Journal
of
Wildlife
DIseases,
© Wildlife
PREVALENCE
AND
CANKER
(OTODECTES
MITE
(ALOPEX
LAGOPUS)
E. Gunnarsson,
‘Institute
2Wildlife
GEOGRAPHICAL
CYNOTIS)
OF THE
AMONG
ARCTIC
EAR
FOXES
IN ICELAND
P. Hersteinsson,24
of Experimental
Management
DISTRIBUTION
27(1), 1991, pp. 105-109
Disease
Association
1991
and S. Adalsteinsson3
Pathology,
Keldur,
112 Reykjavik,
Unit, Agricultural
Society
of Iceland,
3Agriculture
Research
Institute,
Keldnaholt,
Author
to whom
reprint
requests
should
Iceland
P.O. Box
112 Reykjavik,
be addressed
7080, 127 Reykjavik,
Iceland
Iceland
Three
hundred
forty
five adult
arctic
foxes (Abopex
lagopus)
from
all counties
in
Iceland
were examined
for excess cerumen
and ear canker
mites (Otodectes
cynotis).
Only
13
foxes (4%) from a single county
in northwestern
Iceland
were infested,
where
the prevalence
of
otodectiasis
was 38%.
Whether
or not this parasite
is new to the arctic fox in Iceland
is unknown.
If it is recently
introduced,
possible
sources
of infestation
are farmed
silver foxes (Vulpes
vubpes),
domestic
dogs, domestic
or feral
cats,
and arctic foxes from
Greenland.
It appears
that the rate
of transmission between
adult foxes is low; a more common
route of transmission
is probably
from
the mother
to her offspring
or between
vixens breeding
in the same dens in subsequent
years by
contamination
of the dens. No correlation
was found
between
the prevalence
of mites in foxes
ABSTRACT:
and
Samson
Key
character.
words:
distribution,
Ear
canker
prevalence,
mite,
route
Otodectes
cynotis,
Samson
of transmission,
INTRODUCTION
Ear
are
canker
mites
parasites
domestic
(Vulpes
gopus),
of many
cats,
vulpes),
wolverines
(Mustela
Preisler,
(Ismail
et al.,
and
Zarnke,
Scheidt,
1987).
with
and
1987;
In arctic
foxes
in the
of
can
medication,
rubbing
fected
animals
infestation
by
including
may
(Kangas,
ear canker
Commander
In
1982;
1985;
Islands
(U.S.S.R.)
by
from
Norway
et al.,
ended
1986).
about
initiated
in
autumn
importation
These
canker
the
of
foxes
mites
new
also
were
(Hersteinsson
in the
The
1950
of
stock
1930’s
farming
but was
1983
from
part
and
Richter,
pers.
is unknown.
present
the
first
0. cynotis
in wild
The
geographical
is described
transmission
MATERIALS
AND METHODS
re-
arctic
distriand
are
the
dis-
fox carcasses
fox
of
hunters
a larger
were
Pathology
from
all
study
during
on
1986
sent
to the Institute
(Reykjavik,
counties
of
various
to 1989.
aspects
Their
Iceland)
Iceland
as
of arctic
locality
at death
was usually
known
to within
5 km; in
all samples
the county
where
they
were
killed
was known.
Since
fox hunting
usually
occurs
at
breeding
dens during
early
summer
(Hersteinsson et al., 1989),
often
both members
of breeding pairs
could
be examined.
Three
hundred
forty
five carcasses
of adult
foxes were
examined
for excessive
cerumen
after cutting
down
and forward
from
the anterior
edge of the ear canal
to the depth
of the ear
drum. Most foxes had clean ear canals
and were
not infested with ear canker mites. From
some
foxes,
samples
of cerumen
were
removed
by
scraping
with
a scalpel
and
observed
microscopically.
Cerumen
was dissolved in a 4% NaOH
(Herof silagain
with
can-
cats
of the parasite
routes
of
fox biology
been
reported
(Danilina,
1987).
