A skin disease of sheep caused by an infestation of the mite Psoroptes ovis, producing intense itching, wool loss and skin damage that can lead to severe weight loss and, in untreated cases, death. Highly contagious through direct contact, it remains a significant welfare and economic problem in sheep farming regions including the United Kingdom, where compulsory notification and treatment schemes have been used to try to control its spread.
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Sheep, Livestock Sheep scab (Psoroptes ovis mites) is a major welfare-significant skin disease of sheep flocks.
Sources
1. Sheep Scab (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationOpening definition paragraph
Psoroptes is a genus of mites, including the agents that cause psoroptic mange.
lead description
A skin disease of sheep caused by an infestation of the mite Psoroptes ovis, producing intense itching, wool loss and skin damage that can lead to severe weight loss and, in untreated cases, death.
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