Mange is an umbrella term that is applied to the infection of mammals with several types of mites. The most prevalent types of mange of sarcoptic mange and demodetic mange, which is also called red mange.
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Susceptibility
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Most mammals are susceptible to sarcoptic mange; human infection leads to scabies. Demodetic mange is principally confined to puppies and frequently resolves by itself.
Cause
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Demodetic mange is typically caused by the Demodex canis mite, but can also be caused by the Demodex gatoi or Demodex injai mites. Sarcoptic mange is the result of infection with the Sarcoptes scabei mite.
Infection
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Sarcoptic mange mites typically breed; the female burrows beneath the skin, lays eggs and when the eggs hatch the process repeats. Demodetic mange mites live in hair follicles and infestation moves between follicles.
Human Infection
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Humans can serve as hosts to sarcoptic mange mites, but while the mites can burrow they cannot bring their life cycle to completion. This limits human infection to a few weeks.
Symptoms and Treatments
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Animal mange symptoms include scratching, hair loss, sores and, often, secondary bacterial infections. Standard treatments for both types of mange include the antiparasitic medication Ivermectin and the anti-parasitic dip Mitaban.
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