Premium
Small Demodex populations colonize most parts of the skin of healthy dogs
Author(s) -
Ravera Iván,
Altet Laura,
Francino Olga,
Sánchez Armand,
Roldán Wendy,
Villanueva Sergio,
Bardagí Mar,
Ferrer Lluís
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
veterinary dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.744
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1365-3164
pISSN - 0959-4493
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3164.2012.01099.x
Subject(s) - demodex , mite , biology , canis , coat , population , veterinary medicine , acari , breed , dermatology , mange , medicine , zoology , ecology , environmental health
Background – It is unproven that all dogs harbour Demodex mites in their skin. In fact, several microscopic studies have failed to demonstrate mites in healthy dogs. Hypothesis/Objectives – Demodex canis is a normal inhabitant of the skin of most, if not all, dogs. This hypothesis was tested using a sensitive real‐time PCR to detect Demodex DNA in the skin of dogs. Animals – One hundred dogs living in a humane society shelter, 20 privately owned and healthy dogs and eight dogs receiving immunosuppressive or antineoplastic therapy. Methods – Hair samples (250–300 hairs with their hair bulbs) were taken from five or 20 skin locations. A real‐time PCR that amplifies a 166 bp sequence of the D. canis chitin synthase gene was used. Results – The percentage of positive dogs increased with the number of sampling points. When a large canine population was sampled at five cutaneous locations, 18% of dogs were positive for Demodex DNA. When 20 skin locations were sampled, all dogs tested positive for mite DNA. Our study indicates that Demodex colonization of the skin is present in all dogs, independent of age, sex, breed or coat. Nevertheless, the population of mites in a healthy dog appears to be small. Demodex DNA was amplified from all 20 cutaneous points investigated, without statistically significant differences. Conclusions and clinical importance – Using a real‐time PCR technique, Demodex mites, albeit in very low numbers, were found to be normal inhabitants of haired areas of the skin of healthy dogs.