Evaluation of the prevalence of sarcoptic mange in slaughtered fattening pigs in southeastern Spain

In this study the prevalence of sarcoptic mange in fattening pigs in Murcia, southeastern Spain was investigated. Results showed that 37% of the 1318 slaughtered pigs examined were positive for Sarcoptes scabiei var. suis. Skin lesions potentially attributable to this mite were present in 92.80% of animals, but the parasite could be detected in only 38.60% of them. The condition of the ear (clean/dirty) was not a defining characteristic for the diagnosis of this swine disease. A sucrose flotation-concentration technique was more effective than direct microscopy in finding the mite in ear scrapings. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.