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Sarcoptes scabiei mites and skin lesions consistent with severe sarcoptic mange were identified in a Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) and Bennett's wallaby (Notamacropus rufogriseus) from Tasmania, Australia. The devil and wallaby both had severe hyperkeratotic skin lesions. All stages of mite development were identified in the devil, suggesting parasite reproduction on the host. The devil was also affected by devil facial tumor disease and several other parasites. This expands the global host range of species susceptible to this panzootic mange disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

5-Aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT) showed potential to treat rosacea according to recent studies; however, a lack of clinical evidence and unclear adverse effects limit its use. To compare the effect of ALA-PDT vs minocycline on rosacea. In this single-center, randomized, evaluator-blind, controlled study, patients with moderate-to-severe rosacea were allocated to receive 3 to 5 sessions of ALA-PDT or 8 weeks of 100 mg daily minocycline treatment, followed by a 24-week follow-up. Of all the 44 randomized patients, 41 received complete treatment (ALA-PDT: 20 and minocycline: 21 patients). At the end of treatment, ALA-PDT showed noninferior improvement of papulopustular lesions and Rosacea-specific Quality of Life compared with minocycline (median reduction of lesion count: 19 vs 22, median change of Rosacea-specific Quality of Life score: 0.48 vs 0.53). The Clinician's Erythema Assessment success of ALA-PDT was lower than that of minocycline's (35% vs 67%). Demodex density and relapse rate were comparable in both groups. Erythema, mild pain, and exudation were the most common adverse reactions of ALA-PDT. Limited sample size restricted us from drawing further conclusions. As minocycline does, ALA-PDT can improve rosacea mainly in papulopustular lesions and patients' quality of life, indicating a new option for rosacea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seba's short-tailed bats (Carollia perspicillata) are a frugivorous species native to Central and South America. Despite their importance as a reservoir for zoonotic pathogens and their popularity in zoological collection and as research models, there are relatively few reports on non-zoonotic diseases of bats. Mites of the genus Demodex are obligate commensals of the skin of a range of mammals, are highly host-specific and are not associated with clinical disease when present in low numbers. However, infestation with high numbers can result in severe or even fatal disease and substantially affect the well-being of the animals. The clinical, pathological and parasitological findings in 12 Seba's short-tailed bats with demodicosis from a colony kept at Munich Zoo Hellabrunn between 1992 and 2021 are described in this report. From 2002, skin lesions became apparent on the head, especially the periocular region, nose and ears, as well as the genital area of some animals. In advanced cases, skin changes were also present on the abdomen, back and extremities. Gross findings typically included alopecia and thickening of the skin, with the formation of papules, reflecting cystically dilated hair follicles containing myriads of demodecid mites. Histologically, lesions were characterized by a paucicellular lymphocytic dermatitis and folliculitis with perifollicular fibrosis, epidermal hyperplasia, orthokeratotic hyperkeratosis and disproportionately high numbers of intrafollicular arthropods. Demodex carolliae was identified morphologically by light, phase-contrast and electron microscopy. Further characterization was achieved by extraction of parasitic DNA and partial gene sequencing of two mitochondrial genes, 16S rDNA and cox1. This is the first clinicopathological description of generalized demodicosis in Seba's short-tailed bats and includes the first molecular characterization of D. carolliae with provision of a GenBank entry. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammatory eyelid symptoms are common in primary care and there have been several reports on Demodex blepharitis. In the present study, we evaluate the 9 patients with Demodex blepharitis, who showed inflammation of the eyelids, dry eye, and cylindrical dandruff at the base of the eyelashes. The causative species from all patients was Demodex folliculorum of either the adult or nymph stage. Two patients had recurrent chalazion and 3 patients had keratitis. Weekly lid scrubs with 50% tee tree oil were performed for 6 weeks. After treatment, the symptoms of blepharitis and keratitis had improved in all patients. This case report provides clinical reference source for the proper treatment of ocular demodicosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eosinophilic pustular folliculitis (EPF) is classified into Ofuji disease, immunosuppression-associated EPF, and infancy-associated EPF. The association of EPF with Demodex infestation is rarely reported. We report five cases of EPF with Demodex overgrowth. All patients were young females presenting with recurrent, itchy papulopustules on the face for 2 months to 2 years. Laboratory tests revealed eosinophilia (n = 2) and iron deficiency anemia (n = 1). Skin biopsy of papulopustular lesions was performed in each patient, and all revealed folliculocentric infiltration with eosinophils. Infundibular pustules containing Demodex mites were found in two patients. All patients had high Demodex densities examined by superficial needle-scraping method (7–18 mites/5 pustules) and/or thumbnail-squeezing method (37–255 mites/cm2). Based on the clinical and laboratory findings, the patients were either first treated as having demodicosis or as having EPF. According to the treatment responses, the cases might represent Demodex-induced EPF or EPF-like reaction (Cases 1–3) or demodicosis superimposed on EPF (Cases 4 and 5). In sum, we report five cases of EPF with Demodex overgrowth (demodicosis). These cases illustrate that the possibility of Demodex overgrowth should be considered in cases of EPF with incomplete treatment response to indomethacin and/or oral corticosteroids. Conversely, EPF should be considered in cases of demodicosis with incomplete responses to antiparasitic treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Intracellular epidermal inclusions were detected within histological sections of skin biopsies from two panther chameleons (Furcifer pardalis) with chronic cheilitis. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed the abundant presence of icosahedral intracytoplasmic and intranuclear viral particles in infected keratinocytes, with an average diameter of 120–125 nm, consistent with herpesviruses (HVs). TEM also revealed the presence of virions in intercellular spaces and keratinocyte nuclei and features suggestive of capsid assembly, nuclear egress with primary envelopment and anterograde transport leading to virion assembly and release. