This article is taken from the Boxer Parade Magazine, Summer 1979 Vol 2 Issue 1

Although 5 different species of Cheyletiella have been differentiated on the basis of minute morphological detail, the species most often referred to as C. parasitivorax (the rabbit fur mite).  Cheyletiella spp have been reported from: rabbits, squirrels, birds, dogs, cats and man. Cheyletiella dermatitis is a mild, nonsuppurative mite-induced dermatitis produced by Cheyletiella spp. living on the surface of the skin. Significant Facts easily identified by 3 characteristics
 

1. very heavy thick pedipalps, each armed with a heavy "claw". (gives the appearance of an extra pair of legs)
2. comb-like appendage on the end of each foot (not claw)
3. prominent peritremes (of respiratory function, look like "fish gills")

Cheyletiella rasguri is the common species affecting dogs, while Cheyletiella prasitovorax is the species found on rabbits. Both species of mites can interchangeably transfer to man, dogs, cats and rabbits. It is not yet clear how long the mites survive on another host.

Simple scurfy dandruff with pruritus in young puppies is highly suggestive of Cheyletiella dermatitis.

Life Cycle

• all stages occur on the host
• adult female mite fastens eggs to hair (like louse nits)
• egg hatches in about 4 days (six legged larva)
• after moulting larva becomes eight-legged nymph
• nymph moults again to adult form
• complete cycle takes 3 to 4 weeks

Behaviour Of  The Mites

• non burrowing obligatory mite
• live in the keratin layer of the dermis
• not associated with hair follicles
• very active movement in dermal debris
• when feeding, attaches firmly at 30" angle and engorges on a clear colourless fluid
• thought at one time to feed on other mites leg. Demodex) and hence the name C. parasitivorax
• repeated attempts to demonstrate this have failed and there is no indication that Demodex sp, or any other ectoparasite is attacked
• off host survival is poor

The mite is highly contagious, especially between puppies, but man may be affected too. Adult dogs are usually lightly infected even when in direct contact with infected puppies and very few mites or eggs can be demonstrated in debris from their coats. In contrast to dogs, cats have milder skin reactions and do not have severe cattery infestations, but may be a source of human infections (Gething, 1973).

The mites do not burrow but live in the keratin layer of the epidermis and are not associated with hair follicles.  They move about rapidly in pseudotunnels in dermal debris, but periodically attach firmly to the epidermis, pierce the skin with their styletlike chelicerae and become engorged with a clear colourless fluid (Foxx and Ewing, 1969).

Clinical Signs

• usually subclinical in rabbits and cats
• extremely irritating to dogs and man
• persistant pruritis with scurfiness
• trauma of scratching may result in denuded lesions all over the body
• one case reported excessive surfy dandruff but an otherwise normal appearing coat in a litter of five  Sealyham terriers

The course is chronic, affecting otherwise healthy individuals for many months. Infestation is most severe and generalized in two to eight week old puppies. Older individuals may be almost symptomless carriers.

On puppies it is usually found in the rump region. Infestation spreads over the back and head but eventually much of the body is affected. Cats tend to have milder, more diffuse lesions and are remarkably free of pruritus. The cat's daily licking and washing probably remove many mites. Affected animals have excessively scurfy, slightly oily coats. The white (or yellowish) mites and eggs together with the keratin scales produced by the epidermal reaction produce an appearance of severe "dandruff'. Except for the scaling there is remarkably little skin reaction per se.

Diagnosis

• routine skin scraping
• mites clear well and preserve in Berlese medium
• sometimes find mites during routine microscopic examination of sodium nitrate fecal floatations, especially in cats where there may be many mites with no obvious clinical signs – closer skin examination in these cases may reveal many characteristic Cheyletiella sp mites.

Other mite infestations (Otodectes cynotis, Sarcoptes scabiei, Notoedres catti, Dermanyssus gallinae and Eutrombicula alfreddugesi) can be differentiated by microscopic inspection of the mites.

Treatment

Thorough treatment of all animals on the premises is necessary.  Malathion, ronnel, lindane or carbaryl will be effective for dogs Pyrethrins, rotenone powder or limi-sulfur dips may be used safely on cats or rabbits. Treatment should be repeated three times at weekly intervals.

Although mites do not live very long off the host, a strong effort should be made to physically clean the premises, improve sanitation practices and spray the area thoroughly at least once with a good residual insecticide.

Promising results in control have been obtained by hanging appropriate numbers of dichlorvos fly strips in the general kennel area of pet shops with severe infestations.

All new animals should be carefully inspected and dusted or sprayed with an insecticide before being added to colony housed animal facilities.

Cheyletiella sp infection in man

• mite commonly transmits from animal to man
• human infestation may occur either by direct skin contact between man and animal or through clothing
• most common site of infection is arms and torso
• causes a very irritating itchy dermatitis
• any insecticidal preparation for external parasites of man is likely effective in treatment leg. Lindane lotion- "Kwellada")

Human infestations vary in severity, but after direct contact with infested animals, grouped, erythematous macules form on the trunk and buttocks. These rapidly develop a central papule which becomes vesicular and then pustular, finally rupturing to produce a yellow crusted lesion which is frequently excoriated because of the intense pruritus. Although the lesions are severely inflamed, they are well demarcated from surrounding skin.  Older lesions have an area of cental necrosis which is highly diagnostic.  Constant animal contact is usually needed to maintain human infections.  With no further infestation lesions subside in three weeks.

References