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Demodex canis

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Sections available in full article	Classification, Distribution, Significance, Active Forms, Active Form 1, Resting forms, Resting Form 1, Clinical Effects, Epidemiology, Pathological effects, Other Host Effects, Control, Diagnosis, Useful samples, Specimen storage, Transport of samples, Laboratory diagnosis, Sources, Publications,
Contributors	Mr David Scarff BVetMed CertSAD MRCVS Dr Karen Campbell DVM MS DipACVIM DipACVD
Synonyms	D. canis

Demodicosis caused by Demodex canisis the 6th most common skin disease in USA.
Some breed predisposition.

Demodex (stumpy)spp is reported with increasing frequency in mixed infection, concurrent with D. canis.

Probably 100% of dogs are infected with an occasional Demodexmite but the majority remain asymptomatic.
Two clinical forms:
- Localized.
- Generalized.
Localized demodicosis
Good prognosis for about 90%.
Usually of juvenile onset, less than 1-1.5 years.
About 30-90% resolve spontaneously after 2 months, but some may persist for several months.
10% progress to generalized demodicosis.

Generalized demodicosis
More than 50% of body affected or all 4 feet.
Prognosis guarded as it requires prolonged treatment.
Juvenile onset:
- Less than 1-1.5 years.
- Strong breed disposition.
- Squamous demodicosis, if relatively mild, has a relatively good prognosis with treatment, and a few may undergo spontaneous remission.
- Pustular demodicosis - prognosis guarded.
Adult onset:
- More than 2-4 years.
- Squamous or pustular demodicosis has a guarded prognosis unless an underlying debilitating predisposition is identified and treated successfully.

Saridomichelakis M, Koutinas A, Papdogiannakis E, Papazachariadou M, Liapi M & Trakas (1999) Adult-onset demodicosis in two dogs due to Demodex canis and a short-tailed demodectic mite. JSAP 40 (11), 529-532.
Chesney C J (1999) Short form of Demodex species mite in the dog - occurrence and measurements. JSAP 40 (2), 58-61.
Lemarie S L (1996) Canine demodicosis. Comp Cont Ed Vet Pract 18 , 354-368 (Review).
Ginel P J (1996) Canine demodicosis. Waltham Focus 6 , 2-7 (Review).
Caswell J L, Yager J A, Ferrer L & Weir J A M (1995) Canine demodicosis - a re-examination of the histopathologic lesions and description of the immunophenotype of infiltrating cells. Vet Derm 6 , 9-19 (Description of histopathology).
Medleau L & Willemse T (1995) Efficacy of daily amitraz on generalised demodicosis in dogs. JSAP 36 , 3-6 (Daily amitraz for previously amitraz-resistant cases).