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Jászayová A, Režnarová J, Chovancová G, Kostygov AY, Yurchenko V, Antolová D, Zwijacz-Kozica T, Csanády A, Hurníková Z. A Study of Oribatid Mites as Potential Intermediate Hosts of Anoplocephalid Tapeworms of Tatra chamois and Tatra marmots from the Tatra Mountains, Central Europe, and Report of a New Intermediate Host for Andrya cuniculi, the Parasite of Leporidae. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:life13040955. [PMID: 37109484 PMCID: PMC10144853 DOI: 10.3390/life13040955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Tatra chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra tatrica (Blahout 1972)) and Tatra marmot (Marmota marmota latirostris (Kratochvíl 1961)) are significant endemic subspecies of the subalpine and alpine ranges of the Tatra Mountains in Central Europe. In four studied localities in the range of their typical biotopes in Slovakia and Poland, we investigated intestinal parasites of Tatra chamois and Tatra marmots, with an emphasis on anoplocephalid tapeworms. We also studied the occurrence, species diversity, and abundance of oribatid mites as intermediate hosts thereof, and the prevalence of cysticercoid larval stages of anoplocephalid tapeworms in collected oribatids using morphological and molecular methods. Coprological analyses revealed the average positivity of Moniezia spp. in chamois faeces at 23.5% and Ctenotaenia marmotae in marmot samples at 71.1%, with significant differences between the localities under study. Morphological analyses determined the presence of cysticercoids in five oribatid species: Ceratozetes gracilis, Edwardzetes edwardsi, Scheloribates laevigatus, Trichoribates novus, and Tectocepheus velatus sarekensis. This is the first record of T. v. sarekensis as an intermediate host of anoplocephalid tapeworms, as well as the first report of Andrya cuniculi occurrence in the territory of the Tatra Mountains, confirmed also by molecular methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Jászayová
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 040 01 Košice, Slovakia
- University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Komenského 73, 041 81 Košice, Slovakia
| | - Jana Režnarová
- Department of Craniofacial Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Ostrava University, Syllabova 19, 703 00 Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Gabriela Chovancová
- Administration of Tatra National Park, Tatranská Lomnica 66, 059 60 Vysoké Tatry, Slovakia
| | - Alexei Yu Kostygov
- Life Science Research Centre, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Chittussiho 10, 710 00 Ostrava, Czech Republic
- Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Universitetskaya 1, 190034 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Vyacheslav Yurchenko
- Life Science Research Centre, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Chittussiho 10, 710 00 Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Daniela Antolová
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 040 01 Košice, Slovakia
| | | | - Alexander Csanády
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Humanities and Natural Sciences, University of Prešov, 17. Novembra 1, 080 01 Prešov, Slovakia
| | - Zuzana Hurníková
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 040 01 Košice, Slovakia
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Gago H, Ruiz-Fons F, Drechsler RM, Alambiaga I, Monrós JS. Patterns of adult tick parasitization of coexisting European (Erinaceus europaeus) and Algerian (Atelerix algirus) hedgehog populations in eastern Iberia. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2022; 13:102048. [PMID: 36183586 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.102048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The availability of data regarding population abundance and dynamics of ticks in wild vertebrate populations is crucial to understand the host-tick relationship and to assess the risk for domestic animals and humans from possible zoonotic diseases. In this study we analyse several host-intrinsic and environmental factors affecting the tick population of two sympatric hedgehog species (the European and the Algerian hedgehog) in two differently anthropized habitats in eastern Spain. We captured 215 hedgehogs and sampled 356 adult ticks of four different species (Rhipicephalus sanguineus, R. turanicus, R. bursa and R. pusillus). We analysed by General Linear Mixed Models how the hosts' species, sex, capture month and site and their interactions affected tick presence and tick load. Further, we carried out Spearman correlation tests to analyse how environmental temperature and precipitation affect tick presence and load on hedgehogs. We found that, in general, male hedgehogs were more infested than females. However, the effects of the different factors depended on the tick species, especially related to their endophilic or exophilic character. High values of general tick infestation can be explained by the coincidence of tick activity peaks and higher male host activity levels, especially within areas with higher habitat diversity and species richness. We also discuss how the potential immunosuppressive effect of testosterone could be affecting our results. Our results show that in highly anthropized environments hedgehogs potentially act as important mixing vessels for tick-borne zoonotic pathogens and that monitoring ticks in periurban wildlife is important to assess potential health risks for pets and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Héctor Gago
- Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, University of Valencia, c/Catedrático José Beltrán Martínez 2, 46980 Paterna, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Francisco Ruiz-Fons
- Health and Biotechnology (SaBio) group, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Robby M Drechsler
- Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, University of Valencia, c/Catedrático José Beltrán Martínez 2, 46980 Paterna, Valencia, Spain
| | - Iván Alambiaga
- Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, University of Valencia, c/Catedrático José Beltrán Martínez 2, 46980 Paterna, Valencia, Spain
| | - Juan S Monrós
- Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, University of Valencia, c/Catedrático José Beltrán Martínez 2, 46980 Paterna, Valencia, Spain
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A Review of Non-Invasive Sampling in Wildlife Disease and Health Research: What’s New? Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12131719. [PMID: 35804619 PMCID: PMC9265025 DOI: 10.3390/ani12131719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The interest in wildlife research has increased in the last decades as more scientists work within a One Health framework that regards human, livestock and wildlife health as connected entities. To minimise the impact of research on wildlife, collecting samples with as little disturbance of the animals as possible is important. In our review, we assess the use of so-called non-invasive sampling and summarise which samples can be used successfully when carrying out research on wildlife diseases and health status. Our results show that interest in minimally invasive sampling has steadily increased since the 2010s. Topics able to employ these methods include disease research, but also stress and other hormone assessments, pollution studies, and dietary studies. At the moment, such methods are mainly used to collect samples from land mammals, however, they can also be used in a wide range of other animals. Ever more capable analytical methods will allow for an even wider use of such “animal-friendly” sampling methods. Abstract In the last decades, wildlife diseases and the health status of animal populations have gained increasing attention from the scientific community as part of a One Health framework. Furthermore, the need for non-invasive sampling methods with a minimal impact on wildlife has become paramount in complying with modern ethical standards and regulations, and to collect high-quality and unbiased data. We analysed the publication trends on non-invasive sampling in wildlife health and disease research and offer a comprehensive review on the different samples that can be collected non-invasively. We retrieved 272 articles spanning from 1998 to 2021, with a rapid increase in number from 2010. Thirty-nine percent of the papers were focussed on diseases, 58% on other health-related topics, and 3% on both. Stress and other physiological parameters were the most addressed research topics, followed by viruses, helminths, and bacterial infections. Terrestrial mammals accounted for 75% of all publications, and faeces were the most widely used sample. Our review of the sampling materials and collection methods highlights that, although the use of some types of samples for specific applications is now consolidated, others are perhaps still underutilised and new technologies may offer future opportunities for an even wider use of non-invasively collected samples.
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Passive Disease Surveillance of Alpine Chamois (Rupicapra r. rupicapra) in Slovenia between 2000 and 2020. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12091119. [PMID: 35565546 PMCID: PMC9100901 DOI: 10.3390/ani12091119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Wildlife disease surveillance can be considered an essential tool for providing important information about the health status of the population and for protecting human health. Between 2000 and 2020, 284 chamois carcasses from the entire home range of the species in Slovenia were examined using comprehensive necropsy and other laboratory tests. The results indicate a wide range of chamois diseases, but none of the identified diseases can be considered a significant health threat to other wildlife species and/or to humans. Abstract In this paper, we provide an overview of the causes of death of Alpine chamois (Rupicapra r. rupicapra) diagnosed in the national passive health surveillance of chamois in Slovenia. From 2000 to 2020, 284 free-ranging chamois provided by hunters were necropsied at the Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. Depending on the results of complete necropsy, histopathological, bacteriological, parasitological, and virological examinations, a descriptive data analysis was performed. The most common causes of death in chamois were infectious diseases (82.2%), followed by non-infectious diseases (11.8%). Of all the causes of death, parasitic infections accounted for 70.3%, trauma for 9.7%, and bacterial infections for 9.3% of all cases. Less common diseases were viral infections, neoplasms, winter starvation, and metabolic disorders.
