{{Short description|Genus of mites}} {{speciesbox | image = Psoroptes cuniculi.JPG | image_caption = ''Psoroptes cuniculi'' | parent_authority = Gervais, 1841 | taxon = Psoroptes equi | authority = (Hering, 1838) | synonyms = *''Psoroptes cuniculi'' <small>(Delafond, 1859)</small> *''Psoroptes ovis'' <small>(Hering, 1838)</small> *''Psoroptes cervinus'' <small>Ward, 1915</small> *''Psoroptes natalensis'' <small>Hirst, 1919</small> }}
'''''Psoroptes''''' is a genus of mites, including the agents that cause '''psoroptic mange'''.
== Psoroptic mange == thumb|left|Psoroptes on a rabbit ear crust ''Psoroptes'' mites are responsible for causing psoroptic mange in various animals, leading to economic losses among farmers of cattle, sheep and goats.<ref name="Mullen">{{cite book |editor1=Gary Mullen |editor2=Lance Durden |year=2009 |title=Medical and Veterinary Entomology |edition=2nd |publisher=Academic Press |isbn=978-0-12-372500-4 |chapter=Mites (Acari) |pages=423–482 |author1=Gary Mullen |author2=Barry M. OConnor |authorlink2=Barry OConnor| name-list-style=amp |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6R1v9o-uaI4C&pg=PA464}}</ref> It is also known as '''sheep scab''' and '''cattle scab'''.<ref name="Mullen"/> The disease is highly infectious, and is transmitted via fenceposts and other structures that livestock use when scratching themselves.<ref name="Mullen"/> The mites have mouthparts which do not pierce the skin, but are adapted to feeding on the surface, where the mites abrade the stratum corneum.<ref name="Mullen"/> See Mites of livestock for photographs of infestations by ''Psoroptes''.
== Taxonomy == ''Psoroptes'' has been traditionally considered to include five species living on different host species, but genetic analysis has reduced the genus to a single species, '''''Psoroptes ovis'''''.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Iowa State University |year=2009 |title=Sheep scab |url=http://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/Factsheets/pdfs/psoroptes_ovis.pdf}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{cite web |first=Esther |last=van Praag |title=Ear mite: Psoroptes cuniculi |url=http://medirabbit.com/EN/Skin_diseases/Parasitic/earmite/Psoroptes.htm }}
{{Taxonbar|from1=Q6470951|from2=Q4357712}}
Category:Sarcoptiformes Category:Parasitic mites Category:Veterinary entomology Category:Monotypic arachnid genera