Some effects of sarcoptic mange on dogs

• Published in: The Journal of parasitology Vol. 81; no. 5; p. 698
• Main Authors: Arlian, L.G. (Wright State University, Dayton, OH.), Morgan, M.S, Rapp, C.M, Vyszenski-Moher, D.L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.10.1995
• Subjects: Animals; BLOOD; Blood Cell Count - veterinary; BLOOD CHEMISTRY; BLOOD COMPOSITION; CHIEN; COMPOSICION DE LA SANGRE; COMPOSITION DU SANG; DISEASE COURSE; Dog Diseases - blood; Dog Diseases - pathology; DOGS; Electrolytes - blood; Enzymes - blood; Erythrocyte Indices - veterinary; Female; GALE; Hematocrit - veterinary; HEMATOLOGY; HISTOPATHOLOGIE; HISTOPATHOLOGY; HISTOPATOLOGIA; Male; MANGE; PATHOGENESE; PATHOGENESIS; PATHOLOGIE; PATHOLOGY; PATOGENESIS; PATOLOGIA; PERRO; PHYSIOPATHOLOGY; SANG; SANGRE; SARCOPTES SCABIEI; SARNA; Scabies - blood; Scabies - pathology; Scabies - veterinary
• ISSN: 0022-3395; 1937-2345
• DOI: 10.2307/3283957

Sequential changes in pathology were examined for scabies-infested dogs to determine the effects of infestation with Sarcoptes scabiei var. canis. During 8 wk of infestation with S. scabiei, the progression of the disease was evaluated weekly by skin scrape, clinical examination, and blood analyses. At 8 wk, selected organs were microscopically examined for histopathology. All infested dogs developed an advanced level of scabies infestation by 8 wk. Of the 36 blood parameters evaluated, only values for erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) deviated significantly from the normal ranges for dogs. However, infested dogs had significantly (P < 0.01) lower average hemoglobin and hematocrit concentrations after 8 wk of infestation compared to their values prior to infestation or to the values for the control dogs. Red blood cell levels for infested dogs dropped significantly (P < 0.01) from preinfestation concentrations by week 8. Conversely, by 8 wk total white blood cell and neutrophil concentrations were significantly (P < 0.01) greater than uninfested controls. Also, whereas average eosinophil concentrations were not statistically different for infested dogs compared to controls, some individual infested dogs exhibited eosinophilia at 4-8 wk of infestation. The ESRs for infested dogs were significantly (P < 0.01) greater at week 6 and 8 than for experimental dogs prior to infestation or control dogs. All parameters except neutrophils had returned to preinfestation levels by 2 wk after treatment for scabies. Neutrophil concentrations were no longer significantly different by 4 wk posttreatment. There were no significant differences in serum enzyme, biochemical and electrolyte concentrations between infested and control dogs.