Sarcoptic mange in the Scandinavian wolf Canis lupus population

Abstract

Background: Sarcoptic mange, a parasitic disease caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei, is regularly reported on wolves Canis lupus in Scandinavia. We describe the distribution and transmission of this parasite within the small but recovering wolf population by analysing 269 necropsy reports and performing a serological survey on 198 serum samples collected from free-ranging wolves between 1998 and 2013. Results: The serological survey among 145 individual captured Scandinavian wolves (53 recaptures) shows a consistent presence of antibodies against sarcoptic mange. Seropositivity among all captured wolves was 10.1 % (CI. 6.4 %-15.1 %). Sarcoptic mange-related mortality reported at necropsy was 5.6 % and due to secondary causes, predominantly starvation. In the southern range of the population, seroprevalence was higher, consistent with higher red fox densities. Female wolves had a lower probability of being seropositive than males, but for both sexes the probability increased with pack size. Recaptured individuals changing from seropositive to seronegative suggest recovery from sarcoptic mange. The lack of seropositive pups (8-10 months, N = 56) and the occurrence of seropositive and seronegative individuals in the same pack indicates interspecific transmission of S. scabiei into this wolf population. Conclusions: We consider sarcoptic mange to have little effect on the recovery of the Scandinavian wolf population. Heterogenic infection patterns on the pack level in combination with the importance of individualbased factors (sex, pack size) and the north-south gradient for seroprevalence suggests low probability of wolf-to-wolf transmission of S. scabiei in Scandinavia.

Non-Invasive Molecular Survey of Sarcoptic Mange in Wildlife: Diagnostic Performance in Wolf Faecal Samples Evaluated by Multi-Event Capture–Recapture Models

“…In the Iberian Peninsula, in 2004–2008, seroprevalence in Asturias averaged 20.5%, similar to our estimate [ 13 ]. The seroprevalence detected in our study was higher than that reported for Scandinavian wolves (10.1%) during 1998–2013, which was hypothesized to be related to higher densities of wild carnivores and greater contact of wolves with domestic animals in the Iberian Peninsula [ 35 ].…”

“…Most of Europe’s wolf populations have been increasing, however the Iberian population is, in general, stable [ 28 ]. Inhabiting a largely human-dominated landscape, such as our study area [ 47 ], frequent contact with humans and domestic animals may contribute to the occurrence of sarcoptic mange outbreaks [ 1 , 35 ]. Additionally, the Iberian wolf population is highly structured, presents low connectivity [ 48 ], and exhibits low genetic diversity in the major histocompatibility complex class II locus [ 49 ].…”

Sarcoptic mange: An emerging panzootic in wildlife

“…In solitary species, non‐social transmission mechanisms may become relevant. For example, solitary species may have predator–prey encounters (Fuchs et al., 2016; Gakuya et al., 2011), intraguild predation (Kolodziej‐Sobocinska et al., 2014; Linnell et al., 1998) or carrion consumption (Alasaad, Ndeereh, et al., 2012; Andrews, 1983).…”

The range of the mange: Spatiotemporal patterns of sarcoptic mange in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) as revealed by camera trapping

“…This disease is widely distributed around the world and it affects a wide range of mammalian species. Sarcoptic mange has been reported in Eurasian lynx ( Lynx lynx ) [ 1 ], European rabbits [ 2 ], Iberian ibex ( Capra pyrenaica ) [ 3 ] and different wolf populations ( Canis lupus ) [ 4 – 6 ] in Europe. It has also been reported in coyotes ( Canis latrans ) in North America [ 7 ], wombats ( Vombatus ursinus ) in Australia [ 8 , 9 ] or recently in Kenyan giraffes ( Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata ) [ 10 ].…”