Clearance of Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae in Captive Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis) Following Extended Oral Doxycycline Treatment.

Respiratory disease is a significant barrier for bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) conservation, and a need remains for management options in both captive and free-ranging populations. We treated Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae infection in six bighorn lambs and five bighorn yearlings at two captive research facilities with twice daily oral doxycycline for 8 wk or longer. Doses of 5 mg/kg twice daily mixed in formula for lambs and 10 mg/kg twice daily mixed in moistened pellets for older lambs and yearlings were tolerated well with minimal side effects. All animals in this case report remain Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae free over 2 yr later. Further evaluation is warranted to confirm efficacy of this therapeutic approach.

Butorphanol, Azaperone, and Medetomidine for Chemical Immobilization in Free-Ranging Shiras (Alces alces shirasi) Moose: Ground and Helicopter Darting in Wyoming, USA.

We chemically immobilized a free-ranging moose subspecies, Shiras moose (Alces alces shirasi), using a combination of butorphanol (27.3 mg/mL), azaperone (9.1 mg/mL), and medetomidine (10.9 mg/mL). Ground and helicopter darting with fixed doses of 2 mL and 3 mL, respectively, safely immobilized 13 individuals in Wyoming, USA.

Sarcoptic mange: An emerging panzootic in wildlife.

Sarcoptic mange, a skin infestation caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei, is an emerging disease for some species of wildlife, potentially jeopardizing their welfare and conservation. Sarcoptes scabiei has a near-global distribution facilitated by its forms of transmission and use of a large diversity of host species (many of those with broad geographic distribution). In this review, we synthesize the current knowledge concerning the geographic and host taxonomic distribution of mange in wildlife, the epidemiological connections between species, and the potential threat of sarcoptic mange for wildlife conservation. Recent sarcoptic mange outbreaks in wildlife appear to demonstrate ongoing geographic spread, increase in the number of hosts and increased virulence. Sarcoptic mange has been reported in at least 12 orders, 39 families and 148 species of domestic and wild mammals, making it one of the most generalist ectoparasites of mammals. Taxonomically, the orders with most species found infested so far include Perissodactyla (67% species from the entire order), Artiodactyla (47%), and Diprotodontia (67% from this order). This suggests that new species from these mammal orders are likely to suffer cross-species transmission and be reported positive to sarcoptic mange as surveillance improves. We propose a new agenda for the study of sarcoptic mange in wildlife, including the study of the global phylogeography of S. scabiei, linkages between ecological host traits and sarcoptic mange susceptibility, immunology of individuals and species, development of control strategies in wildlife outbreaks and the effects of global environmental change in the sarcoptic mange system. The ongoing transmission globally and sustained spread among areas and wildlife species make sarcoptic mange an emerging panzootic in wildlife. A better understanding of sarcoptic mange could illuminate the aspects of ecological and evolutionary drivers in cross-species transmission for many emerging diseases.

PHARMACOKINETICS OF A SINGLE DOSE OF FLURALANER ADMINISTERED ORALLY TO AMERICAN BLACK BEARS (URSUS AMERICANUS).

Sarcoptic mange continues to impact free-ranging mammal populations, including the American black bear (Ursus americanus). Administration of a single oral dose of fluralaner may be a viable treatment option for captive and free-ranging black bears affected by mange. This novel ectoparasitic in the isoxazoline class acts as an inhibitor of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-gated chloride channels and l-glutamate-gated chloride channels (GluCls) and is commercially available in the United States as a flea and tick preventative medication for domestic dogs and cats. Pharmacokinetic parameters of fluralaner were evaluated in clinically healthy American black bear cubs (n = 10) administered a single oral dose of fluralaner at a targeted minimum dose of 25 mg/kg. Blood was collected at 24 hr and 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, 56, 63, and 70 days, and harvested plasma was analyzed for drug concentration using high-performance liquid chromatography. The average half-life (Ke t1/2) was determined to be 4.9 days, which is shorter than that published in domestic dogs. It was estimated that the average drug withdrawal time is approximately 64-72 days in this species.

SEROLOGY AS A TOOL TO INVESTIGATE SARCOPTIC MANGE IN AMERICAN BLACK BEARS (URSUS AMERICANUS).

Black bears (Ursus americanus) have historically been considered an uncommon host for sarcoptic mange. However, over the last 25 yr, sarcoptic mange has been increasingly reported in black bears in the northeastern US. Syndromic monitoring is the most common surveillance approach for mange in bears, but tools to monitor exposure to Sarcoptes scabiei in bear populations have not been thoroughly evaluated under field conditions. In this study, we validated a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), designed to detect antibodies against S. scabiei in dogs, for use in black bears with a sensitivity and specificity of 95.6% and 96.6%, respectively. To further examine the performance of this assay, serial serum samples from seven black bears with confirmed sarcoptic mange were collected posttreatment to determine the persistence of detectable antibody response with the ELISA. Antibodies in black bears waned to below the limit of detection between 4 and 14 wk, suggesting that serology studies might underestimate the number of exposed black bears after antibodies have waned. State-wide serosurveys in Pennsylvania from hunter-harvested black bears in 2017 and 2018 showed a significant difference in seroprevalence between regions with high occurrence of mange (mean seroprevalence 6.7%, range of 6.6-6.8%) and low occurrence of mange (no seropositive black bears were detected). Within Pennsylvania, these data indicate that the geographic distribution of exposure to S. scabiei, based on serologic testing, generally reflects the distribution of overt disease, as determined by syndromic surveillance. Collectively, these results indicate the evaluated ELISA is an effective tool for monitoring S. scabiei exposure in bear populations and provides the framework for additional studies regarding sarcoptic mange epidemiology in black bears.

Characterization of an Unusual Mesenchymal Tumor in the Proventriculus of a Free-ranging Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis).

An adult, female red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) was presented for examination after being found unable to fly on a private citizen's property. Further diagnostic testing revealed a vascular, soft tissue mass arising from the serosal surface of the proximal proventriculus. Postmortem histological and immunohistochemical examination of the mass revealed an unusual mesenchymal tumor with features consistent with a leiomyoma or low-grade gastrointestinal stromal tumor.

International meeting on sarcoptic mange in wildlife, June 2018, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA.

Sarcoptic mange is a globally distributed disease caused by the burrowing mite Sarcoptes scabiei, which also causes scabies in humans. A wide and increasing number of wild mammal species are reported to be susceptible to mange; however, the impacts of the disease in wildlife populations, mechanisms involved in its eco-epidemiological dynamics, and risks to public and ecosystem health are still unclear. Major gaps exist concerning S. scabiei host specificity and the mechanisms involved in the different presentations of the disease, which change between individuals and species. Immunological responses to the mite may have a relevant role explaining these different susceptibilities, as these affect the clinical signs, and consequently, the severity of the disease. Recently, some studies have suggested sarcoptic mange as an emerging threat for wildlife, based on several outbreaks with increased severity, geographical expansions, and novel wild hosts affected. Disease ecology experts convened for the "International Meeting on Sarcoptic Mange in Wildlife" on 4-5 June 2018, hosted by the Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia, USA. The meeting had a structure of (i) pre-workshop review; (ii) presentation and discussions; and (iii) identification of priority research questions to understand sarcoptic mange in wildlife. The workgroup concluded that research priorities should be on determining the variation in modes of transmission for S. scabiei in wildlife, factors associated with the variation of disease severity among species, and long-terms effects of the mange in wildlife populations. In this note we summarize the main discussions and research gaps identified by the experts.