Indian Journal of Small Ruminants (The)

A three-year old Beetal doe weighing 50 kg was presented to the Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex, Mannuthy, Thrissur with the complaints of severe pruritus and skin lesions for three weeks. On dermatological examination, thick crusty alopecic lesions were seen on all the limbs from fetlock to hoof. Deep skin scrapings examination revealed the presence of Psoroptes mites. In addition, impression smear examination of skin lesions detected numerous bacterial cocci and budding yeasts consistent with Malassezia organisms. Hence, the case was diagnosed as concurrent psoroptic mange and malasseziosis. The animal was treated with injections of Ivermectin, long acting oxytetracycline dihydrate, chlorpheniramine maleate along with multivitamins. Topical applications of Whitfield's ointment and boric acid- zinc oxide powder were also advised. On subsequent reviews, considerable reduction in skin lesions and visible new hair growth were observed. Skin scrapings and impression smear collected after four weeks revealed absences of mites. The study highlights the need for improved awareness and resources in rural settings to facilitate timely diagnosis and treatment.