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Gonzálvez M, Moreno E, Pérez-Cutillas P, Gilbert T, Ortiz J, Valera F, Espeso G, Benzal J, Ibáñez B, Ruiz de Ybáñez MDR. Zoological institutions as hotspots of gastrointestinal parasites that may affect the success of ungulate reintroduction programmes. Vet Rec 2021; 189:e506. [PMID: 34047377 DOI: 10.1002/vetr.506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ungulates from zoological institutions are frequently used as founders in reintroduction programmes. These animals are subject to specific parasite management as parasitic infections have previously been associated with failed Bovidae reintroductions. METHODS Questionnaires to obtain data on how these institutions screen for seasonal parasite presence and the clinical signs they induced in threatened ungulates were sent to 65 institutions involved in European Ex situ Programmes (58.5% response rate). Temperature and relative humidity data were also obtained to categorize each zoological centre. RESULTS Strongyloides spp. (52.6%), Trichuris spp. (42.1%), Trichostrongylidae family (39.4%) and Eimeria spp. (36.8%) were the most frequently reported parasites in the received questionnaires. Climatic variables did not influence parasite presence. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that artificial microenvironments created by husbandry practices and enclosure design in zoos could create hotspots for gastrointestinal parasites. To maximise the success of reintroduction projects, we recommend that the influence of microclimates on parasite burdens be evaluated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moisés Gonzálvez
- Dpto. Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Campus de Excelencia Internacional Regional 'Campus Mare Nostrum', Universidad de Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, Murcia, 30100, Spain
| | - Eulalia Moreno
- Dpto. Ecología Funcional y Evolutiva, Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas, EEZA-CSIC, Ctra. de Sacramento s/n, Almería, 04120, Spain
| | - Pedro Pérez-Cutillas
- Dpto. Geografía, Facultad de Letras, Campus de Excelencia Internacional Regional 'Campus Mare Nostrum', Universidad de Murcia, Campus de La Merced, Murcia, 30001, Spain
| | - Tania Gilbert
- Marwell Wildlife, Colden Common, Winchester, SO21 1JH, UK.,Biological Sciences, Life Sciences Building 85, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Juana Ortiz
- Dpto. Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Campus de Excelencia Internacional Regional 'Campus Mare Nostrum', Universidad de Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, Murcia, 30100, Spain
| | - Francisco Valera
- Dpto. Ecología Funcional y Evolutiva, Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas, EEZA-CSIC, Ctra. de Sacramento s/n, Almería, 04120, Spain
| | - Gerardo Espeso
- Dpto. Ecología Funcional y Evolutiva, Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas, EEZA-CSIC, Ctra. de Sacramento s/n, Almería, 04120, Spain
| | - Jesús Benzal
- Dpto. Ecología Funcional y Evolutiva, Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas, EEZA-CSIC, Ctra. de Sacramento s/n, Almería, 04120, Spain
| | - Belén Ibáñez
- Dpto. Ecología Funcional y Evolutiva, Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas, EEZA-CSIC, Ctra. de Sacramento s/n, Almería, 04120, Spain
| | - María Del Rocío Ruiz de Ybáñez
- Dpto. Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Campus de Excelencia Internacional Regional 'Campus Mare Nostrum', Universidad de Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, Murcia, 30100, Spain
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Wünnemann H, Eskens U, Prenger-Berninghoff E, Ewers C, Lierz M. Lactococcus lactis, causative agent of an endocarditis valvularis and parietalis thromboticans in the allis shad, Alosa alosa (L.). J Fish Dis 2018; 41:1207-1215. [PMID: 29806192 DOI: 10.1111/jfd.12813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2018] [Revised: 03/13/2018] [Accepted: 03/14/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Since the 1940s, the anadromous allis shad, Alosa alosa (L.), has suffered population declines throughout its distribution range in Europe. In context of EU-LIFE projects for the reintroduction of the allis shad in the Rhine system, a comprehensive study was started in 2012 to investigate infectious diseases occurring in allis shad. In course of the study, 217 mature and young-of-the-year allis shad originating from the wild population from the Gironde-Garonne-Dordogne system (GGD-system) and the Rhine system as well as 38 allis shad from the breeding population were examined by use of bacteriological and histological methods. In 2012 and 2014, an endocarditis valvularis thromboticans caused by a coccoid bacterium was detected in 16% and 25% of mature allis shad originating from the GGD-system. Results of microbiologic examinations, including biochemical characteristics, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, revealed Lactococcus lactis as causative agent of this infection. This is the first report of an endocarditis valvularis and parietalis thromboticans caused by Lactococcus lactis in fish. Possible sources of infection as well as the impact for the reintroduction programme are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Wünnemann
- Clinic for Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians and Fish, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - U Eskens
- The Hessen State Laboratory, Giessen, Germany
| | - E Prenger-Berninghoff
- Institute of Hygiene and Infectious Diseases of Animals, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - C Ewers
- Institute of Hygiene and Infectious Diseases of Animals, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - M Lierz
- Clinic for Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians and Fish, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
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