Psoroptidae

PSOROPTIDAE
  • Species are highly specific to their host unlike Sarcoptidae
  • They cause a condition known as SCAB in animals like sheep, goat, cattle, buffalo, equines, cat, rabbit etc
  • They do not burrow into skin
  • They are parasitic on surface layer causing the formation of thick heavy scab rather than thickening of skin
  • The following species are valid (Sweotman (1958) Can J Zool. 36: 905-929,
    • Psoroptes ovis – Sheep
    • Psoroptes equi – Horse
    • Psoroptes natalensis – Indian water buffalo and cattle
    • Psoroptes carvinus – American sheep
    • Psoroptes caniculi – Rabbit, Cosmopotitan (also occur in ears of goat, sheep, horse, donkey, mule, gazelle
Last modified: Friday, 23 September 2011, 7:29 AM