Acute phase protein response in Alpine ibex with sarcoptic mange

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Animal Immunology
• Wildlife Health

Background:

• Acute phase proteins (APPs) are key indicators of physiological stress in animals.
• Sarcoptic mange is a significant parasitic disease affecting wildlife populations.
• Understanding APP responses can aid in disease diagnosis and management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the concentrations of four acute phase proteins (APPs) in Alpine ibex (Capra ibex).
• To compare APP levels between healthy ibex and those with sarcoptic mange.
• To evaluate the potential of APPs as diagnostic markers for sarcoptic mange.

Main Methods:

• Serum samples were collected from healthy and mange-affected Alpine ibex.
• Concentrations of four APPs: serum amyloid A (SAA), haptoglobin (Hp), alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein (AGP), and ceruloplasmin (Cp) were measured.
• Primary structures of APPs were determined using cDNA sequencing.

Main Results:

• All four APPs (SAA, Hp, AGP, Cp) were significantly elevated in ibex with sarcoptic mange compared to healthy controls.
• SAA and AGP showed over 10-fold increases, classifying them as major APPs.
• Hp and Cp exhibited 2- to 5-fold increases, identified as minor APPs.

Conclusions:

• Elevated concentrations of SAA, Hp, AGP, and Cp serve as reliable indicators of sarcoptic mange in Alpine ibex.
• SAA and AGP are particularly sensitive markers for sarcoptic mange.
• These APPs hold significant potential for early detection of sarcoptic mange in free-ranging ibex populations.