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Di Francesco J, Kwong GPS, Deardon R, Checkley SL, Mastromonaco GF, Mavrot F, Leclerc LM, Kutz S. Qiviut cortisol is associated with metrics of health and other intrinsic and extrinsic factors in wild muskoxen ( Ovibos moschatus). CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 10:coab103. [PMID: 35492408 PMCID: PMC9040286 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coab103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 10/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Glucocorticoid (GC) levels are increasingly and widely used as biomarkers of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity to study the effects of environmental changes and other perturbations on wildlife individuals and populations. However, identifying the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that influence GC levels is a key step in endocrinology studies to ensure accurate interpretation of GC responses. In muskoxen, qiviut (fine woolly undercoat hair) cortisol concentration is an integrative biomarker of HPA axis activity over the course of the hair's growth. We gathered data from 219 wild muskoxen harvested in the Canadian Arctic between October 2015 and May 2019. We examined the relationship between qiviut cortisol and various intrinsic (sex, age, body condition and incisor breakage) and extrinsic biotic factors (lungworm and gastrointestinal parasite infections and exposure to bacteria), as well as broader non-specific landscape and temporal features (geographical location, season and year). A Bayesian approach, which allows for the joint estimation of missing values in the data and model parameters estimates, was applied for the statistical analyses. The main findings include the following: (i) higher qiviut cortisol levels in males than in females; (ii) inter-annual variations; (iii) higher qiviut cortisol levels in a declining population compared to a stable population; (iv) a negative association between qiviut cortisol and marrow fat percentage; (v) a relationship between qiviut cortisol and the infection intensity of the lungworm Umingmakstrongylus pallikuukensis, which varied depending on the geographical location; and (vi) no association between qiviut cortisol and other pathogen exposure/infection intensity metrics. This study confirmed and further identified important sources of variability in qiviut cortisol levels, while providing important insights on the relationship between GC levels and pathogen exposure/infection intensity. Results support the use of qiviut cortisol as a tool to monitor temporal changes in HPA axis activity at a population level and to inform management and conservation actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliette Di Francesco
- Corresponding author: Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada.
| | - Grace P S Kwong
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada
| | - Rob Deardon
- Department of Production Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Faculty of Science, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Sylvia L Checkley
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada
| | - Gabriela F Mastromonaco
- Reproductive Physiology Unit, Toronto Zoo, 361A Old Finch Avenue, Scarborough, Ontario M1B 5K7, Canada
| | - Fabien Mavrot
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada
| | - Lisa-Marie Leclerc
- Department of Environment, Government of Nunavut, P.O. Box 377, Kugluktuk, Nunavut X0B 0E0, Canada
| | - Susan Kutz
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada
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Schwarzenberger F, Krawinkel P, Jeserschek SM, Schauerte N, Geiger C, Balfanz F, Knauf-Witzens T, Sicks F, Martinez Nevado E, Anfray G, Hein A, Kaandorp-Huber C, Marcordes S, Venshøj B. Immunocontraception of male and female giraffes using the GnRH vaccine Improvac®. Zoo Biol 2021; 41:50-64. [PMID: 34478196 PMCID: PMC9292419 DOI: 10.1002/zoo.21651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to develop protocols for contraception in both sexes of giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis) by using the GnRH vaccine Improvac®. We evaluated the success of immunization by analyzing fecal reproductive hormone metabolites in female (n = 20) and male (n = 9) giraffes. Endocrine analysis provided the basis for the successful immunization protocol, as well as for assessing long-term effects. Reliable reduction of fecal steroid metabolites to baseline levels in female giraffes was achieved with three, and in males with four or five injections at 4-week intervals. Effective booster injections were administered at 2-month intervals in the first year of treatment and at three to 4-month intervals in the following years. In addition to endocrine analysis, we determined vaccination efficacy in bulls by assessing testicular atrophy. Long-term (>2 years) use in females was often accompanied by prolonged periods of persistent corpus luteum activity, although normal cycles were not observed. Problems might occur with reversibility, because in a few males and females, even after more than 2 years since treatment had been stopped, fecal hormone metabolites have not returned to pretreatment levels. The results are somewhat ambiguous, as reproduction can be suppressed by use of Improvac®, but the question of reversibility remains unsolved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franz Schwarzenberger
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Physiology-Endocrinology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Sophia-Maria Jeserschek
