A5027883116- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Parasitic infections in humans and animals
- Congenital Anomalies and Fetal Surgery
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Parasitic Infections and Diagnostics
- Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Zoonotic diseases and public health
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Wildlife-Road Interactions and Conservation
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
- Rangeland Management and Livestock Ecology
- Toxoplasma gondii Research Studies
- Bacillus and Francisella bacterial research
- Animal Disease Management and Epidemiology
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Veterinary Pharmacology and Anesthesia
- Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria
- Veterinary Equine Medical Research
- Vector-Borne Animal Diseases
Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research
2023-2024
University of Namibia
2018-2023
Ministry of Environment and Tourism
2015-2023
University of Hohenheim
2016-2023
Etosha Ecological Institute
2014-2019
Significance Here, we compile and present the most comprehensive data available on cheetah distribution status. Our analysis shows dramatic declines of across its distributional range. Most occur outside protected areas, where they are exposed to multiple threats, but there is little information population Simulation modeling that, growth rates suppressed extinction risk increases markedly. This result can be generalized other “protection-reliant” species, a decision tree provided improve...
Abstract Connectivity conservation is aimed at sustaining animal movements and ecological processes important to ecosystem functioning the maintenance of biodiversity. However, connectivity plans are typically developed around a single species rarely empirically evaluated for their relevance others, thereby limiting our understanding how requirements differ across species. We used an omnidirectional application circuit theory GPS data from six evaluate multiple scales within world's largest...
SUMMARY The zoonotic cestode Echinococcus ortleppi (Lopez-Neyra and Soler Planas, 1943) is mainly transmitted between dogs cattle. It occurs worldwide but only found sporadically in most regions, with the notable exception of parts southern Africa South America. Its epidemiology little understood extent intraspecific variability unknown. We have analysed present study genetic diversity among 178 E. isolates from sub-Saharan Africa, Europe America using complete mitochondrial cox1 (1608 bp)...
Abstract Background Knowledge about parasitic infections is crucial information for animal health, particularly of free-ranging species that might come into contact with livestock and humans. Methods We investigated the seroprevalence three tissue-cyst-forming apicomplexan parasites ( Toxoplasma gondii , Neospora caninum Besnoitia besnoiti ) in 506 individuals 12 wildlife Namibia using in-house enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (indirect ELISAs applying purified antigens) screening...
Increasing numbers of animals are captured every year for the deployment bio-loggers to collect data scientific research. This usually requires immobilisation and handling by researchers, which has potential change spatial behaviour animals, such as avoiding humans human infrastructure. is especially relevant species lions (Panthera leo), among most studied carnivores at same time globally one sought-after wildlife-viewing tourism. Here, we used habitat-selection functions examine whether...
Various species of Echinococcus have been described in the past from wild mammals sub-Saharan Africa. However, it is only recently, that a few isolates become available for molecular identification; therefore, involvement wildlife lifecycles various cryptic within granulosus sensu lato still partially known. A preliminary survey was undertaken Etosha National Park, Namibia, August to October 2012. Faecal samples were obtained 34 individual carnivores, and metacestodes collected carcasses 18...
Abstract Aim There is a dearth of evidence that determines the genetic diversity populations contained within present-day protected areas compared with their historic state prior to large-scale species declines, making inferences about species’ conservation status difficult assess. The aim this paper demonstrate use specimens assess change in over defined spatial area. Location Like other species, African lion ( Panthera leo ) are undergoing dramatic contractions range and declines numbers,...
Abstract Aim There is a dearth of evidence that determines the genetic diversity populations contained within present‐day protected areas compared with their historical state prior to large‐scale species declines, making inferences about species’ conservation status difficult assess. The aim this paper was demonstrate use specimens assess change in over defined spatial area. Location Like many other species, African lion ( Panthera leo ) are undergoing dramatic contractions range and...
Abstract In many savannah regions of Africa, pronounced seasonal variability in rainfall results wildlife being restricted to floodplains and other habitats adjacent permanent surface water the dry season. During wet season, fills small‐scale, ephemeral sources that allow exploit forage resources far from water. These remain difficult quantify, however, due their small nature, as a result are rarely included quantitative studies distribution, abundance, movement. Our goal was map Bwabwata...
