Overall prevalence
Out of total 302 buffalo, 17 buffalo were found affected with mange. Thus the overall prevalence of mange in buffalo was found to be 5.62 per cent. Almost similar prevalence (5 per cent) has also been noted by
Ali et al., (2021) in buffalo at Malakand Division, Pakistan.
Rathore (2024) reported 7.14 per cent prevalence of mange in cattle in Udaipur, Rajasthan.
Under present investigation,
Sarcoptes scabies var
bovisand
Psoroptes bovis mites were observed during examination of skin scrapings of buffalo. The prevalence of sarcoptic and psoroptic mange was 3.33 (10/302 and 2.31 (7/302) per cent, respectively. The findings of present study closely correlated with that of
Ramesh (2014), Nazir et al., (2014) and
Rathore et al., (2024).
This higher prevalence of mange might be attributed to the types of management practices and weather condition of the area (
Kebede and Hirpa, 2022)
Age group-wise prevalence
Age group-wise prevalence of mange in buffalo was 7.01 per cent in 0-6 month age group, 5.71 per cent in 6 months to 3 years age group and 5 per cent in animals above 3 years of age. Highest prevalence of mange was observed in buffalo below 6 months age group (5.71 per cent), followed by 6 months to 3 years age group. The lowest prevalence of mange was seen in buffalo above 3 years of age (5 per cent).
Thus, it was revealed that prevalence of mange decreased with advancement of age in buffalo. Similar findings have also been reported by
Thakar (2004),
Kazmi et al., (2009), Kotb and Abdel-Rady (2011),
Vishe et al., (2012) and
Nazir et al., (2014) in buffalo.
Kebede and Hirpa (2022) and
Rathore et al., (2024) found similar finding in cattle. In contrary to present findings,
Elkhtm and Mousa (2016) found higher prevalence of mange in adult buffalo and
Haggag et al., (2018) and
Sitotaw et al., (2018) found higher prevalence of mange in adult cattle.
Higher incidence of mange in buffalo calves could be due to soft tender skin, dense hairs, poor hygienic condition, close confinement, overcrowding, negligence towards skin ailments and relatively low levels of immunity
(Hazarika et al., 1995 and
Thakar, 2004).
Sex-wise prevalence
Sex-wise prevalence of mange was 5.88 per cent in female buffalo and 5.10 per cent prevalence in male buffalo. Higher prevalence of mange was recorded in female buffalo as compared to male buffalo. Similar findings were obtained by
Nazir et al., (2014) have also reported that females were more susceptible to mange (4.07 per cent) as compared to males.
Singh (2018), who found higher prevalence of sarcoptic mange in female cattle in and around Jabalpur as compared to male animals.
Rathore et al., (2024) reported higher prevalence of mange was 7.17 per cent in female cattle and 7.07 percent prevalence in male cattle. While some workers reported higher incidence of mange in male buffalo (
Thakar, 2004;
Kazmi et al., 2009 and
Vishe et al., 2012).
The prevalence of mange mite was higher in females than males. This might be due to factors such as pregnancy and lactation which can lower a female animal’s immune system which can increase the females vulnerability to mite infection (
Kebede and Hirpa, 2022).
Clinical findings of mange
To ascertain the characteristic clinical picture in sarcoptic and psoroptic mange in buffalo and buffalo calves, frequency and distribution of lesions, nature of lesions and their distribution over the body along with clinical symptoms manifested by the animals were taken in to consideration.
Frequency and distribution of lesions
The occurrence of the lesion in sarcoptic and psoroptic mange in buffalo and buffalo calves was varying in individual animal. The severity of the lesion as well as its extent also differed from one animal to another. The lesions were either in the form of alopecia at focal area, papular lesions with intense local erythema, extensive pruritus, acute dermatitis, scales and scabs over local region to diffused lesion covering larger area of the body.
Nature of lesion
Distribution of various types of lesions as per their nature in buffalo affected with sarcoptic and psoroptic mange is recorded in Table 1.
Microscopic examination of skin scrapings tested positive for sarcoptic mange in 10 buffalo out of total 302 buffalo. Of all affected buffalo, 9 buffalo that were positive for sarcoptic mange showed alopecia (90 per cent). All 10 buffalo showed pruritus (100 per cent). Of all affected buffalo, 7 cases (70 per cent) showed wrinkling of skin. Thickening of the skin was observed in 40 per cent of cases. Six buffalo (60 per cent) had erythema. Scab or crust formation on the surface of skin was found in 8 percent of cases. Anorexia was also observed in 3 buffalo (30 per cent) with sarcoptic mange.
Microscopic examination of skin scrapings revealed only 7 buffalo were found positive for psoroptic mange out of 302 buffalo. On clinical examination, all affected buffalo, five buffalo that were positive for psoroptic mange showed alopecia (71.42 per cent) (5/7). Six affected buffalo (85.71 per cent) had pruritus (6/7). The clinical symptom of thickening of skin, erythema and formation of scab or crust over the skin each was recorded in 28.57 per cent cases (2/7). Only one buffalo (14.28 per cent) had anorexia out of 7 psoroptic mange affected buffalo (1/7).
