Mange in a North Chinese leopard (Panthera pardus japonensis) from the city ZOO, caused by mites belonging to genus Psoroptes was presented. The literature review revealed that no data about mites from the genus Psoroptes being isolated from a carnivore had ever been recorded. The animal was successfully treated with ivermectin.Prikazan je slučaj šuge kod leoparda (Panthera pardus japonensis) iz zoološkoga vrta, uzrokovane sa šugarcima iz roda Psoroptes. Pregledom literature ustanovljeno je da nikada nije opisan slučaj šuge uzrokovane šugarcima iz roda Psoroptes kod mesoždera. Životinja je uspješno izliječena ivermektinom

Dagny Stojčević Jan

Franjo Martinković

Ingeborg Bata

Tatjana Živičnjak

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.583ISSN 0372-5480Printed in CroatiaVETERINARSKI ARHIV 85 (5), 583-589, 2015An unusual ﬁ nding of Psoroptic mange in a North Chinese leopard (Panthera pardus japonensis) from the city ZOO and its treatment with ivermectin - a case report Tatjana Živičnjak1*,  Ingeborg Bata2,  Dagny Stojčević Jan1, and  Franjo Martinković11Department for Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases with Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia2ZOO Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia________________________________________________________________________________________ŽIVIČNJAK, T., I. BATA, D. STOJČEVIĆ JAN, F. MARTINKOVIĆ: An unusual ﬁ nding of Psoroptic mange in a North Chinese leopard (Panthera pardus japonensis) from the city ZOO and its treatment with ivermectin - a case report. Vet. arhiv 85, 583-589, 2015.ABSTRACTMange in a North Chinese leopard (Panthera pardus japonensis) from the city ZOO, caused by mites belonging to genus Psoroptes was presented. The literature review revealed that no data about mites from the genus Psoroptes being isolated from a carnivore had ever been recorded. The animal was successfully treated with ivermectin.Key words: Psoroptes, incidental infestation, mange, leopard, ivermectin________________________________________________________________________________________Introduction Mites from the genus Psoroptes (Acari: Psoroptidae) are cosmopolitan, non-burrowing, obligate ectoparasites, causing mange in herbivorous animals (sheep, goats, cattle, horses and rabbits as well as wild ungulates), leading to economic loss and welfare problems in livestock (RAMEY et al., 2000; VAN DEN BROEK and HUNTLEY 2003; SIEGFRIED et al., 2004). The pathogenicity of this mite is attributable to the fact that, unlike most non-burrowing mites, it has piercing and chewing mouthparts which can severely damage the skin (URQUHART et al., 2007). Infestation may result in severe irritation to the herbivorous *Corresponding author:Tatjana Živičnjak, DVM, PhD, associate Professor, Department for Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases with Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Heinzelova 55, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia, Phone/Fax +385 1 2390 365; E-mail: tatjanaz@vef.hr584 Vet. arhiv 85 (5), 583-589, 2015T. Živičnjak et al.: Psoroptic mange in a North Chinese leopardhost, which may cause extensive pyodermatitis in the ear or on the body surface (CORKE and BROOM, 1999; BERRIATUA et al., 2001; SIEGFRIED et al., 2004; BISDORFF et al., 2006). Mites very closely related to Psoroptes sp., belonging to the genus Otodectes, are fairly common in some carnivorous species (cats, dogs, foxes, and ferrets). Otodectes cynotis is usually found in the external ear canal, where it feeds on epidermal debris, although other parts of the head or body may be infested (CURTIS, 2004; ROBERTS and JANOVY, 2009).According to BOWMAN (2009) generic differentiation and identiﬁ cation of mange mites in routine veterinary practice requires little more than examination of their pretarsi. The genus Psoroptes is distinguished by the presence of a trumpet-shaped terminal pulvillus on a relatively long, jointed