| Prevalence and impact of mite infestations in wild carnivores in Romania |
| Paper ID : 1044-IPCA5 |
| Authors |
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Georgiana Deak *1, Andreea Iani2, Kosta Y. Mumcuoglu3, Luca Rossi4, Andrei Mihalca5 1Univeristy of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Romania 2Calea Manstur 3-5 Cluj-Napoca 3Parasitology Unit, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel 4Department of Veterinary Science, University of Turin, Italy 5Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Romania, |
| Abstract |
| Mites are common ectoparasites that infest the auditory canals or the skin of domestic carnivores, often causing dermatitis, otitis externa, discomfort, and secondary infections. In Romania, there is a wide diversity of wild carnivores, many of which show increased urbanization and are commonly in contact with domestic animals. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of mite infestation and associated pathology in various wild carnivores from Romania. Between 2021-2024, a total of 74 wild carnivores, including 9 European wildcats (Felis silvestris), 2 Eurasian lynxes (Lynx lynx), 5 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), 3 golden jackals (Canis aureus), 42 Eurasian badgers Meles meles, beech marten, Martes foina (n=5); European pine marten, Martes martes (n=1); stoat, Mustela erminea (n=1); steppe polecat, Mustela eversmanii (n=1); and European polecat, Mustela putorius (n=5) were examined for collecting ear swabs from each individual and skin scrapes when lesions were observed. Otodectes cynotis was identified in two wildcats, one lynx, one fox, one jackal, and one badger. Additionally, one wildcat was positive for a severe clinical form of Sarcoptes scabiei infestation. The ear mite, Baloghella melis, was identified in 20 badgers (47.6%). Infestation by mites in wild carnivores highlights the health risks these arthropods pose to their hosts. This study reports for the first time ear mites O. cynotis and B. melis in Eurasian badgers and a severe chronic case of scabies in a wildcat from Romania. Further research is needed to assess the long-term effects of such infestations and to develop conservation strategies for vulnerable carnivore populations. |
| Keywords |
| mites, wild carnivores, Otodectes cynotis, Sarcoptes scabiei. Baloghella melis |
| Status: Abstract Accepted (Oral Presentation) |
