engleski

Health surveillance during repopulation of Dinaric – southeast Alpine lynx population

Health risk assessment should be of primary importance in reintroduction and repopulation project, as diseases may decrease the fitness of translocated animals and threaten the receiving population. Thus, rigorous protocol was implemented in LIFE Lynx project (LIFE16 NAT/SI/000634) during translocation of Eurasian lynxes (Lynx lynx) from Slovakia and Romania to Croatia and Slovenia. In 2019 – 2021 period 12 free-living adult lynxes (9 males, 3 females) were captured and one male was included in the project after rehabilitation due to the leg injury. After chemical immobilization captured animals were examined by a veterinarian ; blood, faeces and mucosa swabs were collected, rabies vaccination was administered, and animals were transported to the quarantine. Samples were tested for Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV), panleukopenia virus (FPV), Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) and feline herspesvirus‐1 (FHV‐1) by PCR ; and genetic testing were done to exclude closely related animals. Protocol defined that animals younger than 1 and older than 12 years ; FeLV and FIV positive animals will not be translocated, while injured or animals showing signs of diseases will be individually evaluated. Thirty days after capturing rabies antibody titter was checked and all animals acquired necessary titration of at least 0.5 IU/ml. All captured animals showed no clinical signs of any disease, however two adult males from Romania were positive for FPV (15%). They were kept in the quarantine and tested weekly until shedding of the virus stopped and afterword transported to their destination. After the release health problems were not registered in any of the animals.

health surveillance, repopulation, Lynx lynx

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