Biomedical Evaluation of Free-Ranging Ring-Tailed Lemurs (Lemur Catta) in Three Habitats at the Beza Mahafaly Special Reserve, Madagascar

Abstract

Complete physical examinations and biomedical sample collection were performed on 70 free-ranging ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) from three different habitats in the Beza Mahfaly Special Reserve (BMSR), in southern Madagascar, to assess the impact of humans and habitat on lemur health. Lemurs were chemically immobilized with ketamine and diazepam administered via blow darts for concurrent biomedical, morphometric, and behavioral studies. Subsets of the animals had blood analyzed for hematology, serum chemistry, micronutrients, fat-soluble vitamins (vitamins A, D, and E), measures of iron metabolism, and polymerase chain reaction assays (PCR) for Toxoplasma gondii, Hemoplasma spp., Bartonella spp., Ehrlichia spp., Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Neorickettsia risticii. Results were compared on the basis of gender and the habitats at the study site: reserve (intact gallery forest), degraded (human inhabited and altered), and marginal (dry didieracea forest with heavy grazing and tree cutting). Levels of vitamin D, triglycerides, and cholesterol, and measures of iron metabolism for BMSR lemurs were greater than those previously reported for a free-ranging lemur population (Tsimanampetsotsa Strict Nature Reserve, Madagascar) with less access to foods of anthropogenic origin. BMSR ring-tailed lemurs from a habitat with less water (marginal) had higher sodium (P = 0.051), chloride (P = 0.045), osmolality (P = 0.010), and amylase (P = 0.05) levels than lemurs from other BMSR habitats, suggesting that these lemurs were less hydrated. Vitamin D levels of male lemurs were higher (P = 0.011) than those of females at BMSR, possibly because of differences in sunning behavior or differential selection of food items. The biological significance is uncertain for other parameters with statistically significant differences. All samples tested (n = 20) were negative for the pathogens tested using PCR assays. Continued concurrent biomedical and ecological research is needed at BMSR to confirm these results and determine their association with population mortality and fecundity rates.

A preliminary assessment of nematode infections inEulemur collaris(Geoffroy, 1812) (Mammalia: Lemuridae) in remnant fragments of Malagasy littoral forest

“…As a consequence, the forest there is regularly visited by people (mainly employers or local villagers), possibly exposing the lemurs to contacts with potential vectors. Parasitological studies on Lemur catta (Linnaeus, 1758) (Mammalia: Lemuridae), E. rufifrons and E. macaco macaco (Linnaeus, 1766) (Mammalia: Lemuridae) indicate that these lemurs are more contaminated by parasites in protected habitats with high encounter rates with humans and domestic animals (Loudon et al 2006;Junge & Louis 2007;Miller et al 2007;Junge et al 2008). The exploitation of resources from human trash pits and potential coprophagy of domestic animals' or humans' faeces may explain these differences (Loudon et al 2006).…”

“…Though a number of studies have documented gastrointestinal parasites of wild haplorhines, lemur endoparasites remain poorly investigated (Gillespie 2006;Junge & Sauther 2006;Junge & Louis 2007;Miller et al 2007). Moreover, most reports are descriptive studies, which have not been related to ecological factors (for a review see Irwin & Raharison 2009).…”

Survival of a wild ring-tailed lemur (<i>Lemur catta</i>) with abdominal trauma in an anthropogenically disturbed habitat

“…Reports of injuries to strepsirrhines are generally cases of attacks on infants where individuals typically die within a short period of time (e.g., infanticide) (Erhart andOverdorff 1998, Jolly et al 2000). There is one previous report of an injured adult strepsirrhine able to survive with exposed sinuses, after severe injury to the face (Junge and Sauther 2006 (Miller et al 2007, Sauther and Cuozzo 2008 was not seen again. This infant was likely to be hers given its young age and that she was seen with the infant at each weekly census until the infant was no longer observed.…”

Ring-Tailed Lemur (Lemur catta) Health Parameters across Two Habitats with Varied Levels of Human Disturbance at the Bezà Mahafaly Special Reserve, Madagascar

“…While numerous studies have evaluated the health of wild, free-ranging lemur species, as well as the effect of habitat fragmentation and disturbance on primate populations in Madagascar [Dutton et al, 2003;Junge and Louis, 2005;Sauther et al, 2006;Miller et al, 2007;Dutton et al, 2008;Junge et al, 2008;Irwin et al, 2010], the effect of varying levels of anthropogenic disturbance on lemur health remains largely unknown. Since 2003, the ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) at the Bezà Mahafaly Special Reserve (BMSR) have been the focus of an intensive study to assess the effects of anthropogenic and climate factors on behavior, ecology, genetics and health [Sauther et al, 2006;Miller et al, 2007;Parga et al, 2012]. An initial biomedical evaluation of this population focused on 3 microhabitats within the gallery forest region of BMSR that varied in terms of human impact [Miller et al, 2007].…”

“…Since 2003, the ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) at the Bezà Mahafaly Special Reserve (BMSR) have been the focus of an intensive study to assess the effects of anthropogenic and climate factors on behavior, ecology, genetics and health [Sauther et al, 2006;Miller et al, 2007;Parga et al, 2012]. An initial biomedical evaluation of this population focused on 3 microhabitats within the gallery forest region of BMSR that varied in terms of human impact [Miller et al, 2007]. In contrast, this study compares the biomedical values of BMSR gallery forest lemurs living in a gallery reserve habitat with a lemur population inhabiting a mixed dry deciduous and Alluaudia -dominated spiny forest that has been substantially altered by anthropogenic disturbance.…”