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Using haematophagous fly blood meals to study the diversity of blood-borne pathogens infecting wild mammals

Many emerging infectious diseases originate from wild animals, so there is a profound need for surveillance and monitoring of their pathogens. However, the practical difficulty of sample acquisition from wild animals tends to limit the feasibility and effectiveness of such surveys. Xenosurveillance, using blood-feeding invertebrates to obtain tissue samples from wild animals and then detect their pathogens, is a promising method to do so. Here, we describe the use of tsetse fly blood meals to determine (directly through molecular diagnostic

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Examining disease prevalence for species of conservation concern using non-invasive spatial capture–recapture techniques

on‐invasive techniques have long been used to estimate wildlife population abundance and density. However, recent technological breakthroughs have facilitated non‐invasive estimation of the proportion of animal populations with certain diseases. Giraffes Giraffa camelopardalis are increasingly becoming recognized as a species of conservation concern with decreasing population trajectories across their range in Africa. Diseases may be an important component impacting giraffe population declines, and the emerging ‘giraffe skin disease’ (GSD ), characterized by the appearance of wrinkled skin and alopecic lesions on

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Quantifying the severity of giraffe skin disease via photogrammetry analysis of camera trap data

Developing techniques to quantify the spread and severity of diseases afflicting wildlife populations is important for disease ecology, animal ecology, and conservation. Giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis) are in the midst of a dramatic decline, but it is not known whether disease is playing an important role in the broad-scale population reductions. A skin disorder referred to as giraffe skin disease (GSD) was recorded in 1995 in one giraffe population in Uganda. Since then, GSD has been detected in 13 populations in

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Prevalence, disease description and epidemiological factors of a novel skin disease in Giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis) in Ruaha National Park, Tanzania

A study was conducted to examine the prevalence and epidemiological factors of a novel skin disease in giraffes inhabiting the Ruaha National Park (RNP). A cross-sectional drive-transect survey was conducted. Animals were observed using binoculars from the car. Potential epidemiological risk factors assessment included disease status, age, sex, disease severity, body condition, herd size, location, park zone, vegetation types, other wild animal species and presence of oxpeckers. The results showed that the prevalence of the skin disease was 79.8% and

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Investigation report on giraffe skin disease of Ruaha National Park, Southern Highlands of Tanzania

Giraffe Skin Disease (GSD) is a newly observed condition mainly affecting adult and sub-adult giraffes in Ruaha National Park (RNP). For the first time, the disease was observed at Lunda, northeastern part of RNP in November 2000 but the disease was thought to have existed for some time. A seasonal variation in the prevalence has also been observed with more animals being affected during the rainy season compared to those affected in the dry season. This study was undertaken with

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Mapping the spatial configuration and severity of giraffe skin disease in Ruaha National Park, Tanzania

Giraffe numbers, have dropped by about 40% in the last 20 years, making giraffes a species of conservation concern. In the same period of time, a skin disease has been observed in numerous giraffe populations across Africa. The disease, commonly referred to as giraffe skin disease (GSD), manifests as lesions, wrinkled skin, and encrustations that can affect the limbs, shoulder or neck of giraffes. Giraffe skin disease may hinder movement causing increased susceptibility to predation. In chapter 1, I reviewed

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