Morphological and molecular identification of Sarcoptes scabiei in a South American coati (Nasua nasua) from Peru.

Sarcoptes scabiei (Linnaeus) (Sarcoptiformes: Sarcoptidae), the cause of sarcoptic mange, has been documented as a pathogen affecting domestic and wild mammals, including coatis (Nasua spp. Storr (Carnivora: Procyonidae)). This parasitism impacts the health of infested animals and, in some cases, modifies the population dynamics of the affected species. The present study reports the first case of sarcoptic mange in a South American coati (Nasua nasua (Linnaeus)) from Peru. The Servicio Nacional Forestal y de Fauna Silvestre (SERFOR) rescued a coati from illegal trafficking in June 2024. The animal presented lesions compatible with sarcoptic mange, which was confirmed by morphologically diagnosing S. scabiei in the lesions. The mites were analysed molecularly, amplifying 1524 bp of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox1) gene using a PCR protocol. A 414 bp fragment of the cox1 sequence identified lineages identical to an Andean fox (Lycalopex culpaeus (Molina) (Carnivora: Canidae)) isolate of S. scabiei from Peru (OR362749). Future studies will be necessary to help understand the transmission of this mite between domestic and wild species.