Mange/Scabies
Mange/Scabies
Do deer and other wildlife carry mange?
Mange is a disease caused by microscopic mites that burrow into the skin of mammals. There are three main forms of mange that infect wildlife, each affecting different types of animals and causing different symptoms (Cornell Wildlife Health Lab, 2018).
Sarcoptic Mange is caused by the mite species Sacroptes scabiei. Sarcoptic mange has been reported in over 100 species of wild and domestic mammals, including red foxes, coyotes, black bears, porcupines, rabbits, squirrels, and raccoons (Pennsylvania Game Commission, 2022). It is most commonly found in wild canids, such as foxes, coyotes, and wolves (Cornell Wildlife Health Lab, 2018). At least 15 varieties of the Sarcoptes scabiei mite have been identified, each adapted to a specific host or group of hosts (De et al., 2020). Sarcoptic mange is transmitted through direct contact with an affected animal or by coming into a contaminated environment like burrows or nests where free-living mites can survive for several weeks in high humidity and low temperatures (Cornell Wildlife Health Lab, 2018). The disease results in hair thinning and loss. The skin may become thickened, wrinkled, and covered in scabs and crusts. Skin lesions can involve the entire body with the ears and face most commonly affected. Animals with severe disease may become emaciated, depressed, and lethargic, and may lose their fear of humans. When the skin around the eyes, mouth, and ears is involved, animals may experience blindness, difficulty eating, and hearing loss. Red foxes are typically the most severely affected wild species and often die of this disease (Pennsylvania Game Commission, 2022).
Notoedric Mange is caused by the mite species Notoedres centrifera. This type of mange is host-specific to squirrels, and has been found in the Western Gray Squirrel, Eastern Gray Squirrel, and Fox Squirrel. Squirrels with this disease typically lose hair over the chest and shoulders first, and eventually lose hair over the entire body. Notoedric mange can be fatal in squirrels, particularly in the winter months when the loss of fur exposes them to the cold (Cornell Wildlife Health Lab, 2018).
Demodectic Mange is caused by several mites in the genus Demodex. The disease is found in a variety of wild mammals, including White-tailed Deer and Black Bears. Demodex mites are commonly found on the skin of healthy mammals with no adverse symptoms. Clinical signs of demodectic mange occur in animals that are suffering from poor nutrition, other diseases, or a weakened immune system. Similar to the other forms of mange, animals with demodectic mange can experience mild to moderate hair loss with dry, flakey, thickened skin (Pennsylvania Game Commission, 2022).
Can my dog get mange from deer?
Sarcoptic mange may be transmitted from wildlife (primarily red foxes and coyotes) to domestic dogs. The mange mite most commonly found on White-tailed Deer is the Demodex mite, which does not generally cause disease in healthy dogs. Demodex mites are present on the skin of most dogs, and cause no symptoms as long as the dog's immune system is functioning properly (VCA Animal Hospitals, n.d.).
Can people get mange from deer?
Mange in humans is more commonly called Scabies. It is caused by a variant of the Sarcoptes scabiei mite that is specific to humans. However, people who are exposed to wildlife or domestic pets with sarcoptic mange can become infected. Because humans are not the preferred host for these mites, such infections are typically temporary and self-limiting, lasting 10-14 days (Cornell Wildlife Health Lab, 2018). White-tailed Deer typically carry Demodex mites, which do not pose a danger to humans.
References:
Cornell Wildlife Health Lab, 2018. Mange. Accessed at https://cwhl.vet.cornell.edu/disease/mange
De, A.K., S. Sawhney, S. Mondal, P. Ponraj, S.K. Ravi, G. Sarkar, S. Banik, D. Malakar, K. Muniswamy, A. Kumar, A.K. Tripathi, A.K. Bera, and D. Bhattachrya. 2020. Host-Parasite Interaction in Sarcoptes scabiei Infestation in Porcine Model with a Preliminary Note on Its Genetic Lineage from India. Animals 10: 2312. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33297315/
Pennsylvania Game Commission, 2022. Mange. Accessed at https://www.pgc.pa.gov/Wildlife/Wildlife-RelatedDiseases/Pages/Mange.aspx
VCA Animal Hospitals, n.d. Demodectic Mange in Dogs. Accessed at https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/mange-demodectic-in-dogs