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Physiology-Endocrinology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
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Physiological, Immunological and Genetic Factors in the Resistance and Susceptibility to Gastrointestinal Nematodes of Sheep in the Peripartum Period: A Review. Helminthologia 2021; 58:134-151. [PMID: 34248374 PMCID: PMC8256458 DOI: 10.2478/helm-2021-0020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Parasitic diseases of sheep involving gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) are one of the main problems that affect fl ock productivity, especially during the peripartum period. Around lambing, the ewes are immunosuppressed and the nematode faecal egg count (FEC) increases at four weeks before lambing, reaching a peak between the fourth and sixth week postpartum and subsequently decreasing towards weaning. Prolactin has been credited with a suppressive effect on immune system, along with other hormones that intervene in metabolism, such as leptin, which has an important role in the activation of other hormones. Cortisol has also been included; this is stimulated by any stressful event and inhibits the proliferation of T-cells and alters the function of immunoglobulins. Another related hormone is pepsinogen, which is considered a marker of the integrity of the abomasum mucosa, as well as the albumin concentration that increases in the presence of a GIN infection. The humoral and cellular immune response, as well as inflammatory reactions, are the main mechanisms of action against GIN. Lymphocytes direct the effector mechanisms in a Th2 cell response, including interleukins (IL-4, IL-5, IL-9, IL-10) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) together with immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG, IgM and IgE), which prevent the invasion of pathogens. Eosinophils with a cytotoxic effect are indicators of a parasitic infection, with importance in the immune protection of infected individuals. The genetic selection of resistant individuals measured by FEC is dependent on the heritability (h2), which is moderately inheritable and highly repeatable. Effects that influence the resistance or susceptibility of sheep to GIN infections in the peripartum period are determined by the interaction of various factors, such as genotype or breed, nutrition, age, type of birth, season and production system, etc., which are studied in this review.
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DE LA PeÑa E, MartÍn J, Barja I, PÉrez-Caballero R, Acosta I, Carranza J. Immune challenge of mating effort: steroid hormone profile, dark ventral patch and parasite burden in relation to intrasexual competition in male Iberian red deer. Integr Zool 2020; 15:262-275. [PMID: 31912636 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Testosterone secretion may regulate the reproductive effort and the development of sexual traits, but it may also involve costs at the immunological and metabolic levels. However, the evidence for this trade-off in wild populations is scarce. Cortisol also plays an important role in mediating the reproductive and immune functions. In this study, we analyzed whether the endoparasite burden relates to hormonal levels (fecal testosterone and cortisol metabolites) and/or morphological sexual traits (size of the dark ventral patch, a trait that indicates reproductive effort in males) in male Iberian red deer. For this purpose, we sampled male red deer harvested during hunting actions in 2 types of populations in south western Spain that differed in structure, affecting the level of male-male competition for mates. We used coprological analyses to estimate the parasite burden mainly of gastrointestinal and bronchopulmonary nematodes and of protozoa, and assessed testosterone and cortisol metabolite levels from fecal pellets. We found a positive relationship of host parasitation with both testosterone levels and the size of the dark ventral patch, but these relationships depended on the intensity of male-male competition in the population, being only found under the high-competition scenario. These results are discussed under the hypothesis of the testosterone immunocompetence handicap, suggesting a cost at the immunological level, and, therefore, higher susceptibility to parasite infection in males that make a greater reproductive effort. However, this effect seems to be modulated by the social environment (male-male competition) that might lead to different optima in testosterone production and sexual trait development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva DE LA PeÑa
- Wildlife Research Unit, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - José MartÍn
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, National Museum of Natural Sciences (Spanish Research Council, CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Isabel Barja
- Department of Biology, Zoology Unit, Autonomous University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,Biodiversity and Global Change Research Centre, Autonomous University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Raúl PÉrez-Caballero
- Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases Unit, Animal Health Department, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain.,Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Isabel Acosta
- Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases Unit, Animal Health Department, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Juan Carranza
- Wildlife Research Unit, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
