Experimental quantification of the transmission of Sarcoptes scabiei var. suis among finishing pigs.

In this study, the rate of S. scabiei var. suis transmission among finishing pigs was quantified in a contact transmission experiment.

Production performance and pruritic behaviour of pigs naturally infected by Sarcoptes scabiei var. suis in a contact transmission experiment.

Reports on the effects of mange on the production performance of pigs are conflicting. So far, studies have used experimental infections, by depositing encrusted lesions from chronically infected pigs into the ears of experimental pigs. However, this is a poor representation of what happens under natural field conditions.

Validation of ELISAs for the detection of antibodies to Sarcoptes scabiei in pigs.

An Enzyme-linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA) was developed for the detection of antibodies to Sarcoptes scabiei. This 'Animal Health Service'-ELISA (AHS-ELISA) was compared with a commercial test (Checkit(R) Sarcoptest) using experimental and field sera. The experimental study was a contact infestation experiment.

Control of Sarcoptes scabiei var. suis with ivermectin: influence on scratching behaviour of fattening pigs and occurrence of dermatitis at slaughter.

The behaviour of fattening pigs, the occurrence of erythematous papular dermatitis in pigs at slaughter and the effects of treatment for mange with ivermectin at the start of the fattening period were evaluated at ten farms. At each farm, trial pigs were randomly allotted to a control or a treated group. At the start of the trial, the control group was injected intramuscularly with 5 mg kg-1 levamisole, and the treated group was injected subcutaneously with 300 micrograms kg-1 ivermectin.

Preselection of finishing pigs on the farm as an aid for meat inspection.

The ability of pig suppliers to separate pigs with abnormalities from pigs without abnormalities at the end of the finishing period was investigated. Nineteen hundred and seventy-eight pigs, delivered by 22 pig suppliers, were involved in the experiment. The pigs were inspected on the farm by the pig supplier and, separately, by a veterinary expert.