RESUMO
Parasitic infections are one of the most important factors affecting the health and condition of wild ruminants, including bison, particularly those kept in closed breeding, and regular deworming is important. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of deworming European bison in BNP (Bialowieza National Park) reserves with Alphalben (albendazole). The drug was administered orally at a dose of 15 mg/kg body weight. To assess the effectiveness of the treatment, samples of bison faeces were examined by flotation, sedimentation and Baermann methods before deworming and 14 days after drug administration. Treatment efficacy was calculated according to the Faecal Egg Reduction Test (FERCT). Deworming was not effective against gastrointestinal nematodes of the Trichostrongylidae family, Fasciola hepatica or Paramphistomum cervi flukes, or Eimeria bovis coccidia. A deworming efficacy of 100% was recorded against the lung nematodes Dictyocaulus viviparus, the nematodes Nematodirus sp. and Aonchotheca sp., the tapeworms Moniezia sp. and the coccidia Eimeria zuernii, E. cylindrica, E. brasiliensis and E. subspherica. The ineffectiveness of deworming against the most dangerous bison parasites (gastrointestinal nematodes and flukes) may indicate the development of albendazole-resistant parasite strains, possibly due to long-term, repeated administration.
RESUMO
Wild large ungulates, like European bison (Bison bonasus) and Eurasian moose (Alces alces), form an important part of the circulation of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, a Gram-negative, intracellular, tick-transmitted bacterium, in the natural environment. Bison and moose tissue samples were subjected to 16S rDNA, groEL and ankA partial gene marker amplification with specific primers using various variants of PCR. Out of 42 examined individuals, Anaplasma sp. were detected in 4/13 Eurasian moose (31%) and 7/29 European bison (24%). In addition, 12 groEL and 5 ankA partial gene positive samples were obtained from the examined animals. The phylogenetic analysis of the groEL partial gene classified samples from European bison to ecotype I, and samples from Eurasian moose to ecotype I and II; the analysis of the ankA partial gene assigned the samples to clusters I and IV. This study extends knowledge about A. phagocytophilum in wild large ungulates in Poland. This is the first report about the occurrence of Anaplasma sp. in one of the largest populations of free living European bison in the world. Our findings confirm that strains of A. phagocytophilum from Bison bonasus and Alces alces may constitute a natural reservoir of pathogenic HGA Anaplasma strains.
RESUMO
PURPOSE: The nematodes of the genus Thelazia are the cause of eye diseases of wild and domestic ruminants throughout the world. The aim of the study was to describe clinical cases of thelasiosis in European bison (Bison bonasus) in Poland, and provide morphometrical features of Thelazia gulosa Railiet and Henry, 1910 and Thelazia skrjabini Erschov, 1928 regarded as potentially useful for species differentiation METHODS: The conjunctival sacs, tear ducts, the surface of the cornea and nicitating membrane collected from bison were rinsed with saline solution. Any nematodes isolated from the sediment were subjected to morphometric analysis. RESULTS: Thirteen of the 16 examined European bison were infected with Thelazia nematodes, belonging to the species T. gulosa and T. skrjabini. The intensity of infection ranged from one to six (mean intensity 5), and four to 29 (mean intensity 14) nematodes T. skrjabini and T. gulosa respectively. Congestion of conjunctival sac, keratitis and corneal opacity, corneal ulceration and perforation as well as purulent eyeball inflammation were observed in infected animals. CONCLUSIONS: Thelazia gulosa and T. skrjabini can be identified by morphometrical features. As thelasiosis might be a serious threat for protected population of European bison, further studies are needed of the epidemiology and pathology of this emerging parasitosis in Poland.