Browsing by Subject "Wild ruminants"

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    Detection of antibodies in wild ruminants to evaluate exposure to liver trematodes
    (BioOne Digital Library, 2012-03-13) Arias, María del Sol; Martínez-Carrasco Pleite, Carlos; León Vizcaíno, Luis; Paz Silva, Adolfo; Díez Baños, Pablo; Morrondo, Patrocinio; Alonso de Vega, Francisco-Domingo; Sanidad Animal; Facultades de la UMU::Facultad de Veterinaria
    Wild ruminants sharing pastures with domestic livestock are at risk of infection by liver trematodes. Detection of antibodies provides a very useful tool to gain more knowledge about the distribution of these parasites. Non-lethal methods are strongly encouraged for the analysis of the risk of infection among wild ruminants. A seroepidemiological survey was conducted to analyze exposure to hepatic trematodes (Fasciola hepatica and Dicrocoelium dendriticum) in wild ruminants from southern Spain. Blood samples were collected from 69 bovids (mouflon and Iberian ibex) and 143 cervids (red deer and fallow deer) from Sierra de Cazorla, Segura and Las Villas Natural Park. The samples were analyzed using the excretory/secretory antigens of each trematode to determine the IgG response. All the animals were examined at necropsy for the presence of flukes, and the species, age, and gender of the animals were recorded. Fasciola hepatica were only observed in cervids (3%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 52-8), while D. dendriticum specimens were recorded in 1% (0-8) of bovids and 4% (CI 5 2-9) of the cervids. The IgG-seroprevalence against F. hepatica was significantly higher in the cervids. Statistical differences according to gender were observed. The bovids exhibited the greatest percentages of positive cases to D. dendriticum antigens, and the DdES-seroprevalence was related to age of the animals. When considering all the factors, the FhES-seroprevalence was initially distributed according to the type of ruminant (cervids), gender (male), and age ( more than 2 years).
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    Epidemiological approach to nematode polyparasitism occurring in a sympatric wild ruminant multi-host scenario
    (Cambridge University Press, 2021-06-07) Carrau Garreta, Tessa; Martínez Carrasco-Pleite, Carlos; Garijo Toledo, María Magdalena; Alonso de Vega, Francisco Domingo; León Vizcaino, Luis; Herrera-Russert, José; Tizzani, Paolo; Ruiz de Ybáñez Carnero, María del Rocío; Sanidad Animal
    The epidemiology behind multi-host/multi-parasite systems is particularly interesting to investigate for a better understanding of the complex dynamics naturally occurring in wildlife populations. We aimed to approach the naturally occurring polyparasitism of gastrointestinal nematodes in a sympatric wild ruminant scenario present in south-east Spain. To this end, the gastrointestinal tract of 252 wild ruminants of four different species (red deer, Cervus elaphus; mouflon, Ovis aries musimon; Iberian ibex, Capra pyrenaica and fallow deer, Dama dama) were studied in Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas Natural Park (Andalusia, Spain). Of the analysed animals, 81.52% were positive for parasite infection and a total of 29 nematode species were identified. Out of these, 25 species were detected in at least two host species and 11 parasitized all ruminant species surveyed. The multi-host interaction between these nematodes and the four host species is discussed under the perspective of host family-based differences.
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    Multivariate Abundance Analysis of Multi-Host/Multi-Parasite Lungworms in a Sympatric Wild Ruminant Population
    (MDPI, 2021-05-23) Carrau Garreta, Tessa; Martínez Carrasco-Pleite, Carlos; Garijo Toledo, María Magdalena; Alonso de Vega, Francisco Domingo; Ruiz de Ybáñez Carnero, María del Rocío; Tizzani, Paolo; Sanidad Animal
    In the analysis of a multi-host/multi-parasite system and its associated risk factors, it is particularly interesting to understand the natural dynamics among pathogens, their hosts, and the environment in wildlife populations. This analysis is particularly feasible in a scenario where multiple overlapping host populations are present in high densities, along with a complex community of parasites. We aimed to describe and analyze the naturally occurring lungworm polyparasitism in a wild ruminant community in Southeast Spain. The respiratory tracts of 250 specimens belonging to four different species (red deer, mouflon, Iberian ibex, and fallow deer) were studied. Almost half (48.0%) of the animals were infected with bronchopulmonary nematodes. Seven different nematodes were identified of which two genera (Protostrongylus spp. and Dictyocaulus spp.) and three additional species (Cystocaulus ocreatus, Muellerius capillaris, and Neostrongylus linearis) were recorded in at least two ruminants, with the mouflon as the commonest host. Our study shows a significant effect of host species and sampling area, plus a marginal effect of age, on parasite multivariate abundance at the host population level. Mouflon and adults of all hosts appear to carry the highest parasite load on average. From a spatial perspective, the highest parasite abundance was detected at the central part of the park.