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Animals
Special Issues
Disease and Health in Free-Ranging and Captive Wildlife
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Disease and Health in Free-Ranging and Captive Wildlife

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Wildlife".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 May 2024) | Viewed by 7468

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Ho-Seong Cho

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Veterinary Medicine and Bio-Safety Research Institute, Jeonbuk National University, Iksan 54596, Republic of Korea
Interests: epidemiology; infectious diseases; microbiome; conservation medicine; cancers in wildlife; diagnostic methods; next-generation sequencing; veterinary science; zoonotic diseases; free-ranging wildlife; captive wildlife
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Yeonsu Oh

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Veterinary Medicine & Institute of Veterinary Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea
Interests: cancers in wildlife; epidemiology; infectious diseases; microbiome; veterinary science; zoonotic diseases; free-ranging wildlife; captive wildlife
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Wildlife is declining globally at an astonishing rate, in terms of both diversity and numbers. To conserve endangered species and species diversity, many species of wild animals are maintained as captive- and/or free-ranging animals. While the pros and cons of keeping wildlife this way are still controversial, much focus has been placed on animal welfare through behavioral observations. The need for improved and increased knowledge about the health and disease states of both free-ranging and captive wildlife species is greater than ever.

We welcome a range of research types, including case reports on health and disease in free-ranging and captive wildlife, studies documenting disease, including infectious agents, nutritional disorders, toxicologic conditions, and neoplasia, as well as baseline health, microbiome, and clinicopathologic reference range studies. Manuscripts on zoonoses involving wildlife and on the chemical immobilization of wild animals are also welcome. Manuscripts dealing with surveys and case reports may be published provided that they contain significant new information, or have significance for a better understanding of health and disease in wild populations.

Thus, the aim of this Special Issue is to improve the current knowledge of disease and health in free-ranging and captive wildlife.

Prof. Dr. Ho-Seong Cho
Prof. Dr. Yeonsu Oh
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • infectious diseases
  • wildlife
  • surveillance
  • animal health
  • wildlife
  • disease surveillance
  • disease monitoring
  • diagnostic techniques
  • zoonoses
  • microbiome

