A Case Report of Infestation With Sarcoptes scabiei (Family: Sarcoptidae) in a Stray Dog, Shahriar City, Tehran Province, Iran

Ghorbani, Alireza; Garedaghi, Yagoob; Darmanloo, Erfan

doi:10.32598/ARI.81.1.3062

A Case Report of Infestation With Sarcoptes scabiei (Family: Sarcoptidae) in a Stray Dog, Shahriar City, Tehran Province, Iran

Document Type : Case Study

Authors

¹ Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran

² Department of Parasitology, TaMS.C., Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran

³ Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamadan, Iran.

10.32598/ARI.81.1.3062

Abstract

Sarcoptes scabiei is one of the most impactful external parasites in mammals, especially in dogs, and its global spread is widespread. Considering that this parasite is capable of being transmitted to humans, it holds significant public health value for examination. Today, with the increase in the number of stray dogs in urban areas, particularly on the outskirts of cities, controlling this parasitic disease in dogs is highly emphasized. In January 2024, a three-year-old female dog in Shahriar City, Tehran Province, was observed with skin disorders and hair loss in areas such as the abdominal region, flanks, limbs, and parts of the neck. Following initial examinations of the animal’s skin lesions, skin-scraping samples were taken. Microscopic examination of skin-scraping samples from the surface of the animal’s body in the parasitology laboratory revealed that this stray dog was infested with the microscopic external parasite S. scabiei. Such research helps identify predominant species of external parasites and implement more precise health controls in these areas. Shahriar, being one of the cities near Tehran with a high population density, can be significantly affected by parasitic diseases. Therefore, due to the large population of humans and dogs in Shahriar City, it is very important to recognize and control zoonotic diseases in this area.

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