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Ear mites: tackling a persistent problem

01 October 2010

Clinical

11 mins read

02 October 2010

Volume 1 · Issue 1

ISSN (print): 2044-0065

ISSN (online): 2052-2959

Abstract

Ear mites are a common problem in animals and frequently seen in companion animal practice. Otodectes cynotis is the best known ear mite, but is not the only one. Mites from the demodecidae and sarcoptidae family can also be found in the ear canal. Clinical signs of ear mites include excessive scratching of the ear, head shaking and dark brown crumbly wax. Transmission can occur by direct contact and also via fomites. Successful treatment of ear mites requires mechanical cleaning of the ear canal, topical and systemic treatment, and also cleaning of all the material that has been in contact with the mites, for example grooming tools, bedding materials and transport cages.

Several types of mite are associated with ear problems, such as otitis externa, in animals (Scott et al, 2001). Approximately half of all otitis in cats, and 10% in dogs, are thought to be caused by ear mites (Sotiraki et al, 2001; (Mueller, 2008).

The most common mite is, undoubtedly, Otodectes cynotis, but other mites can also be found in the ear canal, including Demodex canis, Demodex cati, Sarcoptes scabiei and Notoedres cati (Cordero del Campillo et al, 1999; Blot et al, 2003; (Engler, 2007). Taxonomically all of these mites belong to the order Acarina and represent three different families, Psoroptidae, Demodecidae and Sarcoptidae (Table 1 ). Although there are some differences, their life cycle is very similar and entirely spent on the host. It lasts approximately 3 weeks and consists of four different stages: egg; larva; nymph; and adult (Quiróz-Romero, 1988; (Soulsby, 1988; Cordero del Campillo et al, 1999) (Figure 1).

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