Can Humans Get Ear Mites From Animals

Mutual name of many species of mites that live in the ears of animals and humans

Ear mites are mites that live in the ears of animals and humans. The most usually seen species in veterinary medicine is Otodectes cynotis (Gk. oto=ear, dectes=biter, cynotis=of the dog). This species, despite its name, is likewise responsible for 90% of ear mite infections in felines.

In veterinary practice, ear mite infections in dogs and cats may present every bit a disease that causes intense itching in 1 or both ears, which in turn triggers scratching at the afflicted ear. An unusually night colored ear wax (cerumen) may likewise be produced. Cats, as well as dogs with cock ears that accept control over ear direction, may be seen with one or both ear pinnas held at an odd or flattened angle.

The well-nigh mutual lesion associated with ear mites is an open up or crusted ("scabbed") skin wound at the back or base of the ear, acquired past chafe of the skin by hind limb claws, as the ear has been scratched in an attempt to relieve the itching. This lesion often becomes secondarily infected and crusted from ordinary skin bacteria, so that the common presentation of ear mites is such a wound appearing on the back or base of one or both ears. This is accompanied past the Pinnal-Pedal Reflex that appears as reflex scratching motions of the hind limb when the ear is manipulated (this test is positive too in other mite infections of the outside and rim of the ear pinnas in mange). When the ear mite infection is treated, such wounds resolve spontaneously, and this resolution may exist speeded with application of topical antibiotics.

The near common ear mite (equally well as mange mite) treatments currently use the antiparasitics ivermectin and selamectin, ordinarily as topical preparations. Ivermectin is bachelor as a directly water-based liquid that is squeezed into the ear canal and massaged at the base of the ear to distribute the medication. Selamectin is available as a one time-a-month preparation that can be applied to the animal'south skin, which prevents mite infestation over that time.

Contagion [edit]

Ear mites spread chop-chop, and tin exist transmitted from even cursory physical contact with other animals. In pets, ear mites nearly commonly affect cats, ferrets, and to a bottom extent dogs. Humans can rarely be infected with ear mites.^[1] ^[ii] Infected animals have a large corporeality of crumbly dark brown material in their ears. On shut inspection, tiny white mites tin barely be seen in the debris, as they are near microscopic. Ear mites do not burrow every bit some mites practice, just live within the ear canal.^[3] ^[4]

Life cycle [edit]

The life cycle of an private mite is about 4 weeks, with eggs hatching on the tertiary or 4th twenty-four hour period subsequently laying. Female person mites are able to reproduce after about three weeks.^[v]

Consequences of infection [edit]

The ear mite is the about common cause of ear infections in cats, quickly spreading from one cat to some other through direct contact.^[6] Ear mites cause inflammatory symptoms, similar to bacterial and yeast infections. Symptoms include itching and redness of the ears. Other, more serious problems tin result from untreated infections, such as peel disease in areas other than the ear like the neck and tail, and deafness.^[seven]

Ear mites in rabbits [edit]

The rabbit ear mite, Psoroptes cuniculi, is larger than Otodectes cynotis. It causes thick firm debris to course in the ear canal, and can somewhen drift to the skin of the outer ear and face. Symptoms include scratching and shaking of the head. Treatment includes topical selamectin, or injections of ivermectin and frequent cleanings of the rabbit's environment.^[8]

Treatment [edit]

Ear mites of dogs and cats tin can be treated with whatsoever of the spot-on preparations bachelor from veterinarian surgeons too as over the counter at many pet stores and online. If the chosen solution does not destroy mite eggs, handling should be repeated after i month, to take hold of the next generation of mites that will have hatched by then. Relief, in terms of the cat or canis familiaris no longer scratching at his or her ears, will exist noticeable within a few hours. All the same, since mite irritation is partly allergic (meet scabies), symptoms may too outlive mites by weeks. Moreover, it may have topical antibiotics and several weeks to clear infected external wounds caused by scratching on the exterior surfaces of cat and dog ears.

Options for treating ear mites in rabbits are the related antiparasitics ivermectin and selamectin.^[9] Both of these antiparasitics have also been used with good effect in cats and dogs. A topical preparation of 0.01% ivermectin (Acarexx) can be used direct as an oil in cat ears, and the related new generation drug selamectin (brand name "Revolution") is bachelor as a one time-per-month skin treatment for both dogs and cats, which will prevent new mite infestation as well as a number of other parasitic diseases. Every bit with ivermectin, selamectin must be used with circumspection in collies and herder breeds with the possibility for homozygous MDR1 mutations. A single treatment with a topical formulation containing fipronil, (Southward)-methoprene, eprinomectin and praziquantel was shown to be efficient for the prevention of Otodectes cynotis infestation in cats.^[10]

References [edit]

^ Al-Arfaj, AM; Mullen, GR; Rashad, R; Abdel-Hameed, A; Oconnor, BM; Alkhalife, IS; Dute, RR (2007). "A human case of otoacariasis involving a histiostomatid mite (Acari: Histiostomatidae)". The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 76 (v): 967–71. doi:ten.4269/ajtmh.2007.76.967. PMID 17488924.
^ Klemm, East; Haroske, Chiliad; Wollina, U (2009). "Otitis externa and myringitis due to demodicidosis" (PDF). Acta Dermatovenerologica Alpina, Pannonica et Adriatica. 18 (two): 73–vi. PMID 19588062. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-04-25. Retrieved 2011-11-11 .
^ "Ear Mites: Tiny Critters that can Pose a Major Threat". Cornell University Higher of Veterinarian Medicine.
^ "Otodectes cynotis" (PDF). Mountain View Veterinarian Dispensary.
^ "Ear Mite: Otodectes cynotis". ^{[ unreliable medical source? ]}
^ "Ear Mites and Health Care for Cats and Dogs". PetsMD.
^ Griffin, Craig E.; Miller, William H.; Scott, Danny W. (2001). Small Creature Dermatology (6th ed.). W.B. Saunders Visitor. ISBN978-0-7216-7618-0. ^{[ page needed ]}
^ Hillyer, Elizabeth 5.; Quesenberry, Katherin E. (1997). Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery (1st ed.). Due west.B. Saunders Company. ISBN978-0-7216-4023-5. ^{[ page needed ]}
^ Frances Harcourt Brownish (2001) Textbook of Rabbit Medicine, Butterworth-Heinemann Ltd ISBN 0750640022 ISBN 978-0750640022
^ Beugnet, F., Bouhsira, É., Halos, L. & Franc, 1000. 2014: Preventive efficacy of a topical combination of fipronil (S)-methoprene - eprinomectin - praziquantel against ear mite (Otodectes cynotis) infestation of cats through a natural infestation model. Parasite, 21, 40. doi:10.1051/parasite/2014042