Sarcoptic mange breaks up bottom-up regulation of body condition in a large herbivore population

Carvalho, João; Granados, José E.; López‐Olvera, Jorge Ramón; Cano-Manuel, Francisco Javier; Pérez, Jesús M.; Fandós, Paulino; Soriguer, Ramón C.; Velarde, Roser; Fonseca, Carlos; Ráez, Arián; Espinosa, J. Alberto; Pettorelli, Nathalie; Serrano, Emmanuel

doi:10.1186/s13071-015-1188-4

Cited by 30 publications

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References 37 publications

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“…The evaluation of the ELISA tests carried out in this study and the identification of ELISA C as a reliable tool for sarcoptic mange diagnosis in Iberian ibex will be useful in future research. Nevertheless, the limitations in sensitivity and specificity should be considered while assessing the results, and more studies on (i) the dynamics of the antibody response after S. scabiei infestation in Iberian ibex; (ii) the correlation between parasitic load, mange severity and immune response; and (iii) the influence of sex [ 34 , 54 ] and season [ 17 , 55 ] on the OD % are necessary in order to better understand the immune response to sarcoptic mange in the Iberian ibex.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although sex and season determine sarcoptic mange severity and progression in Iberian ibex [ 17 , 34 , 54 , 55 ], the effects of these two factors on ELISA performance could not be evaluated due to insufficient sample size. Statistical analyses were performed using the R software version 3.2.4 (R Development Core Team 2016, The R Foundation, Vienna, Austria).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evaluation of three enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for sarcoptic mange diagnosis and assessment in the Iberian ibex, Capra pyrenaica

et al. 2016

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BackgroundSarcoptic mange is a contagious skin disease caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei, affecting different mammalian species worldwide including the Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica), in which mortalities over 90 % of the population have been reported. No efficient diagnostic methods are available for this disease, particularly when there are low mite numbers and mild or no clinical signs. In this study, three enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) developed for dog (ELISA A), Cantabrian chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica parva) (ELISA B) and Alpine chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) (ELISA C), were evaluated to detect specific antibodies (IgG) to sarcoptic mange in Iberian ibex sera.MethodsSerum samples from 131 Iberian ibexes (86 healthy and 45 scabietic) were collected from 2005 to 2012 in the Sierra Nevada Natural and National Parks (southern Spain). Based on visual inspection, ibexes were classified into one of three categories, namely healthy (without scabietic compatible lesions), mildly affected (skin lesions over less than 50 % of the body surface) and severely affected (skin lesions over more than 50 % of the body surface). The optimal cut-off point, specificity, sensitivity and the area under the curve (AUC) were calculated, and the agreement between tests was determined. Moreover, differences in the optical density (OD) related to scabies severity have been evaluated for the best test.ResultsELISA C showed better performance than the two other tests, reaching higher values of sensitivity (93.0 %) and specificity (93.5 %) against the visual estimation of the percentage of affected skin, chosen as the gold standard. Significantly higher concentrations of specific antibodies were observed with this test in the mildly and severely infested ibexes than in healthy ones.ConclusionsOur results revealed that ELISA C was an optimal test to diagnose sarcoptic mange in the Iberian ibex. Further studies characterizing immune response during the course of the disease, including spontaneous or drug induced recovery, should follow in order to better understand sarcoptic mange in Iberian ibex populations.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of three enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for sarcoptic mange diagnosis and assessment in the Iberian ibex, Capra pyrenaica

et al. 2016

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“…However, the severity and distribution of these lesions, as well as the outcome of the disease, vary between host species and individuals of the same species [ 1 , 8 ]. Mild infestations often have little effect on hosts, although chronic infestations can affect fat reserves and food-conversion efficiency [ 9 , 10 ]. Anemia, damage to inner organs and secondary bacterial complications may also compromise the survival of the host [ 11 – 13 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Histopathology, microbiology and the inflammatory process associated with Sarcoptes scabiei infection in the Iberian ibex, Capra pyrenaica

