Capture Myopathy in Little Bustards after Trapping and Marking

Four little bustards (Tetrax tetrax) (one adult and three juvenile males), captured with leg nooses and fitted with a backpack radiotag, died after capture. The first bird was found after 16 days with its left foot caught in the harness and died after 1 day. The other birds showed symptoms of capture myopathy after release, such as the difficulty or inability to fly and/or walk. They died after 5, 6, and 8 days, respectively. At necropsy, muscles affected in all cases were those from the legs, and these were diffusely pale and dull, with a soft friable texture. Microscopically these muscles had multiple foci of myofiber fragmentation, loss of striation, and necrosis; a mononuclear cell infiltrate was observed in muscle from two birds. These findings suggest the little bustard is susceptible to capture myopathy and that caution should be exercised during its capture and handling

Haloperidol and Azaperone in Drive-net Captured Southern Chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica)

We investigated the effect of haloperidol and azaperone in drive-net captured Southern chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica). Both tranquilizers have been successfully used in a wide range of wild species for reducing postcapture stress response. During 2005, 39 free-ranging chamois were captured, randomly injected intramuscularly with haloperidol (0.29 +/- 0.12 mg/kg; n=24), azaperone (1.1 +/- 0.82 mg/kg; n=6), or saline (0.5 ml; n=9), and restrained for 3 hr. Heart rate was higher in the treated chamois; erythrocyte parameters and total protein concentration decreased over time owing to splenic sequestration, hemodilution, vasodilation, and reflex tachycardia. Creatinine, sodium, and chloride remained stable only in the haloperidol-treated group, suggesting an improvement in renal perfusion. Nevertheless, the azaperone-treated chamois displayed higher body temperature, and both treated groups had higher serum muscular enzymes than the control group, suggesting higher muscle stress. These results lead us not to recommend the use of these tranquilizers-especially azaperone-as first-choice neuroleptics in chamois

La miopatia de captura també afecta als sisons

La miopatia de captura causa lesions musculars molt greus als mamífers i a algunes aus salvatges, com a conseqüència de l'estrès que pateixen en veure's capturats. Un equip d'investigadors ha descrit ara per primera vegada aquesta malaltia en el sisó, un ocell present a les planes de Lleida, al qual han estudiat durant dos anys.La miopatía de captura causa lesiones musculares muy graves a losmamíferos y aves salvajes, como consecuencia del estrés que sufren alverse capturados. Un equipo de investigadores ha descrito ahora porprimera vez esta enfermedad en un sisón, un ave presente en lasplanicies de Lérida, al cual han estudiado durante dos año

Hematologic and biochemical values for spanish ibex (Capra Pyrenaica) captured via drive-net and box-trap

Between October 2002 and September 2004, 70 free-ranging Spanish ibex (Capra pyrenaica) were captured in Catalonia, northeastern Spain, using two different physical methods, drive-net (n=26) and box-trap (n=44). Blood samples were taken to determine 20 hematologic and 23 biochemical variables. Values obtained fell within already published reference intervals, with the following exceptions: higher values for red blood cells (RBC), packed cell volume (PCV), white blood cells (WBC), eosinophil count, triglyceride concentration, creatine kinase (CK; in box-trap), chloride, sodium, alpha-1, alpha-2, and gamma electrophoretic fractions of serum proteins; and lower values for hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), urea concentration, CK (in drive-net), albumin, and albumin:globulins ratio (A:G). Published values for aspartate aminotransferase (AST) concentration are both higher and lower than observed in this study. In our study, monocyte and eosinophil counts, as well as triglyceride and potassium concentrations, were lower in animals captured via box-trap than those captured via drive-net. Conversely, MCHC, neutrophil count, total bilirubin concentration, urea, and AST were higher in animals captured via box-trap. Hematologic and biochemical values obtained from Spanish ibexes show that the drive-net is a newer, less-stressful method of capture than the box-trap

Streptococcus caprae sp. nov., isolated from Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica hispanica)

Biochemical and molecular genetic studies were performed on a novel Gram-stain-positive, catalase-negative, coccus-shaped organism isolated from tonsil samples of two Iberian ibexes. The micro-organism was identified as a streptococcal species based on its cellular, morphological and biochemical characteristics. 16S rRNA gene sequence comparison studies confirmed its identification as a member of the genus Streptococcus, but the organism did not correspond to any species of this genus. The nearest phylogenetic relative of the unknown coccus from ibex was Streptococcus porci 2923-03T (96.6 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity). Analysis based on rpoB and sodA gene sequences revealed sequence similarity values lower than 86.0 and 83.8 %, respectively, from the type strains of recognized Streptococcus species. The novel bacterial isolate was distinguished from Streptococcus porci and other Streptococcus species using biochemical tests. Based on both phenotypic and phylogenetic findings, it is proposed that the unknown bacterium be classified as representing a novel species of the genus Streptococcus, for which the name Streptococcus caprae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is DICM07-02790-1CT (= CECT 8872T = CCUG 67170T)

