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Valderrábano Cano E, Penteriani V, Vega I, Delgado MDM, González-Bernardo E, Bombieri G, Zarzo-Arias A, Sánchez-Andrade Fernández R, Paz-Silva A. Influence of seasonality and biological activity on infection by helminths in Cantabrian bear. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2024; 23:100916. [PMID: 38379728 PMCID: PMC10877405 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.100916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the variations of parasites in the feces of brown bears Ursus arctos inhabiting the Cantabrian Mountains (NW Spain). A total of 248 bear fecal samples were collected throughout one year, spanning from August 2018 to September 2019, at an approximate frequency of 20 samples per month. The results were analyzed in relation to both the season and the biological activity of the brown bears, i.e., hibernation, mating and hyperphagia. Among the examined samples, eggs of Dicrocoelium dendriticum (32.2%; 95% Confidence Interval: 26.4-38.1), Baylisascaris sp. (44.8%; 38.5-50.9), ancylostomatids (probably belonging to Uncinaria spp.) (16.5%; 11.9-21.1) and Trichuris sp. (1.2%; 0-2.6) were observed. Significant seasonal differences were noted for Baylisascaris and ancylostomatids (χ2 = 21.02, P = 0.001 and χ2 = 34.41, P = 0.001, respectively). Furthermore, the presence of helminth eggs was correlated with the activity phase of the brown bears. Dicrocoelium attained the highest prevalence during the mating phase, while Baylisascaris and ancylostomatids were more frequent during hyperphagia. Notably, the highest egg-output counts for Dicrocoelium and Baylisascaris sp. were recorded during the mating phase and hibernation, respectively, whereas ancylostomatids eggs peaked during hyperphagia. Additionally, variations in egg-output counts were significant for all helminths concerning the season, with the exception of Trichuris sp., and for Dicrocoelium and Baylisascaris sp. According to bear activity. It is concluded that infection by gastrointestinal helminths depends on the season and the biological activity of the bears from the Cantabrian Mountains, and their health status could result influenced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther Valderrábano Cano
- COPAR Research Group (GI-2120-USC), Faculty of Veterinary, 27002, Lugo, Spain
- Marcelle Natureza Zoological Park, 27154, Outeiro de Rei, Lugo, Spain
| | - Vincenzo Penteriani
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, National Museum of Natural Sciences (MNCN), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), C/José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006, Madrid, Spain
| | - Iris Vega
- COPAR Research Group (GI-2120-USC), Faculty of Veterinary, 27002, Lugo, Spain
| | - María del Mar Delgado
- Biodiversity Research Institute (IMIB, CSIC-UO-PA), Mieres Campus, 33600, Mieres, Spain
| | - Enrique González-Bernardo
- Department of Zoology, University of Granada, Av Fuente Nueva S/n, E-18071, Granada, Spain
- University of Oviedo, C/ San Francisco, 3, E-33003, Oviedo, Asturias, Spain
| | - Giulia Bombieri
- MUSE – Science Museum, Research & Collections Department, Conservation Biology Unit, Trento, Italy
| | - Alejandra Zarzo-Arias
- Department of Biogeography and Global Change, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
- University of Oviedo, C/ San Francisco, 3, E-33003, Oviedo, Asturias, Spain
| | | | - Adolfo Paz-Silva
- COPAR Research Group (GI-2120-USC), Faculty of Veterinary, 27002, Lugo, Spain
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Molnár L, Königová A, Pleva L, Ciberej J, Kuzyšinová K, Major P, Vrabec V, Kottferová L, Petrillová M, Várady M. Cage trapping and field anaesthesia of brown bears as part of nuisance bear management. Acta Vet Hung 2022. [PMID: 35895536 DOI: 10.1556/004.2022.00012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
The population and distribution of the European brown bear (Ursus arctos) in Slovakia are expanding as bears were observed beyond the southern border of the country in Hungary. This study presents the authors' experience with field anaesthesia of wild brown bears trapped in a custom-made container trap and of free-ranging individuals. A total of 25 bears were captured and translocated using a specially designed metal cage trap. The study compared the effectiveness of three anaesthetic protocols in managing both free-ranging and trapped bears. For juveniles, or small adults up to 70 kg body weight (BW), ketamine-xylazine mixture was used at doses of 3.0-4.0 mg kg-1 ketamine and 1.0-1.5 mg kg-1 xylazine BW. The immobilisation of free-ranging bears, which are usually attracted by municipal solid garbage, was performed remotely using PneuDart darts with 2-3 ml of anaesthetics. For this purpose, tiletamine-zolazepam-detomidine (T-Z-D) was preferred at a dose of 