Disease Spectrum and Mortality of Punjab Urial (Ovis vignei punjabiensis) in Kalabagh Game Reserve
2005; University of Punjab (new Campus); Volume: 37; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês
ISSN
0030-9923
AutoresGhulam Ali Awan, Tahira Ahmad, Marco Festa‐Bianchet,
Tópico(s)Zoonotic diseases and public health
ResumoThe Punjab urial (Ovis vignei punjabiensis) is the principal mammalian game species of the scrub forest in Salt and Kala Chitta Ranges and endemic to northern Punjab, Pakistan. It is classified as endangered in the IUCN Red Data Book for mammals. Apart from its trophy value in sport hunting, it is also traditionally prized as a pet. Currently Kalabagh Game Reserve (KGR) is supporting the largest population of the Punjab urial. Disease conditions were noted during 2001-2002 in urial in the Salt Range. Previous information about diseases was also collected in the wild and in captive populations to find out which diseases affect Punjab urial. At KGR in different sites and seasons abundance of ticks was observed. Altogether, 15 disease conditions were identified in urial with or without mortality. Of the recorded cases, age-wise distribution showed the highest prevalence among adults followed by yearlings. The apparent density dependence of previous die-offs in KGR was perhaps due to low resource availability when there were many urial, or to increased opportunities for contact with domestic livestock at high population density. Strict veterinary control of livestock and control of an direct and indirect contact between the potentially infectious livestock and urial, together with an appropriate management of urial density, may be the effective measures for the prevention and control of disease in the area.
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