Notoedric Mange in Free-Ranging Masked Palm Civets (Paguma Larvata) in Japan

Between July 2001 and August 2002, 51 masked palm civets were captured in Fujisawa City, Japan, and 11 of them were found to have notoedric mange, characterized by significant hair loss and crusts, caused by the mite Notoedres cati. The diagnosis was confirmed through histological analysis and examination of skin scrapings. The affected civets' skin showed moderate epidermal hyperplasia, parakeratosis, and acanthosis, with occasional microvascular angiogenesis. Mite tunnels were found in the hair follicles, extending to the hair roots, and female mites, eggs, and nymphs were identified within these tunnels using scanning electron microscopy.