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers targeting a conserved region of herpesvirus DNA-dependent DNA polymerase were used to amplify and sequence a product from a nested HV PCR performed on skin biopsies of both chameleons. Comparative sequence analysis indicates that the virus detected in both chameleons was a novel member of the Alphaherpesvirinae , which we refer to as chamaeleonid herpesvirus 1 (chamHV 1). Based on the identical findings in both chameleons, we consider chamHV 1 to be a candidate aetiological agent of cheilitis in panther chameleons. This is the first report of skin lesions in a chameleon species associated with HV infection. Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatobiliary diseases of animals are frequently diagnosed by a combination of imaging, clinical pathology, and histopathology. A standardized surgical liver biopsy protocol, however, has not been established in veterinary medicine with regard to the selection of lobe and site of the liver to yield the most diagnostic information. To address this matter, we histologically examined 33 livers of autopsied dogs from which tissue samples of 4 different lobes as well as 4 different sites of each lobe were prepared. We measured the hepatic lobular diameter (HLD) as an objective variable to refer to the inter-lobar or inter-site difference among the biopsied samples. A measurement of 2,623 hepatic lobules resulted in 1.042 mm as the average of all the HLD values. Statistical analysis further revealed that the HLD tended to be small in a superficial 2 mm area of the liver parenchyma regardless of biopsy location, thus this area should be evaluated carefully by pathologists. The results also suggest that the HLD values of the quadrate lobe may measure smaller than those in the other lobes. Therefore, one would be able to obtain representative data of the entire liver by taking a sample from any single lobe except for the quadrate lobe. HLD measurements are needed in order to accumulate potentially useful information on the microanatomy and pathophysiology of the liver. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Veterinary Journal / Revue Vétérinaire Canadienne is the property of Canadian Veterinary Medical Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Veterinaria is the property of Universidad Nacional del Nordeste and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Numerous reports point to Demodex mites as the aetiology of certain eye and skin conditions, hence it is highly probable that infestation with these mites may also play a role in the aetiology and pathogenesis of pterygium. Therefore here we present a hypothesis: whether the presence of Demodex mites in eyelash hair follicles significantly correlates with the presence of pterygia, which could point to a potential role of these mites in the development of such lesions. We present preliminary data for supporting this hypothesis. These results were collected from a group of 69 subjects, including 39 with pterygium. Subjects were studied for the presence of Demodex folliculorum and/or D. brevis within eyelash follicles. The sample was defined as positive if at least one parasite, larva or egg were present. Preliminary statistical analyses were performed, and indicated a significant relationship between Demodex mite infestation and the presence of pterygium (p<0.05). This suggests that demodicosis could be one of the factors causing pterygium and significantly contribute to its development. Subjects who had both pterygium and Demodex infestation formed a dominant group. The proportion of subjects with both pterygia and Demodex presence is high at 93.33%, while the proportion of subjects without pterygia who have mites is low at 20.51%. Aforementioned results support our working hypothesis that infestation with Demodex mites may result in pterygium development and therefore patients diagnosed with pterygium should be assessed for the presence of Demodex to verify our preliminary results. In the present paper, we discuss potential influence of Demodex on conjunctiva and propose a hypothetical pathological mechanism linking the development of pterygia with demodicosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An African hedgehog patient with generalized erythema and periauricular scaling was presented for consultation; previously, it had been treated with ivermectin but no improvement was noted. Scrapes were performed from the skin and the mite morphologically corresponded to Demodex spp. Demodicosis in African hedgehogs is fairly rare; this is the reason why a molecular diagnosis was added to the microscopic diagnosis for this clinical case. The common treatments for mites in hedgehogs are ivermectin, selamectin, flipronil, and amitraz; the application of a single dose of afoxolaner/milbemycin oxime has not been previously reported. The molecular and phylogenetic analysis showed that the species causing the demodicosis in the patient was Demodex canis. The single oral dose of afoxolaner/milbemycin oxime reduced the number of mites to 0 in subsequent samples 7 days after the treatment and there were no lesions after 30 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Demodex gatoi is a transmissible, short-bodied mite found in the stratum corneum of cats. It is known to cause moderate to intense pruritus, often manifested as self-induced alopecia and excoriations. 10% imidacloprid/1% moxidectina is a monthly, topical solution indicated for the treatment and/or prevention of fleas, heartworms, intestinal parasites, and ear mites. A household of cats was presented for pruritus that ranged from mild to severe in 8 of the 13 felines. The most common clinical signs included miliary-type papular dermatitis and focal areas of erythema associated with alopecia. Multiple skin scrapings of each animal revealed Demodex gatoi mites in only two cats. Weekly topical administration of 10% imidacloprid/1% moxidectin was used on all cats in the household for a total of ten doses. Skin scrapings following treatment were negative, and all cats in the house improved. Based on the successful treatment of this small number of cats, weekly application of 10% imidacloprid/1% moxidectin should be considered for the clinical resolution of cats affected by D. gatoi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study which explored the presence of preputial Demodex species in four captive, wild-caught big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) in eastern Tennessee, As stated, there was no clinical symptoms that confirmed the presence of mites and the mites were extracted from preputial skin samples of other archival big brown bats by potassium hydroxide digestion and were further analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

