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Ectoparasite infestations are not common in degus. Two cases are presented here where use of Stronghold® Plus/Revolution® Plus (selamectin and sarolaner topical solution) was successfully administered to a degu (Octodon degus) for treatment of naturally-occurring mite infesations. Selamectin (Stronghold®/Revolution®) has been demonstrated to be effective against naturally-occurring mite infections in dogs and selamectin is approved for use in dogs for the treatment of sarcoptic mange (caused by Sarcoptes scabiei) at a dose of 6 mg/kg. In the first case, a 2.6-years-old female degu housed in a group with four other degus was presented with pruritic skin reactions, restlessness and hairloss. Mites morphologically similar to Demodex sp. were detected in the deep skin scrapings. All four degus were treated with Stronghold® Plus/Revolution® Plus (30 mg/kg selamectin and 5 mg/kg sarolaner) once a week for a total of six treatments. The spot-on was administered topically on the dorsal cervical region. Following treatment the degu presenting with clinical signs showed a rapid improvement with the pruritus and overall dermatitis resolving within 2 weeks of treatment. Skin scrapes and microscopic examination of epidermal debris collected from the affected degu were negative for mites from day 14 onwards. In the second case, a group of four 4-6.5-years-old female and male degus that were housed together were infested with Ornithonyssus bacoti. All animals were treated with 30 mg/kg selamectin and 5 mg/kg sarolaner in four total weekly doses. One week later no living mites were found on the patients or in their environment. The four degus improved visibly, and within three weeks of treatment the skin lesions associated with the infestation subsided. The antiparasiticides showed a satisfactory efficacy and were well tolerated (n = 9 animals treated in a total).

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An outbreak of sarcoptic mange was investigated in a herd of llamas and alpacas in the Black Forrest (Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany). The diagnosis was made by clinical picture and detection of mites in skin scrapings and ear swabs. At the beginning numerous of Sarcoptes mites were found in the scraping samples. The llamas and alpacas were treated subcutaneously with 0,2 mg/kg bodyweight moxidectin every three weeks (2 mL per llama, 1,5 mL per alpaca). Because of the slow recovery of the South American Camelids it was necessary to repeat the treatment eight times. On days 0, 42, 84, 126, and 168, all animals were examined clinically, and epidermal debris were collected from both auricular areas and other body regions for microscopic examination. The alpacas recovered rapidly and mite counts declined steadily. Llamas showed a slower remission of mite counts and clinical condition. For complete healing of crusting skin reactions, and pruritus six months of treatment were necessary. Therapy of sarcoptic mange in South American Camelids with macrocyclic lactons usually takes a long duration of time.

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Otacariasis due to Otodectes cynotis (HERING, 1858) is a very frequent disease of the external ear canal in cats. Otodectes cynotis is the most common mange mite in carnivores. Several antiparasiticides are licensed for treatment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a formulation containing selamectin (Stronghold(®) Spot-on) for eradication of ear mites in cats under field conditions. Sixteen cats with otacariasis, presented in a small animal clinic, were treated with a single spot-on application of selamectin (Stronghold(®) Spot-on, 6-17.3 mg/kg bdw.). On clinical and parasitological assessment days 14 and 28 clinical signs had subsided in ten cats. Furthermore all ear swabs were negative for mites and their developmental stages on D 14 and D 28. Selamectin was a practical and well-tolerated treatment of feline otacariasis for the cats included in this study. It was very well tolerated in all cats, local skin irritations on the neck did not occur.

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In Germany there is limited information available about the distribution of the tropical rat mite (Ornithonyssus bacoti) in rodents. A few case reports show that this hematophagous mite species may also cause dermatitis in man. Having close body contact to small rodents is an important question for patients with pruritic dermatoses. The definitive diagnosis of this ectoparasitosis requires the detection of the parasite, which is more likely to be found in the environment of its host (in the cages, in the litter or in corners or cracks of the living area) than on the hosts' skin itself. A case of infestation with tropical rat mites in a family is reported here. Three mice that had been removed from the home two months before were the reservoir. The mites were detected in a room where the cage with the mice had been placed months ago. Treatment requires the eradication of the parasites on its hosts (by a veterinarian) and in the environment (by an exterminator) with adequate acaricides such as permethrin.

