Experimental infection of chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica parva) with Sarcoptes scabiei derived from naturally infected goats

Two chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica parva) out of a group of three were experi mentally infected with Sarcoptes scabiei derived from a naturally infected domestic goat. One of the chamois presented the first clinical manifestatio ns (papules and desquamation) at 7 days post-infection, after 22 days crust s and alopecia appeared and after 41 days pruritus. The other chamois prese nted desquamation after 15 days and papules after 21 days and crusts and al opecia after 31 days. AU these clinical manifestations continued to spread and when the animals were treated at 84 days post-infection, pruritus, papu les and crusts were first to disappear, there being no evidence of their pr esence at 99 days post-infection, when the second treatment dose was applie d. The desquamation and alopecia disappeared at 114 days post-infection, by which stage both animals were considered to have been cured. The results o f the skin scraping was negative in both chamois until 54 days post-infecti on and it became negative again after 84 days, when the first treatment dos e was applied. Biopsies showed different levels of hyperkeratosis and a mar ked epidermic hyperplasia with formation of small crusts. Superficial epide rmis presented marked vasodilatation and also infiltrated inflammation. Non e of the biopsies carried out showed the presence of parasites. The noninfe cted chamois, which was kept in the same compound as the other two, did not present any clinical manifestations compatible with infection by S. scabie i throughout the entire period of the experiment.