Immunity and metabolic rate: the course of notoedric scabies in rats with different metabolic rates

Abstract

1. Two experiments are described investigating the effects of level of metabolism on (a) resistance to, and (b) recovery from, Notoedric scabies of rats. The progress and severity of the disease was measured by weekly counts of the number of lesions; the metabolic rate in some rats was raised by administration of iodinated casein and in others was depressed by methyl thiouracil.2. In normal rats, the initial severe phase of the disease was followed by a partial recovery with survival of a smaller population of parasites.3. This recovery process in established infestations was hastened by elevation and retarded by depression of the metabolic rate.4. Resistance to the development of severe disease was enhanced by elevation and reduced by depression of the basal metabolic rate.5. The level of the residual infestation, after the severe phase of the disease had passed, was also affected by the treatment, being decreased by the higher but increased by the lower metabolic rate.

Some Observations on the Feeding Habits of the Poultry Mites Dermanyssus Gallinae and Liponyssus Sylviarum

“…The metabolic rate of a host has been found to influence the activity of some ectoparasites. For example, LEECH & SPENCE (1951) reported that in rats, resistance to notoedric mange was enhanced by elevation and reduced by depression of the basal metabolic rate. The metabolic rate of chickens is highest during the first four to five weeks of life but decreases up to the age of one year.…”

Mites of the hedgehog Erinaceus albiventris Wagner in Kenya: observations on the prevalence and pathogenicity of Notoedres oudemansi Fain, Caparinia erinacei Fain and Rodentopus sciuri Fain

“…No such case was found in Kenya. Leech & Spence (1951) found a relationship between metabolic rate and severity of notoedric mange lesions in rats. As suggested by Heath et al (1971) one should therefore expect a seasonal incidence in an animal that hibernates.…”

A synthetic review of notoedres species mites and mange

“…Notoedres muris and the mite Caparinia tripilis may co-infest hedgehogs and exacerbate disease (Heath et al 1971). Experimental reduction in metabolic rate of rats increased N. muris mange severity while increased metabolism contributed to recovery (Leech and Spence, 1951), suggesting that in hedgehogs, N. muris infestation would be more severe during hibernation (Heath et al 1971). Severe mange may cause death in squirrels by inhibiting the animal's ability to forage leading to severe malnutrition and dehydration, by secondary bacterial infection and septicaemia, or by hindering the animal's ability to avoid predation (Bryant, 1921(Bryant, , 1926Cornish et al 2001;Stephenson et al 2013b).…”