Psoroptes is a genus of mites, including the agents that cause psoroptic mange.
| Psoroptes | |
|---|---|
| |
| Psoroptes cuniculi | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Sarcoptiformes |
| Family: | Psoroptidae |
| Genus: | Psoroptes Gervais, 1841 |
| Species: | P. equi
|
| Binomial name | |
| Psoroptes equi (Hering, 1838)
| |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Psoroptic mange
editPsoroptes mites are responsible for causing psoroptic mange in various animals, leading to economic losses among farmers of cattle, sheep and goats.[1] It is also known as sheep scab and cattle scab.[1] The disease is highly infectious, and is transmitted via fenceposts and other structures that livestock use when scratching themselves.[1] The mites have mouthparts which do not pierce the skin, but are adapted to feeding on the surface, where the mites abrade the stratum corneum.[1] See Mites of livestock for photographs of infestations by Psoroptes.
Taxonomy
editPsoroptes has been traditionally considered to include five species living on different host species, but genetic analysis has reduced the genus to a single species, Psoroptes ovis.[2]
References
edit- ^ a b c d Gary Mullen & Barry M. OConnor (2009). "Mites (Acari)". In Gary Mullen & Lance Durden (eds.). Medical and Veterinary Entomology (2nd ed.). Academic Press. pp. 423–482. ISBN 978-0-12-372500-4.
- ^ Iowa State University (2009). "Sheep scab" (PDF).
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External links
edit- van Praag, Esther. "Ear mite: Psoroptes cuniculi".