Prevalence and pathology of mite infestation in street dogs at Dinajpur municipality area

This study was designed to investigate the prevalence and pathology of mite infestation in the street dog at Dinajpur municipality area, Dinajpur, Bangladesh, during June to September, 2010 using simultaneous clinical and histopathological examination and identification. A total of 48 street dogs (27 male and 21 female) were examined, among them 30(62.5%) were infested with one or more species of mites. Two species of mites were identified as Sarcoptes scabiei var.canis and Demodex canis. The range of mites burden was 1-5 per square inch of heavily infested area. Mean mites burden was high in case of Sarcoptes scabiei var.canis (1.5±0.2) followed by Demodex canis (0.6±0.1). Prevalence was higher in the dog of 1-2 years of age (68.9%) than in the dog of >2-4 years of age (52.6%). Infestation of mite was significantly (p<0.05) higher in male (66.6%) than female (57.1%) dog. Mite infestation was more prevalent in the poor healthy dog (75.7%) than the normal healthy dog (33.3%). Prevalence of mites infestation was significantly (p<0.05) higher in back region (68.1%) followed by face and neck (66.6%) and abdomen (58.3%) and lowest in thigh and groin (40.0%). Grossly, alopecia, rough, dry leathery and corrugation of skin, erythema, pastules, crusts and pruritus were found. Microscopically, it was characterized by acanthosis, slight hyperkeratosis, formation of hyperplastic rete-pegs, destruction of dermis and epidermis, hyperplastic changes in sweat glands, sebaceous glands and hair follicular cells, pyogranuloma in papillary layer and hair follicles and infiltration of neutrophils, oeosinophils, lymphocytes and few macrophages. The results indicate that street dogs of Dinajpur municipality area are very much susceptible to mite infestation. The mite produces clinicopathological effects on dog, which may be the serious threat to public health.