Demodex spp. infestation and suspected demodicosis of alpacas ( Vicugna pacos ) in New Zealand

Authors: Mirams CH, Hill FI, McKenna PB
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 56, Issue 3, pp 148-149, Jun 2008
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Camelid, Lamoid, Livestock, Production animal, Ruminant
Subject Terms: Biosecurity, Inflammation, Integument/skin/wool/hair/fur/feather, Disease/defect, Parasites - external, New hosts/new diseases
Article class: Correspondence

---

Abstract: Ectoparasites known to cause skin lesions in alpacas (Vicugna pacos) include the mites Sarcoptes scabiei, Chorioptes bovis and Psoroptes spp., and the lice Microthoracius mazzai and Bovicola breviceps (Cicchino et al. 1998; Foster et al. 2007). Occasionally, Demodex spp. infestations have been reported or mentioned as incidental findings in llamas (Lama glama) (Atlee et al. 1997) and alpacas (Foster et al. 2007). So far, only Sarcoptes scabiei (McKenna et al. 2005), Chorioptes bovis (Arthur 1997, non-peer reviewed) and Bovicola breviceps (Palma et al. 2006) have been recorded on lamoids in New Zealand. Here, we report the first record of Demodex spp. infestation of an alpaca in New Zealand…(continued)

---