Physiological response of wild guanacos to capture for live shearing

Context The use of wild guanacos (Lama guanicoe) through live capture and shearing may contribute to their conservation by providing an economic alternative to rural inhabitants. However, none of the biological impacts of this activity, including the physiological ones, have been addressed. Aims The aim of this work was to characterise the acute response of guanacos to stress after capture and shearing in terms of serum cortisol levels, heart rate, and body temperature. Methods The study was performed during 2006 and 2007 in La Payunia Reserve in western Argentina. In order to determine serum cortisol concentration, 128 blood samples were obtained and the unextracted sera were analysed by radioimmunoanalyses (RIA). Sex, age category, heart rate, body temperature and total restraint time (TRT) were also registered for each animal captured. Key results Serum cortisol levels were higher in guanacos captured and sheared during 2007 than in 2006, and male cortisol levels were consistently lower than female levels. No significant differences were observed in cortisol levels of the different age categories. A positive correlation was observed between TRT and serum cortisol concentration. The analyses of cortisol levels in relation to TRT showed differences between males and females. With handling periods longer than 80 minutes, females showed a delayed stabilisation in cortisol response when compared with males. Heart rate and body temperature showed no differences between year, sex or age categories. Conclusions The present results show that the stress response to capture and shearing in wild guanacos increased significantly with handling time. We recommend avoiding capture of large numbers of animals and keeping roundup duration short to reduce TRT. Implications This work provides new information that can improve guanaco welfare during handling and shearing and may have implications for the conservation of the species.

Evaluation of the health of free-ranging greater rheas (Rhea americana ) in Argentina

The health of 22 free-ranging adult rheas (Rhea americana) examined and sampled during a translocation/reintroduction project and six juvenile rheas kept in semicaptivity was investigated, and details of their haematology and plasma biochemistry are presented. Serological testing for antibodies to infectious agents was negative for infectious laryngotracheitis, avian adenovirus, avian influenza, avian reovirus, infectious bursal disease, infectious bronchitis virus, paramyxovirus types 1, 2, and 3, fowlpox and Salmonella Pullorum. Antibodies to Chlamydophila species were found in 25 of 27 of the birds, and 22 of 25 had antibodies to Aspergillus species. Ova of gastrointestinal nematodes of the genus Capillaria were identified, and the anoplocephalid cestode Monoecocestus cf rheiphilus was identified in R americana for the first time.

Internal parasites of free-ranging guanacos from Patagonia

In the winter of 2000, a greater than 80% reduction in the guanaco population located in Cabo Dos Bahi;as Wildlife Reserve, Chubut, Argentina, was evident due to massive mortality attributed to starvation. Twelve guanacos were necropsied and samples were analyzed at the Parasitology Laboratory of Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Fecal analysis revealed developmental stages of Nematodirus sp., Marshallagia sp., Trichuris sp. and Eimeria spp. Histopathological analysis showed the presence of Sarcocystis sp. in muscle and fascia cysts. Other parasites recovered included Dictyocaulus filaria, Trichuris tenuis and Moniezia expansa. Of these, D. filaria and M. expansa possibly reflect interactions with domestic sheep. This is the first time that T. tenuis has been reported in guanacos.