Description of a Sarcoptic Mange Outbreak in Alpine Chamois Using an Enhanced Surveillance Approach

Since 1995, the Alpine chamois (Rupicapra r. rupicapra) population of the Dolomites has
been affected by sarcoptic mange with considerable management concerns. In this study, 15 years
(2006–2020) of passive surveillance and demographic data were analyzed in order to describe a mange
outbreak. Furthermore, an enhanced passive surveillance protocol was implemented in order to
evaluate the efficiency of ordinary vs. enhanced surveillance protocol in identifying dead chamois in
the field and in reaching a correct diagnosis. Our results confirm the role of mange as a determining
factor for chamois mortality, while stressing the importance of a wider view on the factors affecting
population dynamics. The enhanced passive surveillance protocol increased the probability of carcass
retrieval and identification of the cause of death; however, its adoption may be too costly if applied
for long periods on a wide scale. Passive surveillance, in both ordinary and enhanced surveillance
protocol, should encompass the use of other strategies in the future to study the eco-epidemiology of
the disease in wild Caprinae.