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 11789 KiB  
Article
Prevalence and Risk Factors of Bone and Dental Lesions in Neotropical Deer
by Tamires Ataides Silva, Andressa da Silva Martins, Lisandra Rodrigues Alves, Luana Wenceslau Bittencourt Pereira, Júlia Rebecca Saraiva, José Maurício Barbanti Duarte, Eveline dos Santos Zanetti, Christiane Marie Schweitzer, Iveraldo Santos Dutra and Ana Carolina Borsanelli
Animals 2024, 14(13), 1892; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14131892 - 27 Jun 2024
Viewed by 995
Abstract
Bone and dental lesions have been documented in various deer species globally, affecting the efficiency of ingestion and digestion, consequently influencing their general health and leading to a decline in survival and reproductive performance. The present study aimed to characterize bone and dental [...] Read more.
Bone and dental lesions have been documented in various deer species globally, affecting the efficiency of ingestion and digestion, consequently influencing their general health and leading to a decline in survival and reproductive performance. The present study aimed to characterize bone and dental lesions in the dry skulls of individual deer, estimate the prevalence of these lesions, and assess potential risk factors associated with the development of bone and dental alterations. This study assessed bone and dental lesions in 180 dry skulls of eleven neotropical deer species, originating from both captivity and wildlife conditions, through direct visual inspection. A high prevalence of bone and dental lesions was observed in all analyzed species. Dental calculus was the most common alteration (96.7%), followed by dental wear (71.1%). Animal age positively correlated with most bone and dental alterations, indicating that older animals showed more lesions. Additionally, the prevalence of these alterations was similar between sexes. Moreover, all lesions were more common in captive-bred animals, likely attributed to their older age and a less diverse diet. Blastocerus dichotomus and Mazama americana were most affected by bone resorption and dental trauma and had the highest dental calculus prevalence, along with Subulo gouazoubira and Passalites nemorivagus. All eleven species evaluated in the present study were susceptible to the occurrence of bone and dental lesions. Therefore, monitoring oral health and diet in captivity are fundamental practices for the conservation of these species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Disease and Health in Free-Ranging and Captive Wildlife)
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15 pages, 3063 KiB  
Article
Diet Drives Gut Bacterial Diversity of Wild and Semi-Captive Common Cranes (Grus grus)
by Hong Wu, Nan Wu, Xinchen Liu, Lei Zhang and Dapeng Zhao
Animals 2024, 14(11), 1566; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14111566 - 25 May 2024
Viewed by 828
Abstract
The gut microbiota of wild animals can regulate host physical health to adapt to the environment. High-throughput sequencing from fecal samples was used to analyze the gut microbiota communities in common cranes (Grus grus) without harming them. Herein, we compared the [...] Read more.
The gut microbiota of wild animals can regulate host physical health to adapt to the environment. High-throughput sequencing from fecal samples was used to analyze the gut microbiota communities in common cranes (Grus grus) without harming them. Herein, we compared the fecal microbiome of fifteen G. grus in Tianjin Tuanbo Bird Natural Reserve (wild group) and six G. grus sampled from Beijing Wildlife Park (semi-captive group) in China, using 16S amplicon sequencing and bioinformatic analysis. The results showed that microbiota diversity and composition varied in different groups, suggesting that the gut microbiota was interactively influenced by diet and the environment. A total of 38 phyla and 776 genera were analyzed in this study. The dominant phyla of the G. grus were Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. Meanwhile, the microbiota richness of the semi-captive group was higher than the wild group. Data on beta diversity highlighted significant differences based on different dietary compositions. Zea mays, Glycine max, and Phragmites australia showed a significant correlation with intestinal bacteria of G. grus. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of diet and microbiomes in semi-captive and wild G. grus living in different environments, thus helping us to evaluate the influence on animal microbiomes and improve conservation efforts for this species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Disease and Health in Free-Ranging and Captive Wildlife)
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8 pages, 779 KiB  
Communication
Serum Biochemistry of Greater Rhea (Rhea americana) in Captivity in the Northeast of Brazil
by Antonio Humberto Hamad Minervino, Carolina A. S. C. Araújo, Herbert S. Soares, Eloine M. B. Picanço, Yasmine R. Batista Silva, Clara Satsuki Mori, Solange Maria Gennari, Raimundo Alves Barrêto Júnior and Enrico Lippi Ortolani
Animals 2023, 13(13), 2103; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13132103 - 25 Jun 2023
Viewed by 1582
Abstract
We investigated the biochemical profile of greater rheas (Rhea americana) in captivity and correlated these values according to the birds’ sex. A total of 69 serum samples were collected from a breeding site in Mossoró, northeastern Brazil, and analyzed to quantify [...] Read more.
We investigated the biochemical profile of greater rheas (Rhea americana) in captivity and correlated these values according to the birds’ sex. A total of 69 serum samples were collected from a breeding site in Mossoró, northeastern Brazil, and analyzed to quantify serum biochemical parameters (total protein, albumin, cholesterol, calcium, phosphorus, uric acid, urea, creatinine, ALP, AST, and CK). The birds had levels of urea, creatinine, total cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase, calcium, and phosphorus similar to the values reported for ratite and ostrich species. By sex, females showed higher values (p < 0.05) of calcium (3.5 mmol/L), total cholesterol (7.5 mmol/L), and uric acid (435.3 μmol/L) than males, which had 3.1 mmol/L, 3.8 mmol/L, and 390.7 μmol/L, respectively. This can be attributed to the difference in diet, the productive phase of females, or stress at the time of sampling. The data present a wide spectrum of biochemical results regarding the health of greater rheas, contributing to the veterinary clinical practice of this species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Disease and Health in Free-Ranging and Captive Wildlife)
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Review

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11 pages, 671 KiB  
Review
A Review on Blood Reference Values as a Valuable Marker of Wildlife Welfare in Erinaceus europaeus
by Sofia Rosa, Ana C. Silvestre-Ferreira and Felisbina Luísa Queiroga
Animals 2024, 14(6), 982; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14060982 - 21 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1172
Abstract
The western-European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus), in expanding its range towards human habitats, faces exposure to contaminants and biological agents, potentially leading to diseases associated with hematological and biochemical changes. As bioindicators of environmental pollution and carriers of zoonotic agents, hedgehogs play [...] Read more.
The western-European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus), in expanding its range towards human habitats, faces exposure to contaminants and biological agents, potentially leading to diseases associated with hematological and biochemical changes. As bioindicators of environmental pollution and carriers of zoonotic agents, hedgehogs play a crucial role in One Health studies, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive understanding of their clinical-pathological aspects. Exploring the blood reference values in healthy animals of this species is crucial for understanding and improving their well-being, and identifying possible diseases/pathogens that may affect its conservation and/or impact human health. This review is focused on analyzing the data available in the literature for Erinaceus europaeus blood reference intervals. A comprehensive literature review of the studies published in Europe is performed, highlighting their specificities, and emphasizing the need for continuous research in this field. Our final goal is to provide a crucial tool for assessing the health status of the species, and underscoring the significance of research in this specific domain. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Disease and Health in Free-Ranging and Captive Wildlife)
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Other

