Mange epizootic in white-nosed coatis in western Mexico

From November of 1994 to June of 1996 an epizootic of mange, probably cause d by the mite Notoedres cati, occurred in white-nosed coatis (Nasua narica) in the tropical dry forests of the Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere Reserve in w estern Mexico. A monitoring scheme to deter-mine the extent and severity of the epizootic within coatis was implemented. Trapping periods and transect s were conducted for 2 yr. To control the spread of the disease, all captur ed infected coatis were either euthanized or treated with acaricides such a s Butox(R) and Ivomec-F(R), depending on the severity of their infection. F our other species of wild mammals and feral cats had skin conditions resemb ling mange A more severe problem with the disease of predicted. results ind icate that epizootics may be more prone to occur in areas with greater frag mentation and less isolation from anthropogenic influence. interestingly, a lthough there was an apparently severe impact of the mange epizootic in the coati population, the long-term impact of the disease is unknown but appea rs to be negligible. So in order to understand the role of diseases in wild life populations, long-term experimental studies are required.