Background
Two transmission patterns of
Sarcoptes scabiei
in host mammal communities have been reported based on microsatellite-level genetic studies in the last two decades. While one involves restrictions among different host taxa, the other is associated with predator–prey interactions between different host taxa. In contrast to these observations, the present study reports a possible irregular case of transmission of
S. scabiei
between herbivorous Japanese serow and omnivorous Caniformia mammals in Japan, though under very weak predator–prey relationships.
Methods
DNA from 93
Sarcoptes
mites isolated from omnivorous Caniformia (such as the domestic dog, raccoon dog, raccoon and Japanese marten), omnivorous Cetartiodactyla (wild boar) and herbivorous Cetartiodactyla (Japanese serow) in Japan were analyzed by amplifying nine microsatellite markers. Principal components analyses (PCA), Bayesian clustering analyses using STRUCTURE software, and phylogenetic analyses by constructing a NeighborNet network were applied to determine the genetic relationships among mites associated with host populations.
Results
In all the analyses, the genetic differentiation of
Sarcoptes
mites from wild boars and Japanese serows was observed. Conversely, considerably close genetic relationships were detected between Caniformia-derived and Japanese serow-derived mites. Because the predator–prey interactions between the omnivorous Caniformia and herbivorous Japanese serow are quite limited and epidemiological history shows at least a 10-year lag between the emergence of sarcoptic mange in Japanese serow and that in Caniformia, the transmission of
S. scabiei
from Caniformia to Japanese serow is highly suspected.
Conclusions
The close genetic relationships among mites beyond Host–taxon relationships and without obvious predator–prey interactions in Caniformia and Japanese serow deviate from previously reported
S. scabiei
transmission patterns. This type of cryptic relationship of
S. scabiei
populations may exist in local mammalian communities worldwide and become a risk factor for the conservation of the remnant and fragmented populations of wild mammals.
Electronic supplementary material
The online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-019-3630-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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