Hairclasping Mite
Synopsis
CAPC Recommends
- Flea combing, hair plucking and tape impressions are some of the best ways to recover mites from the fur of hosts for identification.
- Current use of monthly internal or external parasiticides may help prevent infestations.
- A fecal flotation may be used to recover mites, especially in cats that have groomed mites off their fur.
Species
Canine
Cheyletiella yasguri
Feline
Cheyletiella blakei

Lynxacarus radovskyi
*Cheyletiella spp. are also referred to as “walking dandruff” mites.
Overview of Life Cycle
Adult Cheyletiella spp. are nonburrowing and live on the skin, where they feed on the keratin layer of the epidermis. Cheyletiella blakei also feeds on the hair coat of the cat.
Cheyletiella spp. are very mobile and are contagious by direct contact. These mites have been found on fleas, lice, and flies; it has been hypothesized that this is one means by which they move between hosts.
Lynxacarus radovskyi are laterally compressed and found clinging to the hairs of the cat.
Cheyletiella blakei fresh specimen from a cat
Cheyletiella sp. characteristic palpal claws are evident
Stages
- Cheyletiella spp. developmental stages include egg, prelarva, larva, a first and second nymphal stage, and adult. Eggs are very large (about 240 ÎĽm long) and are wrapped in finely woven threads that attach to the hair shaft.
- The prelarva is a quiescent nonfeeding stage that appears to be no more than a legless sack.Adult Cheyletiella spp. are large, 500 ÎĽm long, and visible to the unaided eye. The key morphologic features are the large palpal claws.
- Lynxacarus radovskyi eggs are about 200 ÎĽm long and are attached by one end to the hairs of the cat. The six-legged larvae and eight-legged nymphs are also found on the hairs of the cat. Adult Lynxacarus sp. mites are about 500 ÎĽm long, laterally compressed, and have short legs anteriorly on the first two-thirds of the body. They are found clinging to the hairs with the anterior end held near the hair shaft.
Disease
- Dogs infested with Cheyletiella spp. may be moderately to severely pruritic.
- Infestation with Cheyletiella spp. causes exfoliative dermatitis with flaky, bran-like squames that is seen principally on the dorsum.
- The visual appearance of “walking dandruff” is caused by the agitation of epidermal debris by the activities of the mites.
- Cats sometimes develop miliary dermatitis with reddish yellow crusts when infested with Cheyletiella blakei.
- In Lynxacarus sp. infestations, mites most commonly are found on the tail head and tip and in the perineal area. In heavy infestations, mites may be found over the cat’s entire body. The hair coat can appear dull, dry, and rust-colored. The mites and eggs present on the hairs give the cat a “peppered” appearance, and the coat may be granular to the touch. Cats may present with gastrointestinal disturbances, rectal irritation, or hairballs due to excessive grooming. In addition, infested cats may have gingivitis, anorexia, restlessness, fever, and weight loss.
Prevalence
Cheyletiella spp. infestations, though relatively uncommon, seem to occur most often on puppies from large breeding facilities.
Lynxacarus sp.  infestations in cats are rare in most parts of the United States but can be common in more tropical regions, such as Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the Florida Keys. The mite is also found in Fiji and Australia.
Host Associations and Transmission Between Hosts
The family Cheyletiellidae are not host-specific and may transfer between dogs, cats, and rabbits, although C. yasguri is most common on dogs and C. blakei on cats.
Prepatent Period and Environmental Factors
In the case of cheyletiellosis, it takes 3 to 5 weeks for an infestation to develop from a single mite.
Lynxacariasis development is not as well described but is considered to be 3 to 5 weeks.
Site of Infection and Pathogenesis
Cheyletiella spp. mites and associated scaling lesions typically are found on the dorsum.
Cases of lynxacariasis typically are associated with the numerous mites clinging to the hairs and the associated pruritus induced by their presence. Signs often initially present on the caudal/dorsal surfaces of the cat, but can extend to the whole body as the disease progresses.
Diagnosis
- Nonburrowing mites can be isolated from the skin and fur of animals in a variety of techniques. A combination of the following techniques may yield the highest sensitivity.
- Flea combing: Comb the entire dorsal surface of the animal, making sure the comb comes into contact with the skin during every stroke. Examine the debris from the comb under the microscope.
- Hand lens: Mites typically can be found upon observation and identified by their distinct appearance. An examination of the skin with a hand lens often will clearly reveal the mites.
- Hair plucking: Clip a small section of hair from the lumbosacral region and place the hairs onto a slide using transparent tape to hold them in place.
- Tape impression: Press transparent tape directly against the skin of the previously clipped area until the adhesive surface is covered in keratin debris. Fasten tape to a microscope slide and examine.
- Trichograms: The eggs of Cheyletiella spp. are wrapped in finely woven threads that attach to the hair shaft. The eggs of Lynxacarus radovskyi are glued to har shafts. These can be visualized microscopically.
- Mites sometimes are found in the feces of cats that have groomed the mites from their body surface.
