1. Effective treatment of sarcoptic mange in an alpaca (Vicugna pacos) using fluralaner: a case report.
- Author
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Sala G, Gazzonis AL, Pravettoni D, Cafiso A, Grilli G, Ferrulli V, Boccardo A, Di Cesare F, Pavesi LF, and Zanzani S
- Subjects
- Animals, Female, Acaricides therapeutic use, Camelids, New World parasitology, Isoxazoles therapeutic use, Isoxazoles administration & dosage, Scabies drug therapy, Scabies veterinary, Scabies parasitology
- Abstract
South American Camelids, including alpacas, have gained popularity in Europe as pets and prized wool sources. Skin health concerns, particularly mite infestations, have emerged as a notable problem in these animals. Sarcoptic mange can lead to severe itching, papules, and chronic symptoms such as alopecia, crusts, and emaciation if left untreated. This case report documents a 2-year-old female alpaca suffering from sarcoptic mange. Despite initial treatment with ivermectin, its condition worsened, leading to severe weight loss, abortion, and a continued presence of mites. Considering the lack of effective treatments for sarcoptic mange in alpacas and the unavailability of registered drugs for this species in Italy, fluralaner, a drug previously used in other animal species, has been administered orally at a dosage of 5 mg/kg. Within a week after the treatment with fluralaner, the patient exhibited significant improvement, including the resolution of itching, healing of skin lesions, and an increase in appetite. Follow-up skin scrapings confirmed the absence of mites, and the patient's condition continued to improve. Fluralaner demonstrated to be a highly effective and fast-acting treatment for sarcoptic mange in alpacas, offering potential economic benefits attributed to its single-dose administration., (© 2024. The Author(s).)
- Published
- 2024
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