Generalized knemidokoptic mange (Micnemidocoptes sp.) in a bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) from Arkansas, USA.

Abstract

This report describes a case of generalized knemidokoptic mange caused by Micnemidocoptes sp. in a bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). In June 2024, an adult male eagle from Polk County, Arkansas, presented with severe skin disease and in a moribund state. The eagle died soon after capture and postmortem examination revealed extensive skin hyperkeratosis with embedded mites. Molecular analysis of a 632 bp fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene showed the mite was 99.8 % similar to a Micnemidocoptes sp. from a golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) in California and these mites grouped together. This represents a large geographic expansion in the known range of this mite in the United States and a novel host. This case highlights the potential health impact of Micnemidocoptes sp. infestations in raptors, emphasizing the need for increased monitoring among eagles and other raptors to better understand the mite's epidemiology and implications for wildlife health.