- Specific identification can usually be made by the host association. Specific morphologic diagnosis of the Cheyletiella spp. can be made by very close examination of the shape of a seta on the fourth pair of legs; the seta is heart-shaped in C. yasguri and conical in C. blakei.
- Infestation with Cheyletiella spp. can also cause false positive test results for household dust mites on intradermal allergy tests, therefore veterinarians should thoroughly rule out Cheyletiella spp. (or other parasitic mite) infestations before beginning allergy sensitization treatments.
Treatment
- There are no treatments labeled for hairclasping mites in the United States.
- A number of different treatments have been shown to be effective against hairclasping mites including high-dose ivermectin, milbemycin oxime, moxidectin, selamectin, fipronil, and pyrethrin shampoos.
- Permethrin/pyrethrin products should not be used in cats unless specifically approved as safe to use in that species.
Control and Prevention
Infestations in cats and dogs can be prevented by routine administration of topical moxidectin, selamectin, or fipronil on a monthly basis.
Public Health Considerations
Skin lesions may develop on people in contact with infested dogs or cats. Human infestations are unlikely, and more commonly reported from cat owners than dog owners, a phenomenon that may be attributable to the mite’s behavior or differences in likelihood of close contact with an infested pet.
Lynxacarus radovskyi has not been associated with skin lesions on the owners of infested cats.
Selected References
Cheyletiella spp.
- Foxx TS, Ewing SA. 1969. Morphologic features, behavior, and life history of Cheyletiella yasguri. Am J Vet Res. 30(2):269-285.
- Saevik, B. K., Bredal, W., & Ulstein, T. L. 2004. Cheyletiella infestation in the dog: observations on diagnostic methods and clinical signs. J Small Anim Pract. 45(10): 495–500.
- Curtis, C. F. 2004. Current trends in the treatment of Sarcoptes, Cheyletiella and Otodectes mite infestations in dogs and cats. Vet Derm. 15(2):108–114.
- Reynolds HH, Elston DM. 2017. What’s eating you? Cheyletiella mites. Cutis. 99(5): 335-336;355.
Lynxacarus radovskyi
- Ketzis JK, Dundas J, Shell LG. 2016. Lynxacarus radovskyi mites in feral cats: a study of diagnostic methods, preferential body locations, co-infestations and prevalence. Vet Derma. 27(5):425-e108.
- Han HS, Chua HL, Nellinathan G. 2019. Self-induced, noninflammatory alopecia associated with infestation with Lynxacarus radovskyi: a series of 11 cats. Vet Derm. 30: 356-e103.
Synopsis
CAPC Recommends
- Flea combing, hair plucking and tape impressions are some of the best ways to recover mites from the fur of hosts for identification.
- Current use of monthly internal or external parasiticides may help prevent infestations.
- A fecal flotation may be used to recover mites, especially in cats that have groomed mites off their fur.
Species
Canine
Cheyletiella yasguri
Feline
Cheyletiella blakei

Lynxacarus radovskyi
*Cheyletiella spp. are also referred to as “walking dandruff” mites.
Overview of Life Cycle
Adult Cheyletiella spp. are nonburrowing and live on the skin, where they feed on the keratin layer of the epidermis. Cheyletiella blakei also feeds on the hair coat of the cat.
Cheyletiella spp. are very mobile and are contagious by direct contact. These mites have been found on fleas, lice, and flies; it has been hypothesized that this is one means by which they move between hosts.
Lynxacarus radovskyi are laterally compressed and found clinging to the hairs of the cat.
Cheyletiella blakei fresh specimen from a cat
Cheyletiella sp. characteristic palpal claws are evident
Stages
- Cheyletiella spp. developmental stages include egg, prelarva, larva, a first and second nymphal stage, and adult. Eggs are very large (about 240 ÎĽm long) and are wrapped in finely woven threads that attach to the hair shaft.
- The prelarva is a quiescent nonfeeding stage that appears to be no more than a legless sack.Adult Cheyletiella spp. are large, 500 ÎĽm long, and visible to the unaided eye. The key morphologic features are the large palpal claws.
- Lynxacarus radovskyi eggs are about 200 ÎĽm long and are attached by one end to the hairs of the cat. The six-legged larvae and eight-legged nymphs are also found on the hairs of the cat. Adult Lynxacarus sp. mites are about 500 ÎĽm long, laterally compressed, and have short legs anteriorly on the first two-thirds of the body. They are found clinging to the hairs with the anterior end held near the hair shaft.
Disease
- Dogs infested with Cheyletiella spp. may be moderately to severely pruritic.
- Infestation with Cheyletiella spp. causes exfoliative dermatitis with flaky, bran-like squames that is seen principally on the dorsum.
- The visual appearance of “walking dandruff” is caused by the agitation of epidermal debris by the activities of the mites.
- Cats sometimes develop miliary dermatitis with reddish yellow crusts when infested with Cheyletiella blakei.