The
first record
of ear canker
mites
in
Iceland
was in silver
foxes
( Vulpes
vulpes)
steinsson
ver foxes
we
Ear
domestic
(S. H.
prevalence
report
of Experimental
has
imported
data).
in both
cases
of
in Iceland.
Arctic
by
in af-
Extensive
of arctic
geographical
cussed.
ear canker
be of signifIf not
con-
1982).
mites
occur
this
bution
possible
Moriello,
foxes bred
damage
occur
unpublished
mites
corded
foxes
lagopus,
survey.
dogs
in
Iceland
comm.),
but the
dogs,
red
foxes
foxes
(Abopex
lagubo)
and ferrets
on fur-farms
the problem
mites
is wide-spread
and
icant
economic
importance.
trolled
scratching
ker
cynotis)
carnivores,
domestic
arctic
(Gulo
putoriusfuro)
1985;
Wilson
Molina,
1986;
1987; Shustrova,
Gunnarsson,
(Otodectes
Abopex
Arctic
fox,
character,
the
Norway.
infested
with
ear
et al., 1986;
E.
105
106
JOURNAL
OF WILDLIFE
DISEASES.
VOL. 27, NO. 1, JANUARY
1991
placed
on a microscope
at 100 x magnification.
The
slide and viewed
search
was disconcynotis
was identified.
solution,
tinued
after an adult 0.
Immature
mites
were never
sence of adults.
If breeding
with
ear
foxes
canker
found
in the
infect
their
invariably
mites,
then
both
abmate
members
of a
breeding
pair would
or would
not be expected
to have
the infestation.
Conversely,
with
random
mating
and no transmission
of mites
from
one member
of a pair to the other, the following
equation
would apply: p2 + 2pq + q2 = 1; where
p is the proportion
of foxes free of ear canker
mites and q is the proportion
of foxes with ear
canker
mites; and thus p2 is the frequency
of
pairs with both members
free of mites,
2pq is
the frequency
of pairs
with
one
member
infested
with
ear-mites,
and q2 is the frequency
of pairs
with
both
members
infested
with
earmites. In 10 instances
both members
of breeding
pairs were available for examination
and with-
in-pair
infestation
patterns
hunters
generally
gave
names
of the breeding
foxes had been killed.
compare
were
compared.
information
N
30
k.
Fox
about
the
dens where
individual
Thus, it was possible
to
of infestation
with den cc-
the pattern
cupancy.
1.
FIGURE
showing
examined
RESULTS
cerumen
was
found
in 36
Geographical
distribution
of the prevalence
of ear canker
mites
was confined
to
only
one
county,
Strandasysla,
in northwestern
Iceland
(Fig.
1; 65#{176}00’to 66#{176}15’N,
21#{176}0O’to 22#{176}10’W).
1949;
1988).
of the
disposes
free of ear canker
cerumen,
eight
character
(Lampio,
mites
appar1948,
Voipio,
1950;
Hersteinsson
et al.,
This
is a condition
in which
a lack
guard
hairs
covering
the ears preto
a considerable
amount
of
soil
and sand
inside
the ears,
which
may
precipitate
copious
production
of cerumen.
An additional
seven
foxes
with
Samson
character
examined
had
clean
ears.
One
fox with
Samson
character
had ear canker
mites.
The
seven
foxes
no correlation
canker
mites
cause
was
not
of excessive
cerumen
determined.
There
between
the presence
and Samson
character.
A denotes
where
county,
Iceland,
foxes,
later
mites,
were
absence
of ear canker
mite
an ear canker
mite infestation.
infes-
presence
individual
of ear
canker
of
the 345 foxes
examined.
The
presence
of
ear canker
mites
was confirmed
in 13 (36%)
of these,
or 4% of the 345 foxes examined.
Of the 23 foxes
but having
excess
ently
had Samson
the
denotes
killed.
of Strandasysla
location
for
tation,
Excessive
A map
the
in
was
of ear
in
Since
ear
Strandasysla
counties
canker
were
to determine
total sample
mites
county,
excluded
found
from
from
the
only
other
analysis
routes
of transmission.
