Barbara Moroni1, Samer Angelone2, Jesús M Pérez3,4, Anna Rita Molinar Min5, Mario Pasquetti5, Paolo Tizzani5, Jorge Ramón López-Olvera4, Marta Valldeperes4, José Enrique Granados6, Santiago Lavín4, Gregorio Mentaberre7, Leonor Camacho-Sillero8, Carlos Martínez-Carrasco9, Alvaro Oleaga10, Mónica Candela9, Pier Giuseppe Meneguz5, Luca Rossi5. 1. Department of Veterinary Science, University of Turin, Largo Braccini 2, 10095, Grugliasco, Italy. barbara.moroni@unito.it. 2. Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. 3. Department of Animal and Plant Biology, and Ecology, University of Jaén, Campus Las Lagunillas, Jaén, Spain. 4. Wildlife Ecology & Health Group (WE&H), and Departament de Medicina I Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain. 5. Department of Veterinary Science, University of Turin, Largo Braccini 2, 10095, Grugliasco, Italy. 6. Wildlife Ecology & Health Group (WE&H), and Parque Nacional Y Parque Natural Sierra Nevada, Granada, Spain. 7. Wildlife Ecology & Health Group (WE&H), and Departament de Ciència Animal, Escola Tècnica Superior D'Enginyeria Agraria, Universitat de Lleida, Lleida, Spain. 8. Programa Vigilancia Epidemiológica Fauna Silvestre, Consejería Agricultura, Ganadería, Pesca y Desarrollo Sostenible, Junta de Andalucía, Málaga, Spain. 9. Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain. 10. S.E.R.P.A., Sociedad de Servicios del Principado de Asturias S.A., Gijón, Spain.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: 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). 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. METHODS: Ten 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. RESULTS: Seventy-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. CONCLUSIONS: The 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.
BACKGROUND: 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 Iberianibex (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. METHODS: Ten 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. RESULTS: Seventy-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. CONCLUSIONS: The 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.
Authors: Jesús Cardells; Victor Lizana; Alba Martí-Marco; Santiago Lavín; Roser Velarde; Luca Rossi; Barbara Moroni Journal: Curr Res Parasitol Vector Borne Dis Date: 2021-03-24
Authors: Hebe Del Valle Ferreyra; Jaime Rudd; Janet Foley; Ralph E T Vanstreels; Ana M Martín; Emiliano Donadio; Marcela M Uhart Journal: PLoS One Date: 2022-01-21 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Barbara Moroni; Alice Brambilla; Luca Rossi; Pier Giuseppe Meneguz; Bruno Bassano; Paolo Tizzani Journal: Animals (Basel) Date: 2022-03-17 Impact factor: 2.752