title: Soil Correlates and Mortality from Giraffe Skin Disease in Tanzania.
abstract: Giraffe skin disease (GSD) is a disorder of undetermined etiology that causes lesions on the forelimbs of Masai giraffe ( Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi) in Tanzania, East Africa. We examined soil correlates of prevalence of GSD from 951 giraffe in 14 sites in Tanzania, and estimated mortality using 3 yr of longitudinal mark-recapture data from 382 giraffe with and without GSD lesions, in Tarangire National Park (TNP). Spatial variation in GSD prevalence was best explained by soil fertility, measured as cation exchange capacity. We found no mortality effect of GSD on adult giraffe in TNP. Based on our findings, GSD is unlikely to warrant immediate veterinary intervention, but continued monitoring is recommended to ensure early detection if GSD-afflicted animals begin to show signs of increased mortality or other adverse effects.
authors.affiliation: 1 Wild Nature Institute, PO Box 165, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755, USA.
authors.forename: Monica L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Bond
authors.affiliation: 2 University of Minnesota, 100 Ecology Bldg., 1987 Upper Buford Circle, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55108, USA.
authors.forename: Megan K L
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Strauss
authors.affiliation: 1 Wild Nature Institute, PO Box 165, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755, USA.
authors.forename: Derek E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000068276:Giraffes; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary*; D012987:Soil; D013636:Tanzania
chemical_list: D012987:Soil
keywords: Disease ecology; emerging infectious disease; giraffe skin disease; mortality; prevalence; wildlife