Our knowledge of parasites in wildlife remains limited, primarily due to restricted access samples, especially from protected species. This present study contributes the comprehension enigmatic world helminths African wild mammals and cestode biodiversity by combining both molecular morphological analysis. Cestode samples were opportunistically collected 77 individual definitive hosts South Africa, Namibia Ethiopia, encompassing 15 different species carnivores additionally domestic cats. The...
Equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) causes respiratory disorders and abortion in equids while EHV-1 regularly equine myeloencephalopathy (EHM), a stroke-like syndrome following endothelial cell infection horses. Both EHV-9 infections of non-definitive hosts often result neuronal high case fatality rates. Hence, are somewhat unusual herpesviruses lack strict host specificity, the true extent their ranges have remained unclear. In order to determine seroprevalence EHV-9, sensitive specific...
ABSTRACT Determining the immunological phenotype of endangered and threatened populations is important to identify those vulnerable novel pathogens. Among mammals, members order Carnivora are particularly by diseases. We therefore examined constitutive innate immune system, first line protection against invading microbes, six free-ranging carnivore species; black-backed jackal (Canis mesomelas), brown hyena (Hyena brunnea), caracal (Caracal caracal), cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), leopard...
Arthropod-borne pathogens and their vectors are present throughout Africa. They have been well-studied in livestock of sub-Saharan Africa, but poorly companion animals. Given the socio-economic importance animals, African Small Companion Animal Network (AFSCAN), as part WSAVA Foundation, initiated a standardized multi-country surveillance study.Macro-geographic variation ectoparasite (ticks fleas) pathogen communities dogs was assessed through molecular screening approximately 100 infested...
After a May 2011 outbreak of Rift Valley fever among livestock northeast Etosha National Park, Namibia, wild ruminants in the park were tested for virus. Antibodies detected springbok, wildebeest, and black-faced impala, viral RNA was springbok. Seroprevalence high, immune response long lasting.
One of the most iconic wild equids, plains zebra occupies a broad region sub-Saharan Africa and exhibits wide range phenotypic diversity in stripe patterns that have been used to classify multiple subspecies. After decades relative stability, albeit with loss at least one recognized subspecies, total population zebras has undergone an approximate 25% decline since 2002. Individuals abnormal recent years but extent which their appearance is related demography and/or genetics unclear....
Abstract Background Arthropod-borne pathogens and their vectors are present throughout Africa. They have been well studied in livestock of sub-Saharan Africa, but poorly companion animals. Given socioeconomic importance, the African Small Companion Animal Network (AFSCAN), as part WSAVA Foundation, initiated a standardized multi-country surveillance study. Methods In six countries (Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, Namibia) both rural urban settings, 160 infested cats were sampled to...
An opportunistic survey for Echinococcus spp. in wild mammals was conducted seven distinct study areas throughout Namibia, representing all major ecosystems, between 2012 and 2021. In total, 184 individually attributable faeces 40 intestines were collected from eight species of carnivores, 300 carcasses or organs thirteen ungulates examined cysts. Nested PCR sequencing the mitochondrial nad1 gene led to identification five granulosus sensu lato complex. canadensis G6/7 found Namibia at low...
Influenza A viruses (IAVs) represent repeatedly emerging pathogens with near worldwide distribution and an unclear nonavian-host spectrum. While the natural hosts for IAV are among waterfowl species, certain mammals can be productively infected. Southern Africa is home to diverse avian mammalian fauna which almost no information exists on dynamics.We evaluated 111 serum samples from 14 species Namibia presence of IAV-specific antibodies tested whether host phylogeny, sociality, or diet...
Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is widespread and locally frequent in southern Africa where it affects humans, livestock, wild mammals. However, most data from the region are old do not provide information on causative Echinococcus species. For Namibian livestock only anecdotal records were available prior to this preliminary survey. Our retrospective analysis of slaughterhouse CE cattle commercial farming area central Namibia resulted 1.65% prevalence among 35,143 slaughtered period 2015–2016....