Sarcoptic mange in wild foxes in human-dominated landscapes, Chile

JAVIER MILLÁN; AITOR CEVIDANES; SOPHIA DI CATALDO; CLAUDIA ULLOA-CONTRERAS; ANDREA CHIRIFE; DIEGO PEÑALOZA-MADRID; SALLABERRY-PINCHEIRA, NICOLE; NAPOLITANO, CONSTANZA; DANIEL GONZÁLEZ-ACUÑA; KAREN TERIO; ROSA CASAIS GOYOS

California

Conferencia; 68th Wildlife Disease Association Annual International Conference; 2019

Wildlife Disease Association (WDA)

Sarcoptic mange is a parasitosis occurring worldwide caused by the highly contagious mite Sarcoptes scabiei, which affects human, domestic animals and wildlife. Mange has been described from a range of wildlife species including carnivores. In some cases, it has shown to have catastrophic consequences for wildlife populations. Our goal was to describe the epidemiological features of mange in Andean (Lycalopex culpaeus) and South American grey foxes (L. griseus) thriving in the highly anthropized environments of central Chile. From 2015-2018, we captured 64 Andean foxes and, using passive surveillance, we inspected and/or necropsied 24 additional Andean and 15 grey foxes. Mange lesions were confirmed by visualization of the mites in skin scrapes and histologic sections from necropsied animals. Serum samples were analyzed by ELISA. Spatial analyses were conducted to study potential risk factors of infection in wild-caught foxes. External lesions were observed in 7 (11%) wild-caught and in 8 (33%) passively surveyed Andean foxes and in 1 (6%) grey fox. Seroprevalence was 57%, 79% and 57% in each the previously mentioned groups. Macroscopic lesions consisted mostly of alopecia and crusts with the tail, legs and nose most frequently affected. Histologically, the epidermis was variably thickened with marked hyperkeratosis, corneal pustules, serocellular crusts and superficial dermal inflammation. Spatial analyses showed that mangy foxes were captured significantly closer to human settlements than foxes without lesions. A similar tendency was also observed for seropositive individuals. Altogether, results indicate that scabies in wild foxes is more frequent than previously recognized. Contact with domestic animals may be arisk factor for infection, or, alternatively, diseased foxes may approach humans in the search for food.