Sanitary Emergencies at the Wild/Domestic Caprines Interface in Europe.

Luca Rossi,Pier Giuseppe Meneguz,Barbara Moroni,Luisa Rambozzi,Paolo Tizzani

doi:10.3390/ani9110922

Luca Rossi, Pier Giuseppe Meneguz + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9110922

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Abstract

Simple SummaryEven if it is an important achievement from a biodiversity conservation perspective, the documented increase in abundance of the four native European wild Caprinae (Rupicapra rupicapra, R. pyrenaica, Capra ibex, C. pyrenaica) can also be a matter of concern, since tighter and more frequent contact with sympatric livestock implies a greater risk of transmission of emerging and re-emerging pathogens. This article reviews the main transmissible diseases that, in a European scenario, are of greater significance from a conservation perspective. Epidemics causing major demographic downturns in wild Caprinae populations during recent decades were often triggered by pathogens transmitted at the livestock/wildlife interface. Population density and distribution of the four native European wild Caprines (Rupicapra rupicapra, Rupicapra pyrenaica, Capra ibex, Capra pyrenaica) have increased in recent decades. The improved conservation status of this valuable wildlife, while a welcome event in general terms, is at the same time a matter of concern since, intuitively, frequent and tighter contacts with sympatric livestock imply a greater risk of cross-transmission of emerging and re-emerging pathogens, and offer unexpected opportunities for pathogens to spread, persist and evolve. This article recalls the transmissible diseases that are perceived in Europe to be of major significance from a conservation perspective, namely brucellosis (BRC) by Brucella melitensis, infectious kerato-conjunctivitis (IKC) by Mycoplasma conjunctivae, pestivirosis (PV) by the border disease virus strain 4 and mange by Sarcoptes scabiei. Special emphasis has been put on the epidemiological role played by small domestic ruminants, and on key knowledge needed to implement evidence-based prevention and control strategies. Remarkably, scientific evidence demonstrates that major demographic downturns in affected wild Caprinae populations in recent decades have often been triggered by pathogens cross-transmitted at the livestock/wildlife interface.

Highlights

The population density of the four native European wild Caprinae, namely, the Northern chamoisRupicapra rupicapra, Southern chamois Rupicapra pyrenaica, Alpine ibex Capra ibex and Iberian ibexCapra pyrenaica, has continued to increase in recent decades [1,2]
Evidence or sound plausibility has been provided that some of the major outbreaks reported in wild Caprinae in Europe were triggered by pathogens initially cross-transmitted at the interface with livestock
When the focus is shifted from triggering to persistence in wildlife populations, trials spanning over several decades have unambiguously shown that: (1)

Summary

Introduction

The population density of the four native European wild Caprinae, namely, the Northern chamois. Southern chamois Rupicapra pyrenaica, Alpine ibex Capra ibex and Iberian ibex. Capra pyrenaica, has continued to increase in recent decades [1,2]. The distribution area of these species has remarkably widened (Figures 1 and 2). 1. Distribution spp. in Distribution of in Europe

Distribution of native native Rupicapra

Major Emergencies in Native Wild Caprinae in Europe

Findings

Conclusions