Experimental Transmission of Canine Scabies to Domestic Rabbits, Oryctolagus cuniculus

Sarcoptes scabiei infests a wide variety of mammals including domestic, farm and wild animals. Different varieties of S. scabiei are considered to be strictly host specific. However, some reports indicate that the parasite is not completely host specific. In the current study the dog strain (S. scabiei var. canis) was experimentally transmitted to domestic rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus. The back of the neck of experimental rabbits was shaved and scarified. The mites collected from skin scrapings of the infested dogs were applied on the prepared area on the rabbits. The progression of the disease was observed for 6 weeks and the quality of lesions was noted. The skin scrapings of the infested rabbits were checked on weekly basis to find the mites or their developmental stages. The presence of eggs and larvae proved that the parasites can also reproduce on non-normal host. The successful induction of infestation indicates that different varieties of S. scabiei are not strictly host specific.