Health Evaluation of Free-Ranging and Captive Pichis (Zaedyus Pichiy; Mammalia, Dasypodidae), in Mendoza Province, Argentina
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 45(1), 2009, pp. 174–183 # Wildlife Disease Association 2009 View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE HEALTH EVALUATION OF FREE-RANGING AND CAPTIVEprovided PICHIS by CONICET Digital (ZAEDYUS PICHIY; MAMMALIA, DASYPODIDAE), IN MENDOZA PROVINCE, ARGENTINA Mariella Superina,1,4,5 Michael M. Garner,2 and Roberto F. Aguilar3 1 Department of Biological Sciences, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana 70148-0001, USA 2 Northwest ZooPath, 654 W. Main, Monroe, Washington 98272, USA 3 Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222 Palmerston, New Zealand 4 Current address: Laboratorio de Reproduccio´n y Lactancia, Instituto de Medicina y Biologı´a Experimental del Cuyo, CCT Mendoza-CONICET, Casilla de Correos 855, 5500 Mendoza, Argentina 5 Corresponding author (email: [email protected]) ABSTRACT: The health of free-ranging and captive pichis (Zaedyus pichiy) was assessed in Mendoza Province, Argentina, between November 2001 and December 2006. Postmortem examinations of 150 confiscated and vehicle-killed pichis and clinical examinations of 139 wild-caught individuals suggest that the wild populations are currently in good health. Lesions and scars were observed in a large proportion of wild-caught pichis. The most common lesions were associated with parasitism or parasite larva migration. Sarcocystis cysts were relatively common in the skeletal muscle, and Besnoitia cysts were observed in the lungs of 24 evaluated animals. Elevated ambient humidity levels often caused moist dermatitis with epidermal detachment in captive pichis. This report constitutes the first health evaluation of free-ranging and captive Z. pichiy. It will be a starting point for future health studies and will be beneficial for the captive management of this species. Key words: Besnoitia, histopathology, parasitology, pathology, serology, Trypanosoma cruzi, wildlife health. INTRODUCTION doza, but the potential role of diseases in these population reductions remains un- The pichi (Zaedyus pichiy) is a small defined. Although wild specimens of other (approximately 1 kg body mass) semifos- armadillo species have been screened for sorial armadillo species endemic to Ar- specific pathogens and parasites, such as gentina and Chile that enters hibernation Leptospira (Carillo et al., 1972), Salmo- during winter months (Superina and nella (Quevedo et al., 1978), or Sarcocystis Boily, 2007; Superina, 2008). Pichis are (Lindsay et al., 1996), only one study diurnal and opportunistic omnivores with (Mazza et al., 1935) included pichis. The a preference for insects. Although neither purpose of this study was to describe the historic nor current census data are lesions affecting wild and captive pichis of available, lower encounter rates in Men- Mendoza Province, Argentina. These doza Province, in central west Argentina, baseline data are a starting point for future suggest that wild populations have de- health studies and will contribute to the creased considerably in the past years. investigation of the causality between This depletion of wild populations has human encroachment into wildlife habitat recently led to the inclusion of Z. pichiy in and disease occurrence. Furthermore, the the International Union for Conservation information presented here will be bene- of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened ficial for the captive management of this Species, where it is listed as ‘‘near species. threatened’’ (Fonseca and Aguiar, 2004). The apparent population declines may MATERIALS AND METHODS have been partially caused by poaching Project location and sample and data collection and disease epidemics. There have been Samples from free-living pichis were col- unconfirmed reports of disease outbreaks lected across vehicle, walking, and horseback of unknown etiology severely affecting transects of varying length in randomly chosen wild populations in some areas of Men- areas of Mendoza Province, Argentina 174 SUPERINA ET AL.