Global positioning system data-loggers: a tool to quantify fine-scale movement of domestic animals to evaluate potential for zoonotic transmission to an endangered wildlife population - PubMed (original) (raw)

Global positioning system data-loggers: a tool to quantify fine-scale movement of domestic animals to evaluate potential for zoonotic transmission to an endangered wildlife population

Michele B Parsons et al. PLoS One. 2014.

Abstract

Domesticated animals are an important source of pathogens to endangered wildlife populations, especially when anthropogenic activities increase their overlap with humans and wildlife. Recent work in Tanzania reports the introduction of Cryptosporidium into wild chimpanzee populations and the increased risk of ape mortality associated with SIVcpz-Cryptosporidium co-infection. Here we describe the application of novel GPS technology to track the mobility of domesticated animals (27 goats, 2 sheep and 8 dogs) with the goal of identifying potential routes for Cryptosporidium introduction into Gombe National Park. Only goats (5/27) and sheep (2/2) were positive for Cryptosporidium. Analysis of GPS tracks indicated that a crop field frequented by both chimpanzees and domesticated animals was a potential hotspot for Cryptosporidium transmission. This study demonstrates the applicability of GPS data-loggers in studies of fine-scale mobility of animals and suggests that domesticated animal-wildlife overlap should be considered beyond protected boundaries for long-term conservation strategies.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors declare that they received a benefit from a commercial source, Digital Globe, who kindly contributed satellite imagery. There are no other relevant declarations relating to employment, consultancy, patents, products in development or marketed products for inclusion in the competing interests section. This declaration does not alter the authors' adherence to all the PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.

Figures

Figure 1

Figure 1. Gombe National Park and Mwamgongo Village, Tanzania.

A. Location of study site within Tanzania. B-D Land use plans, chimpanzee sightings, park border, crop-raiding zone, village perimeter and animal mobility tracks of dogs, goats and sheep. Dot colors represent mobility pattern of each individual animal.

Figure 2

Figure 2. Mean maximum distance traveled from home (m) in dry and wet seasons by domesticated animal species in Mwamgongo village, Tanzania.

Figure 3

Figure 3. The proportion of GPS points from infected and uninfected domesticated animals in the defined study area in Mwamgongo village and Gombe National Park, Tanzania, during the dry and wet seasons.

Infected animals (Goat: n = 5, Sheep: n = 2, Dogs: n = 0).

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