Burrowing through parasitic diseases: sarcoptic mange in wombat species

Wombats are fossorial mammals, mostly solitary, endemic to Australia distributed mainly in South Australia, Tasmania and nearby islands. They are herbivores and found in a broad range of habitats, from coastal to alpine ones, they have a back facing pouch and the shape of their feces is very peculiar. They built systems of burrows used as shelter both by wombats and also by other animals species, and for this reason the burrows are one of the sources for transmission of Sarcoptic mange, one of the main threats for wombat population. Sarcoptic mange is a widespread disease caused by the skin parasite Sarcoptes scabiei. It is transmitted both by close contact between individuals and also spread through indirect ways within the environment. Some of the clinical signs observed on wombats affected by Sarcoptic mange are intense pruritus, crusty dermatitis, erythema, hyperkeratotic skin and alopecia. Some effects of Sarcoptic mange were seen to alter the behavior of wombats and can, for example, increase their diurnal activity, lead to secondary infections or, in severe cases, to death of the animals. Some prevention and control techniques have been found to be effective against the diseases and also some treatments have been declared to be effective to treat Sarcoptic mange, although the free ranging conditions of wild wombats and their fossorial and nocturnal behaviors are often an obstacle for the success of the study and the recovery of the animals themselves. Another impediment for a successful treatment, handling and recovery of wombats affected by mange, is the lack of knowledge about many aspects regarding the biology of these species and the relation between host and parasite, which should be studied more in depth to achieve a wider information baggage that will allow to create more efficient conservation and management programs.