An open study to evaluate topical treatment of equine chorioptic mange with shampooing and lime sulphur solution.
Abstract: Chorioptic mange caused by Chorioptes bovis is a common pruritic skin condition of the horse. This surface-browsing parasite usually affects the lower legs (leg mange) but can present as a generalized skin disease. Numerous anecdotal reports exist in the literature about the benefit of lime sulphur as a treatment for surface ectoparasites in the horse. This report studies the use of lime sulphur when applied as a 5% solution, some with and some without prior shampooing and clipping, to treat confirmed cases of chorioptic mange in 22 horses. Horses included in the trial had clinical signs indicative of chorioptic mange and positive identification of chorioptic mites on skin scrapings and tape preparations. Each horse was treated with sulphurated lime dip solution four times at 7-day intervals. Most horses were clipped and/or shampooed prior to treatment. Animals were assigned a score based on a scale of 1-10 to assess the severity of their lesions and degree of behavioural signs. The horses were again scored and examined for mites after four treatments. All animals showed a reduction in scores at the end of the trial and mites were not demonstrated from any animal.
Publication Date: 2010-02-25 PubMed ID: 20178503DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3164.2009.00855.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The article presents a study about the effectiveness of using a 5% lime sulphur solution, sometimes paired with shampooing and clipping, in treating horses suffering from chorioptic mange. The study concludes with significant improvement in the condition of affected horses and the total elimination of mites after four treatments.
Background and Identification of the Problem
- Chorioptic mange is a common skin condition amongst horses, caused by the parasitic mite, Chorioptes bovis.
- This surface parasite affects mostly the lower legs of horses but could also present as a general skin disease.
- There exist numerous publications citing the benefits of using lime sulphur in treating ectoparasites (parasites living on the exterior of a host).
- The purpose of this research was to assess the effectiveness of a 5% lime sulphur solution as a treatment for confirmed chorioptic mange in horses.
Method and Experiment Description
- The sample size for this study was 22 horses, each with clinical signs of chorioptic mange, validated by the identification of chorioptic mites on skin scrapings and tape preparations.
- Each horse was treated with a sulphurated lime dip solution four times at seven-day intervals.
- Most horses underwent clipping and/or shampooing before treatment.
- The researchers used a 1-10 scale to score the severity of the lesions and the degree of behavioural signs in the affected animals.
Results and Findings
- After four treatments, all animals were re-scored and re-examined for mites.
- All horses showed a reduction in scores, indicating improvement in their condition.
- No mites were found in any of the treated animals, indicating successful treatment.
Conclusion
- This study demonstrates the effectiveness of a 5% lime sulphur solution in treating chorioptic mange in horses.
- The treatment seems to improve the condition effectively, leading to the complete elimination of mites.
- This can provide a compelling basis for further research into lime sulphur solution and its usage in treating similar conditions.
Cite This Article
APA
Paterson S, Coumbe K.
(2010).
An open study to evaluate topical treatment of equine chorioptic mange with shampooing and lime sulphur solution.
Vet Dermatol, 20(5-6), 623-629.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3164.2009.00855.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Rutland House Veterinary Referral Hospital, St Helens, Merseyside, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Benzoyl Peroxide / therapeutic use
- Calcium Compounds / therapeutic use
- Dermatologic Agents / therapeutic use
- Female
- Horse Diseases / drug therapy
- Horses
- Male
- Soaps / therapeutic use
- Sulfides / therapeutic use
- Thiosulfates / therapeutic use
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Carbonell JD, Fernández N, Escobar MJ, Álvarez MT, Sánchez L, Hernández A, Meana A. Comparative Efficacy of Topical Pyrethroids and Benzoyl Peroxide for Treating Chorioptic Mange in Spanish-Breton Horses. J Parasitol Res 2025;2025:8948099.
- Brys M, Den Hondt S, Saey V, Claerebout E, Chiers K. Case report: Successful treatment of chorioptic mange in two Belgian draft horse foals with topical ivermectin. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1427400.
- Brys M, Claerebout E, Chiers K. Chronic Progressive Lymphedema in Belgian Draft Horses: Understanding and Managing a Challenging Disease. Vet Sci 2023 May 12;10(5).
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