| Description |
Sheep scab is a contagious, highly pruritic disease caused by the mite Psoroptes ovis. Affected sheep develop large, yellowish, scaly, crusted lesions, accompanied by damage to the wool and hide. Emaciation and secondary bacterial infections can occur in untreated animals, pregnant sheep give birth to smaller lambs, and lambs that become infested may lose condition rapidly and die. (The Center for Food Security and Public Health. IOWA State University) |