Sarcoptic mange is an extremely infectious parasitic skin disorder that continues to be a serious health challenge for both humans and other mammals around the globe. The disease is produced by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei, and its clinical appearance can differ widely in form and severity. Besides visible skin irritation, affected individuals often undergo disruptions in metabolism, immune defense, reproduction, body temperature control, and overall physical condition. Despite this, the full metabolic consequences of the infection remain largely unexplored. Fat loss and alterations in fatty acid composition linked to mange may intensify the pathological effects of the disease. Early detection tools for this parasite are lacking, which frequently leads to significant economic losses in livestock industries and welfare concerns for animals. In this work, we employed a targeted LC–MS/MS metabolomic approach to explore how sarcoptic mange alters the blood serum metabolome in wild boars. Thirteen wild boars were analyzed under three clinical circumstances: during active infection, while undergoing ivermectin therapy, and after complete recovery. Our data showed a pronounced accumulation of long-chain acylcarnitines in the sera of infected animals compared with treated or recovered counterparts. These preliminary outcomes emphasize the importance of further research into how long-chain acylcarnitines influence metabolic stability and their potential use as biomarkers for the early diagnosis of sarcoptic mange.
