Taurotragus Oryx Research Articles

A learning network approach to resolve conservation challenges in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) is a protected area and UNESCO World Heritage Site and part of the Serengeti‐Ngorongoro Biosphere reserve in northern Tanzania. It is famous for its large volcanic caldera, unique cultural heritage, early hominid fossils and significant wildlife populations. NCA has been managed as a multiple land‐use area since 1959, a designation intended to foster a harmonious coexistence between indigenous residents and wildlife (Goldstein, 2004).

Seasonal Habitat Selection by Eland in an Insular Nature Reserve

Across southern Africa, many populations of the highly-mobile common eland (Tragelaphus oryx) are limited to small, fenced protected areas. We studied such a population at Kgaswane Mountain Reserve (KMR), South Africa, using radio-collared animals to better understand eland range use in a landscape with restricted movement. Placement of home ranges within the reserve changed from favouring woodland to dry grassland after the beginning of the wet season, while wet grassland was favoured all year. Habitat use within home ranges indicated an interaction between vegetation types and elevation that changed with season: low-elevation selection for dry grassland, open shrubland and woodland changed to selection for wet and dry grassland; high-elevation selection for open shrubland alone changed to selection for both open shrubland and woodland. Despite the fenced nature of KMR, eland appeared to have sufficiently flexible behaviour to follow landscape use and seasonal home range changes demonstrated by eland in less restrictive environments. Management activities that promote fine-scale heterogeneity and varying levels of woody cover might compensate for lack of mobility where fences limit broad-scale movements.

Comparison of divergent breeding management strategies in two species of semi-captive eland in Senegal

Breeding management of small populations may have a critical influence on the development of population characteristics in terms of levels of genetic diversity and inbreeding. Two populations of antelope sister species – Critically Endangered Western Derby eland (Tauroragus derbianus derbianus) and non-native Least Concern Cape eland (Taurotragus oryx oryx) bred under different management strategies were studied in Senegal, Western Africa. The aims of the study were to compare the population genetic parameters of the two species and to test for the presence of interspecific hybrids. In total, blood and tissue samples from 76 Western Derby elands and 26 Cape elands were investigated, using 12 microsatellite markers. No hybrid individuals were detected in the sampled animals within the multispecies enclosure in Bandia Reserve, Senegal. The parameters of genetic polymorphism indicated much lower genetic diversity in Western Derby elands compared to Cape elands. On the other hand, the coefficient of inbreeding was low in both species. It is hypothesized that this could be a positive effect of strict population management of Western Derby elands, which, despite the loss of genetic diversity, minimizes inbreeding.

Ante-and post-mortem strategies to improve the meat quality of high-value muscles harvested from farmed male common eland (Taurotragus oryx)

The effects of immunocastration, pelvic suspension and wet ageing on the meat quality of the longissimus lumborum et thoracis (LTL) and biceps femoris (BF) muscles of male common eland were evaluated. Ten subadult males were either immunocastrated (n = 5) or remained intact (n = 5) throughout a four-month growth trial, after which their carcass sides were randomly allocated to either pelvic- or Achilles-suspension. The LTL and BF were further aged for 14 days, measuring changes in the physical quality weekly. The sensory quality of the LTL and BF were determined after ageing (8/9 days, respectively). Immunocastration had minimal effects on the meat quality of male eland, but pelvic suspension decreased the shear force. All muscles reached minimum shear force after seven days of ageing, and the panellists ranked the pelvic-suspended muscles higher for tenderness traits. Incorporating pelvic suspension and wet ageing into the commercial processing of eland carcasses should be considered to improve overall meat quality.

