Browsing by Subject "Gastrointestinal nematodes"

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    Helminths in a giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis giraffa) from a zoo in Spain
    (2004-11-08) Garijo Toledo, M. Magdalena; Ortiz, Juana; Ruiz de Ybáñez Carnero, María del Rocío; Sanidad Animal
    A pregnant female Cape giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis giraffa) died from an unknown cause in the Aitana Zoo, Alicante, Spain. Neither clinical signs nor macroscopic lesions were observed at necropsy. The alimentary tract was removed and examined for parasites. A total of 2 724 nematodes were found, including Camelostrongylus mentulatus, Trichostrongylus axei, Ostertagia ostertagi, Teladorsagia circumcincta, Teladorsagia trifurcata, Marshallagia marshalli, Trichostrongylus vitrinus, Trichostrongylus colubriformis, Spiculopteragia asymmetrica and Trichuris giraffae. Only T. giraffae and C. mentulatus have been previously reported from giraffes. The other nematodes are common in mouflons, fallow and red deer, which can usually be found in the same paddock as the giraffes in Aitana Zoo. Although its occurrence is unusual in this host, C. mentulatus was the most abundant nematode in our giraffe. This parasite has been related to disease, and even death, in several wild ruminants.
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    The physiological cost of male-biased parasitism in a nearly monomorphic mammal
    (BMC, 2017-04-21) Oliver Guimerá, Arturo; Martínez Carrasco-Pleite, Carlos; Tvarijonaviciute, Asta; Ruiz de Ybáñez Carnero, María del Rocío; Martínez Guijosa, Jordi; López Olvera, Jorge Ramón; Fernández Aguilar, Xavier; Colom Cadena, Andreu; Mentaberre, Gregorio; Velarde, Roser; Gassó, Diana; Garel, Mathieu; Rossi, Luca; Lavin, Santiago; Serrano, Emmanuel; Sanidad Animal
    Background: Even though male-biased parasitism is common in mammals, little effort has been made to evaluate whether higher parasitic burden in males results in an extra biological cost, and thus a decrease in fitness. Body condition impairment and the augmentation of oxidative stress can be used as indicators of the cost of parasite infections. Here, we examined relationships between gastrointestinal and respiratory helminths, body condition and oxidative stress markers (glutathione peroxidase, paraoxonase-1) in 28 Pyrenean chamois (Rupicapra p. pyrenaica) sampled in autumn. Results: Only male chamois showed a reduction in body condition and higher oxidative stress due to parasite infection, likely because of the extremely high parasite burdens observed in males. Conclusions: This study made evident a disparity in the physiological cost of multiple parasitism between sexes in a wild mammal, mainly due to parasitic richness. Because of the similar life expectancy in male and female chamois, we suggest that males may have developed natural mechanisms to compensate for higher parasite loads during the rut. Keywords: Gastrointestinal nematodes, Lung nematodes, Kidney fat reserves, Oxidant/antioxidant status, Rupicapra pyrenaica pyrenaica