All you need to know about 'Mange' and mites infestation in rabbits

Rearing healthy animals is the desire of any progressive farmer. Skin conditions are among the most common diseases affecting pets, commercial, and laboratory rabbits in Kenya. 

The common causes of these diseases are ectoparasites such as fleas, lice, and mites.

What is mange?

Mites cause mange, a highly contagious disease affecting several species of animals. Mange is spread easily by direct contact between sick and healthy rabbits or indirectly through objects in their environment.

Psoroptes cuniculi, Sarcoptes scabiei var. cuniculi, and Cheyletiella parasitovorax are the commonly reported mites infesting rabbits in Kenya. Psoroptes cuniculi is a large surface mite that causes psoroptic mange.

These mites affect all rabbits of any age, breed and of either sex.

What are the signs of mange infestation?

Affected rabbits primarily present with clinical signs of intense itching/ pruritus, head shaking, reddening of the body/erythema, and crusty, scaly, and scabby lesions on the inner side of the ear pinnae and on the external ear canal.

In extreme cases, rabbits may present with drooping ears, foul-smelling discharges emanating from the external ear canal, and occasionally pain on palpation of the ear which is generally limited to the ear but can also be diffuse.

On the other hand, a burrowing mite causes sarcoptic mange characterized by extreme scratching, loss of fur, crusts, scales, and erythema on the skin of the margins of pinna, lips, nose, legs, and areas adjoining the genitalia. In chronic cases, rabbits may present with anorexia, lethargy, and loss of body condition, all of which sporadically results in death. Cheyletiella parasitovorax is a large, fast-moving, non-burrowing mite, which can be seen moving on the skin. Infested rabbits show signs of pruritus, scratching, crusting, scales on the skin, and alopecia, among others. Some mites have a zoonotic potential and can infect cats, dogs and people.

An outbreak of sarcoptic mange in commercial rabbits is likely to result in increased mortality - deaths.

What is the treatment for mange in rabbits?

Infested rabbits do not perform optimally. The growth rate is reduced as rabbits spend time scratching themselves rather than feeding.

Once you notice the above signs promptly call your veterinarian to treat the rabbits before the disease spreads rapidly.

Good news is that the disease is treatable and the rabbits fully recover.

How to control mange in rabbits?

Isolate the infested rabbits and have them treated promptly.

In addition to the costs of animal treatment, the environment, that is, the rabbit cages, will require disinfection.

When you buy a rabbits from another farm, strictly isolate it for two weeks before allowing them into your herd.

-This article is partially adapted from the Journal of Tropical Medicine