Introduction

Classification

Taxonomy

• Family: Sarcoptidae.
• Genus: Notoedres.

Active Forms

Resting Forms

Clinical Effects

Epidemiology

Habitat

• In burrows in the epidermis of the cat and occasionally dog and fox, and will survive 2 weeks on man.
• Mites usually found in pockets or nests.

Lifecycle

• See also Sarcoptes scabiei Sarcoptes scabiei life cycle  :
  • Egg.
  • Larva.
  • Nymphs.
  • Adults.

Transmission

• Transmission by direct contact when probably larvae or newly fertilized females are transferred.
• Highly contagious and spread rapidly.
• Mites can survive a few days off host and so transfer by fomites is possible.

Pathological effects

• Antigens are assumed to be mite feces, secretions and hatching and molting fluids.
• Immune hypersensitivity reactions seem to be involved.
• Infiltrating cells are mononuclear cells, eosinophils and mast cells in the vicinity of mites and their burrows.

• Lesions primarily on ear, head and neck but may spread to trunk, feet and tail.
• The burrowing mites cause marked thickening, hyperpigmentation and scaling of the skin with alopecia.
• The severe pruritus causes much self-excoriation with formation of yellowish or brown crusts.
• Severe infections in kittens can lead to septicemia and death.
• Miliary dermatitis.

Other Host Effects

• Obligate parasite.

Control

Control via animal

• Acaricide treatment of cat and all in-contact cats Therapeutics: parasiticide.

Control via chemotherapies

• No licensed products in dogs for this condition, but the following products are reported to be effective (use per the manufacturer's recommendations): 
  • Moxidectin Moxidectin with imidacloprid Imidacloprid.
  • Milbemycin oxime Milbemycin oxime, afoxolaner Afoxolaner. 
  • Selamectin Selamectin.  
  • It is likely that other isoxazolines such as sarolaner Sarolaner, fluralaner Fluralaner, lotilaner Lotilaner will also be effective in managing this condition. 
  • Fipronil Fipronil has been reported to be effective in puppies. 

Control via environment

• None required.
• It may be useful to destroy or wash and dry the bedding.

Diagnosis

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed papers

• Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
• Delucchi L, Castro E (2000) Use of doramectin for treatment of notoedric mange in five cats. JAVMA 216 (2), 215-216, 193-194 PubMed.
• Foley R H (1991) Parasite mites of dogs and cats. Comp Cont Ed 13 (5), 783-800 VetMedResource.
• Foley R H (1991) A notoedric mange epizootic in an island's cat population. Feline Pract 19 (5), 8-10 VetMedResource.
• Song M D (1991) Using ivermectin to treat feline dermatoses caused by external parasites. Vet Med 86 (5), 498, 500-502 VetMedResource.