scholarly journals A participatory surveillance of marsh deer (Blastocerus dichotomus) morbidity and mortality in Argentina: first results.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Marcela Orozco ◽  
Hernán D. Argibay ◽  
Leonardo Minatel ◽  
Eliana C. Guillemi ◽  
Yanina Berra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Gastrointestinal Parasites ◽  
Morbidity And Mortality ◽  
Quality Data ◽  
Winter Mortality ◽  
Wildlife Diseases ◽  
Surveillance Network ◽  
Passive Surveillance System ◽  
Participatory Surveillance ◽  
Blastocerus Dichotomus

Abstract Background: In an era of unprecedented socio-ecological changes, managing wildlife health demands high-quality data collection and the engagement of local communities. Blastocerus dichotomus, the largest South American deer, is Vulnerable to extinction mainly due to habitat loss. Diseases have been recognised as a potential threat, and winter mortality has been historically described in marsh deer populations from Argentina. Field difficulties have, however, prevented in-depth studies of their health status.Results: Between May 2014 and April 2017, we investigated marsh deer morbidity and mortality in the two largest populations in Argentina. We collected data by means of a passive surveillance system that involved a network of researchers, field partners (veterinarians, park rangers, and local community), and decision makers. We sampled dead deer during as well as outside mortality events. A total of 44 marsh deer with different body condition scores were evaluated. We obtained haematology and biochemistry values from animals with good body condition score. Marsh deer with poor body condition had a high burden of the ticks Amblyomma triste and Rhipicephalus microplus. Vector-borne agents such as Theileria cervi, Trypanosoma theileri, Trypanosoma evansi, Ehrlichia chaffeensis, Anaplasma platys, Anaplasma odocoilei, Anaplasma marginale, and Candidatus Anaplasma boleense were also found. Haemonchus spp., Ostertagia spp., and Trichostrongylus spp. were the most frequent gastrointestinal parasites in deer with poor body condition. A Multiple Correspondence Analysis reinforced a possible association of winter period with lower body score condition, high tick loads, infection with E. chaffeensis, and presence of harmful gastrointestinal parasites. Conclusions: Our approach allowed the establishment of a participatory surveillance network of marsh deer morbidity and mortality in Argentina. We report and analyse the first data obtained opportunistically within the framework of this network, providing information on the infectious and parasitic agents in marsh deer populations. The occurrence of Fasciola hepatica and Leptospira interrogans serovar pyrogenes is reported for the first time in wild marsh deer from Argentina. Our data will be useful to improve the interpretation of future mortality events. The field implementation of a surveillance network is key to a holistic approach to wildlife diseases.

scholarly journals A participatory approach to marsh deer (Blastocerus dichotomus) morbidity and mortality passive surveillance in Argentina: first results.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Marcela Orozco ◽  
Hernán D. Argibay ◽  
Leonardo Minatel ◽  
Eliana C. Guillemi ◽  
Yanina Berra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Participatory Approach ◽  
Gastrointestinal Parasites ◽  
Morbidity And Mortality ◽  
Winter Mortality ◽  
Passive Surveillance ◽  
Wildlife Diseases ◽  
Surveillance Network ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Blastocerus Dichotomus

Abstract Background: The comprehensive approach to diseases in broad ecological contexts appears as a new challenge for global health. Winter mortality of marsh deer ( Blastocerus dichotomus ) was historically described in Argentina even though field difficulties prevented their in-depth study. Results: Between May 2014 and April 2017, we investigated marsh deer morbidity and mortality through passive surveillance in the two largest populations in Argentina using a participatory approach. The latter spanned a network of researchers, field partners (veterinarians, park rangers, and local community), and decision makers. We sampled dead deer during as well as outside mortality events. A total of 44 marsh deer with different body condition scores were evaluated. We obtained reference haematology and biochemistry values from animals with good body condition score. Marsh deer with poor body condition had a high burden of the ticks Amblyomma triste and Rhipicephalus microplus . Vector-borne agents (VBAs), such as Theileria cervi , Trypanosoma theileri, Trypanosoma evansi, Ehrlichia chaffeensis, Anaplasma platys, Anaplasma odocoilei, Anaplasma marginale , and Candidatus Anaplasma boolense were also found. Haemonchus spp., Ostertagia spp., and Trichostrongylus spp. were the most frequent gastrointestinal parasites in deer with poor body condition. A Multiple Correspondence Analysis reinforced a possible association of winter period with lower body score condition, high tick loads, infection with E. chaffeensis , and presence of harmful gastrointestinal parasites. Conclusions: Our approach allowed the establishment of a participatory surveillance network of marsh deer morbidity and mortality in Argentina. We report and analyse the first data obtained opportunistically within the framework of this network, providing information on the infectious and parasitic agents in marsh deer populations. The occurrence of Fasciola hepatica and Leptospira interrogans serovar pyrogenes is reported for the first time in wild marsh deer from Argentina. The histopathological findings in succumbed animals allowed us to distinguish lesions associated with their body condition from those that were unrelated. Our data will be useful to improve the interpretation of future mortality events. The field implementation of a surveillance network is key to a holistic approach to wildlife diseases.

