Identification and molecular characterization of Notoedres spp. from notoedric mange cases in four species of mammals from Florida, USA.

Kuldeep Chouhan; Melanie Dittmer; Heather Barron; Raquel Francisco; Jomari Rivera Reyes; Jillian R. Broadhurst; Nicole M. Nemeth; Taylor Fisher; Alisia A.W. Weyna; C. Robert Stilz; Xuan Hui Teo; Victoria A. Andreasen; Mark W. Cunningham; Bambi C.F. Clemons; Michael J. Yabsley

doi:10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101118

International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife (Dec 2025)

Identification and molecular characterization of Notoedres spp. from notoedric mange cases in four species of mammals from Florida, USA.

Kuldeep Chouhan,
Melanie Dittmer,
Heather Barron,
Raquel Francisco,
Jomari Rivera Reyes,
Jillian R. Broadhurst,
Nicole M. Nemeth,
Taylor Fisher,
Alisia A.W. Weyna,
C. Robert Stilz,
Xuan Hui Teo,
Victoria A. Andreasen,
Mark W. Cunningham,
Bambi C.F. Clemons,
Michael J. Yabsley

Affiliations

Kuldeep Chouhan: Department of Infectious Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
Melanie Dittmer: Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW), Sanibel, FL, 33957, USA
Heather Barron: Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW), Sanibel, FL, 33957, USA; Loggerhead Marine Life Centre, 14200 U.S. Highway 1, Juno Beach, FL, USA
Raquel Francisco: Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA; Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
Jomari Rivera Reyes: Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
Jillian R. Broadhurst: Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA; Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
Nicole M. Nemeth: Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA; Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
Taylor Fisher: Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
Alisia A.W. Weyna: Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA; Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
C. Robert Stilz: Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA; Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
Xuan Hui Teo: Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA; Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
Victoria A. Andreasen: Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA; Center for Ecology of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
Mark W. Cunningham: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Gainesville, FL, 32601, USA
Bambi C.F. Clemons: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Gainesville, FL, 32601, USA
Michael J. Yabsley: Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA; Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA; Center for Ecology of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA; Corresponding author. Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101118
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 28
p. 101118

Abstract

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The objective of this study was to characterize Notoedres from Florida, USA and to determine if rabbits and squirrels share the same Notoedres species. From July 2022–November 2024, 19 suspected mange (i.e., alopecia and crusty lesions) cases were identified in 16 eastern cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus), an eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis), a marsh rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris), and a northern raccoon (Procyon lotor) in Florida. Most were in poor nutritional condition with multifocal alopecia and hyperkeratosis. Histologically, mites were noted in the variably hyperkeratotic stratum corneum with associated serocellular crusts and epidermal hyperplasia. Mites from rabbits and the squirrel were identified as Notoedres centrifera and the raccoon was infested with Notoedres cati. ITS-2 sequences from the squirrel and 11 cottontail rabbits were identical and 100 % similar to a N. centrifera sequence from a Florida cottontail rabbit. The other six N. centrifera sequences from the marsh rabbit and five cottontail rabbits matched those from a Florida marsh rabbit and a Kansas fox squirrel (Sciurus niger). The N. cati ITS-2 sequence was 100 % similar to N. cati. The N. centrifera COI sequences were more variable and fell into two groups that were 79.5 % and 79.8 % similar to S. scabiei. The raccoon N. cati COI sequence was 85.1 % (582/684) and 84.1 % (575/684) similar to Group 1 and Group 2 of N. centrifera, respectively, and 80.3 % similar to S. scabiei. Overall, these data may indicate that notoedric mange is endemic in rabbits and squirrels in Florida, confirm raccoons as hosts for N. cati, and highlight the utility of molecular characterization in mite speciation. Additionally, new sequences of Notoedres were generated that will facilitate future phylogenetic analyses. The biodiversity and ecosystem impacts of notoedric mange in Florida are currently unknown, but this research indicates a need for further field-based surveys to assess these potential risks.

Published in International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife

ISSN: 2213-2244 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Netherlands
LCC subjects: Science: Zoology
Website: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/international-journal-for-parasitology-parasites-and-wildlife

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