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Prevalence of antibodies against selected agents shared between Cantabrian chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica parva) and domestic goats

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Abstract

Southern chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica) share the habitat with domestic ungulates, and may, therefore, play a role in the epidemiology of shared agents. The objective of this study was to determine the seroprevalence for Brucella spp., Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis (MAP), pestivirus, and Sarcoptes scabiei in Cantabrian chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica parva) and compare these data with those of sympatric domestic goats (Capra hircus). From 2005 to 2008, blood samples were obtained from 236 adult Cantabrian chamois in two different populations, the western one and the eastern one. Seroprevalence for Brucella spp. and pestivirus was assessed using commercial ELISA kits, whereas specifically designed ELISA tests were used for MAP and S. scabiei. No antibodies against Brucella spp. were detected. Conversely, antibodies against MAP, pestivirus (chamois 3.8%; goat 2.3%), and S. scabiei (chamois 11.9%; goat 12.8%) were detected in both species. Seroprevalence for MAP was significantly higher for domestic goats (26%) than for chamois (9.7%). In chamois, seroprevalence for pestivirus was higher in the west (6.5%) than in the east (range 0–1.8%), whereas seroprevalence for S. scabiei followed the opposite trend (west 4.6%; east 16.7–21.4%). We suggest that certain diseases could circulate between Cantabrian chamois and domestic goat populations, and domestic livestock may suppose a threat for the health status of sympatric Cantabrian chamois.

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Acknowledgments

R. Casais is recipient of a “Ramón y Cajal” contract from the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MCINN) cofinanced by the European Social Fund. Research involving development of an ELISA for the diagnosis of Sarcoptes scabiei has been supported by Grant RTA2006-00046 from the Spanish Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA). This is a contribution to grant AGL2008-03875 on paratuberculosis in Spanish wildlife, awarded by the Spanish (MCINN). Special thanks to rangers, technicians, and administration from Principado de Asturias and Regional Hunting Reserves of León. Wildlife disease surveillance in Asturias is supported by Principado de Asturias and the Spanish Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC). C. Falconi acknowledges a grant from the Government of Sardegna.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM) Ronda de Toledo s.n., Ciudad Real, 13071, Spain

    Caterina Falconi, Álvaro Oleaga & Christian Gortázar

  2. SERIDA (Servicio Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario), Laboratorio de Sanidad Animal, Jove, 33299, Gijón, Asturias, Spain

    Álvaro Oleaga, Rosa Casais & Miguel Prieto

  3. Servei d’Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge, Facultat de Veterinària (Edifici V), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193, Barcelona, Spain

    Jorge R. López-Olvera

  4. Via E. de Magistris 9, 09123, Cagliari, Italy

    Caterina Falconi

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  1. Caterina Falconi
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  2. Álvaro Oleaga
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  3. Jorge R. López-Olvera
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  4. Rosa Casais
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Correspondence to Jorge R. López-Olvera.

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Communicated by W. Lutz

Caterina Falconi and Álvaro Oleaga contributed equally to this work.

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Falconi, C., Oleaga, Á., López-Olvera, J.R. et al. Prevalence of antibodies against selected agents shared between Cantabrian chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica parva) and domestic goats. Eur J Wildl Res 56, 319–325 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-009-0322-z

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