scholarly journals A participatory surveillance of marsh deer (Blastocerus dichotomus) morbidity and mortality in Argentina: first results

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Marcela Orozco ◽  
Hernán D. Argibay ◽  
Leonardo Minatel ◽  
Eliana C. Guillemi ◽  
Yanina Berra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Morbidity And Mortality ◽  
First Results ◽  
Participatory Surveillance ◽  
Blastocerus Dichotomus

scholarly journals Baseline studies on the health of marsh deer (Blastocerus dichotomus) populations from Argentina: laying the grounds for an improved interpretation of mortality episodes

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Marcela Orozco ◽  
Hernán D. Argibay ◽  
Leonardo Minatel ◽  
Eliana C. Guillemi ◽  
Yanina Berra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Fasciola Hepatica ◽  
Multiple Correspondence Analysis ◽  
Trypanosoma Evansi ◽  
Gastrointestinal Parasites ◽  
Infection Prevalence ◽  
Amblyomma Triste ◽  
Vector Borne ◽  
Blastocerus Dichotomus ◽  
Health Parameters

Abstract Background: The comprehensive approach to diseases in broad ecological contexts appears as a new challenge for global health and draws on baseline studies to detect changes in the occurrence of pathogens over time. Marsh deer (Blastocerus dichotomus) mortality episodes were described in Argentina and several pathogens associated with environmental and eco-epidemiological factors were indicated as risk factors. To date, the lack of basic health information on these populations has hampered interpretation of findings. This study aimed to provide baseline data on health parameters in marsh deer populations from Argentina. Results: Between May 2014 and December 2016 we determined health parameters in 44 marsh deer with different body condition scores, and studied the pathological lesions in dead animals. Marsh deer with poor body condition had a high burden of the ticks Amblyomma triste and Rhipicephalus microplus. Vector borne agents (VBAs), such as Theileria cervi. Trypanosoma theileri, Trypanosoma evansi, Ehrlichia chaffeensis, Anaplasma platys, Anaplasma odocoilei, Anaplasma marginale, and Candidatus Anaplasma boolense were also found. Haemonchus spp, Ostertagia spp., Trichostrongylus spp. showed the highest infection prevalence. A Multiple Correspondence Analysis suggested a possible association of i) lower body score condition with high tick loads and infection with VBAs and, ii) the impoverished body score with high loads of nemathelminths and well-known harmful gastrointestinal parasites. Conclusions: Our results contribute with knowledge on the life history and health aspects of marsh deer in the study areas. We provide data on the prevalent infectious and parasitic agents in their populations. A range of haematology and serum chemistryvalues, and the occurrence of Fasciola hepatica and Leptospira interrogans serovar pyrogenes were reported for the first time in wild marsh deer from Argentina. The histopathological findings in succumbed animals allowed us to recognize injuries associated or not with their body condition. Our results are the first step in the creation of a baseline on marsh deer health in Argentina. In the future, these data added to new contributions could help improve the interpretation of the findings during mortality events.

scholarly journals Prevalence and Intensity of Gastrointestinal Parasites in Donkeys in Selected Abattoirs in Kenya

Scientifica ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy Mulwa ◽  
Samuel Githigia ◽  
Davis Karanja ◽  
Cecilia Mbae ◽  
Eberhard Zeyhle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Gastrointestinal Parasites ◽  
Morphological Identification ◽  
Helminth Parasites ◽  
Parascaris Equorum ◽  
Helminth Infections ◽  
Strongylus Vulgaris ◽  
Faecal Samples ◽  
Pregnancy Status ◽  
Setaria Equina

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and intensity of gastrointestinal parasites in donkeys slaughtered in Kinamba, Mogotio, and Lodwar slaughterhouses and their association with several host factors. A survey was done between July and September 2017 in three slaughterhouses. Faecal samples were collected per rectum from all the study donkeys for faecal egg counts (EPG) and morphological identification of the eggs. At slaughter, the gastrointestinal tracts were opened and examined visually, and all helminth parasites collected were subjected to morphological identification. Prevalence and intensity were calculated based on the helminth identified and EPG. A total of 282 donkeys were sampled. A majority of the donkeys (89%) were in poor body condition. Ten helminth parasite species were identified in 85.5% donkeys. They were Strongylus vulgaris (52.8%), Parascaris equorum (20.2%), Strongylus edentatus (12.1%), Anaplocephala perfoliata (10.3%), Setaria equina (3.5%) Anaplocephala magna (2.5%), Cylicocyclus auriculatus (2.1%), Cyathostomum species (1.8%), Strongylus equinus (0.4%), and Triodontophorus serratus (0.4%). A significant percentage (55.3%) had no eggs in their feces, 39% had low infection, 5% had medium, and only 0.7% were heavily infected. Prevalence rates via use of the EPG showed Strongyles (44.7%), Parascaris equorum (5.3%), Oxyuris equi (11%), Triodontophorus tenuicolis (0.7%), Habronema species (0.7%), and cestodes eggs (0.4%). No significant differences were observed between fecal Strongylus egg count and age, sex, and pregnancy status. However, donkeys with poor body condition shed more Strongylus eggs in feces. Helminth infections are prevalent in donkeys in Kenya; however, this is not reflected in coprological analyses. These helminth parasites may contribute to poor body condition, ill health, and poor productivity of donkeys.

scholarly journals Selection on innate immunity and body condition in Florida scrub-jays throughout an epidemic

2010 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 552-554 ◽  
Author(s):  
Travis E. Wilcoxen ◽  
Raoul K. Boughton ◽  
Stephan J. Schoech
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Winter Mortality ◽  
Health State ◽  
Physiological Measures ◽  
Florida Scrub ◽  
Bacterial Killing ◽  
Selection Gradient ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Living Species ◽  
Significant Positive Selection

Opportunities to investigate selection in free-living species during a naturally occurring epidemic are rare; however, we assessed innate immunocompetence in Florida scrub-jays before the population suffered the greatest over-winter mortality in 20 years of study. Propitiously, three months prior to the epidemic, we had sampled a number of male breeders to evaluate a suite of physiological measures that are commonly used to estimate the overall health-state of an individual. There was a significant, positive selection gradient for both Escherichia coli bacterial killing capability and body condition, suggesting that directional selection had occurred upon each of these traits during the disease epidemic.

Negative covariance between parasite load and body condition in a population of feral horses

Parasitology ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 143 (8) ◽  
pp. 983-997 ◽  
Author(s):  
LUCIE DEBEFFE ◽  
PHILIP D. MCLOUGHLIN ◽  
SARAH A. MEDILL ◽  
KATHRINE STEWART ◽  
DANIEL ANDRES ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Local Density ◽  
Parasite Load ◽  
Gastrointestinal Parasites ◽  
Reproductive Status ◽  
Feral Horses ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Fecal Egg Count ◽  
Lactating Females ◽  
Field Season

SUMMARYIn wild and domestic animals, gastrointestinal parasites can have significant impacts on host development, condition, health, reproduction and longevity. Improving our understanding of the causes and consequences of individual-level variation in parasite load is therefore of prime interest. Here we investigated the relationship between strongyle fecal egg count (FEC) and body condition in a unique, naturalized population of horses that has never been exposed to anthelmintic drugs (Sable Island, Nova Scotia, Canada). We first quantified variation in FEC and condition for 447 individuals according to intrinsic (sex, age, reproductive status, social status) and extrinsic (group size, location, local density) variables. We then quantified the repeatability of measurements obtained over a field season and tested for covariance between FEC and condition. FECs were high relative to other horse populations (mean eggs per gram ± SD = 1543·28 ± 209·94). FECs generally decreased with age, were higher in lactatingvsnon-lactating females, and unexpectedly lower in males in some part of the island. FECs and condition were both spatially structured, with patterns depending on age, sex and reproductive status. FECs and condition were both repeatable. Most notably, FECs and condition were negatively correlated, especially in adult females.

Data quality in healthcare: A report of practical experience with the Canadian Primary Care Sentinel Surveillance Network data

2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 88-92
Author(s):  
Behrouz Ehsani-Moghaddam ◽  
Ken Martin ◽  
John A Queenan
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Data Quality ◽  
Healthcare Setting ◽  
Practical Experience ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Sentinel Surveillance ◽  
Quality Data ◽  
Surveillance Network ◽  
Poor Quality Data ◽  
Quality In Healthcare

Data quality (DQ) is the degree to which a given dataset meets a user’s requirements. In the primary healthcare setting, poor quality data can lead to poor patient care, negatively affect the validity and reproducibility of research results and limit the value that such data may have for public health surveillance. To extract reliable and useful information from a large quantity of data and to make more effective and informed decisions, data should be as clean and free of errors as possible. Moreover, because DQ is defined within the context of different user requirements that often change, DQ should be considered to be an emergent construct. As such, we cannot expect that a sufficient level of DQ will last forever. Therefore, the quality of clinical data should be constantly assessed and reassessed in an iterative fashion to ensure that appropriate levels of quality are sustained in an acceptable and transparent manner. This document is based on our hands-on experiences dealing with DQ improvement for the Canadian Primary Care Sentinel Surveillance Network database. The DQ dimensions that are discussed here are accuracy and precision, completeness and comprehensiveness, consistency, timeliness, uniqueness, data cleaning and coherence.