pretarsus on the legs I, II and IV in adult females, and legs I, II, and III in adult males. In contrast, short pretarsi are found on Chorioptes sp. from ungulates and Otodectes sp. from dogs (BOWMAN, 2009), and also Caparinia sp., parasitizing the European hedgehog (BATES, 1999), all of them belonging to the Psoroptidae family.Parasites normally do not infect different species of animals indiscriminately under natural conditions; they show varying degrees of preference for hosts and for habitats within them. Incidental (syn. accidental) parasites are those which occasionally appear in unusual hosts under natural conditions (OLSEN, 1986). Incidental parasites usually do not survive, or at least do not reproduce in the faulty host, but in some cases they can be extremely pathogenic (ROBERTS and JANOVY, 2009). The aim of this paper is to present a case of incidental infestation of a carnivorous animal with mites belonging to the genus Psoroptes. The article also includes a description of the course and outcome of treatment with ivermectin.Case descriptionIn April 2012, a male, 17 year old North Chinese leopard (Panthera pardus japonensis), owned by the city ZOO, had been itchy for a few weeks, with intensely pruritic dermatitis, hair loss and hyperkeratosis, conﬁ ned to the mid-back, lumbar area, tail and left rump (Figs. 1 and 2). Crusting and hair damage were to a large extent self-inﬂ icted by extensive licking, biting, and rubbing. In the animal’s medical history there were some medical issues due to obesity and lipomatosis a year before the itchy skin problems were recorded (a giant skin lipoma had been surgically removed from the chest area). Whole blood tests were within normal range before surgery. Post-surgical recovery was smooth, but the animal remained overweight. Further examinations and procedures were not recommended due to potential problems with sedation. The animal was housed in a 225 m2 fenced facility, comprising 200 m2 of outer area covered with gravel, and it was kept together with a healthy 10 year old female 585Vet. arhiv 85 (5), 583-589, 2015T. Živičnjak et al.: Psoroptic mange in a North Chinese leopardwithout signs of pruritus or coat and skin changes. The animals were fed with fresh beef from a store, and occasionally with freshly killed whole rabbits.Fig. 1. The leopard restrained in a cage - affected area was sprinkled with an antibiotic powderFig. 2. Close-up view of the affected leopards’ lumbosacral and left rump areaTopical antibiotic ointment treatment followed by an antibiotic powder prescribed by the ZOO veterinarian failed to result in any improvement. Samples of hair and scabs originating from the affected skin of the male leopard were submitted to the Parasitology laboratory in 10 % KOH. Light microscopy revealed large quantities of dead psoroptid 586 Vet. arhiv 85 (5), 583-589, 2015T. Živičnjak et al.: Psoroptic mange in a North Chinese leopardmites, and the ZOO staff was requested to submit freshly taken skin scrapings of the affected animal without any additive and both animals’ faeces samples. A new skin sample was mounted in glycerine and under a light microscope revealed a large number of eggs and active motile adult and juvenile mites, with morphological characteristics typical for Psoroptes genus (Fig. 3). Faecal samples were submitted to ﬂ otation (ZAJAC and CONBOY, 2012.) in Sheather’s sucrose solution (s.g.1.25). Both animals’ faecal samples were negative for endoparasite ova, cysts, oocysts or larvae, but the faecal sample from the affected male revealed a huge number of dead Psoroptes mites and eggs.Fig. 3. Adult Psoroptes female mite, found in the leopard’s skin scrapings (X 200). Characteristic sucker-like, trumpet-shaped pulvillus  on the relatively long, jointed pretarsus (small nested picture x 400) on legs I, II and IV.Ivermectin (Iverktin® 1 % Genera) was administered at 200 μg/kg body mass by SC injection to the restrained (by restricted