Sarcoptic mange in the Scandinavian wolf Canis lupus population

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 perf...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:BMC Veterinary Research
Main Authors: Fuchs, Boris, Zimmermann, Barbara, Wabakken, Petter, Bornstein, Set, Månsson, Johan, Evans, Alina L., Liberg, Olof, Sand, Håkan, Kindberg, Jonas, Ågren, Erik O., Arnemo, Jon Martin
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: PubMed Central 2016
Subjects:
Canis lupus
Grey wolf
Sarcoptes scabiei
Sarcoptic mange
Ectoparasites
ELISA
Red fox
Vulpes vulpes
Wildlife disease
VDP::Mathematics and natural science: 400::Zoology and botany: 480
VDP::Agriculture and fishery disciplines: 900::Clinical veterinary science disciplines: 950
Mite
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/11250/2418894
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-016-0780-y
Description
Summary: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.

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