The objective of this study was to establish a standardized protocol to monitor Besnoitia tarandi prevalence and intensity in barren-ground caribou (Rangifer tarandus) herds by: 1) calculating the relative sensitivity and specificity of the gross visual assessment of four anatomical sites compared with microscopic evaluation, and 2) determining which of four anatomical sampling sites was the most sensitive for detecting B. tarandi cysts by microscopy. Sampled tissues consisted of the conjunctiva of the left eye and skin sections from the rostrum, metatarsus, and thigh from 312 harvested caribou. Diagnosis of infection with B. tarandi was based on observation of at least one cyst by microscopic examination. For each tissue, the maximal density of cysts (number of B. tarandi cysts/mm2 in the section examined) was calculated for a measured area consisting of the dermis extending from the epidermis of the skin to the base of the hair follicles and adnexal structures. For the conjunctiva, the entire submucosa was evaluated. Gross visual evaluation markedly underestimated B. tarandi prevalence in caribou with a relative sensitivity ranging from 0.29 in the conjunctiva to 0.13 in the skin section from the thigh, whereas relative specificities ranged from 0.98 to 1.00. The metatarsus and rostrum skin sections had the highest probabilities of cyst detection of all four anatomical sampling sites. The metatarsus harbored significantly higher densities of B. tarandi cysts than the rostrum, thigh, or conjunctiva. In conclusion, microscopic evaluation of a skin section from the anterior aspect of the mid-third portion of the metatarsal region could be used as a standardized comparative indicator of density of B. tarandi infection in Rangifer.
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PARASITOLOGY|
July 01 2012
COMPARISON OF GROSS VISUAL AND MICROSCOPIC ASSESSMENT OF FOUR ANATOMIC SITES TO MONITOR BESNOITIA TARANDI IN BARREN-GROUND CARIBOU (RANGIFER TARANDUS)
Julie Ducrocq;
Julie Ducrocq
1 Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre and Centre québécois sur la santé des animaux sauvages, Université de Montréal, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, 3200 rue Sicotte, St-Hyacinthe, Montréal, Québec J2S 2M2, Canada
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Guy Beauchamp;
Guy Beauchamp
2 Université de Montréal, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, 3200 rue Sicotte, St-Hyacinthe, Montréal, Québec J2S 2M2, Canada
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Susan Kutz;
Susan Kutz
3 University of Calgary, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, 3330 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1, Canada
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Manon Simard;
Manon Simard
4 Makivik Corporation, Nunavik Research Center, PO Box 179, Kuujjuaq, Québec J0M 1C0, Canada
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Brett Elkin;
Brett Elkin
5 Government of the Northwest Territories, Environment and Natural Resources, Wildlife and Fisheries, 5th Floor, Scotia Building, 5102-50th Avenue, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories X1A 3S8, Canada
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Bruno Croft;
Bruno Croft
5 Government of the Northwest Territories, Environment and Natural Resources, Wildlife and Fisheries, 5th Floor, Scotia Building, 5102-50th Avenue, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories X1A 3S8, Canada
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Joëlle Taillon;
Joëlle Taillon
6 Université Laval, Département de biologie and Centre for Northern Studies, Pavillon Alexandre-Vachon, 1045 avenue de la Médecine, Québec, Québec G1V 0A6, Canada
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Steve D. Côté;
Steve D. Côté
6 Université Laval, Département de biologie and Centre for Northern Studies, Pavillon Alexandre-Vachon, 1045 avenue de la Médecine, Québec, Québec G1V 0A6, Canada
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Vincent Brodeur;
Vincent Brodeur
7 Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune, Direction de l'expertise Énergie-Faune-Forêts-Mines-Territoire du Nord-du-Québec, 951 boulevard Hamel, Chibougamau, Québec G8P 2Z3, Canada
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Mitch Campbell;
Mitch Campbell
8 Government of Nunavut, Department of Environment, Kivalliq Region, PO Box 120, Arviat, Nunavut X0C 0E0, Canada
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Dorothy Cooley;
Dorothy Cooley
9 Yukon Department of Renewable Resources, Box 600, Dawson City, Yukon Y0B 1G0, Canada
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Christine Cuyler;
Christine Cuyler
10 Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Postboks 570, Nuuk 3900, Greenland
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Stéphane Lair
Stéphane Lair
11
1 Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre and Centre québécois sur la santé des animaux sauvages, Université de Montréal, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, 3200 rue Sicotte, St-Hyacinthe, Montréal, Québec J2S 2M2, Canada
11 Corresponding author (email: [email protected])
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J Wildl Dis (2012) 48 (3): 732–738.
Article history
Received:
May 13 2010
Accepted:
March 04 2012
Citation
Julie Ducrocq, Guy Beauchamp, Susan Kutz, Manon Simard, Brett Elkin, Bruno Croft, Joëlle Taillon, Steve D. Côté, Vincent Brodeur, Mitch Campbell, Dorothy Cooley, Christine Cuyler, Stéphane Lair; COMPARISON OF GROSS VISUAL AND MICROSCOPIC ASSESSMENT OF FOUR ANATOMIC SITES TO MONITOR BESNOITIA TARANDI IN BARREN-GROUND CARIBOU (RANGIFER TARANDUS). J Wildl Dis 1 July 2012; 48 (3): 732–738. doi: https://doi.org/10.7589/0090-3558-48.3.732
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