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Trimmel NE, Walzer C. Infectious Wildlife Diseases in Austria-A Literature Review From 1980 Until 2017. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:3. [PMID: 32154271 PMCID: PMC7046627 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2019] [Accepted: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
This literature review examines infectious wildlife disease research in Austria. We analyzed 226 research papers, published between 1980 and 2017. We determined that wildlife disease papers increased significantly from 0.8 ± 0.8 publications per year in the first decade (1980–1989) when compared to 2008–2017 with an average of 12.9 ± 4.1 publications per year. We illustrate information about the most investigated diseases and highlight the lack of research into certain wildlife pathogens. A special emphasis was given to diseases with zoonotic potential. The review showed that research focused on a few select species like the red fox (Vulpes vulpes), red deer (Cervus elaphus), and wild boar (Sus scrofa), all game species. Moreover, diseases affecting livestock and human health were seen more often. The review also found that only a low number of publications actually stated disease prevalence and confidence interval data. The reported diseases identified were classified according to their notifiable status and the distribution at the wildlife–human and wildlife–livestock interface. Furthermore, we try to argue why research into some diseases is prioritized, and why other diseases are underrepresented in current Austrian research. While spatiotemporal indicators could not be assessed due to the variability in methodologies and objectives of various studies, the information provided by this review offers the first comprehensive evaluation of the status of infectious wildlife disease research in Austria. Therefore, this study could assist investigators to identify further areas of priorities for research and conservation efforts and for wildlife management professionals to inform policy and funding strategies. With this review, we want to encourage research in the field of wildlife diseases in Austria to enhance current knowledge in the prevention of further loss in biodiversity and to find new measures to promote “One Health” on a global scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Eva Trimmel
- Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Chris Walzer
- Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, NY, United States
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French AS, Zadoks RN, Skuce PJ, Mitchell G, Gordon-Gibbs DK, Taggart MA. Habitat and host factors associated with liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica) diagnoses in wild red deer (Cervus elaphus) in the Scottish Highlands. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:535. [PMID: 31718680 PMCID: PMC6852960 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3782-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Red deer (Cervus elaphus) are a common wild definitive host for liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica) that have been the subject of limited diagnostic surveillance. This study aimed to explore the extent to which coprological diagnoses for F. hepatica in red deer in the Scottish Highlands, Scotland, are associated with variability among hosts and habitats. METHODS Our analyses were based on coproantigen ELISA diagnoses derived from faecal samples that were collected from carcasses of culled deer on nine hunting estates during two sampling seasons. Sampling locations were used as centroids about which circular home ranges were quantified. Data were stratified by season, and associations between host, hydrological, land cover and meteorological variables and binary diagnoses during 2013-2014 (n = 390) were explored by mixed effect logistic regression. The ability of our model to predict diagnoses relative to that which would be expected by chance was quantified, and data collected during 2012-2013 (n = 289) were used to assess model transferability. RESULTS During 2013-2014, habitat and host characteristics explained 28% of variation in diagnoses, whereby half of the explained variation was attributed to differences among estates. The probability of a positive diagnosis was positively associated with the length of streams in the immediate surroundings of each sampling location, but no non-zero relationships were found for land cover or lifetime average weather variables. Regardless of habitat, the probability of a positive diagnosis remained greatest for males, although males were always sampled earlier in the year than females. A slight decrease in prediction efficacy occurred when our model was used to predict diagnoses for out-of-sample data. CONCLUSIONS We are cautious to extrapolate our findings geographically, owing to a large proportion of variation attributable to overarching differences among estates. Nevertheless, the temporal transferability of our model is encouraging. While we did not identify any non-zero relationship between meteorological variables and probability of diagnosis, we attribute this (in part) to limitations of interpolated meteorological data. Further study into non-independent diagnoses within estates and differences among estates in terms of deer management, would improve our understanding of F. hepatica prevalence in wild deer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew S French
- Environmental Research Institute, North Highland College, University of the Highlands and Islands, Castle Street, Thurso, KW14 7JD, UK. .,Marine Institute, Furnace, Newport, Co. Mayo, Ireland.
