Psoroptes ovis in camelids

Updated 16.02.2022

A low prevalence of llama and alpaca holdings in Norway is infected with Psoroptes ovis. The prevalence of infected individuals on each infected holding is also low.

The objective of the surveillance and control programme for Psoroptes ovis is to identify P. ovis positive llama and alpaca holdings with the intension to prevent the spread of Psoroptes mange to the sheep population.

Background

The South American camelids llamas and alpacas were introduced as new species to Norway in 1997 - 98. They have grown in popularity in the last 15 years, and live animals have been imported every year from several countries and continents.

Psoroptic mange is known to be present in llamas and alpacas, but is considered a minor problem because it only causes superficial lesions. Psoroptes mites live on the surface of the skin and in camelids they are particularly associated with ear canal lesions causing otitis externa with pruritus, crusting and alopecia of the ear pinna, and characteristic concentric dry flakes in the ear canal.

In January 2015, P. ovis was detected in a skin sample from a cria with otitis externa in an alpaca holding. Later, P. ovis has been detected in samples from contact holdings and also in samples from llama and alpaca holdings with no epidemiological connection to other positive holdings.

There is a concern that P. ovis isolated from camelids might act as a reservoir for the infestation of sheep with sheep scab mites. P. ovis is a notifiable (List A) disease in Norway regardless of animal species.

In November 2015, a national surveillance programme for P. ovis in llamas and alpacas was launched and financed by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority.

2019

Skin samples from 294 individual camelids from 75 holdings were examined in the active surveillance programme for Psoroptes ovis in 2019. P. ovis was detected in one alpaca from one herd. In the passive surveillance programme, 10 necropsied camelids were examined. P. ovis was not detected in any of these samples.

Download report

Psoroptes ovis in camelids 2019 (pdf 885kb)

Previous reports

Psoroptes ovis in camelids 2018 (pdf 899kb)
Psoroptes ovis in camelids 2017 (pdf 861kb)
Psoroptes ovis in camelids 2016 (pdf 840kb)