The Pharma Innovation Journal 2018; 7(2): 01-03

ISSN (E): 2277- 7695

ISSN (P): 2349-8242
NAAS Rating: 5.03 A successful treatment report on rabbits infected with
TPI 2018; 7(2): 01-03
© 2018 TPI sarcoptic mange
www.thepharmajournal.com
Received: 01-12-2017
Accepted: 02-01-2018 Anil Kumar, Rajesh Kumar, Archana and Nikee Kumari
Anil Kumar
Assistant Professor, Abstract
Department of TVCC, Bihar In the present study two rabbits were presented with the clinical signs of alopecia, intense itching,
Veterinary College, Patna, Bihar, erythema, and dry crusty lesions on eyes, ears, nose and legs. Skin scrapings revealed Sarcoptes scabiei
India mites. Treatment was initiated with subcutaneous injection of Ivermectin @ 200 mcg/kg b.wt at weekly
intervals for 3 weeks and multivitamins as a supportive therapy @ 5 drops twice a day was given for
Rajesh Kumar early recovery. After 3 weeks of treatment, clinical examination revealed marked improvement of lesions
Assistant Professor, and skin scrapings were negative for mites.
Department of Veterinary
Surgery and Radiology, BVC,
Keywords: Sarcoptic sp., mange, rabbit, ivermectin
Patna, Bihar, India

Archana Introduction
Assistant Professor, Dermatological problems are one of the most common clinical entities in domestic pets and fur
Department of Veterinary bearing animals [3] and among them, Sarcoptic mange is a highly contagious, non-seasonal,
Pharmacology, BVC, Patna,
pruritic skin condition in rabbits and is caused by mite Sarcoptes scabiei. Overcrowded living
Bihar, India
conditions and poor hygiene are significant factors for infection with Sarcoptes scabiei mites
[7]
Nikee Kumari . It is frequently found on the sparsely haired parts of the body such as the face, ears and legs
J.A.R.O, Institute of Animal [5]
, causing intense itching, pruritis, crust formation, scale production, thickening and wrinkling
Health and Production, Patna, of skin of affected area [10]. It is most obstinate, persistent and zoonotically important
Bihar, India
contagious disease [6]. If, it is left untreated may cause significant morbidity and economic
losses. The traditional treatment of sarcoptic mange includes external application of
Organophosphates, Pyrethroid compounds or Amitraz, but its use may be problematic in that it
needs frequent and careful application and may have side effects. The avermectin drug group
includes ivermectin, abamectin, doramectin, eprinomectin and selamectin which can be used to
treat rabbits that are naturally infested with S. scabiei and because of its long acting effect and
easier to apply have therefore replaced the conventional dips, rinses and aerosol sprays [2, 5].
Ivermectin is used as a broad spectrum parasiticide in domestic animals and is also
recommended for treatment of ear mange in rabbits [12]. The present paper reports successful
therapeutic management of sarcoptic mange in a rabbit.

History and Clinical Examination

Two non-descript rabbits were presented to teaching veterinary clinical complex, Bihar
Veterinary College, Patna with the history of dullness, anorexia, skin lesions with intense
itching in ears and nose. On clinical examination erythema, alopecia around eyes, ears and
nose and on head, white indurate dry crust like lesions on ears pinna and face were observed
(Fig.1 and 2). Anamnesis revealed that exposed rabbits were kept in moist, dirty and ill
ventilated house. For confirmatory diagnosis, skin scrapping examination was carried out as
per the standard method [11]. Sample of skin scrapping was collected aseptically from affected
sites in 10% potassium hydroxide. The mixture was heated, centrifuge and supernatant
discarded, a few drops of sediment were placed on a slide for direct microscopic examination.
Examination of samples revealed the presence of large number of sarcoptes species mange
mites (Fig. 3).
Correspondence
Anil Kumar
Assistant Professor,
Department of TVCC, Bihar
Veterinary College, Patna, Bihar,
India

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examined and found negative for the mites after three weeks
of treatment. At the same time, after removal of crusts, hair
growth in previously infested areas was observed in both
infested rabbits and clinical signs like alopecia and intense
itching were also resolved completely.
Mange caused by Sarcoptic species is more common in
rabbits and diagnosis is usually confirmed by microscopic
skin scrapping examination. In the present study,
demonstration of mange under microscope along with skin
lesions was sufficient for confirmatory diagnosis of sarcoptic
mange [10]. Clinical manifestations such as development of
scales, scabs, crusts and alopecia along with a large density of
S. scabiei below crusts as observed in present study were in
accordance with the findings of [9, 5]. Ivermectin, at a dosage
of 0.2-0.4 mg/kg of body weight administered subcutaneously
Fig 1: Picture showing severe dry crusty lesions on around nose,
once every 2 weeks for 2-3 treatments is usually a simple,
eyes, ears and legs. safe, effective treatment [13, 8]. In the present case study,
treatment was carried out with Ivermectin @ 200 μg/kg body
weight, subcutaneously at weekly interval for three week was
found to be effective in treating scarcoptic mange [6, 5]
whereas, Kachhawa et al., [4], Mitra et al. [8] 2014 and Singh et
al. [10] reported that 400 μg/kg body weight introduced
subcutaneously was an effective treatment for the sarcoptic
mange. Ivermectin given subcutaneously selectively binds to
glutamate gated and gamma-amino-butaric acid (GABA)
gated chloride channels in the mites nervous system, resulting
in hyperpolarization of cells, paralysis and finally death of
mites [1]. So, the present observations indicates ivermectin
therapy coupled with supportive treatment and disinfection of
rabbit cages or houses of infected animals is effective in
control of mange in rabbits.

Conclusion
In the present study it is concluded that mange in rabbit has a
Fig 2: Picture showing mild dry crusty lesions on around eyes, nose major constraint and it may be successfully treated with
and ear pinna. ivermectin and supportive therapy.

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