—HEALTH EVALUATION OF ZAEDYUS PICHIY 175 (32u009–37u309S, 66u309–70u009W). The ture was measured no later than 5 min after southern part of Mendoza Province belongs capture, and blood samples were extracted to the Patagonian steppe ecoregion (Olson et within 15 min. All pichis were released at their al., 2001). The arid climate and the poor capture site within 45 min. volcanic soil, covered with sands of variable Captive pichis included wild-caught and depth, together determine the scarce vegeta- captive-born pichis that were maintained 1– tion (Candia et al., 1993), which is composed 26 mo in a private facility in Luja´n de Cuyo, of grasslands with isolated shrubs, areas with Mendoza, Argentina (33u019S, 68u559W). The open bush communities, and basaltic steps enclosure consisted of individual pens made of (Candia and Dalmasso, 1995). Trees are wire mesh and sheet metal, 231.532.5 m absent from this region. The arid northeastern each; soil to a depth of 2 m was provided as a part of Mendoza is part of the Low Monte natural substrate for digging. Food, consisting ecoregion (Olson et al., 2001). The dry climate of a varying mixture of fruits, vegetables, meat, and sandy grounds favor the growth of the dry cat food, rice, and a vitamin-mineral characteristic monte vegetation, which consists supplement, was offered once daily; water of small trees, shrubs, and scarce pasture was provided ad libitum. Pichis were visually (Peralta de Galmarini and Martinez Carretero, inspected at feeding time; individuals present- 1995). ing lesions or signs of disease were removed Transect sampling was performed in all from the enclosure and maintained separately seasons and at all times of day between until their recovery. November 2001 and December 2006. In total, Dead wild pichis were obtained from 139 wild-caught pichis (87 males, 52 females) collaborating inspectors and rangers of the were captured by hand. Capture sites were Mendoza Department of Natural Renewable registered with a handheld global positioning Resources; confiscated carcasses were refrig- system (GPS), and environmental temperature erated prior to submission. Necropsies were was measured with a digital thermometer. performed on vehicle-killed animals (12 males, Thirty-three animals were considered juve- four females) and confiscated pichis (58 males, niles, 22 were classified as yearlings, and 84 82 females, five of unknown sex), as well as on were adults based on their body mass, captive pichis that died during the study carapace length and width, the presence and period (seven males, five females). The absence of scars, and capture date. Physical animals were classified as juveniles, yearlings, examinations and sample collections were or adults based on morphologic features, such carried out under manual restraint. Clinical as carapace length and width, and the examinations focused on body condition, presence or absence of scars. They were visible external lesions and scars, signs of examined for macroscopic lesions, and repre- pathologic processes, ectoparasite load, and sentative tissue samples of reproductive or- reproductive status. The animals were mea- gans, heart, lungs, liver, kidney, diaphragm, sured, weighed with a spring scale (Pesola AG, skeletal muscle, skin, intestine, lymph nodes, Baar, Switzerland), and their rectal tempera- adrenal glands, and any macroscopic lesion ture was registered with a digital thermometer were collected when available. Not all organs (TES Electrical Electronic Corp., Taipei, could be sampled from all individuals because Taiwan). Ticks and fleas were collected and they often were eviscerated at the time of stored in 96% ethanol for identification. Fecal confiscation. Tissues were stored in 10% samples were collected for parasitology and neutral-buffered formalin. kept refrigerated. Blood samples were ob- tained by venipuncture of the medial coccy- Sample and data analysis geal vein. Due to the small size of this vein and rapid coagulation, blood was collected directly Hematologic and serum chemistry analyses from the needle into heparin-coated and were performed in collaboration with Labor- uncoated microcapillaries (Biocap S.A., Bue- atorio Mera, Mendoza, Argentina, using rou- nos Aires, Argentina), which were subsequent- tine laboratory techniques as described by ly sealed with plasticine (Critoseal, Oxford Superina and Mera y Sierra (2008). All Labware, St. Louis, Missouri, USA). Thin examined pichis were considered clinically smears of fresh blood were air-dried. Coated healthy, and blood values were used to microcapillaries were stored in a cool box with establish reference values (Superina and Mera cold packs and transported to the laboratory, y Sierra, 2008). Microbiologic samples from while uncoated microcapillaries were first kept captive pichis were inoculated in sheep blood at 30 C until coagulation and retraction of the agar, MacConkey Agar, and Sabouraud Agar blood clot occurred, after which they were and cultured aerobically at 37 C. Identification transferred to the cool box. Rectal tempera- of isolates was done with routine microbiologic 176 JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE DISEASES, VOL. 45, NO. 1, JANUARY 2009 techniques (Finegold and Baron, 1986). Com- possible that it was elevated because of mercial test kits based on indirect hemagglu- stress related to capture and handling. The tination were used to test for antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii and Trypanosoma cruzi temperature of one adult male sampled (Toxotest HAI, Wiener Laboratory,