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Psoroptic mange in cattle

Information for veterinary surgeons and farmers

What does it look like?

Clinical signs are more severe in the autumn and winter. The Psoroptes sp mites cause a severe dermatitis with scab formation along the back, shoulders and tail head of cattle.  There is intense pruritis (itching).

Secondary infection is common leading to bleeding and crusting of the skin. Weight loss can be severe and deaths can occur if skin lesions are extensive.

The mites become quiescent (less active) and numbers reduce in the summer.

All breeds of cattle can be infected. Recent cases have mainly been in beef cattle but infection has also been confirmed in a dairy herd.   

Buying-in infected cattle is the most likely way of getting the disease. It can also spread by animal contact at market and in livestock lorries. Disease may be difficult to spot in the early stages, or in the summer months when mite numbers are low and clinical signs are minimal.