Anticoagulant rodenticides in urban bobcats: exposure, risk factors and potential effects based on a 16-year study.

Anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs) are increasingly recognized as a threat to nontarget wildlife. High exposure to ARs has been documented globally in nontarget predatory species and linked to the high prevalence of an ectoparasitic disease, notoedric mange. In southern California, mange associated with AR exposure has been the proximate cause of a bobcat (Lynx rufus) population decline. We measured AR exposure in bobcats from two areas in southern California, examining seasonal, demographic and spatial risk factors across landscapes including natural and urbanized areas. The long-term study included bobcats sampled over a 16-year period (1997-2012) and a wide geographic area. We sampled blood (N = 206) and liver (N = 172) to examine exposure ante- and post-mortem. We detected high exposure prevalence (89 %, liver; 39 %, blood) and for individuals with paired liver and blood data (N = 64), 92 % were exposed. Moreover, the animals with the most complete sampling were exposed most frequently to three or more compounds. Toxicant exposure was associated with commercial, residential, and agricultural development. Bobcats of both sexes and age classes were found to be at high risk of exposure, and we documented fetal transfer of multiple ARs. We found a strong association between certain levels of exposure (ppm), and between multiple AR exposure events, and notoedric mange. AR exposure was prevalent throughout both regions sampled and throughout the 16-year time period in the long-term study. ARs pose a substantial threat to bobcats, and likely other mammalian and avian predators, living at the urban-wildland interface.

Localized demodicosis due to Demodex cati on the muzzle of two cats treated with inhalant glucocorticoids.

BACKGROUND: Feline demodicosis due to Demodex cati is a rare skin disease often associated with concurrent disease and generalized immunosuppression. Local immunosuppression due to the application of topical immunomodulatory drugs, such as glucocorticoids and tacrolimus, or by tumour cells has been suggested as a potential trigger for development of localized demodicosis in humans and animals. OBJECTIVES: The goal was to describe two cats with asthma that developed localized demodicosis on the muzzle as a result of chronic therapy with a glucocorticoid administered via dispensing inhaler mask. RESULTS: In both cats, the muzzle area exposed to the fluticasone-dispensing chamber exhibited patchy alopecia, mild erythema, crusting and scaling. Deep skin scraping revealed D. cati. Discontinuation or reduction of fluticasone and administration of milbemycin resulted in resolution of clinical signs within 2 months in both cats. A negative skin scrape was obtained after 7 months of milbemycin in one of the cats. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Demodicosis should be considered as a possible differential diagnosis in cats with primary alopecia or other skin lesions on the face exposed to inhalant glucocorticoids. Minimization of contact between the inhalant glucocorticoid and the skin can be achieved by wiping residual powder from the face and by keeping the mask tightly pressed to the skin to avoid contact with the surrounding area.

Density of Demodex folliculorum in patients receiving epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors.

BACKGROUND: Rosacea-like papulopustular eruptions (rash) are considered the most frequent toxicities associated with the use of inhibitors of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Recently, evidence has been accumulating of infectious complications in patients suffering from these adverse effects. OBJECTIVE: We sought to analyze the density of Demodex folliculorum (DF) in cutaneous lesions of patients presenting with EGFR-inhibitor (EGFRI)-induced rashes. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of 19 adult patients presenting with EGFRI rashes. Patients were reviewed for the density of DF (Demodex density, Dd; mites per square centimeter) by standardized skin surface biopsy. RESULTS: In our patient collective the mean Dd of 4.7/cm² significantly exceeded the mean Dd reported for the healthy adult population (Dd = 0.7/cm²). LIMITATIONS: The retrospective nature of the study. CONCLUSIONS: EGFRI patients have an increased susceptibility to DF colonization or infection, respectively. Our results support the recent concept that EGFRI may induce an impairment of antimicrobial defense mechanisms.

Sarna ampollosa con respuesta terapéutica a la ivermectina / Bullous scabies responding to ivermectin therapy

La sarna ampollosa es una enfermedad infrecuente que se suele diagnosticar en ancianos. Los hallazgos clínicos, histológicos einmunológicos son idénticos al penfigoide ampolloso. En una búsqueda bibliográfica hemos encontrado 24 casos descritos. Aportamos un nuevo caso de sarna ampollosa en un paciente de 72 años que respondió al tratamiento con ivermectina oral y revisamos la literatura médica (AU)

Bullous scabies is a rare disease that is usually diagnosed in elderly patients. The clinical, histological, and immunological findings are identical to bullous pemphigoid. In a review of the literature, we found reports of 24 cases. We present a new case of bullous scabies in a 72-year-old man. The lesions responded to treatment with oral iver mectin (AU)

Mite control with low temperature washing-II. Elimination of living mites on clothing.

BACKGROUND: Allergens produced by mites are one of the principal causes of allergic disease. House dust mites can be found in significant numbers living in textile garments, and therefore development of optimal washing conditions for delicate textiles represents an important aim for domestic mite control. OBJECTIVES: Investigation of methods to eliminate house dust mites from clothing under low temperature washing conditions. METHODS: Domestic house dust mites Dermatophagoides farinae were cultured on garments under favourable conditions. The breeding success was monitored in terms of population and distribution using the free-mite Mobility Test. The mite containing garments were washed at low temperature with different commercial detergents in the presence or absence of a mite control additive containing 0.03% benzyl benzoate, and the numbers of mites surviving the washing process were assessed using the Heat Escape Method. RESULTS: The successful culture of mites in textile garments led to mite numbers of a total of at least 9000 to 10000 mites in 10 garments (Mobility Test). After washing in a domestic washing machine with detergents alone approximately 6000 remaining mites were detected in 10 garment halfs (Heat Escape Method). In contrast, mite control by the application of the same detergents together with an additive achieved a reduction to almost 50 mites. This is an additional reduction in mite numbers of 99.2%. CONCLUSIONS: It is possible to achieve mite control in delicate garments by washing at low temperature in the presence of a mite control additive providing a final concentration of 0.03% benzyl benzoate.

Topical steroid induced chronic demodicidosis.

We report a 39-year-old female patient who developed pruritic erythematous telangiectatic patches with scaly follicular papules on the neck and upper chest for 4 years. Ten per cent potassium hydroxide preparation of skin scrapings revealed Demodex folliculorum. Histology showed three Demodex mites in one of the hair follicles. She was treated with a topical steroid without improvement. The skin lesions and Demodex mite disappeared after a single application of 1 per cent gamma benzene hexachloride but twice daily application of 1 per cent gamma benzene hexachloride for 2 weeks was needed to prevent recurrence.