Coprological analyses on apparently healthy Alpine ibex (Capra ibex ibex) from two Swiss colonies

To provide baseline parasitological data for health surveillance in free-ranging Alpine ibex (Capra ibex ibex), we assessed the endoparasite population and level of parasitism in apparently healthy ibex. Faecal samples from 148 ibex were collected between 2006 and 2008 in two different Swiss ibex colonies. They were analysed by coprology, including combined sedimentation/flotation method, sedimentation method, Baermann funnel technique and Ziehl-Neelsen staining. Gastrointestinal parasites and lungworms were identified in 100% and 81.8% of the examined animals, respectively. Highest prevalences were recorded for gastrointestinal strongylids other than Nematodirus/Marshallagia spp. (100%), Eimeria spp. (100%), Muellerius spp. (79.8%) and Nematodirus/Marshallagia spp. (79.0%). We report for the first time Cryptosporidium sp. in free-ranging Alpine ibex and Cystocaulus spp. in free-ranging ibex from Switzerland. On average, ibex were infected with 3.9 different parasites taxa (range: 1-8). Parasite prevalence and diversity varied significantly between sexes, study sites and seasons. Parasite egg output was low in 95.7% and moderate in 5.3% of the samples. Overall, the results indicate that Alpine ibex are widely infected with endoparasites and suggest that multiple infections are very common in apparently healthy populations. Furthermore, our data underline the potential influence of factors such as sex, study site and season on parasitological findings.

Memorias : Andina Berardini de Poétzel, Blanca Hilda Quiroga, Raúl Guillermo Catalán, José Argentino Serradilla, Elcira Lena, régie en la vida, Abdulio Bruno Giudici, María Enriqueta Loyola de Gomensoro, Ricardo Scilipoti, Beatriz Capra, Colette Boccara, Eduardo Tejón, María Elena Vernier, María Elvira Maure de Segovia, Alberto Nicolás Musso, Marcelo Santángelo

Fil: Rotella, María Inés. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Artes y Diseño

La Capra, Dominik, Historia y Memoria después de Auschwitz, Buenos Aires, Prometeo, 2009. Primera publicación 2001. Director de colección : Feirstein Daniel

Fil: Sepúlveda, Alejandro. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educación; Argentina.

La Capra, Dominik, Historia y Memoria después de Auschwitz, Buenos Aires, Prometeo, 2009. Primera publicación 2001. Director de colección : Feirstein Daniel

Fil: Sepúlveda, Alejandro. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educación; Argentina.