Mortality Investigation of a Free-ranging Baird's Tapir (Tapirus bairdii) in a Fragmented Landscape in Northern Costa...

Area of Science:

• Wildlife Conservation
• Veterinary Pathology
• Ecology

Background:

• Human-tapir conflicts are increasing in Costa Rica.
• Baird's tapirs (Tapirus bairdii) are increasingly interacting with human-altered landscapes.
• Disease transmission is a growing concern in these interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the cause of death in a wild male Baird's tapir.
• To identify potential emerging pathogens threatening tapir populations.
• To assess the risk of Actinomyces israelii to tapir conservation.

Main Methods:

• Necropsy of a deceased wild male Baird's tapir.
• Histopathological examination of tissues.
• Microbiological and molecular identification of causative agents.

Main Results:

• A systemic Actinomyces israelii infection was identified as the cause of death.
• Actinomyces israelii was confirmed through laboratory analysis.
• This finding highlights a potential novel disease threat.

Conclusions:

• Actinomyces israelii poses a potential emerging health threat to Baird's tapirs.
• Further research is warranted to understand the epidemiology and impact of this pathogen.
• Conservation strategies may need to address infectious disease risks in human-wildlife interfaces.