Mange is a class of
skin diseases caused by
parasitic mites. Since mites also infect plants, birds, and reptiles, the term "mange", suggesting poor condition of the hairy coat due to the infection, is sometimes reserved only for pathological mite-infestation of nonhuman mammals. Thus, mange includes mite-associated skin disease in domestic animals (cats and dogs), in livestock (such as
sheep scab), and in wild animals (for example,
coyotes,
cougars, and
bears). Since mites belong to the arachnid subclass Acari (also called Acarina), another term for mite infestation is
acariasis.