Skin lesions associated with demodex Sp. in a llama (Lama peruana)

A 2.5-yr-old female llama (Lama peruana) with skin lesions was presented to the Animal Health Center in Seoul Grand Park Zoo, Korea. Mites of the genus Demodex in the absence of other mites or fungi were identified from the lesions by skin scrapings. The bodies were elongated, tapered, and 200280 m in length; four pairs of stumpy legs were present at the front of the body, and the striated opisthosoma constituted about half of the body length. Histologic examination of the skin biopsy showed typical folliculitis, hyperkeratinization of epidermis, and infiltration of inflammatory cells, consisting mainly of eosinophils and monocytes, in dermis. Although mites were undetected in the dilated hair follicles, the histologic features are consistent with descriptions of infestation by Demodex spp. This is believed to be the first case of skin lesions associated with Demodex sp. in L. peruana. Incidental findings were previously described in a different species of llamas (Lama glama) without any recognized symptoms. Treatment with amitraz (0.025) eliminated the mites and resolved the clinical signs.