Demodicosis in a Kunekune pig and molecular characterisation of porcine demodectic mites involved: a case report

Abstract

Background

In January 2021, a female 1-year-old Kunekune was presented at the University Clinic for Swine with severe reduction of the field of vision resulting in prolonged reaction time when targeting barriers, due to moderate to severe thickening of the skin around both orbits also affecting the eyelids.

Methods

Clinical examination revealed skin hyperplasia, nodular enlargement of the skin pores of the axillar and inguinal region. Ophthalmologists decided to remove parts of the thickened periocular skin, followed by histopathological examination.

Results

Once large amounts of demodectic mites were detected by histopathology, demodicosis could be diagnosed and treatment of the pig was started using sarolaner. Morphological and molecular analyses were performed. Histopathological and parasitological exams led to the aetiological diagnosis of demodicosis in the affected Kunekune pig. Severe skin lesions were revealed to be the consequence of an infestation with Demodex sp. Morphological analyses confirmed the involvement of D. phylloides. Molecular characterization indicated a Demodex species closely related to mites documented in wild boar - most probably D. phylloides for which no explicit sequences are available in GenBank yet. Treatment with sarolaner (2.6 mg/kg) resulted in a substantial regression of skin lesions, already detectable 1 month after first treatment.

Conclusions

Demodicosis is a very rare disease in pigs that is most probably related to an impaired immune response to the mites. Demodectic mange should be included in the list of differential diagnoses in cases of periocular alterations of the skin of pigs.