A Case of Atypical Psoroptic Mange in a Domestic Rabbit

A female checkered giant cross rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) was presented with skin lesions on the perineal region. The cutaneous lesions extended 2 cm from the vulva and perineal glands. They were moist and erythematous, with abundant greasy yellowish scabs. Skin scrapings from the lesions were mounted in Amman’s chloral-lactophenol on microscope slides and examined at ×10 and ×40 magnification. Numerous mites were observed and identified as Psoroptes cuniculi, a common causal agent of otitis externa in rabbits. The rabbit was treated successfully with ivermectin. This case of psoroptic mange is atypical owing to the perineal location, apparent absence of auricular lesions, and the lack of contagion despite close contact with several other rabbits.