A mortality survey of free range nutria (Myocastor coypus)

Abstract

A review of the literature revealed little information on natural occurring diseases in wild nutria. In this report, a summary of necropsies performed on free-range animals from four different geographical areas, is presented. Fifty-two percent of the nutria had trauma (mostly by predation and road kill), 15% had poisoning by different toxics, and 11% had starvation. The rest died due to infectious diseases and miscellaneous causes, while 21 individuals had no significant lesions. The occurrence of infections seems sporadic with a far lower prevalence than in the farmed animals, while the incidence of poisoning is rather high. In addition, anthrax was diagnosed in two individuals. Thus, nutria are probably subject to mortality from a number of different human-induced causes rather than natural ones. Analysis of these records may provide insight into prevention of problem and better management practices.

Note on the occurrence of parasites of the wild nutria (Myocastor coypus, Molina, 1782)

“…This large semiaquatic herbivore has been introduced to many countries through meat production and fur-farming. In 1922 argentineans began raising nutria in captivity and this practice spread worldwidely but the species has been traditionally continued to be hunted in their natural range as a source of fur and meat (Vietmeyer, 1991;Martino et al, 2008). Nutria is not endangered in South America although its number and range have been reduced due to loss of habitat by intensive agricultural areas, road casualty, predation or overhunting ...... (Gosling et al, 1988;IUCN, 2009).…”

MANDIBULAR OSTEOSARCOMA IN A NUTRIA (MYOCASTOR COYPUS)

“…11 Neoplastic diseases have been scantly documented in nutria, and only scattered reports describe cases of a plasmacytoma, lymphosarcoma, hepatic carcinoma, and more frequently papillomas. 5,6,8,10 This report provides the first description of osteosarcoma and endocardiosis in a nutria. Although the observations presented in this report are based on this single case, these disease processes appear to behave similarly in nutria compared to other more commonly encountered species.…”

Ectoparasites from some Myocastor coypus (Molina, 1782) populations (Coypus or Nutria) in Argentina

“…In 1922, Argentineans began raising nutria in captivity and this practice spread worldwide but the species has been traditionally hunted in their natural range as a source of fur and meat. Nutria is not endangered in South America; although, its number and range have been reduced due to loss of habitat by intensive agriculture, road casualty, predation or overhunting (MARTINO et al, 2008;IUCN, 2015).…”