Widespread exposure to Sarcoptes scabiei in wild European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in Spain.

Sarcoptic mange was recently described in the wild European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in north-eastern Mediterranean Spain, the first such infection reported in this species anywhere in the world. This finding has created concern in conservationists and game managers given that an outbreak of mange after a translocation would have catastrophic consequences for naïve rabbit populations in other parts of Spain. A retrospective serosurvey using an 'in house' ELISA test based on the use of a recombinant antigen aimed at determining the rates of contact with Sarcoptes scabiei was carried out on sera from 966 rabbits collected between 1993 and 2010 in Spain. Antibodies were found in 13% of wild rabbits in 60% of the 53 areas surveyed, as well as in 16 of the 17 Spanish provinces and islands studied. Seropositive rabbits were found amongst the oldest samples analyzed and in all studied years. Antibodies were also detected in 36% of rabbits from the protected island of Dragonera, where rabbits have probably not been released since the 1970s. On Mallorca, where 89 rabbits were inspected for both lesions and antibodies, the prevalence of lesions (5.6%) was much lower than the seroprevalence (22.5%), indicating that rabbits often survive infection or that ELISA detects infected rabbits before they develop visible lesions. Seroprevalence was higher in areas with medium levels of rabbit abundance, no restocking and high rainfall. The results show that mange is widespread in rabbits and that the mite is not a recent introduction. Thus, sarcoptic mange could be considered as an enzootic disease in the wild rabbit and so prophylactic measures implemented during rabbit translocations are to be encouraged to avoid local outbreaks in naïve populations.

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.

Serological, pathological and polymerase chain reaction studies on Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae infection in the wild boar.

There are evidences that wild boar and domestic pig populations share the vulnerability to certain pathogens and, in consequence, the risk of pathogen transmission. Based on serological evidences, it is known that Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (Mhyo) is able to infect the wild boar. However, if this infection causes lesions and disease in this species is still unknown. The objectives of the present study were to assess the seroprevalence to Mhyo, as well as the rates of detection of Mhyo (by nested polymerase chain reaction, nPCR) in upper and lower respiratory tract of the wild boar. Moreover, presence of enzootic pneumonia (EP)-like gross and microscopic lesions in these animals was also assessed. Antibodies against Mhyo were detected in 92 out of 428 (21%) serum samples tested. Moreover, Mhyo DNA was detected by nPCR in 17 out of 85 (20%) nasal swabs and in 12 out of 156 (8%) lung samples. No gross EP-like lesions were observed in any of the studied pigs. Besides, presence of EP-like microscopic lung lesions was observed in 18 out of 63 (29%) animals. Mhyo DNA was detected at lung level in 2 out of these 18 (11%) animals. Presence of EP-like microscopic lesions was significantly related (p<0.05) with Mhyo detection at nasal swab swab but not (p>0.05) with its detection in lung samples; such lesions were also linked (p<0.05) with presence of Metastrongylus spp.-like parasite structures. Results of the present study confirm that Mhyo is able to infect and might be able to cause EP-like microscopic lesions in wild boar but, apparently, with a subclinical impact.

First isolation of Haemophilus parasuis and other NAD-dependent Pasteurellaceae of swine from European wild boars.

Haemophilus parasuis is a colonizer of the upper respiratory tract of pigs and the etiological agent of Glässer's disease, which is characterized by a fibrinous polyserositis, meningitis and arthritis. Glässer's disease has never been reported in wild boar (Sus scrofa), although antibodies against H. parasuis have been detected. The goal of this study was to confirm the presence of this bacterium in wild boar by bacterial isolation and to compare the strains to H. parasuis from domesticated pigs. Therefore, nasal swabs from 42 hunted wild boars were processed for bacterial isolation and subsequent H. parasuis identification by specific PCR, biochemical tests and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Two different strains of H. parasuis from two wild boars were isolated. These strains belonged to serotype 2 and were included by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and MLST analysis in a cluster with other H. parasuis strains of nasal origin from domestic pigs. During this study, Actinobacillus minor and Actinobacillus indolicus, which are NAD-dependent Pasteurellaceae closely related to H. parasuis, were also isolated. Our results indicate similarities in the respiratory microbiota of wild boars and domestic pigs, and although H. parasuis was isolated from wild boars, more studies are needed to determine if this could be a source of H. parasuis infection for domestic pigs.