Digesta passage in common eland (Taurotragus oryx) on a monocot or a dicot diet

The way that fluids and particles move through the forestomach of a ruminant is species-specific, and can be used to classify ruminants according to their digestive physiology into ‘moose-types’ (with little difference in fluid and small particle passage) and ‘cattle-types’ (where fluids move through the forestomach much faster than small particles). So far, ‘moose-types’ appear limited to a dietary niche of browsing, whereas ‘cattle-types’ are particularly prominent in the intermediate and grazing diet niches. However, some species, including members of the spiral-horned antelopes (the Tragelaphini), have a ‘cattle-type’ physiology but a browse-dominated diet niche. Eland (Taurotragus oryx), the largest member of the Tragelaphini, are strict browsers in the wild but have been considered intermediate feeders in the past, and can seemingly be maintained on grass diets. We quantified food intake, mean retention time (MRT) in the gastrointestinal tract and the reticulorumen (RR) of a solute, a small and a large particle marker, and diet digestibility in six eland each fed a monocot (grass hay) and a dicot (lucerne silage) forage. Food intake and digestibility was lower on the diet with higher fibre content (grass hay), with corresponding longer MRT. At the higher intakes on lucerne, the difference in MRT between small and large particles was larger, indicating a greater reliance on particle sorting and clearance under this condition of potentially limiting gut capacity. Regardless of diet or intake, the ratio of small particle and solute MRT in the RR was constant and small, at a quotient of 1.54, classifying the eland as a typical ‘moose-type’ ruminant. This finding is consistent with previous literature reports on low faecal metabolic nitrogen and high apparent protein digestibility in eland. Given the relative ease at which eland can be maintained under farm husbandry conditions, they appear ideal model ruminants to study the effects of differences in rumen physiology compared to cattle.

Prevalence of parasites of wildlife in Yankari game reserve and Sumu wildlife park in Bauchi State, Nigeria

The role of wildlife in the epidemiology of parasites in Yankari Game Reserve and Sumu Wildlife Park in Bauchi State, Nigeria was investigated by analysis of blood, faeces and ticks collected from 106 wildlife including 4 elephants (Loxodonta africana), 11 waterbucks (Kobus ellipsiprymus), 1 hartbeest (Alcelaphus baselaphus caama), 24 elands (Taurotragus oryx), 53 zebras (Equus quagga crawshayi), 1 kudu (Tragelaphus streptsiceros) and 12 wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus). Blood samples were examined for haemoparasites by classical parasitological techniques i.e Geimsa's stained thin, thick and buffy coat blood smear. Whereas faecal samples were examined for gastrointestinal tract (GIT) parasites using floatation and sedimentation techniques while ticks were identified morphologically. Overall prevalence of haemoparasites was fifty six percent (56%). The identified haemoparasites were Anaplasma marginale, Babesia bigemina, Babesia bovis, Theileria equi, Babesia caballi, Trypanosoma spp and Ehrlichia ruminantium. Haemoparasites identified alone or in combination with others had a significant (P <0.05) effect on mean PCV of infected animals. Sixty percent (60%) of the wildlife species were infected with GIT parasites. Types of GIT parasites identified were two protozoans (Balantidium coli and Eimeria spp) and helminths from eighteen genera including ten nematodes (Strongyle type-egg, Dictyocaulus, Cooperia, Strongyloides, Haemonchus, Trichuris, Trichonema, Oesophagostomum, Bunostomum, and Ancylostoma), four Trematodes (Fasciola, Schistosoma, Paramphistomum and Gastrodiscus) and three Cestodes (Anoplocephala, Taenia and Moniezia. Four genera of ticks, Amblyomma, Boophilus, Hyalomma and Rhipicephalus were identified on the wildlife species. Our findings indicated the presence of infective parasites in wildlife and potential risks of transmitting these parasites to in contact domestic animals and humans in the study area. Control measures should be focused on reducing parasitic infections by proper management of wildlife in the Game Reserves in Bauchi State, Nigeria.
 Keywords: Gastrointestinal parasites, Haemoparasites, Prevalence, Ticks, Wildlife

Assessing the utility of DNA barcoding in wildlife forensic cases involving South African antelope

Poaching of South African wildlife is considered a threat to biodiversity. In the absence of diagnostic morphometric traits, DNA barcoding is considered as a method of choice for species identification. Here, we report on forensic case work involving the illegal hunting of antelope species. Three forensic cases which included confiscated material were submitted between 2018 and 2019 and for species identification. Laboratory procedures including DNA extraction and sequencing of cytochrome c oxidase 1 (COI) and cytochrome b (cytb) were conducted following forensic procedures to determine species identification. Generated sequences matched to reference sequences on the National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) and the Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) to impala (Aepyceros melampus, 99.4–99.7 % homology), eland (Tragelaphus oryx, 99.8–100 % homology) and kudu (T. strepsiceros, 99.6–99.7 % homology). Phylogenetic analysis and intra- and interspecies distance further confirmed species identification with high bootstrap support (96–100 %). Average intraspecies sequence divergence was 0–1.15% and pairwise comparisons between taxa satisfied the 10-fold genetic distance. Thus both COI and cytb barcoding genes are suitable methodologies for forensic identification of species in the cases presented here. However, analysis of the reference samples identified species where barcoding may potentially fail. These include taxa that have undergone recent, rapid radiations resulting in high intraspecies distance or species that can hybridize. We thus recommend in these cases a reference database that includes geographically widespread samples is required and analysis with additional mitochondrial and/or nuclear markers.

