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How to identify it
- On sheep the mite lives in the more densely haired or woolly parts of the body, where infestations bring heavy crusting, scabs with inflammation and damaged wool or hair.[1]
- On cattle the lesions are typically found from the withers to the base of the tail: oozing, inflamed skin with intense itching and crusts.[2]
- Much of the damage is self-inflicted. Infested animals lick, bite, rub and scratch, and the wounds they make are more likely to pick up bacterial infections.[1][2]
- Mites are confirmed in skin scrapings; in research herds the scrapings are taken from the edges of the lesions.[2]
Look-alikes
| Look-alike | How to tell them apart |
|---|---|
| Scabies mite (Sarcoptes scabiei) | The scabies mite infests all domestic animals except cats and guinea pigs, and all of its life stages live in burrows the female digs in the skin. Sarcoptic mange in cattle is also federally reportable in the US.[1] |
| Chorioptic mange mite (Chorioptes bovis) | This mite of cattle lives mainly on the legs and feet, and most infested animals show no signs even when mites are numerous, while psoroptic mange in cattle centers on the back from the withers to the tail with intense itching. Chorioptic mange is reportable in some states.[1][2] |
Where it lives
Texas A&M describes it on sheep and cattle, and psoroptic mange in cattle is reportable throughout the United States. In Europe, cattle cases are seen mostly in the Belgian Blue breed, which is highly susceptible, and resistance to macrocyclic lactone drugs has been confirmed on Belgian Blue beef farms in Belgium and the Netherlands.[1][2]
Biology and life cycle
Like other mites it develops from the egg through larval and nymph stages to the adult, and the nymphs look like smaller adults.[1]
Its eggs are not reliably killed by acaricides, which is probably why treatments are given twice, 7 to 10 days apart.[2]
Susceptibility varies among cattle breeds; in Europe the disease is mostly seen in Belgian Blue cattle.[2]
Damage and signs
- In sheep, lesions spread over large parts of the body and cause extensive wool loss and weight loss, and extreme cases end in death.[1]
- Cattle develop dermatitis and hair loss similar to sheep, with reduced weight gain, poorer energy conversion and higher maintenance energy needs.[1]
- In extreme cases the lesions spread over the body and the animal dies. Farms with the problem see poorer animal welfare and financial losses.[2]
Health risk
Texas A&M and the Parasites & Vectors study describe it as a parasite of sheep and cattle and do not mention infestations of people.[1][2]
Control
Prevention
Be careful when buying or boarding animals, avoid animals with visible skin lesions or itchiness, and keep newly acquired animals apart from the herd for several weeks. Clean stalls between animals and put in new bedding, disinfect grooming tools and other instruments, and keep animals healthy and well nourished. In feedlots, Texas A&M advises treating all new animals on arrival.[1]
Pesticides
Approved treatments for beef and nonlactating dairy cattle include dipping or spray-dipping with approved acaricides such as amitraz, coumaphos, permethrin or phosmet, or injecting ivermectin. Lactating dairy cattle can be sprayed with permethrin or coumaphos or treated with pour-on moxidectin or eprinomectin.[1]
In European practice, acaricides are applied twice, 7 to 10 days apart, while long-acting macrocyclic lactone products need one application. The hair should be sheared and crusts removed before treatment, and every animal in contact should be treated, not only those with signs.[2]
Treatment often fails because of underdosing, a single treatment, too long an interval, a poor formulation, skipping shearing or treating only part of the herd. In a study of 16 beef farms in Belgium and the Netherlands, every farm needed two or more treatment rounds to clear the mites, and mites on 12 farms were resistant to macrocyclic lactones.[2]
When to call a professional
If animals develop itching or skin lesions, call a veterinarian right away to check the herd. Psoroptic and sarcoptic mange are federally reportable diseases in cattle throughout the US, and chorioptic mange is reportable in some states: a confirmed infestation must be reported immediately and requires quarantine, and the chemicals and application methods used are regulated.[1]
Common questions
- Do I have to report mange in my cattle?
- Psoroptic and sarcoptic mange are federally reportable diseases in cattle throughout the US, and chorioptic mange is reportable in some states. Texas A&M says a confirmed infestation must be reported immediately and requires quarantine and regulated treatment, so call a veterinarian as soon as itching or lesions appear.[1]
- Why didn't one treatment clear the mange?
- Acaricides do not reliably kill the eggs, so treatments are given twice, 7 to 10 days apart, after shearing and removing crusts, and all in-contact animals are treated. Common mistakes include underdosing, a single treatment, long intervals and partial herd treatment, and resistance to macrocyclic lactones has been confirmed on European beef farms.[2]
Sources
- Texas A&M AgriLife Livestock and Veterinary Entomology, “Mites (Insects and Pests).” livestockvetento.tamu.edu/insectspests/mites/ (accessed 2026-11-08)
- Parasites & Vectors (BioMed Central), “Resistance against macrocyclic lactones in Psoroptes ovis in cattle (W. Van Mol and colleagues, 2020).” parasitesandvectors.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13071-020-04008-2 (accessed 2026-11-08)
- iNaturalist, “Psoroptes ovis taxon page (order and family).” www.inaturalist.org/taxa/395950 (accessed 2026-11-08)