Seward daily gateway., 1931-09-25

Ear mdIlSe, VT duI1Culd1 oCaDiSo' is a parasitic disease caused by in festation of the inner surface of the ears (auricular canals) by mite known as Otodectes cynotis. Specimens of this parasite are just barely visible to the naked eye, ap- bearing as small, white, and motile bodies
 LIFE HISTORY
 The female mites are prolific, producing large numbers of minute, whitish eggs. The majority of these usually remain in the ears of the host, where they undergo an incu- bation characterized by the devel- opment of six-legged larval mite within the shell. After matching the larvae pass through series of molts, in the course of which they develop a fourth pair of legs and arrive at sexual maturity.
 OCCURRENCES
 Once ear mango is brought on a ranch, it usually spreads rapidly to practically all the foxes. It is present on relatively large num- Der of fox farms, though it is an easy disease to eradicate when the proper method of treatment is un- dertaken.
 MODE OF TRANSMISSION
 Natural transmission of the mite and completion of it's life cycle oc- cur within a relatively short per- iod, as is indicated by the fact that pups only three or four weeks old oftentimes are found to be heavily infested. InfeStation apparently is spread chiefly by the mechanical dislodgement of mites and eggs when the foxes scratch the ears and shake the head in attempts to stop the itching. Under favorable conditions the mites and eggs so dislodged remain alive for few days, or long enough to permit their getting onto a suitable host, fre- uuently a different fox from that on which they were before. It also may be possible that some of the mites migrate of their own accord from one fox to another.
 SYMPTOMS AND LESSONS
 Many of the foxes that harbor mites show no apparent symtoms of infestation except occasionally scratching the ears or shaking the head. Tn serious cases one or more of the following Symtoms may be observed A dropped or Topped con- dition of one or both ears, foul- smelling exudate in one or both ears, wry neck, spells of turning in a circle, convulsions tfits).
 In the early stages of infestation the mites collect in the deeper parts of the auricular canal, parti- cularly in the grooves. Sometimes they are there in such large num- bers that they give the infested areas a whitish or frostlike appear ance. The irritation caused by the mites makes the skin redder than normal. Soon scaly material forms, and in course of time this is combined with or replaced by profuse accumulation of a dirty, dark-colored and wax-like sub- stance. The presence of this waxy excretion in profusion is quite char acteristic in infestation of long standing.
 After this excretion begins to ac- cumulate the number of mites tends to diminish, but they seldom disappear entirely. Raw sores and thick scabs may develop, these us ually resulting from injuries inci- dent to the animal scratching its ears. Sometimes bacterial infection with pus formation in the deeper parts of the auricular canal may occur. The discharge in these cases invariably has a decidedly fetid odor. At times the progress of the inflammation may involve the mid- dle and internal ear, and even the brain.
 TREATMENT
 Although number of remedies