Changes in the Skin Microbiota in Two Bare-nosed Wombats (Vombatus ursinus) with Differing Recovery Trajectories following Treatment for Sarcoptic Mange

Christina Næsborg-Nielsen; Kate Mounsey; Vicky Wilkinson; Raphael Eisenhofer; Christopher P Burridge; Scott Carver

doi:10.7589/JWD-D-23-00136

Changes in the Skin Microbiota in Two Bare-nosed Wombats (Vombatus ursinus) with Differing Recovery Trajectories following Treatment for Sarcoptic Mange

J Wildl Dis. 2024 May 8. doi: 10.7589/JWD-D-23-00136. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Christina Næsborg-Nielsen¹, Kate Mounsey^{2

3}, Vicky Wilkinson¹, Raphael Eisenhofer⁴, Christopher P Burridge¹, Scott Carver^{1

5

6}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart, Tasmania 7005, Australia.
² School of Health, University of Sunshine Coast, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs, Queensland 4456, Australia.
³ Sunshine Coast Health Institute, 6 Doherty Street, Birtinya, Queensland 4575, Australia.
⁴ Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 1353, Denmark.
⁵ Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, 140 E Green Street, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA.
⁶ Center for the Ecology of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, 203 D. W. Brooks Drive, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA.

PMID: 38717896
DOI: 10.7589/JWD-D-23-00136

Abstract

We report tracking of bacterial skin microbiota for two bare-nosed wombats (Vombatus ursinus) following in situ treatment for sarcoptic mange. Sarcoptes scabiei, the etiologic agent, has dramatic effects on skin microbiota. Our case reports show differing disease trajectory and bacterial beta diversity between the two treated individuals.

Keywords: Sarcoptes scabiei; Bare-nosed wombat; microbiota; recovery; restoration; sarcoptic mange; treatment Vombatus ursinus.