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9 pages, 3929 KiB  
Case Report
Ovarian Sex Cord Stromal Tumor in a Free-Ranging Brown Bear (Ursus arctos)
by Natalia García-Álvarez, Álvaro Oleaga, María José García-Iglesias, Claudia Pérez-Martínez, Daniel Fernández, Luis Miguel Álvarez, Ramón Balsera and Ana Balseiro
Animals 2024, 14(13), 1936; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14131936 - 30 Jun 2024
Viewed by 907
Abstract
Reports on neoplasms in bears are scarce, especially concerning ovarian tumors. A large primary ovarian neoplasm with multiple metastasis was found during the necropsy of a 14-year-old free-ranging Eurasian brown bear (Ursus arctos) from Northwestern Spain. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry allowed for [...] Read more.
Reports on neoplasms in bears are scarce, especially concerning ovarian tumors. A large primary ovarian neoplasm with multiple metastasis was found during the necropsy of a 14-year-old free-ranging Eurasian brown bear (Ursus arctos) from Northwestern Spain. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry allowed for the diagnosis of a sex cord stromal tumor. This is a complex group of neoplasms which differ in the predominant cell morphology and immunohistochemical features. The microscopic examination revealed two types of cells, one with eosinophilic cytoplasm, intermingled with larger vacuolated cells rich in lipids. The evaluation of the immunoreactivity to different markers, frequently used in the characterization of gonadal tumors (INHA, inhibin-alpha; PLAP, placental alkaline phosphatase; Ki-67; α-SMA, actin alpha-smooth muscle) and inflammation patterns (IBA1, ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule for macrophages; CD3 for T lymphocytes; CD20 for B lymphocytes), displayed significant INHA positive immunostaining of neoplastic cells, as well as inflammatory cell infiltration, mainly composed of macrophages and B lymphocytes. These findings were consistent with a malignant ovarian steroid cell tumor, not otherwise specified. The present study characterizes an unusual type of neoplasm, and also represents the first report of an ovarian sex cord stromal tumor in Ursidae. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Disease and Health in Free-Ranging and Captive Wildlife)
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7 pages, 285 KiB  
Brief Report
Determination of Haematological Reference Values for Tucúquere (Bubo magellanicus) Habiting in Central Chile
by Alejandro Jimenez-Cortes, Sergio Boassi and Hernan Cañon-Jones
Animals 2023, 13(19), 3000; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13193000 - 22 Sep 2023
Viewed by 1145
Abstract
Tucuquere (Bubo magellanicus) is an owl inhabiting Chile, which is classified as a species of agricultural interest, but its current conservation status is not well defined. The determination of previously unknown haematological ranges via laboratory techniques for species analysis is of [...] Read more.
Tucuquere (Bubo magellanicus) is an owl inhabiting Chile, which is classified as a species of agricultural interest, but its current conservation status is not well defined. The determination of previously unknown haematological ranges via laboratory techniques for species analysis is of great importance in the search for diagnoses in clinical veterinary work. Thirty-three samples from healthy tucuquere were obtained from zoos and rehabilitation centres in central Chile and analysed using standard laboratory techniques to obtain reference values that were determined according to the standard recommendations for animal species. The mean, standard deviation, maximum, and minimum reference limits were calculated at 95% and 97.5% error. These results differ from those of other studies, especially in terms of the white blood cells because most of the values were lower than those described for the species. These results could be explained by the habitat and location from which the samples were taken, and they corroborate the need to obtain reference values for different geographical areas. This study provides useful haematological values for use in conservation medicine and zoos and highlights the importance of carrying out these studies in different geographical areas for species of ecological interest. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Disease and Health in Free-Ranging and Captive Wildlife)
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