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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
agricultural and biological sciences
Sarcoptic mange and cheetah conservation in Masai Mara (Kenya): Epidemiological study in a wildlife/livestock system
Parasitology, Volume 139, No. 12, Year 2012
Notification
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Description
The sanitary control of threatened wild animals is of pivotal interest for their conservation. This task, however, is highly complex in wildlife/livestock systems. In this paper we report findings from a 2-year cross-sectional study of the epidemiology and attempted control of a Sarcoptes mite infestation in the threatened cheetah population in Masai Mara (Kenya), and discuss its interaction with sympatric wild (lion, wildebeest and Thomson's gazelle) and domestic (dog, cattle and sheep) animals. Sarcoptes scabiei was isolated from cheetahs, Thomson's gazelles, wildebeests, lions, cattle, goats and dogs; Psoroptes ovis, on the other hand, was only isolated from sheep. The prevalence study revealed 12·77% infection rates in cheetahs, 4·7% in dogs, 0·8% in Thomson's gazelles, 0·8% in sheep, 0·09% in cattle, and 0·09% in goats, while it opportunistically affected lions and wildebeest. Our study revealed that prevalence of Sarcoptes mite in cheetah population was not associated with the studied geographical blocks, animal sex or the presence of affected domestic animals. Cheetah infection with S. scabiei was associated with the climatic conditions (dry more than wet season) and the balancing between the total number of Thomson's gazelles and the prevalence of infected individuals. Apparently the high prevalence of mangy gazelles has a negative effect on cheetah; this negative effect was reduced when the number of healthy gazelles was increased. Treatment with injectable ivermectin of the clinically affected wild and domestic animals during the first year of this study was associated with much lower incidence of sarcoptic mange during the second year. © Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012.
Authors & Co-Authors
Gakuya, Francis M.
Kenya, Nairobi
Kenya Wildlife Service
Ombui, Jackson Nyarongi
Kenya, Nairobi
University of Nairobi
Maingi, Ndichu
Kenya, Nairobi
University of Nairobi
Muchemi, Gerald Mwangi
Kenya, Nairobi
University of Nairobi
Ogara, William Okelo
Kenya, Nairobi
University of Nairobi
Soriguer, R. C.
Spain, Sevilla
Csic - Estación Biologica de Doñana
Alasaad, Samer
Spain, Sevilla
Csic - Estación Biologica de Doñana
Switzerland, Zurich
Universität Zürich
Statistics
Citations: 35
Authors: 7
Affiliations: 4
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1017/S0031182012000935
e-ISSN:
14698161
Research Areas
Environmental
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Cohort Study
Study Approach
Quantitative
Study Locations
Kenya