First record of trombiculosis due to the chigger mite kepkatrombicula desaleri in domestic goats in bulgaria and treatment attemptsfirst record of trombiculosis due to the chigger mite kepkatrombicula desaleri in domestic goats in bulgaria and treatment attempts

Abstract

Trombiculosis is a parasitic skin disease caused by larvae of mites from the family Trombiculidae (chiggers). In general, larvae provoke dermatitis. Kepkatrombicula desaleri Methlagl, 1928 is one of species involved in the etiology of animal trombiculosis, detected in European goats. The aim of the present study was to detect the species of trombiculid mites infesting goats and to recommend appropriate means for control of provoked disease. The study included total of 141 goats from two flocks in the Kalugerovo village, Pazardzhik district, Bulgaria. All infested goats from the first flock were treated with ivermectin, and those from the second flock - with cypermethrin. The identification of larvae showed their affiliation to the K. desaleri Methlagl, 1928 species. In the first flock, 15 infected goats were detected (17%) vs 7 (13%) in the second flock. The mites were detected on eyelids, medial eye angles, nose and ears as orangered papules. Neither squamae nor crusts were found in the skin adjacent to chiggers" location, and goats did not show any clinical signs. The treatment with ivermectin was ineffective, and spraying with cypermethrin resulted in reduced motility and rapid death of 100% оf mites only several minutes after the treatment. The mites infected only animals with dark haircoat regardless of their age and sex.

Keywords

• bulgaria
• chiggers
• goats
• mites
• treatment