Prevalence, immune response and treatment of mite infestation in rabbits
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Date
1998
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Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy
Abstract
The prevalence, immune response and treatment of mite
infestation in rabbits of Mannuthy and Thrissur, Kerala were
studied in detail during a one year period from August 1997 to
July 1998. The total prevalence of mange in rabbits was 56.9
per cent. The prevalence increased as temperature decreased,
humidity and rainfall increased. The mite infestation was more
prevalent during rainy months of the year. Notoedres cuniculi,
Psoroptes cuniculi, Listrophorus gibbus and Cheyletiella
parasi tivorax were identified as the four species of mites
infesting rabbits. N. cuniculi showed maximum prevalence while
C. parasitivorax the least. The New Zealand White rabbits were
more prone to mite infestation while crossbreds/local breeds
showed least prevalence rate.
Whole body extract of P. cuniculi was used for
immunization of rabbits. Agar gel precipitation and counter
immuno electrophoresis revealed a maximum of three clear strong
precipitation lines with the sera from immunized animals. The
majority of sera from infested animals produced only single
precipitation line.
The passive haemagglutination assay
revealed a
maximum mean serum antibody titre of 1: 12513
against sera from
immunized animals while sera from
chronically infested animals showed a very low mean titre of1:22. Dermal reaction of the inoculated antigen into the skin
of normal, infested and immunized rabbits showed increased
skin thickness in all the three groups which was maximum by
12 to 24 hours after inoculation of antigen. The increase in
skin thickness was significantly less in normal groups
compared to the other two groups.
Treatment trials conducted against Notoedric and
Psoroptic mange showed that topical application of Karanji oil
and single subcutaneous administration of Ivermectin at the
dose of 0.3 mg/kg were highly effective in curing mange.
Dimilin (Diflubenzuron) was not only ineffective against mange
but also increased the severity of lesion and mite number.
Ektodex{amitraz) was not 100 per cent effective on single
application at 0.6 per cent concentration. Karanji oil which
is cheaper and effective than Ivermectin is suitable for small
scale farmers in curing rabbit mange.
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Citation
171370