Epizootiologic Investigations of Selected Abortive Agents in Free-Ranging Alpine Ibex (Capra Ibex Ibex) in Switzerland

Marreros, Nelson; Hüssy, Daniela; Albini, Sarah; Frey, Caroline; Abril, Carlos; Vogt, Hans-Rudolf; Holzwarth, Nathalie; Wirz-Dittus, Sophie; Friess, Martina; Engels, Monika; Borel, Nicole; Willisch, Christian S; Signer, Claudio; Hoelzle, Ludwig E; Ryser-Degiorgis, Marie-Pierre (2011). Epizootiologic Investigations of Selected Abortive Agents in Free-Ranging Alpine Ibex (Capra Ibex Ibex) in Switzerland. Journal of wildlife diseases, 47(3), pp. 530-543. Ames, Iowa: Wildlife Disease Association 10.7589/0090-3558-47.3.530

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In the early 2000s, several colonies of Alpine ibex (Capra ibex ibex) in Switzerland ceased growing or began to decrease. Reproductive problems clue to infections with abortive agents might have negatively affected recruitment. We assessed the presence of selected agents of abortion in Alpine ibex by serologic, molecular, and culture techniques and evaluated whether infection with these agents might have affected population densities. Blood and fecal samples were collected from 651 ibex in 14 colonies throughout the Swiss Alps between 2006 and 2008. All samples were negative for Salmonella. spp., Neospora caninum, and Bovine Herpesvirus-1. Antibodies to Coxiella burnetii, Leptospira spp., Chlamydophila abortus, Toxoplasma gondii, and Bovine Viral Diarrhea virus were detected in at least one ibex. Positive serologic results for Brucella spp. likely were false. Overall, 73 samples (11.2%) were antibody-positive for at least one abortive agent. Prevalence was highest for Leptospira spp. (7.9%, 95% CI=5.0-11.7). The low prevalences and the absence of significant differences between colonies with opposite population trends suggest these pathogens do not play a significant role in the population dynamics of Swiss ibex. Alpine ibex do not seem to be a reservoir for these abortive agents or an important source of infection for domestic livestock in Switzerland. Finally, although interactions on summer pastures occur frequently, spillover from infected livestock to free-ranging ibex apparently is uncommon.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

05 Veterinary Medicine > Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology (DIP) > Institute of Parasitology
05 Veterinary Medicine > Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology (DIP) > Institute of Animal Pathology
05 Veterinary Medicine > Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology (DIP) > Institute of Virology and Immunology
05 Veterinary Medicine > Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology (DIP) > Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology
05 Veterinary Medicine > Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology (DIP) > Institute for Fish and Wildlife Health (FIWI)

UniBE Contributor:

Marreros Canales, Nelson Antonio, Hüssy, Daniela, Frey Marreros Canales, Caroline Franziska, Abril Gaona, Carlos, Vogt, Hans-Rudolf, Ryser, Marie Pierre

Subjects:

600 Technology > 630 Agriculture

ISSN:

0090-3558

Publisher:

Wildlife Disease Association

Language:

English

Submitter:

Factscience Import

Date Deposited:

04 Oct 2013 14:31

Last Modified:

02 Mar 2023 23:21

Publisher DOI:

10.7589/0090-3558-47.3.530

PubMed ID:

21719818

Web of Science ID:

000292798500006

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.12083

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/12083 (FactScience: 218362)

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