A spatial ecology study in a high-diversity host community to understand blood-feeding behaviour in Phlebotomus sandfly vectors of Leishmania.

Molecular studies indicate that Phlebotomine sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae) blood feed on many vertebrate species, of which only a few are proven parasite reservoirs. Investigating sandfly vector feeding preferences is therefore important and requires taking into account the availability and accessibility of host species. In terms of the latter, it is necessary to consider the metabolic cost to the insect of reaching the host and moving on to a suitable breeding site. The present study used statistical modelling to compare the feeding patterns of Phlebotomus perniciosus (n=150), Phlebotomus papatasi (n=35) and Phlebotomus ariasi (n=7) on each of an average of 30 host species in a wildlife park in Murcia, Spain. Sandfly feeding movement costs were estimated as a function of the distance and altitude gradients saved by the insect, assuming that they displayed 'site fidelity'. Most (87%) engorged females were caught <100 m from the host on which they had fed. Although the percentage of bloodmeals was highest on fallow deer (Dama dama) (30%) and red deer (Cervus elaphus) (26%), the predicted feeding probability after considering movement cost was highest for red deer and common eland (Taurotragus oryx), and positively associated with host census. These results suggest that, under similar circumstances, sandflies prefer to feed on some host species more than on others.

Modeling community occupancy from line transect data: a case study with large mammals in post‐war Angola

AbstractHuman disturbance can have a profound effect on the occurrence and distribution of wildlife. Such disturbance often extends into protected areas (PAs), particularly in countries that have undergone civil strife and lack the institutional capacity to effectively mitigate anthropogenic threats. We demonstrate the first application of a multi‐species hierarchical occupancy model to spatially correlated detections from vehicle‐based spoor transects, estimating species richness and species‐specific drivers of occurrence of a large mammal community comprising five large carnivores [cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), leopard (Panthera pardus), lion (Panthera leo), spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta), and wild dog (Lycaon pictus)] and six large herbivores [buffalo (Syncerus caffer), eland (Taurotragus oryx), elephant (Loxodonta africana), giraffe (Giraffa giraffa), roan (Hippotragus equinus), and sable (Hippotragus niger)] in Luengue‐Luiana and Mavinga National Parks, Angola. This area is the largest contiguous national park complex within a single African country and part of the largest transfrontier conservation area in the world, and is still recovering from the effects of civil war. In this post‐war landscape, the most substantive drivers of community‐level occupancy were anthropogenic, with occupancy associated with lower frequency of human sign, proximity to adjacent national park, and distance away from human settlement. In contrast, ecological variables (precipitation, vegetation cover, seasonal water availability) had less explanatory value. Our results highlight the deleterious effects of human incursion into PAs on the richness and distribution of large mammal species, underscoring the need for intensive mitigation of anthropogenic threats (e.g. poaching, bushmeat hunting) to maintain species of high conservation value in areas impacted by war.

Common Eland (Tragelaphus oryx) Population Trends in the Ukhahlamba-Drakensberg Park and Surrounds, South Africa, between 1942 and 2018

Management of protected areas requires an understanding of the long-term population trends of large mammal species that may influence ecosystem functioning. Common eland (Tragelaphus oryx) are the most abundant large mammal species in the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park. Aerial and ground surveys have been conducted over the years to monitor the common eland population. This study addressed long-term trends in population size, structure, distribution and mortality of the common eland between 1942 and 2018, examining changes in relation to climate, natural impacts, management, and efficacy of surveys. The common eland population in the Drakensberg remained relatively stable from 1942 to 1982, then increased between 1983 and 1990. However, a continuous decline was observed between 2003 and 2018 concomitant with a 37% reduction in distribution range within the Park. Adults constituted 59.4% of the population over the entire period, while subadults and calves accounted for 19.1% and 18.8%, respectively, with the remaining 2.7% of unknown ages. The ratio of adults: subadults: calves was 1: 0.32: 0.32 and males: females was 1: 3.63, indicating a skewed sex ratio and a low number of juveniles in the population. Human activities had a substantial impact on the population, with 30.3% of mortalities attributed to poaching. However, permitted offtakes of an unknown number may be the most important cause of mortality. Increased movement of eland onto farmlands outside of the protected area appears to have contributed to a decline in their distribution within the Park in recent years; however, this does not affect population trend since those on farmland are still included in counts. There is no cause for concern regarding the population trend at present; however, if the observed population decline continues well beyond the population numbers recorded in 1942, then there is cause for a management response by Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife for the common eland population in the Drakensberg.