| | - Ruth N Zadoks
- Institute of Biodiversity Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Garscube Campus, Glasgow, G61 1QH, UK.,Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, EH26 0PZ, UK.,Sydney School of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Camden, NSW 2570, Australia
| | - Philip J Skuce
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, EH26 0PZ, UK
| | - Gillian Mitchell
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, EH26 0PZ, UK
| | | | - Mark A Taggart
- Environmental Research Institute, North Highland College, University of the Highlands and Islands, Castle Street, Thurso, KW14 7JD, UK
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Horcajada-Sánchez F, Escribano-Ávila G, Lara-Romero C, Virgós E, Barja I. The effect of livestock on the physiological condition of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) is modulated by habitat quality. Sci Rep 2019; 9:15953. [PMID: 31685886 PMCID: PMC6828671 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-52290-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2019] [Accepted: 10/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Free-range livestock grazing is a widespread human activity that not only modifies natural vegetation but also leads to interactions with wild ungulates. Most commonly, the interactions between cattle and wild ungulates have been studied with a focus on competition for high-quality forage. However, other mechanisms, such as the risk of parasite infection, might better describe this interaction. We aim to determine whether livestock affect roe deer (Capreolus capreolus Linnaeus, 1758) by reducing habitat quality and increasing the probability of infection by shared parasites. We measured noninvasive fecal cortisol metabolites as an indicator of habitat quality as well as the lung nematode larvae burden from the Dictyocaulus genus. A higher Dictyocaulus larvae load was found in the presence of livestock in pines, and feces collected in winter had a higher parasite load than feces collected in autumn. Additionally, fecal cortisol metabolite levels in the roe deer were affected by the interaction between habitat quality and livestock presence and were higher in the poorest habitat and when living in sympatry with cattle. Our results suggest that physiological stress responses in roe deer were mediated by the habitat type and the presence of competitors. The long-term implications of altered physiological responses such as those demonstrated here should be considered in management strategies for deer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Horcajada-Sánchez
- Centro de Investigación, Seguimiento y Evaluación, Parque Nacional de la Sierra de Guadarrama, Ctra. M-604, km 28, 28740, Rascafría, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Gema Escribano-Ávila
- Departamento de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, San Cayetano Alto s/n, Marcelino Champagnat, Loja, Ecuador
| | - Carlos Lara-Romero
- Área de Biodiversidad y Conservación, Escuela Superior de Ciencias Experimentales y Tecnología, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Departamental 1, C/Tulipán s/n, 28933, Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
| | - Emilio Virgós
- Área de Biodiversidad y Conservación, Escuela Superior de Ciencias Experimentales y Tecnología, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Departamental 1, C/Tulipán s/n, 28933, Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
| | - Isabel Barja
- Unidad de Zoología, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. C/Darwin 2. Campus Universitario de Cantoblanco, km 15, 28049, Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Cambio Global (CIBC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, C/Darwin 2, 28049, Madrid, Spain
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12
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de la Peña E, Martín J, Carranza J. The intensity of male-male competition may affect chemical scent constituents in the dark ventral patch of male Iberian red deer. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0221980. [PMID: 31479490 PMCID: PMC6719829 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0221980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2019] [Accepted: 08/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
During the mating season, Iberian red deer males (Cervus elaphus hispanicus) present a large visible dark ventral area in their abdomen. This characteristic dark-haired area is formed by the impregnation of the hair with sprayed urine and gland secretions and contains volatile compounds that can be used in intraspecific communication. Here, we used gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to describe the lipophilic chemicals from the dark ventral patch of males from different populations with different levels of intrasexual competition. Amongst all the compounds found, m-cresol, benzoic acid, cholesterol and 4-hydroxy-benzenopropanoic acid were the most abundant. The proportions of these compounds varied with age as well as with the level of intra-sexual competition, independently of age. In particular, red deer males experiencing higher intra-sexual competition had lower proportions of aromatic compounds (especially m-cresol) but higher proportions of carboxylic acids on their dark bellies. Males in a high male-male competition situation, invest in volatile compounds that can reveal their age, dominance status and condition, and that, in addition, enhance this signal. On the contrary, males from low intra-sexual competition populations have chemical profiles more characteristic of young individuals. This research shows a first glance of how secretion of volatile compounds of male deer can be modulated due to the intensity of male-male competition in the population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva de la Peña
- Wildlife Research Unit (UIRCP), Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
- * E-mail:
| | - José Martín
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Carranza
- Wildlife Research Unit (UIRCP), Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
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13
