Abstract
This study collects pathological information concerning sarcoptic mange in sympatric red deer, roe deer, chamois, wolf and red fox from Northern Spain, and discusses reported variations in the response from the different species against Sarcoptes scabiei. Wolf is the only studied species which shows prevalence of the hypersensitivity (alopecic) response to the detriment of the hyperkeratotic form, usually observed in ungulates and fox. The present work shows the use of immunohistochemistry as a valuable tool for the study and diagnosis of sarcoptic mange in those species whose immune response or stage of infestation limits the number of detectable mites, not an unusual difficulty faced when working with sarcoptic mange in wildlife species.
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Acknowledgments
The authors thank Cotos de Caza, Veterinary Services of the Sección de Caza de la Consejería de Medio Ambiente del Principado de Asturias, and our colleagues of IREC Oscar Rodríguez and María Suárez for helping with the sample collection. Dr. Marta Muñoz is thanked for critically reviewing the manuscript. Dr. Ana Balseiro is recipient of a “Contrato de Investigación para Doctores” from the Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agraria y Agroalimentaria (INIA). This project is supported by INIA RTA2008-00041-00-00 and is a contribution to the agreement between CSIC and Principado de Asturias.
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None of the authors of this paper has a financial or personal relationship with other people or organisations that could inappropriately influence or bias the content of the paper.
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Oleaga, A., Casais, R., Prieto, J.M. et al. Comparative pathological and immunohistochemical features of sarcoptic mange in five sympatric wildlife species in Northern Spain. Eur J Wildl Res 58, 997–1000 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-012-0662-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-012-0662-y