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Psoroptic mange in cattle

Information for veterinary surgeons and farmers

How is it treated?

Farmers should consult their veterinary surgeon as treatment is not straightforward and failure to kill the mites will lead to a prolonged and more serious disease outbreak.

The majority of cases diagnosed to date have failed to respond to macrocyclic lactones (ML) which is the licensed treatment for psoroptic mange.

In most cases successful treatment has been achieved by using a 4% permethrin
pour-on product (‘Flypor’, Novartis Animal Health).

This is given at an increased frequency of treatment (three treatments at two weekly intervals) advised by the farmers’ veterinary surgeon, under the cascade. Removal and destruction of the scabs before treatment is also advised.

It is very important to repeat the skin scrapes to check the efficacy of the treatment as clinical signs may improve but live mites may still be present.

The treatment should be given to all animals in the group and any in-contact animals. Movement from infected housing should also be advised. Mites can live off animals and be infective for at least 12 days.

One farm (and another is under investigation) has not responded to either ML or permethrin treatments.

In this case the use of Amitraz (‘Taktic’ Schering-Plough Intervet) imported from the Republic of Ireland, under a special license from the VMD, appears to be the logical treatment to use.

Please see the special import certificate application on the VMD website at www.vmd.gov.uk/sis/.

It is essential to ensure effective treatment of this disease. Experience from other European countries has shown that it is possible for psoroptic mange to become the most common skin disease in cattle with associated severe production losses and welfare concerns.