Morphometry and body mass index to assess health condition in captive population of Greek tortoise, Tesudo greaca

Body mass and morphometric data from a sample of captive Greek tortoise, Testudo greaca were collected to assess body condition based on linear association. Mass- length linear relationship differed between the sexes where mass-straight carapace length was strongly associated in males while mass- curved carapace length was strongly associated in females compared with other morphometric measures. Females were heavier, deeper and longer than males. Mass-length linear relationship was used to calculate the condition index log [M/m], where [M] is the observed mass and [m] is the predicted mass. The loss in body condition was recorded in 47% of females and 50% of males. The percentage of body condition loss ranged between 1.5 to 13% and 2.7 to 15.9% in females and males, respectively. The mass-length technique is a useful means of evaluating health and growth in tortoises

Prevalence in some pathogens in a population of zoo animals

Zoos unintentionally provide pathogens with a high diversity of species of different origins. Zoo practices of mixing reservoir species with other susceptible species can provide opportunities for pathogens to spread beyond normal hosts. This paper describes some pathogens of bacterial, parasitological and viral origin that were identified in some bovines [five species], caprines [two species], cervids [two species], primates [two species] and felines [two species] groups. Bacterial examination of fecal samples revealed the detection of E.coli, Salmonella spp., Pasteurella spp., Klebseilla spp., Campylobacter spp. Streptococci spp., and Staphylococci spp., with 52% overall prevalence of infection. Parasitological investigation using floatation and sedimentation technique of fecal samples indicated the occurrence of Isopora spp., Trichuris spp., Ascarids spp., Toxocara spp., Trichostrongyloid spp., and Nematodirus spp. with 19% prevalence of infection of the examined samples. Sarcoptic mange was only identified in olive baboon, Papio anubis through examination of skin scrapings. Antibodies against bovine viral diarrhea [BVD] and bovine herpes virus-1 [BHV-1] in antelopes and feline corona virus [FCoV] in felines were detected using specific Enzyme-linked immune assay [ELISA test]. The seroprevalence of BVD and BHV-1 in the examined antelopes was 5.3% and 6.7%, respectively. Antibodies against FCoV were detected in both lions and cheetahs where cheetahs had higher seroprevalence rate [100%] than lions [50%]. There is a need for zoo veterinarians to review and update the current preventive and management policies to identify sources of infection and control diseases of exotic species in future