Definition
Demodicosis, an intrafolicular parasitic disease caused by democid mites, is probably the most serious non-neoplastic dermatologic condition in animals.

Etiology
Demodecosis is caused by mites of the genus demodex. A hereditary factor predisposes an animal to develop juenile-onset demodicosis.

Patophysiology
Typically the mites reside in the hair follicles, although some have been found in apocrine and sebaceous gland adjacent to follicles. Mites feed mostly on follicular debris and cells and occasionally on sebum. Its seems that lymphocyte suppressions, possibly influenced by secondary bacterial infection, allow the mites to proliferate.

Clinical presentasion
Lession comprise one or several areas of either scaling, thinning of hair, hyperpigmentation, alopecia or erythema with alopecia. Lession may appear on any part of the body but typically affect the face and forelimb. About 10% of localized cases progress to generalized disease.juvenille-onset demodicosis is limited to onset,18-24 months of age and is considered hereditary. Adult-onset demodicosis occurs after two years of age and is often associated with and underlying disease(iatrogenic cushing’s, hipothyroidism, infectious disease).

Diferential diagnosa
Color dilute alopecia, alopecia areata, sebaceous adenitis, deep or superficial pyoderma, injection site reaction, deep mycotic infection, cutaneus T-cell lympoma, pemphigus foliaceus, drug eruption,zinn-responsive dermatosis, dermatophitosis, malassezia dermatitis, endocrine disorders.

Diagnosis
Determining the extent of disease in demodicosis is one of the most important steps diagnosis. Generalized disease involves positive skin scraping from more than one body region.localized disease is limited to a few lesion in one body region.

Treatment and management
The demodicosis most effective therapies to date include topical amitraz weekly (0.125-0.250 ppm), oral milbemycin daily (2mg/kg) oral or parenteral ivermectin daily 300-600µg/kg and oral alternate day (450µg/kg) ivermectin given 7% and <70% curae rates, respectively. Because stapylococcus is considered immunosupressive in dogs with demodicosis, identifying and treating secondary bacterial infections help minimize pyoderma as a contributing factor of demodicosis.whenh deep pyoderma is present,intact bulla tissue culture with antibiotic sensitivity is financially prudent due to the long duration of antibiotic therapy required.