal was isolated from the formation. Lesions are exudative and itching other animals in the open enclosure, and is intense, leading to excoriation of affected additional testing was performed to deter- areas. Severe infestation can lead to perma- mine the cause of the signs observed. nent changes in the skin, inflammation, irri- Excessive hair loss from head to back tation, and death of the animal. regions with thickening and wrinkling of the skin was observed at the time of examina- ACKNOWLEDGMENT tion (Figure 1). Scales and crust were appar- The authors wish to thank the Director of ent on several skin areas, with varying the National Institute of Immunology for degrees of erythema present on several providing the necessary facilities to conduct regions of the animal’s body. The general and report this case study. health of the affected animal appeared rela- tively normal, other than self-mutilation, REFERENCES itching, and plucking hair. Examination of 1. Van Neste DJ, Staquet MJ: Similar epidermal skin scrapings revealed the presence of adult changes in hyperkeratotic scabies of humans and S. scabiei. pigs. Am J Dermatopathol 1986; 8(3):267–273 Following confirmation of the presence 2. Scott WA: Sarcoptic mange in foxes. Vet Rec of S. scabiei by both macroscopic and 2003; 152(6):183. microscopic examination, ivermectin was 3. Graczyk TK, Mudakikwa AB, Cranfield MR, Eilenberger U: Hyperkerotic mange caused by administered to the affected animal at 200 Sarcoptes scabiei (: ) in µg/kg body weight by SC injection for 5 juvenile human-habituated mountain gorillas

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