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Corlatti L, Lorenzetti C, Bassano B. Parasitism and alternative reproductive tactics in Northern chamois. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:8749-8758. [PMID: 31410277 PMCID: PMC6686307 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2019] [Revised: 06/13/2019] [Accepted: 06/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Alternative reproductive tactics (ARTs), discrete phenotypic variations evolved to maximize fitness, may entail different cost-benefit trade-offs. In large mammals, differences in costs associated with ARTs-including energy expenditure and parasite infection-are typically greatest during the breeding season. Nonetheless, physiological and behavioral differences between ARTs can manifest throughout the year, possibly involving costs that may contribute to maintain ARTs within populations. Using the number of nematode larvae per gram of feces (LPG) as a proxy, we explored the temporal changes in lung parasite infection in territorial and nonterritorial male chamois Rupicapra in the Gran Paradiso National Park (Italy), between 2011 and 2012. We aimed to identify which tactic-specific physiological and behavioral features (including age, hormonal levels, inter- and intrasexual interactions, and space use) or climatic factors (temperature and precipitation) best explained yearly variation in parasite infection within and between ARTs. Generalized additive mixed models showed that the fecal larval counts of lung nematodes underwent strong temporal changes in both male types. Differences between ARTs (with higher LPG values in territorial than nonterritorial males) were greatest during the rut and-to a lesser extent-in spring, respectively, at the peak and at the onset of territoriality. The difference in LPG between tactics was largely explained by the greater levels of hormone metabolites in territorial males during the rut. The other variables did not contribute significantly to explain the different shedding of larvae within and between ARTs. Our analysis suggests that different values of LPG between territorial and nonterritorial males are largely a result of tactic-specific differences in the secretion of hormone metabolites, but only during the rut. To clarify whether rut-related parasitism contributes to the maintenance of ARTs, tactic-specific life history trade-offs, for example, between reproduction and parasite-related mortality, must be investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Corlatti
- Wildlife Ecology and ManagementUniversity of FreiburgFreiburgGermany
| | | | - Bruno Bassano
- Alpine Wildlife Research CentreGran Paradiso National ParkValsavarencheItaly
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14
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Valenta K, Twinomugisha D, Godfrey K, Liu C, Schoof VAM, Goldberg TL, Chapman CA. Comparison of gastrointestinal parasite communities in vervet monkeys. Integr Zool 2017; 12:512-520. [PMID: 28685946 PMCID: PMC5725676 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Globally, habitat degradation is accelerating, especially in the tropics. Changes to interface habitats can increase environmental overlap among nonhuman primates, people, and domestic animals and change stress levels in wildlife, leading to changes in their risk of parasite infections. However, the direction and consequences of these changes are unclear, since animals may benefit by exploiting human resources (e.g., improving nutritional health by eating nutritious crops) and decreasing susceptibility to infection, or interactions with humans may lead to chronic stress and increased susceptibility to infection. Vervet monkeys are an excellent model to understand parasitic disease transmission because of their tolerance to anthropogenic disturbance. Here we quantify the gastrointestinal parasites of a group of vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops) near Lake Nabugabo, Uganda, that frequently overlaps with people in their use of a highly modified environment. We compare the parasites found in this population to seven other sites where vervet monkey gastrointestinal parasites have been identified. The vervets of Lake Nabugabo have the greatest richness of parasites documented to date. We discuss how this may reflect differences in sampling intensity or differences in the types of habitat where vervet parasites have been sampled.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim Valenta
- McGill School of Environment, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Kathleen Godfrey
- McGill School of Environment, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Cynthia Liu
- McGill School of Environment, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Valérie A M Schoof
- Bilingual Biology Program, Department of Multidisciplinary Studies, Glendon Campus, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tony L Goldberg
- Makerere University Biological Field Station, Kampala, Uganda.,Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Colin A Chapman
- McGill School of Environment, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Makerere University Biological Field Station, Kampala, Uganda.,Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, New York, USA
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15
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Segner H, Verburg-van Kemenade BML, Chadzinska M. The immunomodulatory role of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad axis: Proximate mechanism for reproduction-immune trade offs? DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2017; 66:43-60. [PMID: 27404794 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2016.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2016] [Revised: 07/06/2016] [Accepted: 07/07/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The present review discusses the communication between the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonad (HPG) axis and the immune system of vertebrates, attempting to situate the HPG-immune interaction into the context of life history trade-offs between reproductive and immune functions. More specifically, (i) we review molecular and cellular interactions between hormones of the HPG axis, and, as far as known, the involved mechanisms on immune functions, (ii) we evaluate whether the HPG-immune crosstalk serves as proximate mechanism mediating reproductive-immune trade-offs, and (iii) we ask whether the nature of the HPG-immune interaction is conserved throughout vertebrate evolution, despite the changes in immune functions, reproductive modes, and life histories. In all vertebrate classes studied so far, HPG hormones have immunomodulatory functions, and indications exist that they contribute to reproduction-immunity resource trade-offs, although the very limited information available for most non-mammalian vertebrates makes it difficult to judge how comparable or different the interactions are. There is good evidence that the HPG-immune crosstalk is part of the proximate mechanisms underlying the reproductive-immune trade-offs of vertebrates, but it is only one factor in a complex network of factors and processes. The fact that the HPG-immune interaction is flexible and can adapt to the functional and physiological requirements of specific life histories. Moreover, the assumption of a relatively fixed pattern of HPG influence on immune functions, with, for example, androgens always leading to immunosuppression and estrogens always being immunoprotective, is probably oversimplified, but the HPG-immune interaction can vary depending on the physiological and envoironmental context. Finally, the HPG-immune interaction is not only driven by resource trade-offs, but additional factors such as, for instance, the evolution of viviparity shape this neuroendocrine-immune relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helmut Segner
- Centre for Fish and Wildlife Health, Dept of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, P.O. Box, CH-3001, Bern, Switzerland.