Thus, it was found that pruritus was a common clinical finding recorded in all mange-infested buffalo (90.90 per cent), followed by alopecia (82.35 per cent), skin wrinkling (64.70 per cent) (Table 1). Buffalo crust or scab formation (58.82 per cent) and skin erythema (47.05 per cent) of mange affected cases. Other clinical findings of mange observed in buffalo were skin thickening (35.29 per cent) and Anorexia (17.64 per cent).
Anatomical distribution
Microscopic examination of skin scrapings tested positive for sarcoptic mange in 10 buffalo. Of all sarcoptic mange affected buffalo, 8 buffalo that were positive for sarcoptic mange showed lesion over the neck (80 per cent) (8/10) and tail (10 per cent) (1/10). Of all affected buffalo, one cases (10 per cent) showed lesion over shoulder (1/10). Six cases (60 per cent) showed lesion over leg (6/10), two cases (20 per cent) showed lesion over brisket (2/10), three cases (30 per cent) showed lesion over face (3/10), nine cases (90 per cent) showed lesion over back (9/10) and one cases (10 per cent) showed lesion over ventral abdomen (1/10). The lesions were found mostly on the back and neck.
Microscopic examination of skin scrapings revealed that only 7 buffalo were found positive for psoroptic mange. Of all affected buffalo, two cases showed lesion over the neck (28.57 per cent) (2/7), five cases showed lesion over the tail (71.42 per cent) (5/7), seven cases (100 per cent) showed lesion over shoulder (7/7), two cases (28.57 per cent) showed lesion over leg (2/7), five cases (71.42 per cent) showed lesion over brisket (5/7), one cases (14.28 per cent) showed lesion over face and ventral abdomen (1/7) each and five cases (71.42 per cent) showed lesion over back (5/7). The lesions were found mostly on the shoulder.
Thus, the frequency distribution as per the involvement of anatomical area in mange-infested buffalo, lesion were mostly over back (82.35 per cent) followed by neck (58.82 per cent), shoulder and legs (47.05 per cent each), brisket (41.17 per cent), tail (35.29 per cent), face (23.52 per cent) and ventral abdomen (11.76 per cent) (Table 2).
Similar findings were also reported by
Thakar (2004),
Kazmi et al., (2009) and
Nazir et al., (2014) in sarcoptic and psoroptic mange affected in buffalo. They observed intense itching accompanied by hair loss, crusting and thickening of the skin in mange-affected buffalo.
Inflammation of varying degrees of severity occured caused due to sarcoptic mange penetrating deeper into the stratum corneum layer of skin. Accumulation of body secretions, saliva and faeces in it stimulates the immune system of the host, causing typical inflammatory lesions. Accompanying symptoms: itching, scratching and rubbing against hard objects or against each other, resulting in hair loss
(Mal et al., 2000; Thakar, 2004 and
Rathore, 2022).
Haematological investigation
Haematological investigations revealed that haemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV) and total erythrocyte count (TEC) were significantly (
p<0.01) decreased in mange affected buffalo (Table 3). The present findings are similar with that of
Vishe et al., (2012), Kumar et al., (2022) and
Rathore et al., (2024). The decrease in mean value of packed cell volume, haemoglobin and total erythrocytes in mange affected buffalo may be due to reduced feed intake of the buffalo due to constant itching, which further leads to lack of essential nutrients required for haematopoiesis. This may be due to the ability of mite to consume blood from the host and bleeding from skin lesions caused by burrowing nature of the mite (
Patel, 1999 and
Thakar, 2004). Eosinophils were significantly (
p<0.01) increased in affected buffalo. Similar findings have also been reported by
Thakar (2004) and
Vishe et al., (2012). They observed eosinophilia in mite infested buffalo. A high eosinophilic response is a common response in diseased tissues and organs that contain high concentrations of mast cells, such as the skin. Tissue damage caused mast cell degranulation with histamine release, which caused eosinophilic chemotaxis, triggering an increased eosinophilic response
(Ahmed et al., 1995 and
Thakar, 2004). Although lymphocytes were significantly (
p<0.01) reduced, which could be relative in nature with neutrophils and eosinophils that were increased in mite infested buffalo (
Thakar, 2004). Almost similar findings were reported by
Thakar (2004). He found lymphopenia in cases of mange in buffalo. In contrast to present findings,
Vishe et al., (2012) recorded increased lymphocyte. Changes in the mean value of platelet count, total leukocyte count, neutrophil, basophil and monocytes were statistically non-significant in buffalo affected with mange as compared to control animals.
Biochemical investigation
Among biochemical parameters, serum total protein, serum albumin and serum globulin were significantly (
p<0.01) reduced in buffalo affected with mange (Table 3).
Vishe et al., (2012) recorded decreased level of serum total protein, serum albumin and serum globulin in mange in buffalo which also corroborates with persent study. The decrease in total serum protein in buffalo may be related to reduced grazing time due to severe pruritus of mange, which leads to poor nutritional status of the affected animal
(Radostits et al., 2007). This may also be due to the loss of plasma proteins in dermatitis. Non-significant differences were observed in other parameters
i.
e., ALT, AST, BUN, total bilirubin and serum glucose.
Vishe et al., (2012) found reduction in serum total protein level in mange. The lower serum total protein, albumin and globulin level in cattle with mite infestation might be due to poor nutritional status as a consequence of reduced feed intake and anorectic condition in diseased animal.
