Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • What's Your Diagnosis
  • Published:

Diagnosis | Mange due to Trixacarus caviae infestation

Lab Animal volume 36, pages 18–19 (2007)Cite this article

The disease is commonly called mange. It has been described in caged pet and commercially reared laboratory guinea pigs and is widespread in some conventional colonies of guinea pigs2,3,4,5,6. Transmission of T. caviae occurs through direct animal-to-animal contact, from sow to weanlings during feeding and through contact with infested cage material such as bedding7. The ectoparasite may be capable of existing subclinically and becoming active with stressors, such as shipping, pregnancy, suppressed immune system or other underlying diseases8. Severe pruritus, alopecia, hyperkeratosis, excoriations due to self-trauma and secondary bacterial infections are associated with infestations7,9. In affected animals that exhibit hematological changes such as heterophilia, monocytosis, eosinophilia and basophilia, vigorous scratching may trigger convulsive seizures10. The seizures are controlled by valium injections. Commonly affected areas of the guinea pig include the trunk, inner thighs, neck and shoulders11.

We used a novel approach to treat the sarcoptid mites in this guinea pig. The lack of licensed antiparasitic agents for guinea pig mange necessitated off-label use of adequate pharmaceuticals12,13. We recommended that the patient receive a spot-on dermal treatment every 30 days (on days 0, 30 and 60) with a topical 10% imidacloprid and 1% moxidectin solution. This product is marketed by Bayer Health Care (http://www.animalhealth.bayerhealthcare.com) as Advocate in Germany, the UK and Australia and as Advantage Multi for Cats in the US, Canada and New Zealand. We used a dose of 100 mg imidacloprid per kg body weight and 10 mg moxidectin per kg body weight, which worked out to a total dosage of 0.1 ml per kg body weight. Therefore, 0.04 ml of the formulation was applied at the base of the guinea pig's neck on days 0, 30 and 60. The owners also thoroughly decontaminated the animal's cage and environment.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5

References

  1. Klompen, H. Phylogenetic relationships in the mite family Sarcoptidae (Acari: Astigmata). Miscellaneous Publications of the Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan 180, 1–159 (1992).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Fain, A., Hovell, G.J.R. & Hyatt, K.H. A new sarcoptic mite producing mange in albino guinea pig. Acta Zool. Pathol. Antverpes 55, 56–73 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Kummel, B.A., Estes, S.A. & Arlian, L.G. Trixacarus caviae infestation of guinea pigs. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 177, 903–908 (1980).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. McDonald, S.E. & Lavoipierre, M.M.J. Trixacarus caviae infestation in two guinea pigs. Lab. Anim. Sci. 30, 67–70 (1980).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Ackerman, L. Trixacarus caviae infestation in a guinea pig. Can. Vet. J. 28, 61 (1987).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Beck, W. Sarcoptoid mange induced by Trixacarus caviae in guinea pig. Kleintiermed. 6, 15–18 (2003).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Beck, W. (ed.) & Pantchev, N. Praktische Parasitologie bei Heimtieren: Kleinsa¨uger - Vo¨gel - Reptilien - Bienen. [German] (Schlütersche, Hannover, 2006).

  8. Peters, L.J. The guinea pig: An overview. Part II. Comp. Cont. Ed. Pract. Vet. 3, 403–410 (1981).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Fuentealba, C. & Hanna, P. Mange induced by Trixacarus caviae in a guinea pig. Can. Vet. J. 37, 749–750 (1996).

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  10. Percy, D.H. & Barthold, S.W. Pathology of Laboratory Rodents & Rabbits. 2nd edn. 209–248 (Iowa State University Press, Ames, 2001).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Beck, W. & Wrieg, H.-H. Trixacarus caviae mange (Acari: Sarcoptidae) in guinea pig – Biology of Trixacarus caviae, pathogenesis, clinical features, diagnosis and treatment. Kleintierprax. 43, 703–708 (1998).

    Google Scholar 

  12. Beck, W. Common endo- and ectoparasitic diseases in small mammals – clinical feature, diagnosis and treatment. A review of the literature and own experiences. Tierärztl. Prax. Ausg. K. Kleintiere. Heimtiere 32, 311–321 (2004).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Beck, W. Ectoparasites, endoparasites, and heartworm control in small animals. Suppl. Comp. Cont. Ed. Vet. NAVC Conference, January 2007 29 (2007).

    Google Scholar 

  14. Dorrestein, G.M. & Bronswijk, J.E.M.H.v. Trixacarus caviae Fain, Howell & Hyatt 1972 (Acari: Sarcoptidae) as a cause of mange in guinea-pigs and papular urticaria in man. Vet. Parasitol. 5, 389–398 (1979).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Bourdeau, P. & Guaguere, E. La gale du cobaye a Trixacarus (Caviacoptes) caviae. A propos d'un cas avec contaminations humaines. [French] Recueil de Medecine Veterinaire 161, 397–407 (1985).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Diagnosis | Mange due to Trixacarus caviae infestation. Lab Anim 36, 18–19 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/laban1107-18

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/laban1107-18

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing