Health evaluation of free-ranging and captive pichis, Zaedyus pichiy (Mammalia, Dasypodidae) in Mendoza Province, Argentina.

SUPERINA, M.; GARNER, M.M.; AGUILAR, R.F.

JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE DISEASES

WILDLIFE DISEASE ASSOC, INC

Año: 2009 vol. 45 p. 174 - 183

0090-3558

The health of free-ranging and captive pichis (Zaedyus pichiy) was assessed in MendozaProvince, Argentina between November 2001 and December 2006. Postmortem examinations of 150 confiscated pichis and roadkills, and clinical examinations of 139 wild-caught individualssuggest that the wild populations are currently in good health. Fresh lesions and scars wereobserved in a large proportion of wild-caught pichis. The most common lesions were associatedwith parasitism or parasite larva migration. Sarcocystis cysts were relatively common in theskeletal muscle, and Besnoitia cysts were observed in the lungs of 24 evaluated animals.Elevated ambient humidity levels often caused moist dermatitis with epidermal detachment incaptive pichis. This report constitutes the first health evaluation of free-ranging and captiveZ.pichiy. It will be a starting point for future health studies and will be beneficial for the captivemanagement of this species.