title: Monodontella giraffae infection in wild-caught southern giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis giraffa).
abstract: Postmortem examination of seven wild-caught southern giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis giraffa) from Namibia demonstrated focal discoloration, biliary thickening, and peribiliary fibrosis affecting mainly the left liver lobe. The giraffes were infected with Monodontella giraffae, previously associated with lethal infections in captive okapis (Okapia johnstoni) and giraffes. Contrary to this, all seven giraffes investigated in the present study were clinically healthy. Based on these findings, it is suggested that the nematode M. giraffae may not be an unusual parasite of the giraffe and that it does not necessarily cause detrimental liver disease.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Zoo and Wild Animal Health, Copenhagen Zoo, Roskildevej 38, Frederiksberg C, Denmark. mfb@zoo.dk
authors.forename: Mads F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Bertelsen
authors.forename: Kristine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Østergaard
authors.forename: Jesper
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Monrad
authors.forename: Emil T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Brøndum
authors.forename: Ulrik
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Baandrup
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000469:parasitology; D001188:Artiodactyla / Q000469:parasitology*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D008099:Liver / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009276:Namibia / Q000453:epidemiology; D009349:Nematode Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*