Yes, ferrets can get both Sarcoptes and Demodex mites, although they are
not common in ferrets.  Sarcoptes is contagious to people, but is easily
cured.  It is also difficult to find on a skin scraping, as they will
burrow into the skin, so you may have to do several deep skin scrapings
to find them.  If you do find them under a microscope, you can pick them
out as they have triangular spines on their backs which is unique to
Sarcoptes.  The FDA approved treatment is Revolution, although Ivermectin
and Frontline are also used with pretty good success.  Usually diagnosis
is by response to treatment, rather than discovery of the mites, since it
is so hard to find them from a skin scraping.
 
Demodex mites are found on most animals normally without any problems.  As
you said, they usually only become problematic in animals with suppressed
immune systems, or in some cases in association with a debilitating
disease.  The isolation of a few Demodex mites from a skin scraping is
not considered diagnostic, since they can be found normally without any
disease association, however a very large number of mites found in
association with clinical signs can be considered a diagnosis.  The FDA
treatment is Mitaban (Amitraz), and it is also about the only treatment
that works - Demodectic mange is not easily cured.  Demodex is host
specific - not contagious to people.
 
Can you tell I just finished a parasitology course?  Anyway, hope that
helps.
 
Dooks to your fuzzies,
Shelley Knudsen
Class of 2004  KSU Veterinary College
[log in to unmask]  [log in to unmask]
http://www.tcgcs.com/~ferrets
785-565-9041  cel402-984-4217
[Posted in FML issue 3624]