FIRST REPORT OF THE USE OF AFOXOLANER/ MILBEMYCIN OXIME IN AN AFRICAN PYGMY HEDGEHOG (ATELERIX ALBIVENTRIS ) WITH DEMODICOSIS CAUSED BY DEMODEX CANIS IDENTIFIED BY MOLECULAR TECHNIQUES

Abstract

An African hedgehog patient with generalised erythema and periauricular scaling was presented for consultation; previously, it had been treated with ivermectin but no improvement was noted. Scrapes were performed from the skin and the mite morphologically corresponded to Demodex spp. Demodicosis in African hedgehogs is fairly rare; this is the reason why a molecular diagnosis was added to the microscopic diagnosis for this clinical case. The common treatments for mites in hedgehogs are ivermectin, selamectin, flipronil, and amitraz; the application of a single dose of afoxolaner/milbemycin oxime has not been previously reported. The molecular and phylogenetic analysis showed that the species causing the demodicosis in the patient was Demodex canis. The single oral dose of afoxolaner/milbemycin oxime reduced the number of mites to 0 in subsequent samples 7 days after the treatment and there were no lesions after 30 days.