Wildlife diseases

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Captive Health Management in Himalayan Wild Ungulates with special reference to Hangul (Cervus elaphus hanglu) Dr, Mir M. Mansoor, Chief Wildlife Biologist & Vet. J&K State Wildlife Protection Department

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Diseases in the Wild Wildlife populations are continually encountering health threats, a) some natural and b) some rooted in human activities. People and their domestic animals bring new diseases to an area. Environments are polluted with toxins, migratory species transport pathogens from distant locations. Some of these interactions are still poorly understood, and yet, conservation and wildlife management decisions are often made without this critical information.

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A major ecological force A significant factor that can impact the recovery of any species at risk. A potential force to directly affect the host survival and cause catastrophic die-offs. Can reduce the competitive fitness of the host. Can increase the host susceptibility to predation. Impeding role of Diseases in modern day Conservation

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Role of Wildlife Health Monitoring Wild & Domestic animals sharing the same habitat The only way-out to grasp the many complex disease issues affecting wild populations and help in making informed conservation decisions.

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Because: Often very little is known about diseases of species at risk. Disease in a population is not static, and Anthropogenic factors & climate change influence disease risk. Addressing a wild animal disease - a challenging job

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Humans at risk Carnivores 43% Domestic Livestock 39% Rodents 23% Other primates 13% Birds 10% Marine Mammals 5% Bats 2%

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Anthrax Avian Influenza BSE Brucellosis Echinococcosis / Hydatidosis Campylobacteriosis E. Coli Salmonellosis Leishmaniasis Leptospirosis Lyme Borreliosis Q Fever Rabies Taeniasis Toxoplasmosis Trematodosis Trypanosomiasis Tuberculosis Tularaemia Brucellosis Common Zoonotic Diseases

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Preventative health care Bio-security Vaccination program Parasite control Good nutrition Hoof care Predator control Common health problems Internal parasites Digestive Respiratory Reproductive Skin Hoof-related Measures to keep wild ungulates healthy in captivity?

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Head up Ears up Bright-eyed Healthy hair coat (?) Good appetite Chew cud Curiosity Agile, normal gait Keep up with herd (?) A Healthy look?

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Healthy parent stock. Quarantine measures for new animals in place. No public contact with animals Animal enclosures entry restricted. Foot dips at entry points Sanitization measures Bio-security Measures

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Avoid overstocking in enclosures. Provide enough natural browsing. Practice selective de-worming, Determine which drugs work well. Identify animals that are resistant to internal parasites. Practice good sanitation. Use coccidiostats. Vaccination against important diseases (FMD, Anthrax, BQ etc). Integrated Parasite Management

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Captive ungulates do have some parasites normally. Goal should be to control, not to eradicate parasites. Due to long-time overuse and misuse of anthelmintics, parasites have developed resistance to most of anthelmintics. (Resistance varies by drug, animal and location e.g. Ivermectin has most reported resistance for zoo animals in Europe) Internal parasites (Worms)

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Gastro-intestinal Worms Round worms Ostertagia Trichostrongyles Lungworms Tapeworms Liver flukes Meningeal (deer) worm Coccidia Fascioloides magna

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Assessing anemia in wild ungulates

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Nutritional Problems Entero-toxemia clostridium perfringins. bacteria Sudden change in diet. Acidosis High levels of lactic acid in rumen Sudden excess consumption of grain. White muscle disease Vitamin E and / or Selenium deficiency Bloat pasture-related feed lot related Urinary calculi (stones) Imbalance of Ca:P

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balanced rations. according to production cycle and growth stage. according to nutritional needs. Adequate supplementation of pasture and forage. Gradual change in feed when required. Adequate feeder space. Good feeder design. Nutritional Management

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Respiratory problems Infectious Bacterial pneumonia Non-infectious Dust Poor ventilation Nasal bots Lung worms Stress

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Dystocia Abortion Infectious Chlamydia Vibro Toxoplasmosis Environmental Metabolic Pregnancy toxemia Milk fever (low blood Ca) Mastitis Chronic Acute Reproductive Problems

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Monitoring of Breeding Populations

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Reproductive Data of hangul

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External parasites Mites Ticks Lice Nose bots Skin Problems

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Foot rot (in mid hoof) Infectious bacterial Contagious foul odor Foot scald (dermatitis between toes) Hoof overgrowth Hoof Problems

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Predator Control

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Accidents

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EXERTIONAL OR CAPTURE MYOPATHY IN WILD UNGULATES

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Exertional/capture myopathy is a non-infectious disease of muscles. characterized by damage to muscle tissues brought about by physiological changes, usually following : extreme exertion, struggle and/or stress. Risk Factor

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Distribution Geographic: This condition can occur anywhere animals are pursued or trapped. Seasonality: All year. Warm weather can exacerbate this condition.

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Species Affected Both mammals and birds of all ages and sexes are susceptible to this disease. Species differ in their susceptibility to this disease because of physical and behavioural attributes. It is most commonly seen in wild ungulates.

