Abstract
Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) hold a significant cultural and historical importance in Norway, particularly within the Sami community, and continue to play a significant role in the country’s landscape and economy. This study aimed to assess the presence and prevalence of Fusobacterium necrophorum, a bacterium linked to necrobacillosis, a disease affecting semi-domesticated reindeer populations in Norway. Furthermore, the study aimed to evaluate the relationship between intensified feeding practices and F. necrophorum presence. We analyzed 129 fecal samples from female reindeer, aged two years or younger, across three semi-domesticated reindeer herds with differing management practices located in Tana, Mo i Rana, and Røros. Through quantitative PCR (qPCR), one positive case of F. necrophorum was detected, a result that diverges from previous studies suggesting its common presence in semi-domesticated reindeer gastrointestinal tracts. The findings raise questions about the bacterium’s prevalence in semi-domesticated reindeer and whether it is less prevalent in their gastrointestinal tract than previously assumed. Furthermore, the relationship between F. necrophorum and intensified feeding practices remains inconclusive due to limited findings and needs further research.
Keywords: Feeding practices, Fusobacterium necrophorum, Norway, Rangifer tarandus, Semi-domesticated reindeer