Influence of ageing on the physical qualities of the longissimus thoracis et lumborum and biceps femoris muscles from male and female free-ranging common eland (Taurotragus oryx)

The physical quality changes (pH, purge loss, cooking loss, drip loss, Warner-Bratzler shear force and CIE Lab colour) of vacuum-packaged longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) and biceps femoris (BF) muscles were determined for male (n = 6) and female (n = 6) eland during a 35-day post-mortem ageing period at 4 °C. The BF and LTL muscles reached maximum tenderness (57 to 67 N) at Day 17 and 21, respectively, but could still be considered tough after ageing. Purge losses increased throughout ageing for the two muscles, respectively; however, cooking loss decreased. Meat surface colour turned brighter, more red and yellow with ageing. Initially the BF muscle was more tender, had less purge loss and higher CIE a* and b* values than the LTL, however as the ageing period progressed the differences between the muscles became less apparent. Thus, ageing improved uniformity between muscles as well as tenderness, with minor influences of sex thereon.

16S rRNA gene profiling of bacterial communities mediating production of tsetse attractive phenols in mammalian urine.

Several types of odours are involved in the location of host animals by tsetse (Diptera: Glossinidae), a vector of animal African trypanosomiasis. Host animals’ ageing urine has been shown to be the source of a phenolic blend attractive to the tsetse. Nevertheless, limited research has been performed on the microbial communities’ role in the production of phenols. This study aimed at profiling bacterial communities mediating the production of tsetse attractive phenols in mammalian urine. Urine samples were collected from African buffalo (Syncerus caffer), cattle (Bos taurus) and eland (Taurotragus oryx) at Kongoni Game Valley Ranch and Kenyatta University in Kenya. Urine samples, of each animal species, were pooled and left open to age in ambient conditions. Bacteriological and phenols analyses were then carried out, at 4 days ageing intervals, for 24 days. Phenols analysis revealed nine volatile phenols: 4-cresol, ortho-cresol, 3-cresol, phenol, 3-ethylphenol, 3-propylphenol, 2-methyloxyphenol, 4-ethylphenol and 4-propylphenol. Eight out of 19 bacterial isolates from the ageing urine revealed the potential to mediate production of phenols. 16S rRNA gene characterisation of the isolates closely resembled Enterococcus faecalis KUB3006, Psychrobacter alimentarius PAMC 27887, Streptococcus agalactiae 2603V, Morganella morganii sub.sp. morganii KT, Micrococcus luteus NCTC2665, Planococcus massiliensis strain ES2, Ochrobactrum pituitosum AA2 and Enterococcus faecalis OGIRF. This study established that some of the phenols emitted from mammalian urine, which influence the tsetse‘s host-seeking behaviour, are well characterised by certain bacteria. These results may allow the development of biotechnological models in vector control that combines the use of these bacteria in the controlled release of semiochemicals.

High and mighty: a San expression of excess potency control in the high-altitude hunting grounds of southern Africa

ABSTRACTOne of the largest and weirdest anthropomorphic painted figures in the southern African subcontinent (re)discovered in 2015 also happens to be painted at an almost unprecedented altitude. Located in an anomalous uplifting of cave sandstone the painted shelter perches at 2387m in the Highlands of Lesotho. Extremely inhospitable in winter months when snow, wind and altitude can take temperatures below -20°C, it is postulated that this was a summer stopping place for the San hunter-gatherers who followed the migrating herds of eland antelope to these rich grazing grounds. A superabundance of meat and fat translates, in the San idiom, into a superfluity of !gi or spiritual potency. The place, having potency, is therefore both powerful and dangerous. Such circumstances would call for those who have the ability to influence and utilise the supernatural – individuals with ‘hunting magic’ – to fulfil their social responsibility to harness such power for the benefit of all. Both desirable and undesirable outcomes might transpire. With bulging stomach (evoking associations of gluttony and poor resource distribution), tusks, and three legs with clawed toes, the figure in question may represent just such an instance of the strong ritual specialist struggling to control excess potency in an attempt to broker relationships with the other-than-human.