The article presents a case study of a female and two male, four-months old sibling hyraxes presented with generalized dermatitis characterized with nonpruritic, mildly encrusted and focally ulcerated pustular nodules. The hyraxes' dursum, limbs, and dorsal cranium were severely affected and that scanning electron microscope reveal the presence of Demodex sp. The article discusses the presence of demodecosis among hyraxes.

The article offers information on the management of inflammatory rosacea. It states that this skin disorder afflicts about 15 million people in the U.S. and is often misdiagnosed as sunburn, acne or conjunctivitis. It mentions that effective management of this disorder include patient education, skin care and therapy. According to the article, the involvement of patients in designing their own course of treatment could possibly lead to better outcomes.

Parasites are a common cause of dermatological disease in the dog and cat. Knowledge of different miticidal options for the common parasitic diseases is imperative when choosing the appropriate treatment for a patient. This is especially important with the recent advent of safer and more effective antiparasitic medications. Diagnostic and therapeutic methods for Cheyletiella spp., Demodex spp., Notoedres cati, Sarcoptes scabei, and Otodectes cyanotis are discussed, with emphasis on protocols for miticidal therapies, as well as safety concerns and side effects. This information will allow the practitioner to choose the safest and most efficient treatment for parasitic skin disease in their small animal patients. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article discusses the supposed first case of skin lesions connected with Demodex species (Demodex sp.) in llama, Lama peruana. It says that a 2.5-year-old female llama with skin lesions was delivered to the Animal Center in Seoul Grand Park Zoo, Korea. The female llama got multiple small pruritic nodules with redness, hyperkeratosis, lichenification, alopecia, and hyperpigmentation on the inner axilla, inside of thigh, inguinal region, and feet's upper skin. The histologic features of the mites described match those infestation caused by Demodex spp. The llama was trimmed and treated topically with amitraz solution and a streptomycin-penicillin combination to avoid secondary infection. The folliculitis, skin nodules, and pustular dermatitis vanished in three months.

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) remains a hazardous complication after vascular surgery. In this pilot study we investigated the inguinal microbiome in skin biopsies using histology and 16S-23S rDNA Next Generation Sequencing (NGS). Our hypothesis was that causative microorganisms of SSI are present in the inguinal microbiome.Methods: Data on surgical site infections and skin samples from the Percutaneous in Endovascular Repair versus Open (PiERO) trail were evaluated. Two patients with SSI were matched for age and comorbidity to eight matching patients of the PiERO trial. All patients were treated for an abdominal aortic aneurysm with endovascular repair. Nasal and perineal cultures were taken preoperatively to detect Staphylococcus aureus carriage. After disinfection with chlorhexidine, groin biopsies were taken to identify bacteria in deeper skin layers. All samples were subjected to histological analysis and culture-free 16S-23S rDNA NGS.Results: Staphylococcus aureus species were cultured in 5 out of 20 preoperative nasal and perineal swaps. Histology detected only a few bacteria. NGS of the 16S-23S rRNA regions identified DNA of bacterial species in all biopsies (20/20). Most identified genera and species proved to be known skin flora bacteria. No relation was found between SSIs and the preoperative microbiome.Conclusion: In this pilot study, an innovative analysis of the preoperative microbiome using 16S-23S rDNA NGS did not show a relation with the occurrence of a surgical site infection. No pathogenic bacterial species were present in the inguinal skin after disinfection with chlorhexidine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented discussing the microscopic mite Demodex bovis as the cause of Demodicosis in cattle.