Abstract
Interaction between wild and domestic animals can increase the risk for transmission of parasites in both directions, and thus, affects the ecology of diseases. Wild felids have been proven to be sensitive to infectious agents commonly found in domestic animals, and those agents have had detrimental effects on wildlife conservation. A margay Leopardus wiedii which had been kept captive as a pet for about fifteen days, was found moderately infested with the brown dog tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus and the cat flea Ctenocephalides felis. Considering that the captive Margay lived close to domestic dogs and cats, this interaction might be the source of that infestation. Based on this finding, careful attention should be paid to wildlife and domestic animals interactions as ectoparasites can be easily transmitted and new host-pathogen interactions are possible.
Highlights
The impacts of diseases on wildlife are increasingly recognized (Bevins et al 2012)
At physical examination the cub presented a mild infestation of ectoparasites (Image 1), poor body condition, pallid and yellowish mucous membranes, dehydration, anorexia and lethargy; supportive therapy was administered based on clinical signs
Tick and flea infestation in a Margay knowledge, this is the first report of R. sanguineus and C. felis parasitizing on a margay from Peru, this finding increases the number of host species for these parasites
Summary
The impacts of diseases on wildlife are increasingly recognized (Bevins et al 2012). The exposure of Brazilian free-ranging wild felids to infectious agents such as Herpesvirus, Calicivirus, Parvovirus and Ehrlichia has already found by Filoni et al (2006). Results: A male cub Margay was presented for consultation in Lima, Peru. Anamnesis revealed the Margay came from the region of Madre de Dios in Peru.
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