An investigation of ewe to lamb transfer of the itch mite Psorergates ovis

Authors: Gibson AJF, Sinclair AN
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 21, Issue 11, pp 238-239, Nov 1973
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Livestock, Production animal, Ruminant, Sheep
Subject Terms: Inflammation, Integument/skin/wool/hair/fur/feather, Disease/defect, Disease transmission, Epidemiology, Parasites - external
Article class: Scientific Article

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Abstract: The life cycle of Psorergates ovis is completed in 5 to 6 weeks and there are six stages - egg, larva, protonymph, deutonymph, tritonymph, and the male or female adult. All stages are found under the stratum corneum but adults and occasional tritonymphs are also found on the surface of the skin. Only the adult is motile and is responsible for spread of infestation, mainly while fleece is short (Murray, 1961). Observations on successful transfers of infestation have been made on sheep held in pens for long periods i.e., up to a year (Graham, 1943; Roberts et al 1965). Unsuccessful attempts to observe transfers between long-fleeced sheep held in pens for up to 9 months have also been reported (Graham, 1943; Davis, 1954). The writers have attempted to observe the transfer of infestations of P. ovis between ewe and lamb, by keeping heavily infested ewes with their offspring in a small flock during a 9-year period…

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