Acta Vet. Brno 2025, 94: 215-222
Sarcoptes scabiei var. cuniculi mite-infected rabbit skin response to Nerium oleander leaf extract
Sarcoptes scabiei var. cuniculi is a global parasitic mite that infiltrates the skin and induces scabies. This study aims to assess the acaricidal activity of Nerium oleander (NO) methanolic extracts against S. scabiei var. in rabbits. Methanolic Nerium oleander extracts of three concentrations 10%, 25%, 50% w/v and a commercial acaricide, 1% ivermectin, were compared with rabbits that received no treatment (negative control), in addition to the infected group (positive control). A completely randomized experiment allocated thirty rabbits to six groups. All experimental groups except the control were infected for four weeks. Weekly counts of mange mites were conducted, the lesion index was scored, and the rubbing index calculated. Treatment was carried out from the fifth to the eighth week. The results showed that 50% N. oleander methanolic extracts on the skin worked better than the other extract concentrations (P < 0.05) within two weeks of treatment and were just as effective as ivermectin as an acaricide, which suggests that the response depends on the dose and time. We found that after 4 weeks, 25% N. oleander methanolic extract effectively eliminated clinical mange in rabbits. The results also showed a significant change in the tissue sectors after treatment. The results demonstrated the ability of methanolic N. oleander extracts to eliminate mange mites, presenting a cost-effective, secure, and eco-friendly solution for treating Sarcoptes mange in rabbits.
Keywords
Acaricide, ivermectin, lesion, mange, rodent.
Funding
The study was supported by the Ongoing Research Funding Program (ORF2025-1081) at King Saud University (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) and the Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Researchers Supporting Project No. (PNURSP2025R401).
