Research overview: sarcoptic mange in large wild felids

Sarcoptic mange, caused by the burrowing mite Sarcoptes scabiei, affects a wide range of carnivores and occasionally strikes large felids, producing hair loss, crusting, intense itching and debilitation. This overview surveys reports of mange in wild cats, the conditions that allow normally low-grade infestations to escalate, and the frequent link between severe mange and underlying immunosuppression or poor body condition. It compares felid cases with the better-documented epizootics in foxes, wolves and wombats, and considers transmission, diagnosis and treatment challenges in free-ranging animals. The synthesis frames mange as often a symptom of deeper stressors rather than a primary killer. It aims to help readers understand why ectoparasitic disease in big cats tends to flag broader problems in individual or population health.