Foot health and prevalence of Dichelobacter nodosus in 11 ungulate species at Berne Animal Park

Abstract

Material and Methods Animal preparationRandom sampling of 53 even-toed ungulates from a total of 71 animals was performed during diagnostic, curative or prophylactic medical treatments as part of routine zoo veterinary practice, as well as during captures related to transports from the whole even-toed ungulate stock of Berne Animal Park (n = 11 different species and n = 71 animals totally kept). General anaesthesia for all species except Cretan wild goats (Capra hircus cretica) and dwarf goats (Capra hircus aegagrus) was necessary to perform clinical examination and sampling in order to reduce the risk of injuries to animals and staff. The day before sampling, individual animals were separated in a box and fasted overnight. Except for Javan

Lesion Material From Treponema-Associated Hoof Disease of Wild Elk Induces Disease Pathology in the Sheep Digital Dermatitis Model

“…Much like Fusobacterium and D. nodosus, hoof-associated Treponema does not appear to be host species restricted, in fact, the presence of cattle may be a risk factor on sheep farms for CODD (64). Recent publications showing that Mediterranean Buffalo (housed in milking herds) and European Bison (in zoological parks) are also susceptible to DD (65)(66)(67) further suggesting that any ungulate species is susceptible given the proper environmental conditions and the presence of these pathogenic bacteria.…”

Detection of treponemes in digital dermatitis lesions of captive European bison (Bison bonasus)

“…The results of the competitive real-time PCR for both, the benign ( aprB2 -positive) and virulent ( aprV2 -positive) strains of D . nodosus , additionally to FISH analysis, were negative in all investigated samples [ 29 ]. Furthermore, all tested samples were PCR-negative for F .…”

“…However, infection and transmission routes of Treponema species in European bison are not known, and the spread throughout the herd could not be assessed in this cross-sectional study. The feet of red deer that share the enclosure with the European bison at Berne Animal Park were clinically healthy [ 29 ], and swab samples tested negative for Treponema , suggesting that this species is not affected or acts as a spill over species for European bison Treponema . Bovine treponemes are assumed to be transmitted via environmental (e.g., manure, slurry) and direct skin contact between affected animals [ 51 – 53 ].…”

“…Five red deer ( Cervus elaphus ) shared the enclosure with the European bison. They were individually clinically examined and swabbed in the same time period as the European bison [ 29 ].…”