Title
Health evaluation of five sympatric duiker species (Cephalophus spp)
Author(s)
Karesh, WB; Hart, JA; Hart, TB; House, C; Torres, A; Dierenfeld, ES; Braselton, WE; Puche, H; Cook, RA
Published
1995
Publisher
Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
Abstract
As part of ongoing ecological studies of rain forest ungulate communities at two sites in the Ituri forest, Zaire, a health survey of five sympatric, free-ranging species of duikers (Cephalophus spp.) was conducted in 1991 and 1992. Ninety-five animals were physically examined during handling procedures, and blood and fecal samples were collected from 77 individuals for laboratory analysis. All animals appeared to be in good condition, and no abnormalities were noted. Hematology and serum chemistry, vitamin, and mineral levels were measured and correlated with the results of bacterial and viral serology and fecal parasite examinations. Positive antibody titers for leptospirosis, bluetongue virus, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis, and epizootic hemorrhagic disease were found. These diseases have the potential to affect wildlife population dynamics as well as to have direct and indirect effects on local people. Serologic tests for foot-and-mouth disease, rinderpest, bovine viral diarrhea, brucellosis, and anaplasmosis were negative. Significant differences in disease prevalence were not found among the five species, sex or age classes, or between the two sites. In light of the serology and parasitology findings, the apparent good condition of the individual animals demonstrates the importance of diagnostic testing in establishing a health profile for a given population.
Keywords
WHITE-TAILED DEER; INFECTIOUS BOVINE-RHINOTRACHEITIS; HEMORRHAGIC-DISEASE VIRUSES; SOUTH-AFRICAN WILDLIFE; SEROLOGICAL REACTIONS; BLUETONGUE VIRUS; ALPHA-TOCOPHEROL; NATIONAL-PARK; RED DUIKERS; LEPTOSPIRA
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PUB11773