Molecular screening for hemotropic mycoplasmas in captive Barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia) in southern Brazil

Abstract

Aim:This study is part of an active surveillance program for monitoring animal health status in endangered species, and was conducted to screen captive Barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia) for hemoplasma infection.Materials and Methods:A total of 12 blood samples were collected, DNA extracted and further tested by a pan-hemoplasma polymerase chain reaction protocol.Results:Animals were clinically healthy and not infested by ectoparasites. Although housekeeping gene DNA was successfully amplified, all the Barbary sheep samples tested negative for Mycoplasma sp.Conclusion:Notwithstanding the negative results, molecular pathogen surveys on Barbary sheep and other exotic wild mammals may provide insights regarding infection of endangered species caused by captivity stress in association with exposure to new pathogens worldwide.

Worldwide occurrence of haemoplasmas in wildlife: Insights into the patterns of infection, transmission, pathology and zoonotic potential

“…In some studies with larger sample sizes, as many as 89% of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and 72% of marsh deer (Blastocerus dichotomus) (Grazziotin, Duarte, et al, 2011) were infected. Three studies failed to detect haemoplasmas in ungulates, all of which sampled captive populations: one study included a very small sample of Barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia) (Santos et al, 2017), whereas the other two sampled peccaries (Tayassu spp.) (da Costa Dias et al, 2019).…”

The Utility of Iris-pupillary Area Ratio as a Non-invasive Index of Stress in Primates

“…The dilated pupil observed among zoo monkeys compared to wild monkeys reflects higher sympathetic activity, 24,28 which may be due to captivity-related stress. [30][31][32] Despite the best welfare measures adopted, nothing can fully replace a natural habitat, hence several studies have reported stress among captive exotic animals. [30][31][32] Furthermore, the reliability of pupil diameter as a reflection of autonomic system activity ( Figure 2) and mental stress has previously been demonstrated in humans.…”

“…[30][31][32] Despite the best welfare measures adopted, nothing can fully replace a natural habitat, hence several studies have reported stress among captive exotic animals. [30][31][32] Furthermore, the reliability of pupil diameter as a reflection of autonomic system activity ( Figure 2) and mental stress has previously been demonstrated in humans. 3,5,[24][25]27,33 The feasibility to non-invasively and objectively quantify stress based on iris/pupil area ratio in our opinion has potential to be of utility in personalised animal welfare measures.…”