Skin Diseases, Animals

Parasitic diseases of the skin are of major economic importance. Discomfort and pruritis interfere with the normal rest and feeding of the animal, and the loss of protective function of the skin facilitates bacterial infection. In addition, the commercial value of the hides is often reduced. Some ectoparasites, such as bloodsucking flies and some species of ticks are of great economic importance because of the diseases they transmit. However, the skin lesions produced by these parasites are of relatively minor significance. Finally, parasitic infections of the skin and the sometimes ugly lesions they cause affect the general appearance of the animal, and upset the owner. It is intended to deal only with those parasites which are of importance owing to the damage they cause to the skin (Table 1). Most of these are arthropods. However, some protozoa and helminths may occasionally be responsible for localized skin lesions and these will be referred