- In Lynxacarus sp. infestations, mites most commonly are found on the tail head and tip and in the perineal area. In heavy infestations, mites may be found over the cat’s entire body. The hair coat can appear dull, dry, and rust-colored. The mites and eggs present on the hairs give the cat a “peppered” appearance, and the coat may be granular to the touch. Cats may present with gastrointestinal disturbances, rectal irritation, or hairballs due to excessive grooming. In addition, infested cats may have gingivitis, anorexia, restlessness, fever, and weight loss.
Prevalence
Cheyletiella spp. infestations, though relatively uncommon, seem to occur most often on puppies from large breeding facilities.
Lynxacarus sp.  infestations in cats are rare in most parts of the United States but can be common in more tropical regions, such as Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the Florida Keys. The mite is also found in Fiji and Australia.
Host Associations and Transmission Between Hosts
The family Cheyletiellidae are not host-specific and may transfer between dogs, cats, and rabbits, although C. yasguri is most common on dogs and C. blakei on cats.
Prepatent Period and Environmental Factors
In the case of cheyletiellosis, it takes 3 to 5 weeks for an infestation to develop from a single mite.
Lynxacariasis development is not as well described but is considered to be 3 to 5 weeks.
Site of Infection and Pathogenesis
Cheyletiella spp. mites and associated scaling lesions typically are found on the dorsum.
Cases of lynxacariasis typically are associated with the numerous mites clinging to the hairs and the associated pruritus induced by their presence. Signs often initially present on the caudal/dorsal surfaces of the cat, but can extend to the whole body as the disease progresses.
Diagnosis
- Nonburrowing mites can be isolated from the skin and fur of animals in a variety of techniques. A combination of the following techniques may yield the highest sensitivity.
- Flea combing: Comb the entire dorsal surface of the animal, making sure the comb comes into contact with the skin during every stroke. Examine the debris from the comb under the microscope.
- Hand lens: Mites typically can be found upon observation and identified by their distinct appearance. An examination of the skin with a hand lens often will clearly reveal the mites.
- Hair plucking: Clip a small section of hair from the lumbosacral region and place the hairs onto a slide using transparent tape to hold them in place.
- Tape impression: Press transparent tape directly against the skin of the previously clipped area until the adhesive surface is covered in keratin debris. Fasten tape to a microscope slide and examine.
- Trichograms: The eggs of Cheyletiella spp. are wrapped in finely woven threads that attach to the hair shaft. The eggs of Lynxacarus radovskyi are glued to har shafts. These can be visualized microscopically.
- Mites sometimes are found in the feces of cats that have groomed the mites from their body surface.
- Specific identification can usually be made by the host association. Specific morphologic diagnosis of the Cheyletiella spp. can be made by very close examination of the shape of a seta on the fourth pair of legs; the seta is heart-shaped in C. yasguri and conical in C. blakei.
- Infestation with Cheyletiella spp. can also cause false positive test results for household dust mites on intradermal allergy tests, therefore veterinarians should thoroughly rule out Cheyletiella spp. (or other parasitic mite) infestations before beginning allergy sensitization treatments.
Treatment
- There are no treatments labeled for hairclasping mites in the United States.
- A number of different treatments have been shown to be effective against hairclasping mites including high-dose ivermectin, milbemycin oxime, moxidectin, selamectin, fipronil, and pyrethrin shampoos.
- Permethrin/pyrethrin products should not be used in cats unless specifically approved as safe to use in that species.
Control and Prevention
Infestations in cats and dogs can be prevented by routine administration of topical moxidectin, selamectin, or fipronil on a monthly basis.
Public Health Considerations
Skin lesions may develop on people in contact with infested dogs or cats. Human infestations are unlikely, and more commonly reported from cat owners than dog owners, a phenomenon that may be attributable to the mite’s behavior or differences in likelihood of close contact with an infested pet.
Lynxacarus radovskyi has not been associated with skin lesions on the owners of infested cats.
Selected References
Cheyletiella spp.
- Foxx TS, Ewing SA. 1969. Morphologic features, behavior, and life history of Cheyletiella yasguri. Am J Vet Res. 30(2):269-285.
- Saevik, B. K., Bredal, W., & Ulstein, T. L. 2004. Cheyletiella infestation in the dog: observations on diagnostic methods and clinical signs. J Small Anim Pract. 45(10): 495–500.
- Curtis, C. F. 2004. Current trends in the treatment of Sarcoptes, Cheyletiella and Otodectes mite infestations in dogs and cats. Vet Derm. 15(2):108–114.
- Reynolds HH, Elston DM. 2017. What’s eating you? Cheyletiella mites. Cutis. 99(5): 335-336;355.
Lynxacarus radovskyi
- Ketzis JK, Dundas J, Shell LG. 2016. Lynxacarus radovskyi mites in feral cats: a study of diagnostic methods, preferential body locations, co-infestations and prevalence. Vet Derma. 27(5):425-e108.
- Han HS, Chua HL, Nellinathan G. 2019. Self-induced, noninflammatory alopecia associated with infestation with Lynxacarus radovskyi: a series of 11 cats. Vet Derm. 30: 356-e103.