Title
Health assessment of free-ranging vicuna of the National Integrated Management Natural Area Apolobamba, Bolivia / Estudio sanitario de vicuñas en silvestría del Área Natural de Manejo Integrado Nacional Apolobamba, Bolivia
Author(s)
Lucio Fabián Beltrán-Saavedra; Rodolfo Nallar-Gutiérrez; Glenda Ayala; Juan Miguel Limachi; José Luis Gonzales-Rojas
Published
2011
Publisher
Ecología en Bolivia
Abstract
Within the National Integrated Management Natural Area (ANMI) Apolobamba, vicuñas share their habitat with domestic species including alpacas and sheep. The aim of this study was to evaluate the health status of free-ranging vicuñas in contact with livestock in the ANMI Apolobamba. Between October and December 2006, 36 vicuñas were sampled and complete blood count (CBC), sero-exposure to Brucella spp. and foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), and the presence of parasites (internal and external) were evaluated. Total protein levels show significant differences (P<0.05) between young and adult vicuñas, while erythrocyte counts were significantly lower in adult females compared to young vicuñas. None of the evaluated vicuñas showed exposure to Brucella spp., FMD or hemoparasites. All animals presented endoparasites, particularly coccidia (100%) (predominantly Eimeria punoensis and E. alpacae), nematodes (87.5%), and cestodes (3.1%). Mixed infections were observed in 87% of the animals and Moniezia benedeni was detected in one young male. Ectoparasites and scabies lesions were f ound in 30.6% of the evaluated vicuñas including Microthoracius mazzai (5.6%), M. minor (2.8%), acari Amblyomma parvitarsum (16.7%), and Sarcoptes scabieivar. aucheniae (5.6%). No ectoparasitic mixed infestations were observed. The finding of the cestode M. benedeni in a free-ranging vicuña must be studied in greater detail to establish possible spill-over from sheep including the sanitary risk for the vicuñas. / In order to evaluate the health status of vicuñas in contact with domestic livestock during community shearings in the Apolobamba National Integrated Management Natural Area (ANMI), 36 vicuñas were sampled between October and December 2006 and evaluated for complete blood counts, sero-exposure to brucellosis and foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV), as well as the presence of internal and external parasites. In the hemogram, significant differences (P<0.05) were observed in the total protein count, whose values in juvenile animals were lower than those found in adults; in the case of erythrocytes, the count values were significantly lower in adult females compared to those found in juvenile vicuñas. Serology was negative for foot-and-mouth disease and brucellosis and no hemoparasites were detected in the blood smears analyzed. All the animals evaluated had endoparasites, including coccidia (100%) with a predominance of Eimeria punoensis and E. alpacae, nematodes (87.5%) and cestodes (3.1%). In 87.5% of the cases the infections were mixed. Eggs of Moniezia benedeni were identified in a male juvenile vicuña. Significant differences were observed between sexes (P<0.05) for E. alpacae and between ages for Capillaria sp. Ectoparasites or mange lesions were found in 30.6% of the individuals, collecting Microthoracius mazzai (5.6%) and M. minor (2.8%), as well as mites Amblyomma parvitarsum (16.7%) and Sarcoptes scabiei var. aucheniae (5.6%). Mixed infestations of ectoparasites were not observed. The finding of the cestode M. benedeni in a vicuña will have to be studied in more detail to evaluate the possible adaptation of this sheep parasite in vicuñas and the possible health risks for the species.
Keywords
Brucella spp.; Foot-and-mouth disease; Free-ranging; Parasites; Vicugna vicugna; Fiebre aftosa; Parásitos; Silvestría
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PUB35750