FIRST OCCURRENCE OF SHEEP DEMODICOSIS IN SERBIA

Abstract

Demodicosis of sheep are parasitic infection caused by Demodex spp. Infection is not common like other type of parasitic dermatitis and there are not many cases of this infection described. In most cases no clinical symptoms are cusing and has little or no economic impact on sheep flocks. Demodex spend all life under host skin and present a normal skin habitat. Mainly are resent at hair folicules where its complete transformation from eggs to adult is performed. There are two types of diseases, local and general. Local demodicosis were present like small reddish places without hair on skin. Main topic are skin on head, around eyes and mouth, and on the back legs. Most important role to clinical demodicosis presents a immunological status of animals. Hereditary against demodicosis were important role too. During our examination of parasitoses in one flock of sheep in the south of Serbia during the spring of 2018, demodicosis was diagnosed. Established clinical signs are nonpruritic papules and nodules which develop over the face, neck, shoulders, and sides and udder. At a later stage, there was a pustular eruption that gradually merged, while later there was a thickening of the skin and loss of wool. Itch rarely occurred. The nodules contain a thick, waxy, grayish material that can be easily expressed and mites can be found in this exudate. To diagnosis we performed microscopic examination of deep skin scrape which revealed adult parasites, larval forms and lemon-shaped eggs. Lesion were spontaneous loos around few months without therapy. In the area of the Western Balkans, only one case of ovine demodicosis was recorded in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and this is the first case described in Serbia.