Mite (Schizocarpus mingaudi) infestations of ranch-raised beavers
Foreyt, W.J.; Leathers, C.W.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 185(11): 1414-1415
1984
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-1488 PMID: 6511607 Document Number: 228572
During April-May 1981, on a farm of about 1000 beavers in Idaho, 50 died and another 40-60 became ill. Affected animals were emaciated and the main lesion was alopecia. Numerous adult Schizocarpus mingaudi mites were found attached to hair shafts and on the skin surface. Histological changes in the skin were consistent with acariasis. Treatment of the nest boxes with 50% wettable diazinon powder eliminated mites from the colony, but affected beavers failed to gain weight and deaths continued. Improvement followed a change in the pelleted ration.