1.7-2.5 (T) mg kg-1, 1.7-2.5 (Z) mg kg-1, and 0.1-0.2 (D) mg kg-1 BW. Induction time was from 7 to 18 min post darting with the average of 12.04 min. The same combination was applied to bears trapped in a container trap, with anaesthesia lasting from 40 to 150 min. If T-Z-D was used, no further anaesthetic was needed. In all cases, anaesthesia was antagonised by atipamezole at a dose of 0.15-0.225 mg kg-1 BW. Atipamezole was injected at a half dose intramuscularly and a half dose subcutaneously at the time when the palpebral reflex reappeared and the bear was able to move his tongue. It was shown that the T-Z-D mixture is a safe, low-volume anaesthetic darting protocol that is reversible, has minimal adverse effects on physiological parameters, and has a sufficient duration. The results can be used to manage large carnivore populations in the Carpathian region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ladislav Molnár
- 1 Clinic for Birds, Exotic and Free Living Animals, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Košice, Slovakia
| | - Alžbeta Königová
- 2 Institute of Parasitology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovakia
| | | | - Juraj Ciberej
- 4 Department of Breeding and Diseases of Animals, Fish and Bees, Ecology and Cynology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Košice, Slovakia
| | - Katarína Kuzyšinová
- 1 Clinic for Birds, Exotic and Free Living Animals, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Košice, Slovakia
| | - Peter Major
- 1 Clinic for Birds, Exotic and Free Living Animals, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Košice, Slovakia
| | - Vladimír Vrabec
- 1 Clinic for Birds, Exotic and Free Living Animals, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Košice, Slovakia
| | - Lucia Kottferová
- 1 Clinic for Birds, Exotic and Free Living Animals, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Košice, Slovakia
| | - Monika Petrillová
- 5 Department of General Competencies, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Košice, Slovakia
| | - Marián Várady
- 2 Institute of Parasitology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovakia
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Costa H, Hartasánchez R, Santos AR, Camarão A, Cruz L, Nascimento M, Gomes L, Madeira de Carvalho LM. Preliminary findings on the gastrointestinal parasites of the brown bear (Ursus arctos) in the Cantabrian mountains, Spain. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports 2022; 28:100681. [PMID: 35115125 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2021.100681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
No study is currently available on the parasitofauna of the population of brown bears (Ursus arctos) inhabiting the Cantabrian Mountains in Spain. The aim of the present study was to obtain novel information on diversity and prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in these individuals. During August 2016 and from May to July 2017, 14 fecal samples were collected from the western Cantabrian bear subpopulation, in the Somiedo Natural Park, in the Spanish province of Asturias. The prevalence of parasites detected was 71% and two genera were identified: Dicrocoelium sp. and Trichuris sp. Since the impact that pathogens such as endoparasites can have on the health of bears, together with other stressors, is still poorly understood, research efforts that include disease surveillance are critical to the successful protection of this emblematic species. Our preliminary findings require further investigations, with a wider sampling effort, and bring awareness for the need of carrying further studies on this area as a part of a proactive species management plan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Costa
- Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal (CIISA), Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Roberto Hartasánchez
- Fondo para la Protección de los Animales Salvajes, Tuñón, Santo Adriano, Asturias, Spain
| | - Ana Rita Santos
- Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal (CIISA), Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - António Camarão
- Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal (CIISA), Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Lígia Cruz
- Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal (CIISA), Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Mariana Nascimento
- Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal (CIISA), Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Lídia Gomes
- Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal (CIISA), Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Luís M Madeira de Carvalho
- Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal (CIISA), Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal
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