Health assessment of wild speckled dwarf tortoises, CHERSOBIUS SIGNATUS
Abstract Background In free-ranging reptile populations, bacterial, fungal, viral and parasitic pathogens may affect hosts through impairment in movements, thermoregulation, reproduction, survival, and population dynamics. The speckled dwarf tortoise (Chersobius [Homopus] signatus) is a threatened s...
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doaj-8abaf6e5f65f4da1887d53cd0db2fb592021-03-11T11:40:58ZengBMCBMC Veterinary Research1746-61482021-03-0117111110.1186/s12917-021-02800-5Health assessment of wild speckled dwarf tortoises, CHERSOBIUS SIGNATUSLivio Galosi0Anna Rita Attili1Stefania Perrucci2Francesco C. Origgi3Adolfo Maria Tambella4Giacomo Rossi5Vincenzo Cuteri6Maira Napoleoni7Nicholas Aconiti Mandolini8Gianni Perugini9Victor J. T. Loehr10School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of CamerinoSchool of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of CamerinoDepartment of Veterinary Science, University of PisaCentre for Fish and Wildlife Health (FIWI), DIP, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of BernSchool of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of CamerinoSchool of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of CamerinoSchool of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of CamerinoExperimental Zooprophylactic Institute (IZS) of Umbria and Marche ‘Togo Rosati’Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute (IZS) of Umbria and Marche ‘Togo Rosati’Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute (IZS) of Umbria and Marche ‘Togo Rosati’Dwarf Tortoise ConservationAbstract Background In free-ranging reptile populations, bacterial, fungal, viral and parasitic pathogens may affect hosts through impairment in movements, thermoregulation, reproduction, survival, and population dynamics. The speckled dwarf tortoise (Chersobius [Homopus] signatus) is a threatened species that is mostly restricted to the Succulent Karoo biome in South Africa, and little information on pathogens of this species is available yet. We derived baseline parameters for five males and five females that were captured to genetically enhance a conservation breeding program in Europe. Upon collection of the tortoises, ticks were removed and identified. Immediately upon arrival in Europe, ocular, nasal, oral and cloacal swabs were taken for viral, bacteriological and mycological examinations. Fecal samples were collected before and 1 month after fenbendazole treatment, and analyzed for parasites. A panel of PCR, aiming to detect herpesviruses, adenoviruses and iridoviruses, was carried out. Results Samples were negative for viruses, while bacteriological examination yielded detectable growth in 82.5% of the swabs with a mean load of 16 × 107 ± 61 × 108 colony forming units (CFU) per swab, representing 34 bacterial species. Cloacal and oral swabs yielded higher detectable growth loads than nasal and ocular swabs, but no differences between sexes were observed. Fungi and yeasts (mean load 5 × 103 ± 13 × 103 CFU/swab) were detected in 25% of the swabs. All pre-treatment fecal samples were positive for oxyurid eggs, ranging from 200 to 2400 eggs per gram of feces, whereas after the treatment a significantly reduced egg count (90–100% reduction) was found in seven out of 10 individuals. One remaining individual showed 29% reduction, and two others had increased egg counts. In five tortoises, Nycthocterus spp. and coccidian oocysts were also identified. Soft ticks were identified as Ornithodoros savignyi. Conclusions Our baseline data from clinically healthy individuals will help future studies to interpret prevalences of microorganisms in speckled dwarf tortoise populations. The study population did not appear immediately threatened by current parasite presence.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-021-02800-5Health assessmentChersobius [Homopus] signatusReptileTortoiseWildlife |
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DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Livio Galosi Anna Rita Attili Stefania Perrucci Francesco C. Origgi Adolfo Maria Tambella Giacomo Rossi Vincenzo Cuteri Maira Napoleoni Nicholas Aconiti Mandolini Gianni Perugini Victor J. T. Loehr |
spellingShingle |
Livio Galosi Anna Rita Attili Stefania Perrucci Francesco C. Origgi Adolfo Maria Tambella Giacomo Rossi Vincenzo Cuteri Maira Napoleoni Nicholas Aconiti Mandolini Gianni Perugini Victor J. T. Loehr Health assessment of wild speckled dwarf tortoises, CHERSOBIUS SIGNATUS BMC Veterinary Research Health assessment Chersobius [Homopus] signatus Reptile Tortoise Wildlife |
author_facet |
Livio Galosi Anna Rita Attili Stefania Perrucci Francesco C. Origgi Adolfo Maria Tambella Giacomo Rossi Vincenzo Cuteri Maira Napoleoni Nicholas Aconiti Mandolini Gianni Perugini Victor J. T. Loehr |
author_sort |
Livio Galosi |
title |
Health assessment of wild speckled dwarf tortoises, CHERSOBIUS SIGNATUS |
title_short |
Health assessment of wild speckled dwarf tortoises, CHERSOBIUS SIGNATUS |
title_full |
Health assessment of wild speckled dwarf tortoises, CHERSOBIUS SIGNATUS |
title_fullStr |
Health assessment of wild speckled dwarf tortoises, CHERSOBIUS SIGNATUS |
title_full_unstemmed |
Health assessment of wild speckled dwarf tortoises, CHERSOBIUS SIGNATUS |
title_sort |
health assessment of wild speckled dwarf tortoises, chersobius signatus |
publisher |
BMC |
series |
BMC Veterinary Research |
issn |
1746-6148 |
publishDate |
2021-03-01 |
description |
Abstract Background In free-ranging reptile populations, bacterial, fungal, viral and parasitic pathogens may affect hosts through impairment in movements, thermoregulation, reproduction, survival, and population dynamics. The speckled dwarf tortoise (Chersobius [Homopus] signatus) is a threatened species that is mostly restricted to the Succulent Karoo biome in South Africa, and little information on pathogens of this species is available yet. We derived baseline parameters for five males and five females that were captured to genetically enhance a conservation breeding program in Europe. Upon collection of the tortoises, ticks were removed and identified. Immediately upon arrival in Europe, ocular, nasal, oral and cloacal swabs were taken for viral, bacteriological and mycological examinations. Fecal samples were collected before and 1 month after fenbendazole treatment, and analyzed for parasites. A panel of PCR, aiming to detect herpesviruses, adenoviruses and iridoviruses, was carried out. Results Samples were negative for viruses, while bacteriological examination yielded detectable growth in 82.5% of the swabs with a mean load of 16 × 107 ± 61 × 108 colony forming units (CFU) per swab, representing 34 bacterial species. Cloacal and oral swabs yielded higher detectable growth loads than nasal and ocular swabs, but no differences between sexes were observed. Fungi and yeasts (mean load 5 × 103 ± 13 × 103 CFU/swab) were detected in 25% of the swabs. All pre-treatment fecal samples were positive for oxyurid eggs, ranging from 200 to 2400 eggs per gram of feces, whereas after the treatment a significantly reduced egg count (90–100% reduction) was found in seven out of 10 individuals. One remaining individual showed 29% reduction, and two others had increased egg counts. In five tortoises, Nycthocterus spp. and coccidian oocysts were also identified. Soft ticks were identified as Ornithodoros savignyi. Conclusions Our baseline data from clinically healthy individuals will help future studies to interpret prevalences of microorganisms in speckled dwarf tortoise populations. The study population did not appear immediately threatened by current parasite presence. |
topic |
Health assessment Chersobius [Homopus] signatus Reptile Tortoise Wildlife |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-021-02800-5 |
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