Tapir Health

Tapirs can be affected by diseases described in other perissodactyls and in domestic species such as horses and pigs. Several pathogens reported in tapirs are considered important for population viability and conservation, as well as for human and livestock health (Mangini et al., J Integr Zool 7:331–345, 2012; Quse and Fernandes-Santos, Tapir veterinary manual. IUCN SSC Tapir Specialist Group (TSG), 2014). While no known outbreaks or epidemics have been reported in any tapir population to date, it is important to recognize the existing gaps in the study of pathogens affecting tapir health. A compilation of relevant infectious and non-infectious diseases affecting tapir health is presented below. This section includes special cases and empirically documented information, as well as treatment, anesthesia, and other medical peculiarities for tapirs. Relevant guidelines for researchers conducting invasive (i.e., through physical or chemical immobilization and field necropsies) and non-invasive studies are included in this chapter. Finally, a concluding section outlines some of the challenges, limitations, and future directions for tapir health research.