Does traditional and advanced guarding reduce crop losses due to wildlife? A comparative analysis from Africa and Asia

Crop damage caused by herbivorous wildlife species on farms located within conservation landscapes, is a driver of human-wildlife conflict (HWC). Guarding of farms, whereby farmers spend the night out in the fields, in areas adjacent to protected areas is, therefore, very common in many African and Asian countries. Furthermore, guarding is often combined with other crop protection measures, but little is known about the efficacy of these measures.We examined the effect that different traditional and advanced crop protection measures (active and passive guarding strategies, barriers and combinations of measures) had on the magnitude of damaged crops. For this, we examined the cost of crop damage caused by a total of 20 wildlife species in two African and two Asian study areas, where different protection types were applied. Data was compared with the cost of crop damage on unprotected fields. We continuously used a standardised HWC assessment scheme over six years (2009–2014), based on site observations and measurements in addition to interviews with victims.The analysis of crop damage costs revealed substantial losses, especially from that caused by elephants (Loxodonta africana and Elephas maximus) and other large herbivores, such as zebra (Equus quagga) and common eland (Taurotragus oryx). Once wildlife had entered the farms, it was found that crop protection measures by farmers were only able to reduce damage costs when applied as a communal, strategic guarding system. Surprisingly, all other traditional crop protection strategies have proven ineffective in reducing crop damage costs. Electrical fences actually increased the risk of crop damage when combined with guarding and the chasing of wildlife strategies. Therefore, we recommend reviewing the practice of traditional guarding strategies and the effectiveness of fences. Furthermore, we emphasise the need for objective evaluation of HWC mitigation strategies in the long-term.

Sensory Evaluation of Liver/Meat Pâté Made from Fresh or Frozen Eland Meat and Beef

Abstract Small animal producers in Europe can financially benefit if they sell not only carcasses or dissected cuts, but also processed meat and edible offal in value added products such as traditional and popular pâté. In particular, when introducing a new exotic species like eland (Taurotragus oryx) to the market, the sale of low valued cuts with higher collagen content is problematic. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the sensory traits of several pâtés made from liver and less valuable fresh or frozen meat cuts (neck, brisket and plate) of eland and cattle. Four batches of pâté made from fresh and frozen material (45 and 90 days) were tested by 35 panellists using sensory profiling method with 14 descriptors. Two pâté batches consisted of chicken liver and beef or eland meat. Another two were made from eland or beef liver together with eland meat. Pâté made from fresh material, including chicken or eland or beef liver, together with eland meat or beef showed the main differences in textural characteristics such as friability, overall texture being better scored for pâté which includes chicken liver. Chicken liver also resulted in a higher intensity of colour. Freezing of material (meat and liver) before processing into pâté resulted in worse scoring of the final product. Chicken liver batches scored better in sensory traits of overall appearance, pleasantness of taste, colour and intensity of colour, colour hue and textural friability, overall texture and of pleasantness of consistency. Pâté made from chicken liver from frozen material also had lower off-flavour. This pilot study showed that pâté from fresh eland meat and chicken liver scored the best in most of the sensory traits. Freezing and storing meat and liver before processing resulted in worse scores, especially in olfactory, visual and textural traits. The use of chicken liver instead of eland or beef liver to process pâté improves sensory traits.

Антилопа канна: характеристика вида и возможности его использования в мясном производстве

Common eland is a large African ruminant that is suitable for domestication and has a huge farming potential for producing lean meat. Sustainable interest in the problems of domestication of eland antelope has not weakened lately due to the increasing need for more rational use of natural resources. The domestication of the most promising mammalian species is one of the ways of the more rational use of the wild fauna and involvement of its representatives in the cultural economy. Canna antelope is becoming increasingly popular in some countries of the African continent (South Africa, Kenya, Namibia, and Zimbabwe), where its domestication is actively conducted. Average body weight varies from 450 to 942 kg for males and from 317 to 470 kg for females. Meat and skin of common eland were traditionally prized by hunters, meat was also considered the most delicious in South Africa. Thanks to its outstanding qualities, eland has been recommended as a candidate for domestication by the FAO. Currently, farmers grow common eland in largely enclosed pens for meat production. The meat of eland compared to beef was found darker and less yellowish. It has a lower contents of intramuscular fat and total collagen. Studies of the organoleptic properties of antelope’s meat compared to beef have confirmed the high culinary value of antelope’s meat.

