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Abstract
Mange is a skin disease caused by various genera of parasitic mites and can affect humans, domestic animals, and wildlife. Sarcoptic mange, caused by Sarcoptes scabiei, is the most common form worldwide. In the eastern United States, both the number and geographic distribution of sarcoptic mange cases in black bears (Ursus americanus) have risen dramatically. The reason for this increase is unknown, however, genetic studies can give insight into the epidemiology of the mite. Using full S. scabiei mitochondrial genome sequences collected from black bears with mange, we have discovered that there are two lineages of S. scabiei associated with mange in black bears circulating in the eastern U.S. Thorough and consistent surveillance is also vital for documenting and understanding the transmission of mange mites. Additionally, we conducted a case series describing cases of notoedric mange (caused by Notoedres centrifera) in two species of free-living rabbits in Florida.