Scabies in wild raccoon dogs, Nyctereutes procyonoides at the Tomioka-Kanra district in Gunma Prefecture, Japan

Abstract

Parasitological and histopathological examinations were carried out on 13 wild raccoon dogs, Nyctereutes procyonoides, having severe dermatitis captured in Tomioka-Kanra district, Gunma Prefecture. All of the raccoon dogs examined were infected with a great number of Sarcoptes scabiei, but not with Demodex. Histopathological examinations of the autopsy specimen demonstrated prominent hyperkeratosis, acanthosis and papillomatosis and numerous cross-sections of S. scabiei in the horny layer. S. scabiei were considered to be the cause of the dermatitis of these wild raccoon dogs.