title: Coexistence of two different genotypes of Sarcoptes scabiei derived from companion dogs and wild raccoon dogs in Gifu, Japan: The genetic evidence for transmission between domestic and wild canids.
abstract: Sarcoptes scabiei is the causal agent of sarcoptic mange in domestic/companion dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) and raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides). Although there have been successful cases of experimental transmission of S. scabiei from mangy wild Canidae hosts to healthy dogs, and suspected cases of transmission between raccoon dogs and companion dogs, no clear-cut evidence has been obtained. In the present study, the genetic relationships between Sarcoptes mites from raccoon dogs and companion dogs living in the same region were elucidated.One hundred and thirty Sarcoptes mites from 22 raccoon dogs and 5 companion dogs were collected from the Gifu area in Japan. Using 9 microsatellite markers, the genotypes were compared, and the genetic structure of these mites was analyzed. In 6 pairs of companion dog- and raccoon dog-derived mites, 17 out of the 18 alleles analyzed were identical. Using a Bayesian approach, these 130 mites were separated into at least two groups, and companion dog- and raccoon dog-derived mites were segregated into both groups. In addition, comparatively large numbers of alleles at these loci were revealed by comparison with data from past studies. These results demonstrated that the host specificity at the 9 microsatellite-level could not be confirmed, strongly suggesting the transmission of Sarcoptes mites between raccoon dogs and companion dogs. This is the first report to provide a genetic evidence of Sarcoptes transmission between domestic and wild mammals in the natural environment. The possibility of a prior introduction of mites with novel genotypes (e.g., spillover of sarcoptic mange from domestic/companion dogs to raccoon dogs) could not be eliminated when considering the cause of the large number of alleles, and the coexistence of 2 mite groups in sympatric raccoon dogs and companion dogs in this local area.
authors.affiliation: The United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu-shi 501-1193, Japan.
authors.forename: Ryota
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Matsuyama
authors.affiliation: Tajima Branch Office, Hyogo Prefectural Government, 7-11 Saiwai-cho, Toyooka-shi 668-0025, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshihiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yabusaki
authors.affiliation: The United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu-shi 501-1193, Japan.
authors.forename: Naotoshi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kuninaga
authors.affiliation: The Research Center for Wildlife Management, Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu-shi, Gifu 501-1193, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomoya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Morimoto
authors.affiliation: Center for Environmental Biology and Ecosystem Studies, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan.
authors.forename: Tsukasa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okano
authors.affiliation: The United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu-shi 501-1193, Japan.
authors.forename: Masatsugu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.affiliation: The United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu-shi 501-1193, Japan. Electronic address: asanojr@gifu-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Asano
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D004285:Dogs; D005838:Genotype; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D046031:Raccoon Dogs; D012520:Sarcoptes scabiei / Q000235:genetics*; D012532:Scabies / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D004247:DNA
keywords: Companion dog; Genetic structure; Microsatellite; Raccoon dog; Sarcoptes scabiei; Transmission