This research article was published by Taylor & Francis online, 2021
Background: Masai Giraffes have declined dramatically in recent decades due to loss of
habitat and illegal hunting. Hence, it is critically important that the epidemiology and eti ology of so-called giraffe skin disease (GSD) is understood well.
Aim: To assess the prevalence and histopathological characteristics of GSD in the Tarangire Manyara Ecosystem (TME), northern Tanzania.
Methods: The study used road transects to gather field information on GSD. Eighty-four
giraffes were sighted by systematic random sampling in the six study sites. Examination of
giraffes involved body distribution of lesions, severity of the lesions and whether they were
associated with age and sex of the affected giraffes. Five giraffes with GSD were immobilized
for tissue collection and histopathological analysis.
Results: Prevalence among adults was 79%. Affected animals typically had 1–5 lesions which
were mostly moderate and were predominantly observed on the forelegs. GSD positivity
rate was higher among females versus males, whereas males had a higher rate of severe
lesions and generally had more lesions than females. Calves showed no lesions. All tissue
sections from five affected giraffes showed the presence of large quantities of fungal ele ments (hyphae and spores) that involved hair shafts and sub-cutaneous tissue after staining
with Grocott Methenamine Silver as special fungal staining technique.
Conclusions: Our findings suggest the involvement of fungal infection in GSD pathogenesis.
Clinical relevance: We recommend further characterization of the lesions using modern
molecular techniques and culture to identify primary and secondary or opportunistic etiolo gies, and the order in which the pathogens occur in the lesions.