In the
from
Strandasysla
county
the
frequency
mites
was
of occurrence
0.382.
In the
mating
no transmission
and
frequencies
(1) 0.382
infested,
were
foxes
of
case
ear
canker
of random
between
of pair combinations
(p2) pairs
with
neither
(2) 0.472
(2pq)
for pairs
adults,
would
be
member
of which
one member
is infested,
and (3) 0.146
(q2)
for pairs
with
both
members
infested.
Both
members
of 10 pairs
from
Strandasysla
county
were
available
for examination.
In three
pairs
neither
member
was
infested,
in five pairs
one member
of the
pair
was
members
ear
0.5
infested
of
the
and
pair
canker
mites.
The
and 0.2 respectively
prevalence,
identical
to
in
were
two
pairs
infested
frequencies
(30, 50
respectively)
those
expected
were
through
both
with
of 0.3,
and 20%
almost
ran-
GUNNARSSON
dom
canker
mating
mites
with
from
to the other.
size
a test
of
no transmission
one member
Because
of the small
sample
significance
was
not
per-
formed.
However,
our
there
was
insignificant
tween
free-living
adult
breeding
pairs.
Many
breeding
reoccupied
for several
from
Strandasysla
ined
which
den
in
are
Garrott
were
county
had
been
different
consistently
male
and
four
of
killed
years.
fox
did
breeding
canker
ited
land.
in
cynotis
Iceland
to one northwestern
Because
arctic
previously
it is not
examined
possible
to
population
has
fested
or whether
only
mites,
(Gudmundsson,
escaped
silver
examfour
that
in
site
1989,
had
ear
in arctic
foxes
either
wild or escaped
es and have
provided
infestation
for wild
While
silver
foxes
ear canker
mites,
this was the origin
wild arctic
foxes.
mites
the
were
area
found
Arctic
foxes
contact
with
transfer
of mites
have
domestic
it
Greenland
though
arctic
wild
with
0.
infested
that
arctic
to
on
Iceland
ear
canker
foxes
from
drift-ice.
it has never
been
demonstrated
foxes
from
Greenland
have
highly
likely
that
(Ursus
county
foxes
have
of the isnot been
pack-ice
(Freuchen,
1935;
Braestrup,
and arctic
foxes
have
been
seen
ice mid-way
between
Greenland
canker
mf the
mites
fox
of
these
Both the
could
have
escaped
captive
contacted
land
tracks
county
son,
was
in
domestic
arctic
foxthe initial
source
of
arctic
foxes.
imported
in 1983 had
it seems
less likely
that
of the infestation
among
The silver
foxes imported
hundreds
(Saemundsson,
and scats
were
in the spring
this
February
it
or
not
that
it
in
is not
not
due
1941)
on driftand Ice-
polar
northern
foxes
1988).
established
in
Greenland
0. cynotis.
Samson
character
it has been
shown
to
an
ear
bear
Iceland
been
arctic
infested
with
The
cause
of
known.
However,
on the
(Hersteinsson,
has
are
of km
a yearling
1988
However,
oc-
that
bears
1932).
Polar-bear
seen in Strandasysla
of 1979
(G. Kristins-
pers. comm.)
and
killed
elsewhere
whether
or
Althat
entered
casionally
occurs.
It is well established
arctic
foxes
sometimes
trail
polar
maritimus)
by
of transwild.
it is lim-
for ear
determine
cynotis.
or cats. While
support
in the
is possible
carried
by
it seems
160
arctic
species
has been
under
laboratory
1958;
Tonn,
1961),
there
is no evidence
in
mission
between
species
Finally,
mites
were
where
about
been
dogs
between
performed
(Sweatman,
successfully
conditions
to
un-
farm
where
infested
could
by
Gunnarsson,
is located
the
None
and
considered
Furthermore,
from
with
parasite.
were
(E.
mg/
Haar-
contain
captivity
quarantined
away
10
to
apparently
some
1945).
the
and
sub-
locally
effort
from
eradicated
data).
