Treatment of sheep scab in the UK: preventing the spread of resistant mites

Sheep scab is a parasitic allergic dermatitis that affects sheep worldwide and is caused by the non-burrowing mite, Psoroptes ovis . It has serious welfare implications for animals affected (Fig 1) and a huge economic impact on the sheep farming industry. The disease is estimated to cost the UK sheep industry £8 million annually, with prevention accounting largely for this figure.1FIG 1: An advanced case of sheep scab, where the lesions have spread across the entire body of the animal and there is evidence of poor body conditionWhat you need to knowAs with any other …