Monitoring Pathogens in Free-Living Large Herbivores in a Nature Reserve in the Netherlands.

ABSTRACT: Monitoring and surveillance of pathogens are crucial for safeguarding animal and public health. While passive surveillance is more common for wild and free-living animals, active monitoring improves the detection and characterisation of specific pathogens relevant to animal and public health. In the Oostvaardersplassen (OVP) nature reserve in the Netherlands, an active monitoring system for Heck cattle (Bos taurus), Konik horses (Equus caballus) and red deer (Cervus elaphus) has been in place since 1997. This study utilised the data generated from the monitoring system to estimate pathogen prevalence and to evaluate the ongoing monitoring efforts. Yearly prevalences were calculated for each observed pathogen, and probability of freedom from infection was assesse

SUBMITTER: Marcelino I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12356683 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature