THE IMPACT OF SUPPLEMENTARY FEEDING OF PIG CARCASSES ON PLASMA VITAMIN E CONCENTRATIONS IN CAPTIVE CAPE VULTURES (GYPS COPROTHERES).

With vulture population numbers on the decline globally, many countries resort to supplementary feeding to maintain colony health. Despite what is perceived as adequate feeding in South Africa, colonies are still characterized by poor breeding success. One reason could be that supplementary sites fail to meet micronutrient needs of birds. With results from zoological gardens indicating that some carcasses are low in their vitamin E concentrations, vitamin deficiencies may be an underlying problem. For this study it was determined if the feeding of whole pig carcasses, a common food item, could have a negative effect on plasma vitamin E concentrations in a captive colony. Plasma vitamin E concentrations were 7.38 ± 2.92 and 4.51 ± 1.24 after feeding whole pig carcasses (n = 14). Behaviorally, the birds also avoided the viscera and fat when feeding. Reasons for their low vitamin E concentrations could have resulted from the birds consuming only the pork meat, which is known to be low in vitamin E, or from natural peroxidation because of the high fat content of the carcasses. The study thus highlights the need for further research to ascertain the impact of feeding pig carcasses on wild vultures feeding routinely at supplementary feeding sites and also for considerations towards vitamin E supplementation.

Co-infection with Anaplasma platys, Bartonella henselae and Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum in a veterinarian.

BACKGROUND: During a two year period, a 27-year-old female veterinarian experienced migraine headaches, seizures, including status epilepticus, and other neurological and neurocognitive abnormalities. Prior to and during her illness, she had been actively involved in hospital-based work treating domestic animals, primarily cats and dogs, in Grenada and Ireland and anatomical research requiring the dissection of wild animals (including lions, giraffe, rabbits, mongoose, and other animals), mostly in South Africa. The woman reported contact with fleas, ticks, lice, biting flies, mosquitoes, spiders and mites and had also been scratched or bitten by dogs, cats, birds, horses, reptiles, rabbits and rodents. Prior diagnostic testing resulted in findings that were inconclusive or within normal reference ranges and no etiological diagnosis had been obtained to explain the patient's symptoms. METHODS: PCR assays targeting Anaplasma sp. Bartonella sp. and hemotopic Mycoplasma sp. were used to test patient blood samples. PCR positive amplicons were sequenced directly and compared to Gen Bank sequences. In addition, Bartonella alpha Proteobacteria growth medium (BAPGM) enrichment blood culture was used to facilitate bacterial growth and Bartonella spp. serology was performed by indirect fluorescent antibody testing. RESULTS: Anaplasma platys, Bartonella henselae and Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum DNA was amplified and sequenced from the woman's blood, serum or blood culture samples. Her serum was variably seroreactive to several Bartonella sp. antigens. Despite symptomatic improvement, six months of doxycycline most likely failed to eliminate the B. henselae infection, whereas A. platys and Candidatus M. haematoparvum DNA was no longer amplified from post-treatment samples. CONCLUSIONS: As is typical of many veterinary professionals, this individual had frequent exposure to arthropod vectors and near daily contact with persistently bacteremic reservoir hosts, including cats, the primary reservoir host for B. henselae, and dogs, the presumed primary reservoir host for A. platys and Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum. Physicians caring for veterinarians should be aware of the occupational zoonotic risks associated with the daily activities of these animal health professionals.