Seasonal shifts in habitat use and diet by eland confined in a small fenced reserve

AbstractLarge‐scale environmental changes create challenges for conservation of wildlife, particularly in fenced, insular protected areas where many wildlife populations persist. Moreover, large mammalian herbivores inhabiting spatially and temporally heterogeneous environments face the challenge of securing highly variable forage resources. Mixed feeders like the eland (Taurotragus oryx) can switch between browse and grass, but the cues that elicit that switch are not well understood. We investigated the seasonal diet shift of eland confined to a small fenced reserve and the role of greenness to elicit that shift. Eland changed from a diet in the wet season, consisting of grasses and browse found in woodland and grassland vegetation types, to a diet in the dry season dominated by the greenest browse species still available in woodland vegetation types, as greenness of dry season forage decreased. Our results suggest that eland switch from browsing to grazing in response to phenophase of the grass sward, which could explain the varying selection of grasses versus browse observed across the species range.

Sex influence on muscle yield and physiochemical characteristics of common eland (Taurotragus oryx) meat

To investigate the potential of eland for meat production, the yield, physical quality and chemical composition of seven muscles were characterized from both male (n = 6) and female (n = 6) carcasses. Although carcass weights did not differ, cows had greater biceps femoris (BF), semitendinosus (ST) and supraspinatus (SS) muscle yields. The semimembranosus (SM) from cows had the greatest drip loss and were more yellow (b*) than all muscles evaluated from both sexes. Shear force measurements showed no effect of sex but large variations between muscles existed (65.5 to 97.6 N). Moisture content was greater within the BF, SS, ST and infraspinatus (IS) than the longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) and SM. The LTL and IS had the lowest intramuscular fat content, while the LTL and SM muscle had the highest crude protein content. Sex had little effect on eland meat composition, showing potential for the meat of both sexes to be marketed as a lean meat source.

Population Structure of Ungulates in Waterberg National Park, Namibia

Abstract A study on the seasonal variation in population structure of seven (7) ungulate species, African buffalo (Syncerus caffer), eland (Tragelaphus oryx), giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis), oryx (Oryx gazella), sable (Hippotragus niger), roan antelope (Hippotragus equinus) and the greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) was carried out using the field census approach during the wet (February– April) and dry (July–September) season, and a water hole census (September) at seven waterholes in the Waterberg National Park, Namibia. Male warthog, oryx and black rhino on average comprised about 40 % of the population, whereas male sable, roan antelope, eland and buffalo comprised 30 % of the population. Male kudu and male white rhino comprised 20 % of the sex structure of the population, whereas male giraffe comprised more than 50 % of population. Age structure was dominated by adults, with 60 % of the total population in warthog, sable, eland and the white rhino, and 70 % in kudu, roan, buffalo, giraffe and black rhino on average. Oryx had the highest number of adults, with only 10 % of the population comprised of juveniles. Larger herds were observed during the wet season and smaller herds during the dry season. Animals were observed more abundantly in three of the vegetation types (Terminalia sericea — Melhania acuminata vegetation, Terminalia sericea — Thesium megalocarpum, Terminalia sericea — Blepharis integrifolia), with lower abundances in the rock-inhabiting Peltophorum africanum during both seasons.

A case of pulmonary blastomycosis in a common eland (Taurotragus oryx)

This case report describes for the first time pulmonary blastomycosis in a captive common eland (Taurotragus oryx). The animal has been in captivity for over 14 years and the clinical signs observed before death were non-specific. The carcass was examined grossly and histologically using special stains. There were yellowish, firm and gritty nodules of varying sizes (0.5–2 cm in diameter) on the pleura, in the lung, mediastinal lymph nodes and pericardium. The nodules showed pyogranulomatous inflammation and broad based budding yeast (PAS, Giemsa positive and ZN negative) consistent with Blastomyces dermatitidis. Regular screening of soil and environment including animals in captivity should be encouraged to avert possible spread of the mold in favourable conditions. Public awareness should be improved on fungal diseases.