Health assessment of ocelots (Leopardus pardalis) from Rio Doce State Park, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Author(s)

Cynthia Elisa Widmer de Azevedo

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Piracicaba.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALA/BC)
• Defense date: 2014-10-31

Examining board members

Eliana Reiko Matushima; José Luiz Catão Dias; Jean Carlos Ramos da Silva; Luciano Martins Verdade

• Advisor: Eliana Reiko Matushima

Abstract

Despite the fact that wild felids are considered important ecosystem regulators, these animals have been facing many threats, including diseases. Therefore, the monitoring of wild populations health is crucial to understand the natural relationship between hosts and parasites and, moreover, to identify, prevent and manage potential pathogens and environmental factors that may threat these felids´ health. Based on results from nine healthy ocelots and three ill ocelots captured at Rio Doce State Park in 2012 and 2013, I propose in one of the articles presented in this thesis that, to obtain consistent data on Neotropical carnivores health, the animals should be evaluated through clinical, hematological and serum chemistry data. From the difficulties and results found when capturing the ocelots, I propose, in the first article, that capture methods targeting Neotropical carnivores should be evaluated and compared, aiming the following criteria: (i) High capture efficiency; (ii) High selectivity; (iii) Low injury rate; (iv) High immobilization suitability (safe for the animal, suitable to time to procedures, fast recovery and predictable effects); and (v) Low costs. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 10/00907-8 - Health profile of wild carnivores at Rio Doce State Park, MG, Brazil
• Grantee: Cynthia Elisa Widmer de Azevedo
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate