New Insights into Gastrointestinal and Pulmonary Parasitofauna of Wild Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) in the Harz Mountains of Germany

The Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) represents an endangered wild felid species. In Germany, it currently occurs in three isolated populations in and around the Harz Mountains, the Palatinate Forest and the Bavarian Forest. Lynx parasitic infections affect animal health and might have an influence on population performance. Therefore, we investigated the protozoan and helminth fauna of free-ranging Eurasian lynx of the Harz population with emphasis on zoonotic parasites. Individual scat samples (n = 24) were collected from wild animals between 2019 and 2021 in the Harz National Park and surrounding areas. In total, 15 taxa of endoparasites were detected, including seven nematodes (i.e., Aelurostrongylus abstrusus, Angiostrongylus spp., Uncinaria stenocephala, Toxascaris leonina, Toxocara cati, Cylicospirura spp. and Capillaria spp.), one cestode (Diphyllobothriidae) and one trematode (Heterophylidae) as well as six protozoans (i.e., Cystoisospora rivolta, Cystoisospora felis, Toxoplasma gondii/Hammondia spp., Sarcocystis spp., Giardia intestinalis and Cryptosporidium spp.). Moreover, first-stage larvae (L1) of spurious lungworm, Protostrongylus pulmonalis, originating from lagomorph preys were identified. This work represents the first report on patent A. abstrusus and Angiostrongylus spp. infections in wild German Eurasian lynxes. Some of the identified parasites represent relevant pathogens for lynxes, circulating between these carnivorous definitive hosts and a variety of mammalian and invertebrate intermediate hosts, e.g., Sarcocystis spp., T. gondii/Hammondia spp., T. cati, T. leonina, A. abstrusus and Angiostrongylus spp., while others are considered exclusively pathogenic for wild felids (e.g., Cylicospirura spp., C. rivolta, C. felis). This study provides insights in the occurrence of zooanthroponotically relevant metazoan (i.e., T. cati and U. stenocephala) and protozoan (i.e., G. intestinalis) species in free-ranging lynx. The present work should be considered as a baseline study for future monitoring surveys on endoparasites circulating in wild Eurasian lynx for appropriate management practices in lynx conservation strategies in Europe.

Download Full-text

Severe Conjunctivitis Associated with Chlamydia felis Infection in a Free-ranging Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx)

Journal of Wildlife Diseases ◽

10.7589/2018-05-142 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 55 (2) ◽

pp. 522

Keyword(s):

Lynx Lynx ◽

Eurasian Lynx ◽

Free Ranging

Download Full-text

Free-ranging dogs as a potential threat to Iranian mammals

Oryx ◽

10.1017/s0030605321000090 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Danial Nayeri ◽

Alireza Mohammadi ◽

Ali T. Qashqaei ◽

Abi Tamim Vanak ◽

Matthew E. Gompper

Keyword(s):

Lynx Lynx ◽

Potential Threat ◽

Eurasian Lynx ◽

Acinonyx Jubatus ◽

Wildlife Species ◽

News Websites ◽

Media Reports ◽

Policy Guidance ◽

Free Ranging ◽

The Impact

Abstract Free-ranging domestic dogs Canis familiaris threaten wildlife species through predation, hybridization, competition for resources, and by contributing to the transmission of pathogens. The impacts of predation may be problematic, but in many regions the interactions of free-ranging dogs and wildlife are poorly studied. To determine the extent of the impacts of attacks by free-ranging dogs on Iranian mammals, we reviewed nearly 2 decades of social and traditional media reports and the scientific literature to gather data from across the country. We identified 160 free-ranging dog attacks (79 from academic articles, 14 from social media, and 67 from a variety of news websites) from 22 of the country's 31 provinces. Attacks by dogs were reported on 17 species, including nine Carnivora, six Artiodactyla, one Rodentia, and one Lagomorpha species. Most of the reported attacks on carnivores were on felids, including the Asiatic cheetah Acinonyx jubatus (n = 19), Eurasian lynx Lynx lynx (n = 18), caracal Caracal caracal (n = 10) and Pallas's cat Otocolobus manul (n = 8). Attacks on Artiodactyla were primarily reported for goitered gazelle Gazella subgutturosa (n = 47). Most of these attacks occurred within or adjacent to protected areas (n = 116, 73%), suggesting that free-ranging dogs are one of the most important human-associated threats to wildlife species even in protected landscapes. The impact of free-ranging dogs may be hampering conservation, and therefore we suggest some practical policy guidance for managing the impacts of free-ranging dogs on threatened species.

Download Full-text

The Use of Silicone Casts in Collection of Morphological Data from Free-Ranging Wildlife — the Case of Tracheobronchial Anatomy of the Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx)

Annales Zoologici Fennici ◽

10.5735/085.050.0501 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 50 (5) ◽

pp. 256-261 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Juha Laakkonen ◽

Matti Kivalo

Keyword(s):

Morphological Data ◽

Lynx Lynx ◽

Eurasian Lynx ◽

Free Ranging

Download Full-text

Testosterone production and spermatogenesis in free-ranging Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) throughout the year

European Journal of Wildlife Research ◽

10.1007/s10344-014-0821-4 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 60 (4) ◽

pp. 569-577 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Karin Müller ◽

Stephanie Koster ◽

Johanna Painer ◽

Arne Söderberg ◽

Dolores Gavier-Widèn ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lynx Lynx ◽

Eurasian Lynx ◽

Testosterone Production ◽

Free Ranging

Download Full-text

Morphometric characteristics of free-ranging Eurasian lynx Lynx lynx in Switzerland and their suitability for age estimation

Wildlife Biology ◽

10.2981/wlb.00432 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2018 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Iris Marti ◽

Marie-Pierre Ryser-Degiorgis

Keyword(s):

Age Estimation ◽

Lynx Lynx ◽

Morphometric Characteristics ◽

Eurasian Lynx ◽

Free Ranging

Download Full-text

Cardiomyopathy Associated With Coronary Arteriosclerosis in Free-Ranging Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx carpathicus)

Frontiers in Veterinary Science ◽

10.3389/fvets.2020.594952 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 ◽

Author(s):

Marie-Pierre Ryser-Degiorgis ◽

Nadia Robert ◽

Roman Kaspar Meier ◽

Samoa Zürcher-Giovannini ◽

Mirjam Pewsner ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Geographic Origin ◽

Lung Edema ◽

Lynx Lynx ◽

Eurasian Lynx ◽

First Case ◽

Luminal Stenosis ◽

Replacement Fibrosis ◽

The Common ◽

Free Ranging ◽

Heart Lesions

The Eurasian lynx (subspecies Lynx lynx carpathicus) was reintroduced to Switzerland in the 1970's. Health monitoring of the reintroduced population started in the late 1980's. Since then, six lynx have been found affected by a myocardial disease. The earliest case was an animal that died after a field anesthesia. Two lynx were found dead, two were euthanized/culled because of disease signs, and one was hit by car. Two had a heart murmur at clinical examination. At necropsy, the first animal showed only lung edema but the other five had cardiomegaly associated with myocardial fibrosis. Three had multisystemic effusions. Histological examination of all six lynx showed mild to severe, multifocal, myocardial interstitial and perivascular fibrosis along with multifocal myocyte degeneration and loss, and replacement fibrosis. Moderate to severe multifocal arteriosclerosis with associated luminal stenosis of the small and medium-sized intramural coronary arteries and the presence of Anitschkow cells was also observed. The heart lesions may have led to sudden death in the first case and to a chronic right-sided heart failure in the remaining. None of the lynx showed lesions or signs suggestive of an acute or subacute infection. Given the common geographic origin of these animals and the severe loss of heterozygocity in this population, a genetic origin of the disease is hypothesized.

Download Full-text