Notoedric mange (Notoedres centrifera) in two species of free-ranging rabbits from Florida, USA

Ryan K A Grunert; Melanie R Kunkel; Rebecca Radisic; Nicole M Nemeth; Caitlin E Burrell; Lisa A Shender; Veronica Guzman-Vargas; Mark W Cunningham; Michael J Yabsley

doi:10.1016/j.vprsr.2022.100748

Notoedric mange (Notoedres centrifera) in two species of free-ranging rabbits from Florida, USA

Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports. 2022 Aug:33:100748. doi: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2022.100748. Epub 2022 Jun 11.

Authors

Ryan K A Grunert¹, Melanie R Kunkel², Rebecca Radisic³, Nicole M Nemeth³, Caitlin E Burrell⁴, Lisa A Shender⁵, Veronica Guzman-Vargas⁵, Mark W Cunningham⁵, Michael J Yabsley⁶

Affiliations

¹ Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA. Electronic address: grunertryan@gmail.com.
² Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
³ Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA; Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
⁴ Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA; Zoo and Exotic Animal Pathology Service, Infectious Diseases Laboratory, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA; Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
⁵ Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Gainesville, FL 32601, USA.
⁶ Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA; Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA. Electronic address: myabsley@uga.edu.

PMID: 35820720
DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2022.100748

Abstract

Mange is a contagious skin disease caused by different mite species affecting numerous domestic and wild animals, worldwide. This report details notoedric mange in an eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) and in a marsh rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris) from Florida, USA. Clinical examination revealed similar gross lesions including poor nutritional condition, multifocal alopecia and hyperkeratosis. Skin scrapings from both rabbits revealed numerous subcutaneous mites identified as Notoedres centrifera, a species previously only associated with rodents, primarily squirrels. Mites from both rabbits were identified based on morphology and confirmed by sequencing the internal transcribed spacer-2 (ITS-2) region. These cases emphasize the need for continued surveillance and accurate diagnostic evaluation to determine the cause and characterization of the skin disease, while distinguishing it from other potential pathogens that may manifest similarly in rabbits, such as Notoedres cati, Sarcoptes scabiei or Psoroptes cuniculi.

Keywords: Lagomorphs; Mange; Mites; Notoedres; Outbreak; Parasite.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Animals
Animals, Wild
Mite Infestations* / diagnosis
Mite Infestations* / epidemiology
Mite Infestations* / veterinary
Rabbits
Sarcoptes scabiei
Sciuridae