H. Li
B.C. Thompson
P.C. Morrow
R. Valdez
Louis C. Bender
2003
<p><span>Exotic wildlife can introduce </span>new<span> diseases or act as reservoirs of endemic diseases. On White Sands Missile Range, </span>New<span> </span>Mexico<span> (USA), significant declines </span>in<span> populations of native ungulates generally correspond to increases </span>in<span> range and population density of the exotic </span>gemsbok<span> (Oryx gazella gazella), introduced beginning </span>in<span> 1969. We surveyed </span>gemsbok<span> </span>in<span> 2001 for exposure to a variety of diseases potentially important for native ungulates. High seroprevalence was found for malignant catarrhal fever virus (49 [98%] of 50 sera; 43 [96%] of 45 plasma samples), bluetongue virus (48 [96%] of 50), bovine respiratory syncytial virus (33 [66%] of 50), and parainfluenza-3 virus (10 [20%] of 50). Low numbers of Nematodirus spp. eggs </span>in<span> a few individuals were the only parasites detected </span>in<span> </span>gemsbok<span>. Exposure to the above diseases </span>in<span> </span>gemsbok<span> is of interest to managers because of potential implications for recovery of desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis mexicana) and desert mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus crooki) </span>in<span> the White Sands area because each has been implicated </span>in<span> mortality </span>in<span> these species either </span>in<span> the White Sands area or elsewhere </span>in<span> the western/southwestern United States. </span></p>
application/pdf
10.7589/0090-3558-39.4.772
en
Wildlife Disease Association
Infectious disease survey of gemsbok in New Mexico
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