title: Ectoparasites in small exotic mammals.
abstract: Ectoparasites inhabiting the skin are responsible for significant problems in small mammals, owing to ingestion of blood, lymph, sebaceous secretions, and scavenging skin debris, as well as a hypersensitivity reaction to parasite antigen resulting in severe pruritus and subsequent self-trauma-induced lesions. In general practice, the most common diagnosis in exotic pets is an unspecified mite infestation, but other ectoparasites such as lice, fleas, insects, or even helminths may cause dermatologic diseases. If treatment with topical insecticides is planned, the small mammal should be isolated for a few hours to enable drying and spreading of the product.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Exotic Pets, Reptiles and Birds, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 9, D-30559 Hannover, Germany. Electronic address: Michael.Fehr@tiho-hannover.de.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fehr
authors.forename: Saskia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koestlinger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D008322:Mammals / Q000469:parasitology*; D010273:Parasitic Diseases, Animal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000628:therapy*; D011537:Pruritus / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*
keywords: Arachnida; Dermatitis; Dermatologic diseases; Ectoparasites; Insects; Lice; Mites; Pruritus