movement) affected animal. A few days after the ﬁ rst ivermectin application the pruritus ceased. The application was repeated twice, 10 days apart. Twenty days after the ﬁ rst application the faecal ﬂ otation was clear. After two months, the hair had fully regrown. Four months after the therapy, both animals’ skin appeared healthy, and faecal ﬂ otation samples from both animals were negative.587Vet. arhiv 85 (5), 583-589, 2015T. Živičnjak et al.: Psoroptic mange in a North Chinese leopardDiscussionFor many years it has generally been accepted that there are ﬁ ve Psoroptes species: Psoroptes cervinus, P. cuniculi, P. equi, P. ovis, and P. natalensis, based on host associations, location on the host, and the length of the outer opisthosomal setae (L4) of the adult males. Species are divided into those infesting the body and those infesting the ears of their hosts (SWEATMAN, 1958). Nowadays, the degree of host speciﬁ city is thought to have been overestimated, and the genus has been reduced to a single species, Psoroptes equi (BATES, 1999; ZAHLER et al., 2000) or P. ovis (WALL and KOLBE, 2006), which is deﬁ nitely not considered to be host speciﬁ c, readily transferring among herbivorous hosts. However, some authors consider that host adapted isolates of the species exist with minor, but documented genetic differences (OCHS et al., 1999; SIEGFRIED et al., 2004). Furthermore, molecular characterization, using sequence data from second internal transcribed spacer (ITS-2) region and microsatellite markers, found little or no consistent host-related variation among the mite population samples originating from domesticated and wild ruminants all over the world, and from three rabbit isolates from the U.K. and Argentina (PEGLER et al., 2005). Speciﬁ city of the host-parasite relationship is determined by the success of the parasite to invade and reproduce inside or on the outside of the bodies of hosts. The factors involved in the development of host speciﬁ city among parasites are opportunities for contact between them and their hosts, their morphology (e.g. structure of the mouthparts), host behaviour (e.g. grooming), (MARSHALL, 1981; OLSEN, 1986) and the host’s physiology, including the physical properties of the skin, immunological resistance, the nutritional condition of the host, stress, age, hormone level etc. (ARLIAN et al., 1981). The literature review revealed that no data about mites from the genus Psoroptes being isolated from a carnivore had ever been recorded. It is difﬁ cult to draw conclusions, but since it is known that leopards in the ZOO were occasionally fed by freshly killed, unfrozen rabbits, it indeed might be assumed that the Psoroptes mites from a rabbit’s ear could had been transferred during grooming after a meal or rolling over the carcass. It still remains unclear why the lesions were not observed on the animal’s muzzle or head, which deﬁ nitely was in the closest contact with the carcass during feeding. It also might be assumed that the infestation was established on the accidental host as the outcome of an insufﬁ cient defence reaction by the aged recipient animal. According to our experience, it is not uncommon to ﬁ nd dead ectoparasites in a host’s faecal material, especially among felids, due to grooming practices. Furthermore, endoparasite eggs or ectoparasites from the prey also are not uncommon. Faecal ﬂ otation in Sheather’s sucrose solution proved to be an appropriate supplementary and non-invasive diagnostic method, especially during follow up after 588 Vet. arhiv 85 (5), 583-589, 2015T. Živičnjak et al.: Psoroptic mange in a North Chinese leopardmedication. As we anticipated, ivermectin resulted in clinical and parasitological cure within a few weeks, without any side effects.ReferencesARLIAN, L. G., S. KAISER, S. A. ESTES, B. KUMMEL (1981): Infectivity of Psoroptes cuniculi in rabbits. Am. J. Vet. Res. 42, 1782-1784.BATES, P. G. (1999): Inter- and intra-speciﬁ c variation within the genus Psoroptes (Acari: Psoroptidae). Vet. Parasitol. 