Coprological analyses on apparently healthy Alpine ibex (Capra ibex ibex) from two Swiss colonies

Wildlife health investigations: needs, challenges and recommendations

“…Appropriate diagnostics (such as standardized health screening, ancillary diagnostic tests and thorough postmortem examinations) on diseased wild animals submitted to wildlife rehabilitation centers can enhance surveillance efforts [21,25-27]. Clinical examinations can be performed within the context of wildlife captures [28,29] and are an essential component of translocation programs due to the substantial health risks involved [30]. Photo-trapping can deliver valuable information about diseases with typical external lesions such as sarcoptic mange [31] (Figure 1).…”

“…Non-invasive samples, such as feces, hair and feathers may be suitable for the detection of pathogens or toxic compounds. For example, in a study on endoparasites in Alpine ibex ( Capra ibex ibex ), the number of feces samples collected from captured animals was insufficient for a comprehensive study and was substantially increased by collecting feces from the ground [29]. Finally, questionnaire surveys and interviews with wildlife managers, hunters and others working in the field can provide valuable information on disease occurrence.…”

“…Baseline data and sample archives are needed: to establish the distribution of pathogens and appreciate their effects and epidemiology [53]; to assess perturbation over time and to understand the impact of climate and environmental change on complex systems of hosts and pathogens [42,53,54]; for early detection and implementation of control measures [55]; to determine whether or not the emerging character of a disease is due to the introduction of infected animals (pathogen pollution) [56]; and to assess the existence of a causal association between pathogen and disease [29]. For example, a survey on archived samples revealed that Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis , the causing agent of chytridiomycosis in amphibians, is more widely distributed in Europe than previously thought.…”

“…Just to give a few examples: endoparasite infestation is more frequent in male than in female Alpine ibex [29]; prevalence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii increases with age in Eurasian lynx [61]; and age- and sex-related variations have been noted in the epidemiology of Chronic Wasting Disease in mule deer ( Odocoileus hemionus ) [62]. …”

“…For example, in Switzerland in the winter of 2011/2012, six months of “capture duty” with three different capture systems [102] and the contributions of numerous biologists, veterinarians, hunters and professional game wardens, resulted in the capture of four Eurasian lynx. Similarly, three capture seasons of 2–3 months each involving full-time presence of a capture team in the fields on a single study site resulted in samples from 39 ibex [29], while blood samples from 520 hunted ibex were obtained during the corresponding hunting seasons [66]. Additionally, legal constraints may prevent systematic sampling of a wild animal population [94].…”