The Effects of Sarcoptic Mange on the Microbiomes of Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and Coyotes (Canis latrans)

Abstract

As the world’s population continues to grow, emerging infectious diseases increase in frequency and intensity, often traveling between human, wild animal, and domestic animal populations. Sarcoptic mange, caused by the Sarcoptes scabiei mite, is an emerging infectious disease that frequently affects wild and domestic canine populations, especially red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and coyotes (Canis latrans). Past studies have observed alterations in the skin microbiomes of individuals with diseases, including mange. The goal of this study was to evaluate the differences in diversity between healthy and mange-infected red foxes and coyotes, as well as the effects of the disease on the individual’s intestinal health and of urbanization on their microbiome. Using next-generation sequencing on red fox and coyote samples, I categorized their skin microbiomes, compared alpha and beta diversity between different sample groups, and tested for significant differences in the abundance of features for different sample groups. I found that mange individuals had decreased diversity in all alpha and beta diversity metrics, with increased abundances of Staphylococcus epidermidis. Additionally, I found that individuals with mange were not significantly more prone to intestinal worms, but individuals with worms did have higher species evenness and abundance than individuals without worms. Lastly, I found that healthy coyotes had higher species richness than healthy red foxes and that samples from more populated areas had increased species evenness than samples from less populated areas. This study has implications for the approach to the treatment of emerging infectious diseases and reiterates the importance of the microbiome’s inclusion in these efforts, especially when considering vulnerable wildlife populations.