Ear mite infection is associated with altered microbial communities in genetically depauperate Santa Catalina Island foxes (Urocyon littoralis catalinae)

We used next-generation sequencing to characterize the skin microbiome of Santa Catalina Island foxes (Urocyon littoralis catalinae), an endemic island population that lacks genetic variation. We concentrated efforts on comparing microbial communities of mite-infected and uninfected ear canals. We observed reduced species richness and increased abundance of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius in mite-infected ear canals.