Abstract
BackgroundIn Spain, sarcoptic mange was first described in native wildlife in 1987 in Cazorla Natural Park, causing the death of nearly 95% of the local native population of Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica). Since then, additional outbreaks have been identified in several populations of ibex and other wild ungulate species throughout the country. Although the first epizootic outbreak in wildlife was attributed to the introduction of an infected herd of domestic goats, the origin and the cause of its persistence remain unclear. The main aims of this study are to understand (i) the number of Sarcoptes scabiei “strains” circulating in wild ruminant populations in Spain, and (ii) the molecular epidemiological relationships between S. scabiei and its hosts.MethodsTen Sarcoptes microsatellite markers were used to characterize the genetic structure of 266 mites obtained from skin scrapings of 121 mangy wild ruminants between 2011 and 2019 from 11 areas in Spain.ResultsSeventy-three different alleles and 37 private alleles were detected. The results of this study show the existence of three genetic strains of S. scabiei in the wild ruminant populations investigated. While two genetic clusters of S. scabiei were host- and geography-related, one cluster included multi-host mites deriving from geographically distant populations.ConclusionsThe molecular epidemiological study of S. scabiei in wild ruminants in Spain indicates that the spreading and persistence of the parasite may be conditioned by host species community composition and the permissiveness of each host population/community to the circulation of individual “strains,” among other factors. Wildlife–livestock interactions and the role of human-driven introduction or trade of wild and domestic animals should be better investigated to prevent further spread of sarcoptic mange in as yet unaffected natural areas of the Iberian Peninsula.Graphical
Highlights
In Spain, sarcoptic mange was first described in native wildlife in 1987 in Cazorla Natural Park, causing the death of nearly 95% of the local native population of Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica)
Using S. scabiei mites isolated from 11 populations of six wild ruminant species in Spain, this study aims to describe the genetic structure of the circulating S. scabiei “strains,” namely (i) the number of S. scabiei strains that can be molecularly identified in wild ruminant populations in Spain, and (ii) the epidemiological relationships between S. scabiei and the wild ruminant communities within the main outbreak areas countrywide
Seventy-three different alleles were detected in the 266 mites isolated from the 11 wild ruminant populations using ten microsatellite loci as molecular markers (Additional file 1: Table S1)
Summary
In Spain, sarcoptic mange was first described in native wildlife in 1987 in Cazorla Natural Park, causing the death of nearly 95% of the local native population of Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica). The ubiquitous mite Sarcoptes scabiei affects more than 100 mammalian species worldwide, causing a highly contagious skin disease known as sarcoptic mange or scabies. Since it can result in significant declines in local wildlife. In Spain, sarcoptic mange was first described in native free-ranging wild ruminants in late 1987 in the Cazorla Natural Park [2], causing a decline of nearly 95% in the local native population of Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica) over 4 years [3]. Sarcoptic mange episodes in wild boar in Spain have never been reported in the scientific literature, serological positivity to S. scabiei has been detected [15], and wildlife operators have occasionally reported crusted lesions compatible with sarcoptic mange in wild boars
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