et al. 2017

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BackgroundSarcoptic mange has been identified as the most significant infectious disease affecting the Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica). Despite several studies on the effects of mange on ibex, the pathological and clinical picture derived from sarcoptic mange infestation is still poorly understood. To further knowledge of sarcoptic mange pathology, samples from ibex were evaluated from histological, microbiological and serological perspectives.MethodsSamples of skin, non-dermal tissues and blood were collected from 54 ibex (25 experimentally infected, 15 naturally infected and 14 healthy). Skin biopsies were examined at different stages of the disease for quantitative cellular, structural and vascular changes. Sixteen different non-dermal tissues of each ibex were taken for histological study. Acetylcholinesterase and serum amyloid A protein levels were evaluated from blood samples from ibex with different lesional grade. Samples of mangy skin, suppurative lesions and internal organs were characterized microbiologically by culture. Bacterial colonies were identified by a desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry system (MALDI TOF/TOF).ResultsThe histological study of the skin lesions revealed serious acanthosis, hyperkeratosis, rete ridges, spongiotic oedema, serocellular and eosinophilic crusts, exocytosis foci, apoptotic cells and sebaceous gland hyperplasia. The cellular response in the dermis was consistent with type I and type IV hypersensitivity responses. The most prominent histological findings in non-dermal tissues were lymphoid hyperplasia, leukocytosis, congestion and the presence of amyloid deposits. The increase in serum concentrations of acetylcholinesterase and amyloid A protein correlated positively with the establishment of the inflammatory response in mangy skin and the presence of systemic amyloidosis. A wide variety of bacterial agents were isolated and the simultaneous presence of these in mangy skin, lymph nodes and internal organs such as lungs, liver, spleen and kidney was compatible with a septicaemic pattern of infection.ConclusionsThe alteration of biomarkers of inflammation and its implication in the pathogenesis of the disease and development of lesions in non-dermal tissues and septicaemic processes are serious conditioners for the survival of the mangy ibex. This severe clinical picture could be an important factor when considering the decision to eliminate animals that exceed a certain disease threshold from a population.

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“…The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI [ 36 ]) was included in the analysis as a proxy of environmental moisture [ 37 ]. This variable was previously associated with ectoparasite burdens [ 35 ] and was recently linked to the dynamics and consequences of S. scabiei infestation in the Iberian ibex population of SNNS [ 38 ]. The NDVI was gathered from the MODIS repository (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer; http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov ) at a spatial resolution of 500 m and at a bi-monthly temporal resolution.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sarcoptes scabiei infestation does not alter the stability of ectoparasite communities

et al. 2016

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BackgroundThe host represents a heterogeneous ecosystem where multiple parasite species co-occur and interact with each other for space and resources. Although these interactions may rule the features of an infracommunity and may shape the infracommunity response to external perturbations, the resilience of ectoparasite communities to new infestations remains poorly explored.MethodsWe analysed the composition of the ectoparasite communities found on 214 individual Iberian ibexes (Capra pyrenaica) inhabiting the Sierra Nevada Natural Space, southern Spain. Using classification and regression trees, we explored how the presence of Sarcoptes scabiei (a highly contagious mite), the off-host environment and the host sex govern the prevalence and abundance of lice and ticks. Null model analysis was applied to assess the impact of S. scabiei on the structure of the ectoparasite communities.ResultsOur results suggest that S. scabiei infestation acts in tandem with off-host environment and host sex to define the prevalence and abundance of lice and ticks. We also provided evidence for differences in species co-occurrence only at the early stages of S. scabiei infestation. Regarding species diversity, we recorded that ectoparasite communities in scabietic ibexes reached a high richness faster than those in healthy individuals.ConclusionsEven though we show that ectoparasite burden is correlated with S. scabiei infestation, off-host environment and host sex, the species response to S. scabiei infestation and climate seem to be highly variable and influenced by ectoparasite life-history traits. Ectoparasite communities also appear resilient to perturbations which is in agreement with what was previously reported for endoparasites. Future refinement of sample collection and the incorporation of ecological and epidemiological-related variables may allow us to establish causal effects and deepen the knowledge about the mechanisms and consequences of ectoparasite interactions.

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Sarcoptic mange breaks up bottom-up regulation of body condition in a large herbivore population

Cited by 30 publications

References 37 publications

Evaluation of three enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for sarcoptic mange diagnosis and assessment in the Iberian ibex, Capra pyrenaica

Evaluation of three enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for sarcoptic mange diagnosis and assessment in the Iberian ibex, Capra pyrenaica

Histopathology, microbiology and the inflammatory process associated with Sarcoptes scabiei infection in the Iberian ibex, Capra pyrenaica

Sarcoptes scabiei infestation does not alter the stability of ectoparasite communities

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