Iceland,
rare
an
eradicate
escaped
canker
mo
B. V.,
and
in
107
with
Dohme,
drugs
were
16
(Ivomec#{174},
and
eventually
foxes
for
Netherlands)
these
publ.
same
recently
become
inthe geographical
distri-
and
and
km
bution
of the parasite
is expanding,
contracting
or remains
stable.
However,
silver
foxes
(Vulpes
vulpes)
imported
into
Iceland for fur-farming
in the 1930’s
had ear
canker
The
they
the
However,
at
is very
and
lem,
Eberinstances
mites.
Otodectes
Sharp
been
DISCUSSION
foxes
ivermectin
antiparasitic
FOXES
systemically
ml;
Merck,
IN ARC11C
quarantined
treated
cutaneous
have
the
of
were
persist
1969;
foxes
at
None
not.
foxes
animals
ear
and a vixen
killed
there
2 yr later
was also
free of mites.
At the fourth
den,
the vixen
killed
in 1988
had
ear canker
mites
but
both
1983
1987
foxes
killed
at two
of the dens
had
ear
canker
mites.
At the third
den
the male
fox killed
in 1987
was
infested
with
ear
canker
mites
but his mate
was free of mites
the
in
all
of
foxes
and may
(MacPherson,
1980;
There
1987).
results
suggest
that
transmission
befoxes,
even
within
dens
by arctic
centuries
Hersteinsson,
hardt,
of ear
of a pair
ET AL.-OIODECTIASIS
canker
is unhere
mite
infestation.
The
means
ker mites
termined.
cats housed
for transmission
between
hosts
Tonn
(1961)
together
with
of ear
can-
has not been
defound
that
adult
mite-infested
cats
JOURNAL
108
could
OF WILDLIFE
remain
free
period
while
fested.
Similarly,
mission
from
another
appears
from
the
of mites
kittens
one
of
over
be
in-
direct
as
fox
to
and
of
accounts
on
in
environ-
the
the
we
is based
on
a very
hypothesize
that
occurs
between
by contamination
that
vixens
vious
years
will become
foxes
rarely
steinsson,
small
sample
to contaminate
dens
less
be
the den or become
from this source. This may
the vixen using a particular
1984.
.
losophy
The
1988.
.
Oxford,
The
wild
859
on
the
arctic
Iceland:
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tional
on
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Canine
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Inc.,
biological
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state
the
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on
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I. I. Krup-
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f#{246}rbund HF,
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on
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summary].
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English
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(Iceland)
English
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GUNNARSSON,
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TARDOTTIR,
MACPHERSON,
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polar
with
eases
ecology
in
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agement
why
1989
af silfurref
Hit Landverndar
behavioural
AND
CITED
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395-
N#{225}tt#{252}rufraedin-
Refir.
lagopus)
Thesis.
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in Strandasysla
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this
LITERATURE
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15: 108-112.
P. 1980.
landic
(Herlikely
explain
den
in
1945.
Management
did not have
ear canker
mites
although
the
male
fox at that
den 2 yr previously
had
ear canker
mites.
Alternatively,
ear canker
mites
may
not survive
in a den,
if it stays
vacant
for one or more
breeding
seasons.
The pattern
of infestation
county
is being
monitored
matter.
gurinn
, E.
and
such
in dens
used
in previxens,
eventually
by ear-mites.
Male
enter
breeding
1984),
and
would
Ontario,
I L#{243}ni,Kelduhverfi.
Icelandic
mostly
and offspring
breeding
dens
breeding
by infested
infested
fjallref
life
size,
transmission
mother
of
B.
GUDMUNDSSON,
fox (Alopex
ment (Tonn, 1961; Catcott, 1968; Kangas,
1982; Moriello, 1987). Although
our evidence
America,
M. Novak,
and B. Malloch
(eds.).
North
Resources,
HERSTEINSSON,
pairs.
eggs
in
ker, M. E. Obbard,
og
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