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
Dr Ian Mason BVetMed PhD CertSAD DipECVD MRCVS
Mr David Scarff BVetMed CertSAD MRCVS

Introduction

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

Uses

Parasite identification
  • Demodex spp  Demodectic mange  .
  • Cheyletiella spp  Cheyletiellosis  .
  • Trombicula spp  Neotrombicula autumnalis infestation  .
  • Otodectes cynotis  Otodectes disease  .
  • Notoedres spp  Notoedres cati (head mange)  .
  • Sarcoptes spp  Sarcoptic mange  .

Advantages

  • Cheap, effective diagnostic aid.

Disadvantages

  • Negative findings do not rule out the presence of mites.

Requirements

Materials required

Minimum equipment

  • Scissors to clip hair.
  • Binocular microscope with x4 & x10 objective lens.

Minimum consumables

  • Liquid paraffin or potassium hydroxide (KOH).
  • Scalpel blade (no.10 or 15).
  • Glass microscope slides.
  • Cover slips.

Sequelae

Complications

  • None.

Reasons for treatment failure

  • Inadequate number of scrapes taken.
  • Scrape not deep enough (if Demodex spp).
  • Insufficient time spent examining collected material, eg Sarcoptes mites can be difficult to find.

Sources

Publications

  • Hazelrigg D E (1978) Scraping for scabies Am Fam Physician 17 (1), 129.

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