Microscopic mites cause and spread the three forms of mange: sarcoptic, cheyletiella and demodectic. Different species of mites cause the different types of mange, which spread through direct or indirect contact with an infected animal. Sarcoptic and cheyletiella mange are the most contagious and can be transferred from animals to people.
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Identification
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Burrowing mange mites---tiny, eight-legged relatives of spiders---create itching, flaking and open sores on skin. Hair loss generally accompanies mange infestations, either from the infection itself or from the infected animal or person scratching.
Disease Spread
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Mange is most commonly associated with stray dogs. Mange spreads move through direct contact with an infected animal or person, or indirect contact with mite-infested items such as bedding, clothing, rugs or furniture. While mange is most commonly associated with dogs, particularly stray or neglected dogs, it can infect cats, horses, wild animals such as foxes and wolves, sheep, cattle and humans.
Fundamentals
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Female mites burrow under the skin to lay their eggs, which hatch in several days and continue the infestation by laying their own eggs, according to the Dog Owner's Guide website. Depending on the type of mange, the infestation produces moderate to severe itching and oozing sores. Female mange mites deposit up to 40 eggs at a time.
Sarcoptic Mange
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Sarcoptic mange, considered the most serious of the three types, can spread to all areas of the body and cause life-threatening skin conditions. Also known as scabies, sarcoptic mange causes intense itching. Animals with sarcoptic mange scratch and bite themselves to the point of creating open sores which, if untreated with an antibiotic, can become infected and cause additional health problems.
Sarcoptic mange infections in humans last only a few weeks because the mites cannot lay eggs in human skin so that the cycle ends after a few weeks when the existing mites die. The itching in humans comes from the burrowing and movement of the mites, but no new eggs are deposited.
Cheyletiella Mange
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Cheyletiella mange, caused by red-colored mites that are large enough to be seen without the aid of a microscope, is also known as "walking dandruff." It affects puppies, creating a dust-like dandruff on the animal's head, neck and back. Cheyletiella mange is highly contagious, but does not last long, according to the Dog Owner's Guide website.
Demodectic Mange
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Cheyletiella and demodectic mange mainly affect puppies. Demodectic mange is caused by microscopic mites that infect puppies up to one year old and is not as contagious as the other types of mange. The mite causing Demodectic mange may be more active in purebred dogs that may not developed resistance to the mite, according to the Dog Owner's Guide website.
Demodectic mange symptoms include hair thinning around the eyes, mouth and front legs from hair follicles clogged with mites. This type of mange often heals itself within three months, according to the Marvista Animal Medical Center, but may require treatment if the infection is severe and crusty or oozing sores appear.
Treatment
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Treating mange depends on the type and severity of the infection. Veterinarians generally inspect the animal's skin and take scrapings to make a diagnosis. For mild cases, veterinarians prescribe mite killing dips, washes, powders or ointments. For more serious cases, stronger dips and washes, including lime and sulphur insecticide solutions, may be used. For severe cases, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal drugs can be prescribed.
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