Publication:
Health assessment of wild speckled dwarf tortoises, Chersobius signatus.

cris.virtualsource.author-orcid8e85cff9-088a-47e2-b99f-1a93c81d5a8b
dc.contributor.authorGalosi, Livio
dc.contributor.authorAttili, Anna Rita
dc.contributor.authorPerrucci, Stefania
dc.contributor.authorOriggi, Francesco
dc.contributor.authorTambella, Adolfo Maria
dc.contributor.authorRossi, Giacomo
dc.contributor.authorCuteri, Vincenzo
dc.contributor.authorNapoleoni, Maira
dc.contributor.authorMandolini, Nicholas Aconiti
dc.contributor.authorPerugini, Gianni
dc.contributor.authorLoehr, Victor J. T.
dc.date.accessioned2024-09-02T17:41:28Z
dc.date.available2024-09-02T17:41:28Z
dc.date.issued2021-03-04
dc.description.abstractBACKGROUND In free-ranging reptile populations, bacterial, fungal, viral and parasitic pathogens may affect hosts through impairment in movements, thermoregulation, reproduction, survival, and population dynamics. The speckled dwarf tortoise (Chersobius [Homopus] signatus) is a threatened species that is mostly restricted to the Succulent Karoo biome in South Africa, and little information on pathogens of this species is available yet. We derived baseline parameters for five males and five females that were captured to genetically enhance a conservation breeding program in Europe. Upon collection of the tortoises, ticks were removed and identified. Immediately upon arrival in Europe, ocular, nasal, oral and cloacal swabs were taken for viral, bacteriological and mycological examinations. Fecal samples were collected before and 1 month after fenbendazole treatment, and analyzed for parasites. A panel of PCR, aiming to detect herpesviruses, adenoviruses and iridoviruses, was carried out. RESULTS Samples were negative for viruses, while bacteriological examination yielded detectable growth in 82.5% of the swabs with a mean load of 16 × 107 ± 61 × 108 colony forming units (CFU) per swab, representing 34 bacterial species. Cloacal and oral swabs yielded higher detectable growth loads than nasal and ocular swabs, but no differences between sexes were observed. Fungi and yeasts (mean load 5 × 103 ± 13 × 103 CFU/swab) were detected in 25% of the swabs. All pre-treatment fecal samples were positive for oxyurid eggs, ranging from 200 to 2400 eggs per gram of feces, whereas after the treatment a significantly reduced egg count (90-100% reduction) was found in seven out of 10 individuals. One remaining individual showed 29% reduction, and two others had increased egg counts. In five tortoises, Nycthocterus spp. and coccidian oocysts were also identified. Soft ticks were identified as Ornithodoros savignyi. CONCLUSIONS Our baseline data from clinically healthy individuals will help future studies to interpret prevalences of microorganisms in speckled dwarf tortoise populations. The study population did not appear immediately threatened by current parasite presence.
dc.description.numberOfPages11
dc.description.sponsorshipZentrum für Fisch- und Wildtiermedizin (FIWI)
dc.identifier.doi10.48350/157886
dc.identifier.pmid33663511
dc.identifier.publisherDOI10.1186/s12917-021-02800-5
dc.identifier.urihttps://boris-portal.unibe.ch/handle/20.500.12422/42861
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherBioMed Central
dc.relation.ispartofBMC veterinary research
dc.relation.issn1746-6148
dc.relation.organizationEF63E0A6302CE755E0405C82960C4424
dc.relation.organizationDCD5A442C072E17DE0405C82790C4DE2
dc.subjectChersobius [Homopus] signatus Health assessment Reptile Tortoise Wildlife
dc.subject.ddc600 - Technology::630 - Agriculture
dc.subject.ddc500 - Science::590 - Animals (Zoology)
dc.titleHealth assessment of wild speckled dwarf tortoises, Chersobius signatus.
dc.typearticle
dspace.entity.typePublication
oaire.citation.issue1
oaire.citation.startPage102
oaire.citation.volume17
oairecerif.author.affiliationZentrum für Fisch- und Wildtiermedizin (FIWI)
unibe.contributor.rolecreator
unibe.contributor.rolecreator
unibe.contributor.rolecreator
unibe.contributor.rolecreator
unibe.contributor.rolecreator
unibe.contributor.rolecreator
unibe.contributor.rolecreator
unibe.contributor.rolecreator
unibe.contributor.rolecreator
unibe.contributor.rolecreator
unibe.contributor.rolecreator
unibe.date.licenseChanged2021-08-09 12:59:10
unibe.description.ispublishedpub
unibe.eprints.legacyId157886
unibe.journal.abbrevTitleBMC VET RES
unibe.refereedTRUE
unibe.subtype.articlejournal

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Name:
b157886.pdf
Size:
850.93 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
License:
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Content:
published

Collections