Effects of Stress and Environmental Factors on Patterns of Infection with Gastrointestinal Commensals and Parasites in the Critically Endangered Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis bicornis) in Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa Pubblico

Abstract

An abstract of
a thesis submitted to the Faculty of Emory College of Arts and Sciences
of Emory University in partial fulfillment
of the requirements of the degree of
Bachelor of Science with Honors
Department of Environmental Studies
2012

"Effects of Stress and Environmental Factors on Patterns of Infection with Gastrointestinal Commensals and Parasites in the Critically Endangered Black
Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis bicornis) in Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa"

This work examined gastrointestinal microbes in a population of black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis bicornis) in Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa. The study was conducted to establish a health-monitoring program for this species by creating a profile of gastrointestinal parasites and commensals as a baseline indicator of rhinoceros vitality and health. Some 234 fecal samples were collected following direct and remote observations of defecation from January 2008 to June 2011 in two areas of Addo Park, Main Camp and Nyathi. The two collection sites vary with respect to environmental factors of elephant density, climate, predator density, habitat size, and tourism. Each sample was examined using fecal flotation and fecal sedimentation processes to identify and count microbes. Glucocorticoid analyses were done to evaluate levels of stress. Nyathi rhinos had significantly higher prevalence of most (14/16) of the commensal parasite species and individual Nyathi rhinos were concurrently infected with significantly more species of commensals compared to Main Camp rhinos. Rhinozeta rhinozeta, Triplumaria corrugata, Monoposthiurn vulgaris, Gilchristata artemis and Unidentified ciliates all showed significant trends for higher prevalence among rhinos in the Nyathi section.Co-infection occurred significantly more than expected between Oesophagostomum sp. and Necator sp. as well as Strongyloides sp. and Necator sp. No relationships were apparent among stress level, total precipitation and parasite/commensal richness. These results demonstrate that commensal communities of herbivores can be sensitive to environmental variability even when parasites and host stress levels are relatively constant.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents
Introduction...1-4
Materials and Methods...4

Study Site...4-6
Measurements/Statistical Analysis...6-9

Results...9

Prevalence...9-12
Magnitude of Infection...12-13
Co-Infection...13
Stress Concentration and Parasite Burden...13-14
Precipitation and Parasite/Ciliate Richness...14-15

Discussion...16-18
References...19-22
Appendix I...23
Appendix II...23-24

About this Honors Thesis

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• Permission granted by the author to include this thesis or dissertation in this repository. All rights reserved by the author. Please contact the author for information regarding the reproduction and use of this thesis or dissertation.

School	Emory College
Department	Environmental Studies
Degree	BS
Submission	Honors Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Biology, Parasitology Health Sciences, Pathology Environmental Sciences
Parola chiave	rhino monitoring research population demography disease ecology
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Gillespie, Thomas, Emory University
Committee Members	Levy, Karen, Environmental Health and Epidemiology at Emory Rollins School of Public Health Gunderson, Lance, Emory University

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