Making the best use of existing tools and treatments for the long-term, sustainable control of sheep

Sheep scab, caused by the ectoparasitic mite Psoroptes ovis, significantly affects the UK sheep industry, with annual costs estimated between £80–200 million. Despite previous eradication efforts, sheep scab persists with an estimated 8–10k outbreaks annually. Treatment is limited to macrocyclic lactone (ML) injectables and organophosphate (OP) plunge dipping, with the emergence of ML-resistant mites highlighting the importance of OP dipping and the need to use the MLs both strategically and responsibly in the future. Diagnostic advancements, including a sheep scab ELISA blood test, enable early detection and targeted treatment. Recent control projects have demonstrated the potential for coordinated control to manage and reduce sheep scab incidence.