This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Canine sarcoptic mange (scabies) is a skin condition in which microscopic mites (Sarcoptes scabiei) infest dogs' skin. The condition is contagious and zoonotic and can be difficult to detect.
If left untreated, it can cause bleeding sores, malnutrition, emaciation and secondary bacterial infections that may eventually lead to a dog's death. While mange affects well-cared-for household pets at low rates, occurrence among unvaccinated shelter dogs and strays can top 26%, and dogs of all ages, breeds and sexes are susceptible. Current veterinary treatments include orally and topically administered chemical acaricides (substances that kill mites and ticks), which may carry adverse effects.
Moreover, concerns over drug resistance and environmental sustainability continue to grow. In response, a multi-institutional research team from China has studied the effectiveness and safety of essential clove oil (derived from Eugenia caryophyllata Thunb.) as a topical treatment for mange. The team's findings appear in Frontiers in Veterinary Science.
The acaricidal activity of clove oil is documented in existing research, including a 2007 study showing notable similarity between its in vivo efficacy and that of Acacerulen R, a commercial acaricide, in eliminating the mite Psoroptes cuniculi in infested rabbits. Within the current work, the research team closely investigated eugenol, clove oil's dominant bioactive component, to understand its action and further assess its safety and efficacy. "We verified that eugenol exerts acaricidal action by binding to NADH dehydrogenase chain 2 and inhibiting the activity of mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I in the oxidative phosphorylation pathway, ultimately triggering energy metabolism failure and mite death.
In particular, compared with the classic mitochondrial inhibitor rotenone, eugenol possesses superior biosafety and highly selective toxicity against mite cells," the researchers write in the paper. However, they note that the safety and efficacy of clove oil against canine sarcoptic mange have not yet been adequately studied or assessed. The current study aims to expand this knowledge.
The team assembled a study group of 100 dogs with evidence of untreated mite infestation from breeders and shelters in Lanzhou, China. The researchers verified the infestations by viewing skin scrapings under a microscope. Dogs from a dozen breeds of various sizes comprised the full group.
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