Porcine circovirus 3 is highly prevalent in serum and tissues and may persistently infect wild boar (Sus scrofa scrofa)

Porcine circovirus 3 (PCV‐3) prevalence has been minimally investigated in wild boar; dynamics of infection and viral tissue distribution are currently unknown. In this study, serum samples from 518 wild boar (from years 2004 to 2018) were used to study frequency of infection. Also, serum samples from 19 boar captured and recaptured at least two times for a period of time from 1 month to 1 year were collected to determine PCV‐3 infection dynamics. Finally, to elucidate PCV‐3 DNA organic distribution, sera, different tissues and faeces were obtained from 35 additional wild boar. PCV‐3 DNA was extracted and amplified with a conventional PCR. For the PCV‐3 PCR‐positive sera from the longitudinally sampled and different tissue types, a quantitative PCR was performed. Genome sequence was obtained from a number of PCV‐3 PCR‐positive samples from different years, different time‐points of infection and tissues. Obtained results confirmed the susceptibility of wild boar to the virus, showing high frequency of PCV‐3 detection (221 out of 518, 42.66%) and demonstrating circulation at least since 2004. Compiled data indicate the possibility of long‐term infections, since 5 out of 10 PCV‐3 PCR‐positive boars longitudinally sampled showed positivity in samplings separated for more than 5 months. All tested tissue types' harboured PCV‐3 genome, with the highest percentage of PCR positivity in submandibular lymph node, tonsil, lung, liver, spleen and kidney. The amount of DNA in all tested PCV‐3 PCR‐positive samples was moderate to low. All partial and complete PCV‐3 sequences obtained from wild boar displayed high nucleotide identity, higher than 98%. In conclusion, this study further confirms that wild boar is susceptible to PCV‐3 infection, showing high frequency of detection in this animal species. Furthermore, PCV‐3 can be found in different tissues of wild boar and is apparently able to cause persistent infection.Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnologia Agraria y Alimentaria. Grant Number: E‐RTA2017‐00007‐00‐0

Streptococcus porcorum sp. nov., isolated from domestic and wild pigs

Seven isolates of an unidentified Gram-stain-positive, catalase-negative, coccus-shaped organism isolated from domestic and wild pigs were characterized by phenotypic and molecular-genetic methods. Based on cellular morphology and biochemical criteria, the isolates were tentatively assigned to the genus Streptococcus, although the organisms did not appear to correspond to any recognized species. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that the unknown bacterium was phylogenetically closely related to, but distinct from, Streptococcus suis (97.5 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to the type strain). rpoB and sodA sequence analysis showed minimum interspecies divergence from phylogenetically close 16S rRNA gene sequence-based relatives of 13.8 and 18.6 %, respectively. DNA-DNA hybridization of a strain of the unidentified organism demonstrated 8-18 % reassociation with S. suis NCTC 10234(T). The novel bacterium could be distinguished from S. suis and other Streptococcus species using biochemical tests. On the basis of phenotypic and phylogenetic evidence, it is proposed that the unknown isolates from domestic and wild animals be assigned to a novel species of the genus Streptococcus, Streptococcus porcorum sp. nov. The type strain is 682-03(T) (= CCUG 58479(T) = CECT 7593(T))

Streptococcus rupicaprae sp. nov., isolated from a Pyrenean chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica)

Biochemical and molecular genetic studies were performed on an unknown Gram-stain-positive, catalase-negative, coccus-shaped organism isolated from clinical samples of a Pyrenean chamois. The micro-organism was identified as a streptococcal species based on its cellular morphological and biochemical tests. 16S rRNA gene sequence comparison studies confirmed its identification as a member of the genus Streptococcus, but the organism did not correspond to any species of this genus. The nearest phylogenetic relative of the unknown coccus from chamois was Streptococcus ovis (95.9 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity). The rpoB and sodA sequence analysis showed sequence similarity values of less than 85.7 % and 83.0 %, respectively, with the currently recognized species of the genus Streptococcus. The novel bacterial isolate was distinguished from S. ovis and other species of the genus Streptococcus using biochemical tests. Based on both phenotypic and phylogenetic findings, it is proposed that the unknown bacterium be classified as a novel species of the genus Streptococcus, Streptococcus rupicaprae sp. nov., with the type strain 2777-2-07(T) (= CECT 7718(T) = CCUG 59652(T))