scholarly journals Haematologic profile and prevalence survey of haemonchosis in various breeds of slaughtered cattle in Ibadan, Nigeria

2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 151-162
Author(s):  
O. T. Jeremiah ◽  
O. G. Banwo
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Gastrointestinal Parasites ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Southwestern Nigeria ◽  
Prevalence Survey ◽  
Exact Test ◽  
Haematological Profile

This study was aimed at determining the haematological profile and prevalence ofHaemonchus parasites in cattle considering the breed, sex, age and body condition scores(BCS) of the animals. The study spanned over 12 months. Whole blood samples werecollected from various breeds of cattle with adult Haemonchus specimens from eachabomasum content of such animals slaughtered at a local abattoir in Ibadan, Southwestern Nigeria. Systematic random sampling method was adopted, with a working sample size of 322. The age and BCS of cattle sampled were estimated using rostral dentition technique and visual indicators, respectively. The adult Haemonchus worms were collected in normal saline and identified morphologically. The haematologic profile was determined using pocH- 100iV Diff® (Haematology System, Sysmex Animal Health Germany). Data obtained from this study were analyzed statistically using microsoft excel, SPSS (Version 20), and graphPad prism version 5.0 with Fisher's exact test Haematological profile in bovine haemonchosis showed anaemia with an overall mean packed cell volume (PCV) of 25.59±0.03%, whereas the apparently healthy cattle had a mean PCV of 34.52 ±0.02%. The overall prevalence of bovine haemonchosis was 16.6 %. Our findings revealed that prevalence of bovine haemonchosis varied with months, season, body condition score, age, breeds with no sex predisposition. There is a need for constant monitoring of gastrointestinal parasites, appropriate anthelminthic regimen and control measures to promote animal production and prevent huge economic losses as a result of subclinical, acute illness and death in severe levels of parasitism.  

Reproductive females and young mouflon (Ovis gmelini musimon x Ovis sp.) in poor body condition are the main spreaders of gastrointestinal parasites

Parasitology ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-39
Author(s):  
Gilles Bourgoin ◽  
Elodie Portanier ◽  
Marie-Thérèse Poirel ◽  
Christian Itty ◽  
Jeanne Duhayer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Gastrointestinal Parasites ◽  
Reproductive Females

scholarly journals Passive epidemiological surveillance in wildlife in Costa Rica identifies pathogens of zoonotic and conservation importance

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alejandro Alfaro-Alarcon ◽  
Fernando Aguilar ◽  
Tamara Solorzono ◽  
Mario Baldi ◽  
Elias Barquero-Calvo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Costa Rica ◽  
Preventive Measure ◽  
Epidemiological Surveillance ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Passive Surveillance ◽  
Wildlife Diseases ◽  
Passive Surveillance System ◽  
Geographical Regions ◽  
Financial Disincentives ◽  
Free Ranging

Epidemiological surveillance systems for pathogens in wild species have been proposed as a preventive measure for epidemic events. These systems can minimize the detrimental effects of an outbreak, but most importantly,  passive surveillance systems are the best adapted to countries with limited resources. Therefore, the present study aims to evaluate the technical and infrastructural feasibility to establish this type of scheme in Costa Rica targeting thedetection of pathogens of zoonotic and conservation importance in wildlife. Between 2018 and 2020, 85 carcasses of free-ranging vertebrates were admitted for post mortem analysis and complementary laboratory analysis, representing a  solid basis for the implementation of a passive surveillance system for wildlife diseases in the country. However, we encounter during this research significant constraints that affected the availability of carcasses for analysis, mainly related to the initial identification of cases, detection biases towards events in populated- or easily accessible-areas with nearby located wildlife management centers, further associated with financial disincentives, and limited local  logistics capacity. Thus resulting in the exclusion of some geographic regions of the country. This epidemiological surveillance scheme allowed us to estimate the general state of health of the country's wildlife, establishing the cause of death of the analyzed animals as follows: (i) 46 (54.1%) traumatic events, (ii) 23 (27.1%) infectious agents, (iii) two (2.4%) degenerative illness, (iv) three (3.5%) presumably poisoning, and (v) in 11 (12.9%)undetermined. It also allowed the detection of pathogens such as, canine distemper virus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Toxoplasma gondii, Trypanosoma spp., Angiostrongylus spp., Dirofilaria spp., Baylisascaris spp., among others. As well as recognizing the circulation of these pathogens around national territory and also on those analyzed species. This strategy is crucial in geographical regions defined as critical for the appearance of diseases due to their great biodiversity and social conditions.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document