Abstract
Sarcoptic mange is globally enzootic, and non-invasive methods with high diagnostic specificity for its surveillance in wildlife are lacking. We describe the molecular detection of Sarcoptes scabiei in non-invasively collected faecal samples, targeting the 16S rDNA gene. We applied this method to 843 Iberian wolf Canis lupus signatus faecal samples collected in north-western Portugal (2006–2018). We further integrated this with serological data (61 samples from wolf and 20 from red fox Vulpes vulpes, 1997–2019) in multi-event capture–recapture models. The mean predicted prevalence by the molecular analysis of wolf faecal samples from 2006–2018 was 7.2% (CI95 5.0–9.4%; range: 2.6–11.7%), highest in 2009. The mean predicted seroprevalence in wolves was 24.5% (CI95 18.5–30.6%; range: 13.0–55.0%), peaking in 2006–2009. Multi-event capture–recapture models estimated 100% diagnostic specificity and moderate diagnostic sensitivity (30.0%, CI95 14.0–53.0%) for the molecular method. Mange-infected individually identified wolves showed a tendency for higher mortality versus uninfected wolves (ΔMortality 0.150, CI95 −0.165–0.458). Long-term serology data highlights the endemicity of sarcoptic mange in wild canids but uncovers multi-year epidemics. This study developed and evaluated a novel method for surveying sarcoptic mange in wildlife populations by the molecular detection of S. scabiei in faecal samples, which stands out for its high specificity and non-invasive character.
Highlights
Sarcoptic mange is a highly contagious and globally widespread skin disease caused by the burrowing mite Sarcoptes scabiei, affecting more than 100 wild and domestic mammal species [1]
Given the potential impact of sarcoptic mange on populations of wild canids and the lack of specific non-invasive surveillance techniques, this study aims to: (i) optimize a molecular method for the surveillance of sarcoptic mange in non-invasive faecal samples of wolves; (ii) use multi-event capture–recapture models, integrating serology and molecular data, to evaluate the performance of the non-invasive method and estimate epidemiological parameters of sarcoptic mange in this wolf population
Discussion mange in wildlife notoriously difficult to monitor because of Sarcoptic mangeSarcoptic in wildlife populations is populations notoriously is difficult to monitor because the elusive nature of the hosts and the difficulty in obtaining invasive biological samples, of the elusive nature of the hosts and the difficulty in obtaining invasive biological samwhich raises animal welfare concerns
Summary
Sarcoptic mange is a highly contagious and globally widespread skin disease caused by the burrowing mite Sarcoptes scabiei, affecting more than 100 wild and domestic mammal species [1]. Sarcoptic mange causes severe pruritus, accompanied by erythematous eruptions, papules, alopecia, and crusts [4]. It can give rise to a complex cascade of interacting physiological and behavioural effects on the host, which can lead to death [5]. These effects are related to compromised thermoregulatory capacity, increased metabolic rates, and altered activity patterns [5,6]. Sarcoptic mange is enzootic in several wildlife populations throughout the world, but may become epizootic [7,8]. The impact of the disease is potentially more severe in small, genetically compromised, or fragmented populations, mediated by demographic stochasticity, weakened immune responses, and lack of metapopulation dynamics [1,10,11]
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