Herding conditions related to infectious keratoconjunctivitis in semi-domesticated reindeer: a questionnaire-based survey among reindeer herders
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https://hdl.handle.net/10037/9131Date
2016-04-12Type
Journal articlePeer reviewed
Tidsskriftartikkel
Author
Tryland, Morten; Stubsjøen, Solveig Marie; Ågren, Erik Olof; Johansen, Bernt; Kielland, CamillaAbstract
Background: Infectious keratoconjunctivitis (IKC) in Eurasian semi-domesticated reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus)
is a multifactorial disease, associated to infectious agents such as Cervid herpesvirus 2 (CvHV2) and various
species of bacteria, but environmental factors may also be necessary to initiate the disease. Little effort seems to have
been invested in addressing the herder`s experience with this disease. An information letter with a link to an online
questionnaire was sent to 410 herding community representatives in Norway and Sweden.
Results: Sixty-three herders responded, 76 % of these having reindeer in Norway and 24 % in Sweden. Thirty-three
herders (55 %) responded that they had seen this disease during the preceding year (2010) and 23 (38 %) that they
had seen it in previous years (2009 or earlier). The majority (67 %) claimed that only 1–5 animals in their herd were
affected at one time, whereas three herders (7 %) responded that more than 30 animals had been affected. No environmental
factor could be singled out as significantly associated with the appearance of IKC, but when categorizing
the number of contact herds for each herd (i.e. sharing pastures, corrals etc.), IKC was observed more often in herds
with many (>25) contact herds. The questionnaire revealed that a veterinarian is not always available for reindeer
herders, but also that a veterinarian seldom is contacted for this disease. None of the herders practiced isolation of a
diseased animal from the rest of the herd when IKC was observed. Slaughter was the action most commonly initiated
by the herders in response to IKC, whereas the veterinarian usually prescribed antibiotics, usually an ophthalmic ointment,
alone or combined with systemic treatment. The herders claimed that IKC and other diseases had less importance
than predators concerning loss of animals.
Conclusions: IKC is to be considered a common disease, observed in 55 % of the herds (2010), typically affecting 1–5
animals, although larger outbreaks (>30 animals) occur. The herders usually slaughtered affected animals rather than
consulting a veterinarian for medical treatment.
Description
Open Access RoMEO green journal
DOI: 10.1186/s13028-016-0203-x