Biología poblacional de Sarcoptes y epidemiología de la sarcoptidosis en la cabra montés, Cabra pyrenaica

Abstract

We addressed the population biology of Sarcoptes scabiei on the basis of the analysis of 389 mite infrapopulations from Iberian ibex from the Sierra Nevada Natural Space. We also analyzed the dynamics of 21 mite infrapopulations from ibex experimentally-infested. Mite density varied significantly between years and decreased with host age. Mean density reached near 175 mites/cm2. The most frequently affected zones were hosts’ extremities and withers and higher mite densities were obtained from lips and extremities. The sex ratio of mites was female-biased (mean: 5.18 ♀♀/♂). Larvae accounted for nearly 50% of specimens. Both mean mite density and number of larvae peaked in November, coinciding with the host rutting season. The number of nymphs peaked in May, when births happen. We obtained the finite growth rate and the daily growth rate for the mite infrapopulations: mean ± SE = 11.53 ± 10.17 and 0.10 ± 0.08 mites/day, respectively.