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Home / Equine Research Bank / J S Afr Vet Assoc / Prevalence and body distribution of sarcoids in South Africa...
Journal of the South African Veterinary Association2008; 78(3); 145-148; doi: 10.4102/jsava.v78i3.306

Prevalence and body distribution of sarcoids in South African Cape mountain zebra (Equus zebra zebra).

Abstract: There are no reports in the literature describing any tumours, and specifically sarcoids, in zebras. The equine sarcoid, a locally aggressive, fibroblastic skin tumour, is the most common dermatological neoplasm reported in horses. The Cape mountain zebra (CMZ) has been described as one of the most vulnerable mammals in South Africa with current populations existing in isolated units. All South African CMZ are descendants from no more than 30 individual animals originating from 3 populations, namely the Mountain Zebra National Park, and Kammanassie and Gamka Mountain Nature Reserves near Cradock. The possibility therefore exists that the existing populations arose from a very small gene pool and that they are considerably inbred. A reduction in major histocompatibility complex diversity due to genetic bottlenecks and subsequent inbreeding probably contributed to uniform population sensitivity and the subsequent development of sarcoid in two CMZ populations, namely in the Bontebok National Park and Gariep Nature Reserve. The entire population of CMZ in the Bontebok National Park was observed and sampled during 2002 to document the prevalence and body distribution of sarcoids. During the same year, a comparative study was carried out on an outbred population of Burchell's zebra in the Kruger National Park. The prevalence in CMZ in the Bontebok National Park was 53 %, while the Burchell's zebra in Kruger National Park had a prevalence of 1.9 %. The most common sites for sarcoid in CMZ were the ventral abdomen and limbs. Prevalence of sarcoids in horses recorded in the literature varies between 0.5 % and 2 %. The Gariep Nature Reserve recently reported a prevalence of almost 25 % in CMZ in the reserve.
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Publication Date: 2008-02-02 PubMed ID: 18237037DOI: 10.4102/jsava.v78i3.306Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research article investigates the prevalence and location of skin tumors, specifically sarcoids, in South African Cape mountain zebras. It found that over half of the observed zebras in the Bontebok National Park had sarcoids, possibly due to inbreeding and lack of genetic diversity.

Background

  • The authors start by setting up the context for their study: sarcoids, described as aggressive skin tumors, have not been reported in zebras even though they are a common skin cancer in horses.
  • The study focuses on a specific type of zebra, the Cape mountain zebra (CMZ), which is particularly vulnerable and isolated in South Africa.
  • All South African CMZs descend from a meager population of 30 animals from three different locations, creating a small gene pool and therefore a high level of genetic inbreeding among this zebra type.

Hypothesis and Methodology

  • The authors introduce their hypothesis that this inbreeding and reduction in genetic diversity could make the CMZ population universally susceptible to the development of sarcoids.
  • To examine this, the researchers observed and sampled the entire population of CMZ in the Bontebok National Park in 2002, recording the prevalence and body distribution of sarcoids.
  • They also conducted a comparative study on an outbred zebra population, the Burchell’s zebra, in the Kruger National Park the same year.

Results

  • The examination demonstrated a prevalence of sarcoids of 53% in CMZ in Bontebok National Park, compared with a markedly lower prevalence of 1.9% in Burchell’s zebra in Kruger National Park.
  • The most common locations for sarcoids in CMZ were on the underside of the abdomen and the zebra’s limbs.
  • These rates are significantly higher than those for horses, which varied between 0.5% and 2%.
  • Another location, the Gariep Nature Reserve, also showed a high prevalence of sarcoids in CMZ at 25%.

Conclusion

  • This research suggests a strong correlation between inbreeding and the incidence of sarcoids in the South African Cape mountain zebra populations, providing a basis for further investigation into the factors contributing to this form of skin cancer.’

Cite This Article

APA
Marais HJ, Nel P, Bertschinger HJ, Schoeman JP, Zimmerman D. (2008). Prevalence and body distribution of sarcoids in South African Cape mountain zebra (Equus zebra zebra). J S Afr Vet Assoc, 78(3), 145-148. https://doi.org/10.4102/jsava.v78i3.306

Publication

Journal of the South African Veterinary Association
ISSN: 1019-9128
NlmUniqueID: 7503122
Country: South Africa
Language: English
Volume: 78
Issue: 3
Pages: 145-148

Researcher Affiliations

Marais, H J
  • Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa. jmarais@up.ac.za
Nel, P
    Bertschinger, H J
      Schoeman, J P
        Zimmerman, D

          MeSH Terms

          • Animals
          • Disease Outbreaks / veterinary
          • Equidae
          • Female
          • Male
          • Prevalence
          • Sarcoidosis / epidemiology
          • Sarcoidosis / pathology
          • Sarcoidosis / veterinary
          • Skin Neoplasms / epidemiology
          • Skin Neoplasms / pathology
          • Skin Neoplasms / veterinary
          • South Africa

          Citations

          This article has been cited 5 times.
          1. Pérez-González J, Carranza J, Martínez R, Benítez-Medina JM. Host Genetic Diversity and Infectious Diseases. Focus on Wild Boar, Red Deer and Tuberculosis. Animals (Basel) 2021 May 31;11(6).
            doi: 10.3390/ani11061630pubmed: 34072907google scholar: lookup
          2. Kotzé A, Smith RM, Moodley Y, Luikart G, Birss C, Van Wyk AM, Grobler JP, Dalton DL. Lessons for conservation management: Monitoring temporal changes in genetic diversity of Cape mountain zebra (Equus zebra zebra). PLoS One 2019;14(7):e0220331.
            doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0220331pubmed: 31365543google scholar: lookup
          3. Ujvari B, Klaassen M, Raven N, Russell T, Vittecoq M, Hamede R, Thomas F, Madsen T. Genetic diversity, inbreeding and cancer. Proc Biol Sci 2018 Mar 28;285(1875).
            doi: 10.1098/rspb.2017.2589pubmed: 29563261google scholar: lookup
          4. Finlay M, Yuan Z, Morgan IM, Campo MS, Nasir L. Equine sarcoids: Bovine Papillomavirus type 1 transformed fibroblasts are sensitive to cisplatin and UVB induced apoptosis and show aberrant expression of p53. Vet Res 2012 Dec 4;43(1):81.
            doi: 10.1186/1297-9716-43-81pubmed: 23210796google scholar: lookup
          5. Hartl B, Hainisch EK, Shafti-Keramat S, Kirnbauer R, Corteggio A, Borzacchiello G, Tober R, Kainzbauer C, Pratscher B, Brandt S. Inoculation of young horses with bovine papillomavirus type 1 virions leads to early infection of PBMCs prior to pseudo-sarcoid formation. J Gen Virol 2011 Oct;92(Pt 10):2437-2445.
            doi: 10.1099/vir.0.033670-0pubmed: 21715602google scholar: lookup
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