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The cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis, maintains its life cycle indoors feeding on pets. However, it must be emphasized that only about 1-5% of the flea population is on their hosts, the remaining 95-99% (eggs, larvae and pupae) are spread around the habitat. The eggs and dried blood feces fall from the coat of the animal on its sleeping, resting or feeding sites. In the first study, 100 pupae of the cat flea were applied on the resting sites of 6 cats' (3 female, 3 male), each in a separate box. Five days later all 6 cats were examined for adult fleas. From the 600 applied pupae a total of 326 adult fleas (Ø: 54 fleas per cat) were found in the haircoat of the animals. Male cats showed a remarkable higher flea infestation than females. In the second study, 6 cats kept in separate boxes were infested each with 100 cat fleas. After being infested, every cat was brought together with a flea negative fellow cat. On 3 courses, 3, 6 and 9 days post infestationem, all 12 animals were inspected for adult fleas on their skin and in their haircoat. On the primarily flea infested cats a mean of 43 fleas was found. The initially flea negative cats showed a mean flea count of 2. In almost the same manner like in the first study the male cats exhibited a much higher tendency for flea infestation. The likelihood of establishing new infestations by adult fleas being transferred from one host to another exists, but is very uncommon. However, visitations to environments capable of supporting immature stages (pupae) of fleas seem a more important source of flea infestations.

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There is an increasing number of sick and young hedgehogs presented to veterinarians each fall. These wild hedgehogs are often heavily infected with parasites. Helminths in the respiratory tract (Crenosoma striatum and Capillaria aerophila) cause lung dysfunction. Intestinal tract of these small mammals is often infected by Capillaria erinacei. Furthermore hedgehogs may be occasionally infected by other nematodes (Physaloptera clausa), trematodes (Brachylaemus erinacei) and cestodes (Hymenolepis erinacei). Occasionally hedgehogs are infected by coccidia (Isospora rastegaiev) and cryptosporidia (Cryptosporidium spp.). Increasing importance of hedgehogs in small animal practice requires adequate knowledge about their parasitoses in order to have a sufficient approach to diagnosis and treatment of those infections.

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Different mite species occurring in animals may infest humans temporarily. Such agents should be considered a possible cause of erythemateous and sometimes pruritic skin reactions of unclear origin. Pseudoscabies is a common problem in occupationally exposed humans, e.g. farmers, veterinarians or pet owners. Those selflimiting dermatoses may often be misdiagnosed. Several species including Sarcoptes scabiei, Notoedres cati, Cheyletiella spp., Dermanyssus gallinae, Ornithonyssus bacoti, Ophionyssus natricis and Neotrombicula autumnalis may infest human skin, causing symptoms.

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2590 small animal practitioners in Germany have been asked by a questionnaire from which 1694 (65.4%) replied. 1186 of these veterinarians (70%) often see ectoparasite infestation. Fleas are predominant and occur on cats (1016/60%), followed by dogs (424/25%), small mammals and birds (254/15%). Flea infestations on dogs and cats are observed throughout the year, but the prevalences are generally higher during the summer season. The results reveal that topically administered spot-on formulations is the most popular method used for flea control. The most common applied antiparasitic substances both in dogs and in cats were fipronil (535/31.6%; 690/40.7%), imidacloprid (290/17.1%; 417/24.6%) and selamectin (267/15.8%; 319/18.8%). Due to 771 (45.5%) of the answering veterinarians the animal owner himself, and according 694 (41%) respectively 229 (13.5%) of the replies the veterinarian or the veterinary technician applies the antiparasiticide onto the skin. 1457 veterinarians (86%) administer compounds against adult fleas and their developmental stages also in the animal's environment.

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Chorioptic mange in cattle has long been recognised as a common external parasitosis in livestock. In order to evaluate the economic importance of Chorioptes bovis-mange, the seasonal prevalence in several types of husbandry in the states of Germany, location of clinical skin symptoms, procedure of diagnosis, influence on milk or meat production, and treatment especially in dairy farming, 1190 German large animal practicioners have been asked by questionnaires from which 367 responded. This paper gives an update on important epidemiological investigations on bovine chorioptic mange due to this inquiry. Since more than one third of the questioned veterinarians see tail mange often, it is of high importance for farm cattle. Chorioptes mange mainly occurs in dairy cattle stocks, and has especially negative effects on milk production and meat productivity. For treatment of this external parasitosis mainly macrocyclic lactons and pyrethroids are used.

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In Germany there is little information available about the distribution of the Tropical rat mite (Ornithonyssus bacoti) in rodents. A few case reports show that this hematophagous mite species may also cause dermatitis in man. All developmental stages are exclusively blood feeders. Three children (4, 11 and 15 years old) of a family, a 23-year-old medical student and a 17-year-old dental technician were attacked by the tropical rat mite. Prior to the consultation of our institute, the patients' conditions had been diagnosed as allergic dermatitis and treated by several antiphlogistic agents, however without success. The conclusive diagnosis of tropical rat mite dermatitis, was based on the identification of the arthropod O. bacoti in the flats of the patients (husbandry of gerbils, etc.) and in the dental practice. The diagnosis of rat mite dermatitis requires the detection of the parasite, which is more likely to be found in the environment of its host than on the host's skin itself.

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