Serology as a Tool to Investigate Sarcoptic Mange in American Black Bears (Ursus Americanus)

Niedringhaus, Kevin D.; Brown, Justin D.; Ternent, Mark A.; Peltier, Sarah K.; Wick, Peach Van; Yabsley, Michael J.

doi:10.7589/2019-04-086

Cited by 7 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…Interestingly, 3.1% of the clinically healthy Iberian ibexes showed antibodies against S. scabiei. This result could be associated to the Sp of the ELISA (93.5%) or may mirror alternative situations, such as (i) recovery after infection and the transitory development of mild lesions [15,38,39], or (ii) the presence of the disease at an early stage. Concerning the second hypothesis, although the Se of the visual inspection has been shown to be high (87.1%) [31], the presence of undetected skin lesions during the external inspection cannot be ruled out, particularly in recently infected animals.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Surveillance of Sarcoptic Mange in Iberian Ibexes (Capra pyrenaica) and Domestic Goats (Capra hircus) in Southern Spain

Gómez-Guillamón,

Jiménez-Martín,

Dellamaria

et al. 2024

Animals

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Sarcoptic mange is a highly contagious skin disease caused by Sarcoptes scabiei. Sera were collected from 411 Iberian ibexes, comprising 157 individuals with sarcoptic mange skin lesions and 254 clinically healthy animals, in 13 population nuclei across Andalusia (southern Spain) between 2015 and 2021. Skin samples from 88 of the 157 animals with mange-compatible lesions were also obtained. Moreover, 392 serum samples from domestic goats (Capra hircus) were collected in the same region and study period. Antibodies against S. scabiei were tested using an in-house indirect ELISA, while the presence of mites of S. scabiei was evaluated in the skin samples by potassium hydroxide digestion. Seropositivity was found in eight (3.1%) of the clinically healthy ibexes and in 104 (66.2%) of the animals with mange-compatible lesions. The presence of S. scabiei was confirmed in 57 (64.8%) out of the 88 skin samples analysed and anti-S. scabiei antibodies were found in 49 (86.0%) of these 57 mite-positive individuals. Seropositive animals were detected in population nuclei with previous records of sarcoptic mange, where S. scabiei mites were detected by potassium hydroxide digestion in individuals with sarcoptic mange-compatible external lesions. However, seropositivity was not observed in population nuclei that were historically free of this disease. None of the 392 domestic goats had antibodies against S. scabiei, suggesting an independent epidemiological cycle of sarcoptic mange in Iberian ibex populations in the study area, and a limited or null role of domestic goats in the transmission of the parasite to this wild species. Overall, our findings underscore the importance of maintaining and/or implementing integrated surveillance programs and control strategies in wildlife and livestock, to limit the risk of S. scabiei circulation in Iberian ibex populations.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Surveillance of Sarcoptic Mange in Iberian Ibexes (Capra pyrenaica) and Domestic Goats (Capra hircus) in Southern Spain

Gómez-Guillamón,

Jiménez-Martín,

Dellamaria

et al. 2024

Animals

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“…Serum samples ( n =59) were collected from 53 individual bears in 2016–17 from GAAR, LACL, and KATM and tested for antibodies to Sarcoptes scabiei using a commercial indirect ELISA kit designed for domestic dogs ( Sarcoptes -ELISA 2001, AFOSA GmbH, Blankenfelde-Mahlow, Germany). Modifications for use in black bears ( Ursus americanus ) were implemented as described (Niedringhaus et al 2020).…”

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confidence: 99%

“…None of the sampled bears had clinical evidence of mange, but a low percentage were positive for antibodies reactive to S. scabiei . Although the assay used has not been validated for brown bears, it has been validated for black bears (Niedringhaus et al 2020). Notably, there have not been any reported cases of sarcoptic mange in any wildlife species in Alaska, and it is possible that this assay may cross-react with other mites, such as Ursicoptes ; therefore, additional work is needed to validate these serologic results, as well as continuing to monitor susceptible wildlife species in Alaska for cases of mange.…”

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confidence: 99%

Survey for Selected Parasites in Alaska Brown Bears (Ursus arctos)

Haynes

Coker

Yabsley

et al. 2023

Journal of Wildlife Diseases

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To assess infection with or exposure to endo- and ectoparasites in Alaska brown bears (Ursus arctos), blood and fecal samples were collected during 2013–17 from five locations: Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve; Katmai National Park; Lake Clark National Park and Preserve; Yakutat Forelands; and Kodiak Island. Standard fecal centrifugal flotation was used to screen for gastrointestinal parasites, molecular techniques were used to test blood for the presence of Bartonella and Babesia spp., and an ELISA was used to detect antibodies reactive to Sarcoptes scabiei, a species of mite recently associated with mange in American black bears (Ursus americanus). From fecal flotations (n=160), we identified the following helminth eggs: Uncinaria sp. (n=16, 10.0%), Baylisascaris sp. (n=5, 3.1%), Dibothriocephalus sp. (n=2, 1.2%), and taeniid-type eggs (n=1, 0.6%). Molecular screening for intraerythrocytic parasites (Babesia spp.) and intracellular bacteria (Bartonella spp.) was negative for all bears tested. We detected antibodies to S. scabiei in six of 59 (10.2%) individuals. The relatively low level of parasite detection in this study meets expectations for brown bear populations living in large, relatively undisturbed habitats near the northern edge of the range. These results provide a contemporary understanding of parasites in Alaska brown bears and establish baseline levels of parasite presence to monitor for changes over time and relative to ecologic alterations.

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Ophthalmology of Ursidae: Bears

Hartley

Oliveira²

2022

Wild and Exotic Animal Ophthalmology

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Serology as a Tool to Investigate Sarcoptic Mange in American Black Bears (Ursus Americanus)

Cited by 7 publications

References 40 publications

Surveillance of Sarcoptic Mange in Iberian Ibexes (Capra pyrenaica) and Domestic Goats (Capra hircus) in Southern Spain

Surveillance of Sarcoptic Mange in Iberian Ibexes (Capra pyrenaica) and Domestic Goats (Capra hircus) in Southern Spain

Survey for Selected Parasites in Alaska Brown Bears (Ursus arctos)

Ophthalmology of Ursidae: Bears

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