Is the development of infectious keratoconjunctivitis in Alpine ibex and Alpine chamois influenced by topographic features?

Mavrot, Fabien; Zimmermann, Fridolin; Vilei, Edy M.; Ryser-Degiorgis, Marie-Pierre

doi:10.1007/s10344-012-0651-1

Cited by 7 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Evidence of one past ocular inflammatory process in 2014 (IKC stage V) in at least one Iberian ibex, however, suggests that the infection may still be pathogenic if influenced by other factors (12,16,55).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Postepizootic Persistence of Asymptomatic Mycoplasma conjunctivae Infection in Iberian Ibex

Fernández-Aguilar

Cabezón

Granados

et al. 2017

Appl Environ Microbiol

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The susceptibility of the Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica) to Mycoplasma conjunctivae ocular infection and the changes in their interaction over time were studied in terms of clinical outcome, molecular detection, and IgG immune response in a captive population that underwent a severe infectious keratoconjunctivitis (IKC) outbreak. Mycoplasma conjunctivae was detected in the Iberian ibex, coinciding with the IKC outbreak. Its prevalence had a decreasing trend in 2013 that was consistent with the clinical resolution (August, 35.4%; September, 8.7%; November, 4.3%). Infections without clinical outcome were, however, still detected in the last handling in November. Sequencing and cluster analyses of the M. conjunctivae strains found 1 year later in the ibex population confirmed the persistence of the same strain lineage that caused the IKC outbreak but with a high prevalence (75.3%) of mostly asymptomatic infections and with lower DNA load of M. conjunctivae in the eyes (mean quantitative PCR [qPCR] cycle threshold [C T ], 36.1 versus 20.3 in severe IKC). Significant age-related differences of M. conjunctivae prevalence were observed only under IKC epizootic conditions. No substantial effect of systemic IgG on M. conjunctivae DNA in the eye was evidenced with a linear mixed-models selection, which indicated that systemic IgG does not necessarily drive the resolution of M. conjunctivae infection and does not explain the epidemiological changes observed. The results show how both epidemiological scenarios, i.e., severe IKC outbreak and mostly asymptomatic infections, can consecutively occur by entailing mycoplasma persistence.IMPORTANCE Mycoplasma infections are reported in a wide range of epidemiological scenarios that involve severe disease to asymptomatic infections. This study allows a better understanding of the transition between two different Mycoplasma conjunctivae epidemiological scenarios described in wild host populations and highlights the ability of M. conjunctivae to adapt, persist, and establish diverse interactions with its hosts. The proportion of asymptomatic and clinical M. conjunctivae infections in a host population may not be regarded only in response to intrinsic host species traits (i.e., susceptibility) but also to a specific host-pathogen interaction, which in turn influences the infection dynamics. Both epidemic infectious keratoconjunctivitis and a high prevalence of asymptomatic M. conjunctivae infections may occur in the same host population, depending on the circulation of M. conjunctivae, its maintenance, and the progression of the host-pathogen interactions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Postepizootic Persistence of Asymptomatic Mycoplasma conjunctivae Infection in Iberian Ibex

Fernández-Aguilar

Cabezón

Granados

et al. 2017

Appl Environ Microbiol

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“…The system can, for example, easily derive the altitude of sampling locations from the geographical coordinates [47,80]. …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wildlife health investigations: needs, challenges and recommendations

2013

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In a fast changing world with growing concerns about biodiversity loss and an increasing number of animal and human diseases emerging from wildlife, the need for effective wildlife health investigations including both surveillance and research is now widely recognized. However, procedures applicable to and knowledge acquired from studies related to domestic animal and human health can be on partly extrapolated to wildlife. This article identifies requirements and challenges inherent in wildlife health investigations, reviews important definitions and novel health investigation methods, and proposes tools and strategies for effective wildlife health surveillance programs. Impediments to wildlife health investigations are largely related to zoological, behavioral and ecological characteristics of wildlife populations and to limited access to investigation materials. These concerns should not be viewed as insurmountable but it is imperative that they are considered in study design, data analysis and result interpretation. It is particularly crucial to remember that health surveillance does not begin in the laboratory but in the fields. In this context, participatory approaches and mutual respect are essential. Furthermore, interdisciplinarity and open minds are necessary because a wide range of tools and knowledge from different fields need to be integrated in wildlife health surveillance and research. The identification of factors contributing to disease emergence requires the comparison of health and ecological data over time and among geographical regions. Finally, there is a need for the development and validation of diagnostic tests for wildlife species and for data on free-ranging population densities. Training of health professionals in wildlife diseases should also be improved. Overall, the article particularly emphasizes five needs of wildlife health investigations: communication and collaboration; use of synergies and triangulation approaches; investments for the long term; systematic collection of metadata; and harmonization of definitions and methods.

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“…This is the reason why they act as a M. conjunctivae reservoir host . Mountain habitats are hence to be investigated , because both domestic and wild herbivores share pasture areas during the transhumance season. It has been observed that the epidemic fades away after being spread along a mountain range with a speed of 1 km per month .…”

Section: The Biological Perspectivementioning

confidence: 99%

An eco‐epidemic model for infectious keratoconjunctivitis caused by Mycoplasma conjunctivae in domestic and wild herbivores, with possible vaccination strategies

Abbona

Venturino

2016

Math Methods in App Sciences

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In this paper, we propose an eco‐epidemiological predator–prey model, modeling the spread of infectious keratoconjunctivitis among domestic and wild ungulates, during the summer season, when they intermigle in high mountain pastures. The disease can be treated in the domestic animals, but for the wild herbivores, it leads to blindness, with consequent death. The model shows that the disease can lead infected herbivores or their predators to extinction, even if it does not affect the latter. Boundedness of solutions and equilibria feasibility are obtained. Stability around the different equilibrium points is analyzed through eigenvalues and the Routh–Hurwitz criterion. Simulations are carried out to support the theoretical results. Sensitivity with respect of some parameters is investigated. The prey vaccination as control measure is introduced and simulated, although at present, the vaccine is not yet available, but just being developed. It would then possibly eradicate the infection in the domestic animals, which are considered a disease reservoir. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Is the development of infectious keratoconjunctivitis in Alpine ibex and Alpine chamois influenced by topographic features?

Cited by 7 publications

References 24 publications

Postepizootic Persistence of Asymptomatic Mycoplasma conjunctivae Infection in Iberian Ibex

Postepizootic Persistence of Asymptomatic Mycoplasma conjunctivae Infection in Iberian Ibex

Wildlife health investigations: needs, challenges and recommendations

An eco‐epidemic model for infectious keratoconjunctivitis caused by Mycoplasma conjunctivae in domestic and wild herbivores, with possible vaccination strategies

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