83, 201-217.BERRIATUA, E., N. P. FRENCH, C. E. BROSTER, K. L. MORGAN, R. WALL (2001): Effect of infestation with Psoroptes ovis on the nocturnal rubbing and lying behaviour of housed sheep. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 71, 43-55.BISDORFF, B., A. MILNES, R. WALL (2006): Prevalence and regional distribution of scab, lice and blowﬂ y strike in sheep in Great Britain. Vet. Rec. 158, 749-752.BOWMAN, D. D. (2009): Georgis’ Parasitology for Veterinarians, 9th ed. Saunders-Elsevier, pp. 64.CORKE, M. J., D. M. BROOM (1999): The behaviour of sheep with sheep scab, Psoroptes ovis infestation. Vet. Parasitol. 83, 291-300.CURTIS, C. F. (2004): Current trends in the treatment of Sarcoptes, Cheyletiella and Otodectes mite infestations in dogs and cats. Vet. Dermatol. 15, 108-114.MARSHALL, A. G. (1981): Host Associations. In: The Ecology of Ectoparasitic Insects. Academic Press, London, pp. 195-226.OCHS, H., A. MATHIS, P. DEPLAZES (1999): Single nucleotide variation in rDNA ITS-2 differentiates Psoroptes isolates from sheep and rabbits from the same geographical area. Parasitology 119, 419-424.OLSEN, O. W. (1986): Animal Parasites: Their Life Cycles and Ecology. Dover Publications. pp. 1-13.PEGLER K. R., L. EVANS, J. R. STEVENS, R. WALL (2005): Morphological and molecular comparison of host-derived populations of parasitic Psoroptes mites. Med. Vet. Entomol. 19, 392-403.RAMEY, R. R., S. T. KELLEY, W. M. BOYCE, B. D. FARRELL (2000): Phylogeny and host speciﬁcity of psoroptic mange mites (Acarina: Psoroptidae) as indicated by ITS sequence data. J. Med. Entomol. 37, 791-796. ROBERTS, L. S., J. R. JANOVY (2009): Gerald D. Schmidt & Larry S. Roberts’ Foundations Of Parasitology, 8th Ed., Mcgraw-Hill Companies, Inc. pp. 655-657.SIEGFRIED, E., H. OCHS, P. DEPLAZES (2004): Clinical development and serological antibody responses in sheep and rabbits experimentally infested with Psoroptes ovis and Psoroptes cuniculi. Vet. Parasitol. 124, 109-124.SWEATMAN, G. K. (1958): On the life history and validity of the species in Psoroptes, a genus of mange mites. Can. J. Zool. 36, 905-929.589Vet. arhiv 85 (5), 583-589, 2015T. Živičnjak et al.: Psoroptic mange in a North Chinese leopardURQUHART, G. M., J. ARMOUR, J. L. DUNCAN, A. M. DUNN, F. W. JENNINGS (2007): Veterinary Parasitology. 2nd ed., Blackwell Sciences Ltd., Oxford, UK. pp. 197-200.VAN DEN BROEK, A. H., J. F. HUNTLEY (2003): Sheep scab: the disease, pathogenesis and control. J. Comp. Pathol. 128, 79-91.WALL, R., K. KOLBE (2006): Taxonomic priority in Psoroptes mange mites: P. ovis or P. equi? Exp. Appl. Acarol. 39, 159-162.ZAHLER, M., W. M. L. HENDRIKX, A. ESSIG, H. RINDER, R. GOTHE (2000): Species genus Psoroptes (Acari: Psoroptidae): A taxonomic consideration. Exp. Appl. Acarol. 24, 213-225.ZAJAC, A. M., G. A. CONBOY (2012): Veterinary Clinical Parasitology. 8th ed., John Wiley & Sons, pp. 5-8. Received: 14 July 2014Accepted: 9 June 2015________________________________________________________________________________________ŽIVIČNJAK, T., I. BATA, D. STOJČEVIĆ JAN, F. MARTINKOVIĆ: Neuobičajen nalaz psoroptoze kod leoparda (Panthera pardus japonensis) iz zoološkoga vrta i njezino liječenje ivermektinom - opis slučaja. Vet. arhiv 85, 583-589, 2015.SAŽETAKPrikazan je slučaj šuge kod leoparda (Panthera pardus japonensis) iz zoološkoga vrta, uzrokovane sa šugarcima iz roda Psoroptes. Pregledom literature ustanovljeno je da nikada nije opisan slučaj šuge uzrokovane šugarcima iz roda Psoroptes kod mesoždera. Životinja je uspješno izliječena ivermektinom.Ključne riječi: Psoroptes, slučajna invazija, šuga, leopard, ivermektin________________________________________________________________________________________.

Neuobičajen nalaz psoroptoze kod leoparda (Panthera pardus japonensis) iz zoološkoga vrta i njezino liječenje ivermektinom - opis slučaja.

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