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Evaluation of a clinical scoring system for canine demodicosis
Author(s) -
Dengler Berrett,
MendozaKuznetsova Ekaterina,
Nikolaeva Lyubov,
Rieger Anna,
Mueller Ralf S.
Publication year - 2021
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/vde.12980
Subject(s) - demodicosis , medicine , mite , dermatology , scoring system , wilcoxon signed rank test , erythema , reliability (semiconductor) , surgery , power (physics) , botany , physics , quantum mechanics , biology , mann–whitney u test
Background Canine demodicosis is a common disease in small animal practice. Although a number of studies evaluating treatment efficacy for canine demodicosis have used clinical scoring systems, none have been validated. Objectives This study evaluated the validity, reliability, reproducibility and sensitivity to change of a clinical scoring system for canine demodicosis. Methods and materials Fifty‐eight dogs with generalised demodicosis were evaluated using a clinical scoring system that assessed erythema, comedones/ papules/pustules, follicular casts/scales/crusts and alopecia, rated from none to mild, moderate and severe in 36 body locations. Two evaluators scored lesions at monthly consecutive visits during treatment. Mites were counted to a maximum of 50 in four deep skin scrapings. With >50 mites, the approximate mite number was calculated with the help of a grid drawn onto the slide before placing the scraped material onto it. Results A Pearson correlation coefficient showed a high interobserver reliability ( r = 0.97) between two different clinicians evaluating the same dog. The Wilcoxon signed rank test showed good sensitivity to change with a reduction of clinical scores with each of the first six evaluations ( P < 0.0001). A linear mixed model also showed a clear reduction in mite counts ( P < 0.001) and clinical scores ( P < 0.0001) from the first evaluation with time. Conclusion and clinical relevance The clinical scoring system for canine demodicosis evaluated in this study showed a good sensitivity to change and interobserver reliability, and can be used in studies evaluating canine demodicosis.