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Culda CA, Dionnet R, Barbu AC, Cârstolovean AS, Dan T, Grijalva J, Espin P, Vinueza RL, Cruz M, Páez-Rosas D, Renato L, Mihalca AD. The Presence of Dirofilaria immitis in Domestic Dogs on San Cristobal Island, Galapagos. Pathogens 2022; 11:1287. [PMID: 36365038 PMCID: PMC9696258 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11111287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
This study's concept was outlined around the principle of conservation medicine in a biodiversity hotspot from the Neotropical realm: the Galapagos Islands. The wildlife balance has been modified by multi-host parasites introduced with some domestic animals (dogs and cats). The endemic and endangered species, the Galapagos sea lion (GSL, Zalophus wollebaeki), has been exposed to pathogens of canine and feline origin that could become a significant conservation problem for this species. One of these potential cases is the filarial heartworm infection, Dirofilaria immitis, which has been reported on other pinnipeds, with fatalities and clinical symptoms. Therefore, this study evaluated the presence of the microfilaria of D. immitis in dogs from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, San Cristobal Island, where the largest rookery of GSLs lives and where the proximity to domestic dogs is the most intimate compared to other rookeries of the archipelago. Between July and September 2021, 587 blood samples were collected from owned dogs of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. Overall, 10 dogs (1.7%) were positive for the presence of the microfilaria of D. immitis with a confidence interval of 0.7%-2.8%. No other filarial species were identified. Significant differences in prevalence between different dog categories were observed only for the age (p = 0.001). This study represents the first report of D. immitis, the agent of canine heartworm disease, in dogs from San Cristobal Island. Hence, the presence of the microfilaria of D. immitis in the blood of dogs could increase the risk of infection to which the GSL is exposed in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Andreea Culda
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Romane Dionnet
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Andra Celia Barbu
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Andrada Silvia Cârstolovean
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Teodora Dan
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Jaime Grijalva
- Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Cumbayá, Quito 150157, Ecuador
| | - Priscilla Espin
- Agencia de Regulación y Control de la Bioseguridad y Cuarentena para Galápagos, Isla San Cristóbal 200152, Galápagos, Ecuador
| | - Rommel Lenin Vinueza
- Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Cumbayá, Quito 150157, Ecuador
- Laboratorio de Entomología Médica & Medicina Tropical LEMMT, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Cumbayá, Quito 150157, Ecuador
| | - Marylin Cruz
- Agencia de Regulación y Control de la Bioseguridad y Cuarentena para Galápagos, Isla San Cristóbal 200152, Galápagos, Ecuador
| | - Diego Páez-Rosas
- Galapagos Science Center, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Isla San Cristóbal 200150, Islas Galápagos, Ecuador
- Dirección del Parque Nacional Galápagos, Unidad Técnica Operativa San Cristóbal, Isla San Cristóbal 200150, Islas Galápagos, Ecuador
| | - Leon Renato
- Laboratorio de Entomología Médica & Medicina Tropical LEMMT, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Cumbayá, Quito 150157, Ecuador
| | - Andrei Daniel Mihalca
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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Gregory TM, Parker M, Deresienski D, Alarcón-Ruales D, Muñoz-Pérez JP, Torres J, Gavilanes GI, Lewbart GA, Páez-Rosas D. Evaluating the Possibility of Transfusion Medicine, Through Crossmatching in Juvenile Galapagos Sea Lions ( Zalophus wollebaeki). Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:830272. [PMID: 35529842 PMCID: PMC9070388 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.830272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The Galapagos sea lion (Zalophus wollebaeki) is an endemic pinniped to the Galapagos archipelago, and like most wild mammals, is at risk for anemia due to trauma, infectious disease, and poor nutrition. This study evaluated the health status of 26 juvenile Galapagos sea lions on the island of San Cristobal prior to evaluating 100 crossmatch combinations. On evaluation, all but one sea lion had no major systemic abnormalities. Of the 100 crossmatches performed, 23% had minor reactions. The most significant reaction was weak macroscopic agglutination found in 4% of samples. The small percentage of agglutination reactions suggests a small proportion of naturally occurring alloantibodies in this species and may be consistent with a low risk of acute immune-mediated hemolytic transfusion reaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor M Gregory
- Department of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Maryanna Parker
- Department of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Diane Deresienski
- Department of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States.,USFQ & UNC-Chapel Hill Galápagos Science Center (GSC), Av. Alsacio Northia, Isla San Cristobal, Galápagos, Ecuador
| | - Daniela Alarcón-Ruales
- USFQ & UNC-Chapel Hill Galápagos Science Center (GSC), Av. Alsacio Northia, Isla San Cristobal, Galápagos, Ecuador.,Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ), Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales, Galápagos, Ecuador.,USFQ & UNC-Chapel Hill Galápagos Science Center (GSC), Galápagos, Ecuador
| | - Juan Pablo Muñoz-Pérez
- USFQ & UNC-Chapel Hill Galápagos Science Center (GSC), Av. Alsacio Northia, Isla San Cristobal, Galápagos, Ecuador.,Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ), Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales, Galápagos, Ecuador.,USFQ & UNC-Chapel Hill Galápagos Science Center (GSC), Galápagos, Ecuador
| | - Jorge Torres
- Dirección Parque Nacional Galápagos, Oficina Técnica San Cristobal, Galápagos, Ecuador
| | - Gabriela I Gavilanes
- USFQ & UNC-Chapel Hill Galápagos Science Center (GSC), Av. Alsacio Northia, Isla San Cristobal, Galápagos, Ecuador.,Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ), Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales, Galápagos, Ecuador
| | - Gregory A Lewbart
- Department of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States.,USFQ & UNC-Chapel Hill Galápagos Science Center (GSC), Av. Alsacio Northia, Isla San Cristobal, Galápagos, Ecuador
| | - Diego Páez-Rosas
- USFQ & UNC-Chapel Hill Galápagos Science Center (GSC), Av. Alsacio Northia, Isla San Cristobal, Galápagos, Ecuador.,Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ), Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales, Galápagos, Ecuador.,Dirección Parque Nacional Galápagos, Oficina Técnica San Cristobal, Galápagos, Ecuador
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HEALTH STATUS OF NAZCA BOOBIES ( SULA GRANTI) ON DAPHNE MAJOR ISLAND IN THE GALÁPAGOS DETERMINED BY HEMATOLOGY, BIOCHEMISTRY, AND PHYSICAL EXAMINATION. J Zoo Wildl Med 2021; 52:671-679. [PMID: 34130410 DOI: 10.1638/2020-0136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Island species are particularly vulnerable to environmental disturbances and introduced pathogens. Conducting health assessments of wild populations in the Galápagos improves the ability of wildlife managers and veterinarians to detect deteriorations in health status. Seabirds in particular are useful species to monitor due to their colonial breeding and wide migration range. Nazca boobies (Sula granti) in a breeding colony at Daphne Major (n = 30) were given physical examinations, and blood samples were collected for hematology and biochemistry using an iSTAT Portable Clinical Analyzer. Female boobies had longer wing length than males, as well as lower blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and white blood cell counts. This could be attributed to sexual dimorphism or differences in foraging and mating strategies between the sexes. The time between capture and blood collection had a significant inverse relationship on plasma sodium, potassium, hemoglobin, anion gaps, and lymphocyte counts, suggesting that blood sampling in Nazca boobies should be done in less than 5 m to avoid the impacts of stress on hematological parameters. This is the first health assessment on the breeding colony of Nazca boobies at Daphne Major, and the results can inform future monitoring in this species as well as other sulids.
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