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. 2024 Jul 8;33(2):e020523.
doi: 10.1590/S1984-29612024030. eCollection 2024.

Epidemiology of sarcoptic mange in free-ranging vicuñas (Vicugna vicugna): a cross-sectional study in Andean highland communities in Peru

Marcos Enrique Serrano-Martínez  1 , Gabriel Bazán Alcántara  2 , Marco Enciso  3 , Fahrid Huanca Mori  4 , Luis Llanco Albornoz  5 , Stef de Haan  6 , Henry Juárez  6 , Sthefany Aguilar Tejeda  1 , Cristofer Cruz Camero  1 , Cesar Burga-Cisterna  1
Affiliations

Epidemiology of sarcoptic mange in free-ranging vicuñas (Vicugna vicugna): a cross-sectional study in Andean highland communities in Peru

Marcos Enrique Serrano-Martínez et al. Rev Bras Parasitol Vet. .

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

Sarcoptic mange or scabies is a contagious parasitic skin disease that affects a wide range of domestic and wildlife species. A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the prevalence, molecular identification, and characteristics of sarcoptic mange in vicuñas. A total of 3,274 vicuñas were examined. Following ritual harvesting events ("chaccus") in 13 Andean communities. The presence of mange mites was determined by the skin scraping technique and confirmed by PCR analysis using specific primers for the ITS2 gene of Sarcoptes scabiei. The presence of mange mites was also confirmed by microscopy using samples taken from wallows. A data collection form was used to register the characteristics of the vicuñas sampled. The prevalence of sarcoptic mange was 4.9% (95% CI: 4.1 - 5.6%). All samples from wallows tested positive (9/9). Importantly, the presence of the species S. scabiei was molecularly confirmed. Adult females with regular body condition were more susceptible to sarcoptic mange, although the lesions were mild. This study confirms the presence of S. scabiei in semi-captive vicuñas and points to the possible role of wallows in the dissemination of Sarcoptes mites.

A sarna sarcóptica é uma doença parasitária contagiosa da pele que afeta uma ampla gama de espécies domésticas e selvagens. Um estudo transversal foi realizado para determinar a prevalência, identificação molecular e características da sarna sarcóptica em vicunhas. Foram avaliadas 3.274 vicunhas, capturadas durante o "Chaccus", em 13 comunidades rurais alto andinas do Peru. A presença do ácaro da sarna foi determinada pelo raspado de pele e confirmada pela técnica de PCR, com iniciadores específicos para o gene ITS2 de Sarcoptes scabiei e por microscopia nos chafurdeiros. Foi preenchida uma ficha de coleta de dados com as características das vicunhas analisadas. A prevalência de sarna sarcóptica em vicunhas foi de 4,9% (95% IC: 4,1 - 5,6%). Todas as amostras de chafurda testadas (9/9) foram positivas, e a presença de S. scabiei foi confirmada molecularmente. Fêmeas adultas com condições corporais regulares foram mais suscetíveis à sarna sarcóptica, embora as lesões fossem leves. O estudo confirma a presença de S. scabiei em vicunhas em semicativeiro de comunidades camponesas alto andinas do Peru que sofrem de sarna. Destaca-se, ainda, o papel das chafurdas das vicunhas na disseminação da sarna.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: None of the authors of this paper has a financial or personal relationship with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence the content of the paper.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Map of Peru and geographic location of the Andean highland communities included in this study.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Vicuña´s Chaccu: (A-D): sighting, fence, capture, and release of vicuñas.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Presence of Sarcoptes in vicuña skin scraping samples identified by 40X microscopy. A: adult stage of Sarcoptes; B: Egg of Sarcoptes.
Figure 4
Figure 4. Products amplified by PCR with primers for Sarcoptes scabiei in samples of vicuña skin scrapings from Andean highland communities in Peru. An amplicon of 300 base pairs is interpreted as a positive result. M: Marker weight, +: positive control, -Negative control, 1: Andamarca sample, 2: Aucara sample, 3: Cabana sample, 4: San Cristóbal sample, 5: Villa de Junín sample, 6: Sample from Lucana.
Figure 5
Figure 5. Vicuñas with skin lesions compatible with scabies in distinct locations of the body: (A) Abdomen, (B) Legs, (C) Groin, (D) Anus.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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