Sarcoptic mange in Spanish ibex from Spain

The Spanish ibex (Capra pyrenaica hispanica) population of the "Sierras de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas" Nature Park (Spain) was isolated as the resul t of a severe epidemic of sarcoptic mange. In this context, the dynamic cha racteristics of the disease were analyzed in a wild group consisting of 35 animals from the beginning of the epizootic (when the mating period started ) to the extinction of the population due to mange. Monthly tracking permit ted the sequential characterization of the pathology in each animal. The du ration of the disease was 2 to 3 mo, evolving to severe disease and termina ting in death. Incidence and prevalence rates in terms of morbidity and sev erity, and mortality and lethality were calculated. At the end of the matin g season, 81% of the population were affected. There were no statistically significant differences in severity of the disease across sex or age catego ries of the animals. Most of the carcasses were found in caves used as refu ge and/or near rivers or streams. Additionally, 46 of the 63 (73%) ibex cap tured in different areas of the nature park were naturally infected with th e Sarcoptes scabiei. Infected ibex were examined for number of mites during the initial stage of the disease (n = 3), in the development stage (n = 12 ), in the consolidation stage (n = 17), and in the chronic stage (n = 14). The prevalence of mites in different anatomical regions was determined in e ach of these phases of the infection. A histological study of the skin lesi ons was conducted in 22 animals. Both the clinical and the pathological (ma croscopic and microscopic) aspects of the sarcoptic mange in Spanish ibex c orresponded to the classic description of sarcoptic mange in other wild and domestic small ruminants.