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Gakuya, F.; Ombui, J.; Maingi, N.; Muchemi, G.; Ogara, W.; Soriguer, R.C.; Alasaad, S.
Sarcoptic mange and cheetah conservation in Masai Mara (Kenya): epidemiological study in a wildlife/livestock system
2012  Parasitology (139): 1587-1595

The sanitary control of threatened wild animals is of pivotal interest for their conservation. This task, however, is highly complex in wildlife/livestock systems. In this paper we report findings from a 2-year cross-sectional study of the epidemiology and attempted control of a _Sarcoptes_ mite infestation in the threatened cheetah population in Masai Mara (Kenya), and discuss its interaction with sympatric wild (lion, wildebeest and Thomson's gazelle) and domestic (dog, cattle and sheep) animals. _Sarcoptes scabiei_ was isolated from cheetahs, Thomson's gazelles, wildebeests, lions, cattle, goats and dogs; _Psoroptes ovis_, on the other hand, was only isolated from sheep. The prevalence study revealed 12ú77% infection rates in cheetahs, 4ú7% in dogs, 0ú8% in Thomson's gazelles, 0ú8% in sheep, 0ú09% in cattle, and 0ú09% in goats, while it opportunistically affected lions and wildebeest. Our study revealed that prevalence of _Sarcoptes_ mite in cheetah population was not associated with the studied geographical blocks, animal sex or the presence of affected domestic animals. Cheetah infection with _S. scabiei_ was associated with the climatic conditions (dry more than wet season) and the balancing between the total number of Thomson's gazelles and the prevalence of infected individuals. Apparently the high prevalence of mangy gazelles has a negative effect on cheetah; this negative effect was reduced when the number of healthy gazelles was increased. Treatment with injectable ivermectin of the clinically affected wild and domestic animals during the first year of this study was associated with much lower incidence of sarcoptic mange during the second year.

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