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]