Effects of sarcoptic mange on the reproductive performance of ewes and transmission of Sarcoptes scabiei to newborn lambs

In each of two experiments, the reproductive performance of ewes naturally infested with sarcoptic mange and of uninfested ewes was assessed in in-sea son natural breeding conditions (experiment I) or in out-of-season controll ed breeding conditions (experiment II). A statistically significant differe nce was observed in the total lambs born per ewe (infested ewes, 1.2; contr ols, 1.6), in the livebom lambs per ewe (infested ewes, 1.2; controls, 1.5) and in the lamb body weight per ewe (infested ewes, 3.33 kg; controls, 4.5 3 kg) under natural breeding conditions, as well as in the lamb body weight per ewe (infested ewes, 3.37 kg; controls, 4.14 kg) among ewes under contr olled breeding conditions. No adverse effects were observed in the other re productive indices, cycling rate, matting rate, retum-to-oestrus rate, abor tion rate, lambing rate and stillbirth rate. Sarcoptic mange was observed i n the offspring of infested ewes after 30 days and in the offspring of unin fested controls 60 days after their birth. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. A ll rights reserved.