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Variation in symptoms/intensity Signs vary depending on: species, cause of exertion and the biochemical imbalances that cause the muscular damage. Intensity of disease: 1. Hyperacute: sudden onset, often death noted. 2. Acute: heart muscle necrosis, death>2-4 days. 3. Subacute: myoglobin release > kidney failure 4. Chronic: heart failure & paralysis>death within 2-4 wks.

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Mechanism of Action / Signs & Symptoms Early signs include sudden death or increased breathing and heart rates, increased body temperature. Additional signs include: depression, muscle stiffness, weakness, tremors, in-coordination, or shock, which may appear within hours to days following severe exertion.

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Residual Signs If the animal survives, residual signs which last for about a month may include: Reddish brown urine. Muscles pale & wet or dark red & dry with patchy haemorrhages and oedema. Kidneys swollen Lungs with multiple haemorrhages and oedema. In severe cases, animals become prone to kidney failure, predation and accidents.

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Causes and prevention Causes May occur while escaping a predators. Strenuous use of fore and hind limb muscles while capturing and handling wild ungulates. Prevention: Since the disease is extremely difficult to treat, hence best to avoid through prevention as under: reduce stress and damage to animals, minimize pursuit, struggling & handling time, select suitable weather conditions for handling ensure proper method of capture & handling ensure animals are released in less stressful conditions as quickly as possible.

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Use of sedation: Consider the use of Valium, Azaperone or Fluphenazine (Modecate - a human antipsychotic used very successfully in zoos for translocation of animals). Prevention Contd…..

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Samples for Diagnosis Portions of affected muscles from different areas of the body Sections of heart and kidney tissue (Samples stored in formalin and submitted for histo-pathological examination.)

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Similar Diseases The development of exertional or capture myopathy like condition may be predisposed to by nutritional imbalances such as selenium deficiency.

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Treatment The bad news is that the disease with apparent clinical signs has poor prognosis. In other words, it is not going to get better. Reasons: The muscle dies. It cannot re-grow. Hence the survival of an animal becomes a welfare issue, because: animal has to suffer from horrible cramping, pain from failing kidneys, inability to breathe from congested lungs and then to die within a month or later.

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In rare cases when the disease is recognized at the hyperthermia stage, it is believed to be possible to treat it. Treatment is quite intensive and expensive. Sedation of animal (valium may reduce anxiety and assist in muscle relaxation) Administration of intravenous fluids (0.9% saline (treatment for acute kidney failure) to: Improve blood supply to kidney. Dilute the damage to kidney due to myoglobin. Dilute the lactic acid in the blood stream to improve heart functioning. Expand the blood volume to address the mechanisms of shock Reverse the hyperthermia Treatment Cont……..

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I/V administration of Dantrolene (muscle relaxant) used by some western zoos. The same drug is used in humans for a similar condition - malignant hyperthermia. (can damage the liver and kidney). Use of Cortisone for its anti-inflammatory properties. It may also help to reverse hyperthermia. Vitamin E and selenium can be used as an antioxidant. The dose rate is 1ml per 50 kg. It is given every 7 days under the skin. More frequently will harm the animal. Treatment Cont……..

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Mansoor M., 1987. BREEDING OF HANGUL IN SRINAGAR, J&K STATE – A Case Report. Zoo’s Print, P9 Teseen Lone, Massarat Khan, Mansoor Mir, Mushtak A. Baba 1988 GROSS ANATOMICAL STUDIES ON THE VISCERAL ORGANS OF MUSK DEER (Moschus moschiferus) Zoo’s Print. P 7-8 Mansoor, M. 1994. SOCIAL AND REPRODUCTIVE BEHAVIOUR OF THE KASHMIR STAG. Deer. 9(3): 167-171. (Paper presented in International Seminar on Veterinary medicine in wild and captive animals, India, Banglore.) Mansoor, M. 1994. Bovine Malignant Catarrhal like Disease in a Captive Hangul (Cervus elaphus hanglu). Zoo’s Print P 18 Mansoor, M. and Wani, A.R. 1991. TIBIAL FRACTURE AND ITS TREATMENT IN KASHMIR STAG (Cervus elaphus hangul). Zoo’s Print. 65: 4-5. Mansoor M. 1993. CAPTIVE WILDLIFE COLLECTION IN J&K STATE WITH IMPLICATIONS FOR INTERACTIVE MANAGEMENT. Zoo’s Print P 20 Nashiruddullah N.1, Darzi M.M.1,*, Shahardar R.A.1,2, Kamil S.A.1, Mir M.S.1, Mir M.ansoor1,3, Chief Wildlife Vet/Biologist Pathology of spontaneous Dictyocaulus sp. infection in hangul (Cervus elaphus hanglu), sheep and goat Vet Rec., Vol. 157, Issue 19, 591 November 5, 2005 Massarat Khan, Mushtaq A Baba, A. R. Choudhury, Mir Mansoor. 2006 A COMPERATIVE MACROSCOPIC STUDY ON THE SPLEEN OF MUSK DEER (Moschus moschiferus) AND GOAT (Capra hircus) Zoo’s Print. P 12 Some of the Publications made by the author on Him. Wild Ungulates