Scraping: skin

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Sections available in full article Introduction, Uses, Technical problems, Alternative techniques, Decision taking, Requirements, Personnel, Materials required, Procedure, Sequelae, Complications, Reasons for treatment failure, Sources, Publications, Vetstream contributor(s),
Contributors Dr Rosanna Marsella DVM DipACVD

Introduction

  • Essential diagnostic test in almost all cases of skin disease.

Uses



Parasite identification
  • → Demodexspp Skin: demodectic mange.
  • → Sarcoptesspp Skin: sarcoptic mange.
  • → Cheyletiellaspp Skin: cheyletiellosis.
  • → Trombiculaspp Skin: neotrombicula autumnalis infestation.
  • → Otodectes cynotis Ear: parasitic otitis.
  • → Notoedres Notoedres cati (head mange).

Advantages

  • Cheap, effective diagnostic aid.
  • Part of minimal work-up for all cases of canine skin disease.

Disadvantages

  • Negative findings do not rule out sarcoptic mange Skin: sarcoptic mange or cheyletiellosis Skin: cheyletiellosis.
  • Numerous scrapings often required (at least 10-15).

Requirements

Materials required

Minimum equipment

  • Clippers to clip hair.
  • Microscope.

Minimum consumables

  • Liquid paraffin.
  • Mineral oil.
  • Scalpel blade ~10 or 15.
  • Glass microscope slides.
  • Coverslips.

Sequelae

Complications

  • None.

Reasons for treatment failure

  • Inadequate number of scrapes taken.
  • Scrape not deep enough (if Demodexspp).
  • Insufficient time spent examining collected material, eg Sarcoptesmites can be difficult to find.
  • Very few mites present, eg scabies.

Sources

Publications

  • Vos J H et al(1989) Non-exfoliative canine cytology - the value of fine needle aspiration and scraping cytology. Vet Q 11 (4), 222-231.
  • Smith E K (1988) How to detect common skin mites through skin scrapings. Vet Med 83 , 165-170.

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