Pathogen surveillance and epidemiology in endangered Peninsular bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni).

ABSTRACT: Peninsular bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni) are found exclusively in Southern California and Baja Mexico. They are federally endangered due to multiple threats, including introduced infectious disease. From 1981 - 2017, we conducted surveillance for 16 pathogens and estimated population sizes, adult survival, and lamb survival. We used mixed effects regression models to assess disease patterns at the individual and population levels. Pathogen infection/exposure prevalence varied both spatially and temporally. Our findings indicate that the primary predictor of individual pathogen infection/exposure was the region in which an animal was captured, implying that transmission is driven by local ecological or behavioral factors. Higher Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae seropositivit

SUBMITTER: Sanchez JN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9799158 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature