(Acari: Psoroptidae) Infestations in Southern Pudus (): and Data of an Unexpected Host-parasite Record

Overview

Journal Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl

Date 2025 Feb 25

PMID 39995493

Authors

Caroline Wilhelm

Edwin Kniha

Pamela Munoz

Angelo Espinoza

Laura Platner

Saskia Dreyer

Lisa Grund

Zoe Tess Lara Lindhorst

Ulrich Gartner

Julia Walochnik

Anja Taubert

Dominik Fischer

Stephan Hering-Hagenbeck

Carlos Hermosilla

David Ebmer

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

(Acari: Psoroptidae) constitutes an obligate, non-burrowing ectoparasite and causes otodectic mange primarily in domestic and wild carnivores. Only few studies have described this parasite in herbivore hosts so far. In the current study, we report infestations in Southern pudus (), categorized in the IUCN red list as near threatened. was detected in free-ranging animals in Chile (), as well as in zoo-housed pudus at the Zoo Wuppertal, Germany (). During clinical work, two free-ranging pudus temporarily rehabilitated at the Centro de Rehabilitación de Fauna Silvestre (CEREFAS), Valdivia, Chile, were observed with low to moderate yellowish-brown secretions and encrustations inside the pinna and external auditory canal accompanied by an inflammatory . Analysis via light microscopy exhibited the presence of mange mites, which were identified as via morphological characteristics and molecular analysis. At the Zoo Wuppertal, ear mites were detected in 15 pudus between 2015 and 2024, however, a definite species identification () was carried out in 4 animals within the current study between 2023 and 2024. Some affected pudus showed bald spots around the ears and the head and exhibited headshaking behavior, whilst others were asymptomatic. In some cases, mites were found as a secondary finding when clinical examination under general anesthesia was performed for other reasons. To the best of our knowledge, this signifies the first report of infestations in pudus by combining morphological and molecular identification. We here present clinical and data and show that zoological gardens and widlife rehabilitation centers play an important role in research and monitoring of neglected wildlife diseases.

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