Natalia Jiménez-Pizarro, Beatriz Serrano, Jorge Peña, Rafael Barrera, María Gil-Molino, David Risco, Javier Hermoso-de-Mendoza
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
The Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) population has been increasing in recent years thanks to the collaboration of several associations within the framework of the Life Lynxconnect project, which promotes captive breeding for the subsequent release of specimens into the environment. It is therefore important to know their population status, the diseases to which these animals are exposed, and how they affect their repopulation. In this sense, this study aims to study how the presence of mycobacteria affects the lynx population in Extremadura (southwest of Spain). To this end, blood samples, tracheal swabs, and tracheobronchial washings from live-captured lynxes, as well as mediastinal and mesenteric lymph nodes from roadkill animals, were collected. The association between the presence of mycobacteria and various factors-including body condition, age, sex, and blood parameters-was subsequently evaluated. Up to date, our findings show the absence of tuberculosis (TB) in all lynxes tested, while they seem to be reservoirs of non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), mainly M. lentiflavum, the most isolated species. Nonetheless, these mycobacteria appear to have no significant effect on the health condition of the animals.
期刊介绍:
Veterinary Sciences is an international and interdisciplinary scholarly open access journal. It publishes original that are relevant to any field of veterinary sciences, including prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease, disorder and injury in animals. This journal covers almost all topics related to animal health and veterinary medicine. Research fields of interest include but are not limited to: anaesthesiology anatomy bacteriology biochemistry cardiology dentistry dermatology embryology endocrinology epidemiology genetics histology immunology microbiology molecular biology mycology neurobiology oncology ophthalmology parasitology pathology pharmacology physiology radiology surgery theriogenology toxicology virology.