| | - B M Lidy Verburg-van Kemenade
- Cell Biology and Immunology Group, Dept. of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Magdalena Chadzinska
- Department of Evolutionary Immunology, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 9, 30-387, Krakow, Poland
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16
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Pribbenow S, Shrivastav TG, Dehnhard M. Measuring fecal testosterone metabolites in spotted hyenas: Choosing the wrong assay may lead to erroneous results. J Immunoassay Immunochem 2016; 38:308-321. [DOI: 10.1080/15321819.2016.1260584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
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17
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Springer A, Kappeler PM. Intestinal parasite communities of six sympatric lemur species at Kirindy Forest, Madagascar. Primate Biol 2016. [DOI: 10.5194/pb-3-51-2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract. Intestinal parasites impact host health, survival and reproductive success and therefore exert selective pressures on hosts' ecology and behavior. Thus, characterizing and comparing the parasitic fauna of different wildlife hosts sharing the same habitat can provide insights into the mechanisms underlying variation in parasitism, as well as the role of parasites as possible conservation threats. Several host traits have been proposed to generate differences in parasite diversity among different host species, including phylogeny, host body mass, host longevity, diet, and differences in ranging and social behavior. Here, we provide an overview of intestinal helminths and protozoa detected by fecal microscopy in six sympatric lemur species in Kirindy Forest, western Madagascar. The described patterns indicate that host phylogeny and diet may play an important role in shaping intestinal parasite assemblages in this system, as the closely related, omnivorous cheirogaleids showed the strongest overlap in parasite communities. No indication was found for an effect of body mass or longevity on parasite species richness. Regarding the effect of sociality, the two group-living lemur species, Propithecus verreauxi and Eulemur rufifrons, harbored directly transmitted parasites at higher prevalence than solitary foragers, but not at higher diversity. Effects of season and sex on parasite prevalence confirm the results of previous studies, with higher prevalence in the energetically demanding dry season and a male bias in parasitism. We highlight the opportunities of exploring the parasitic fauna of wildlife from a community ecology and evolutionary perspective, and identify prospects for future research on lemur parasitism.
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18
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French AS, Zadoks RN, Skuce PJ, Mitchell G, Gordon-Gibbs DK, Craine A, Shaw D, Gibb SW, Taggart MA. Prevalence of Liver Fluke (Fasciola hepatica) in Wild Red Deer (Cervus elaphus): Coproantigen ELISA Is a Practicable Alternative to Faecal Egg Counting for Surveillance in Remote Populations. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0162420. [PMID: 27598003 PMCID: PMC5012657 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0162420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2016] [Accepted: 08/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Red deer (Cervus elaphus) are hosts of liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica); yet, prevalence is rarely quantified in wild populations. Testing fresh samples from remote regions by faecal examination (FE) can be logistically challenging; hence, we appraise frozen storage and the use of a coproantigen ELISA (cELISA) for F. hepatica surveillance. We also present cELISA surveillance data for red deer from the Highlands of Scotland. Diagnoses in faecal samples (207 frozen, 146 fresh) were compared using a cELISA and by FE. For each storage method (frozen or fresh), agreement between the two diagnostics was estimated at individual and population levels, where population prevalence was stratified into cohorts (e.g., by sampling location). To approximate sensitivity and specificity, 65 post-slaughter whole liver examinations were used as a reference. At the individual level, FE and cELISA diagnoses agreed moderately (κfrozen = 0.46; κfresh = 0.51), a likely reflection of their underlying principles. At the population level, FE and cELISA cohort prevalence correlated strongly (Pearson’s R = 0.89, p < 0.0001), reflecting good agreement on relative differences between cohort prevalence. In frozen samples, prevalence by cELISA exceeded FE overall (42.8% vs. 25.8%) and in 9/12 cohorts, alluding to differences in sensitivity; though, in fresh samples, no significant difference was found. In 959 deer tested by cELISA across the Scottish Highlands, infection prevalence ranged from 9.6% to 53% by sampling location. We highlight two key advantages of cELISA over FE: i) the ability to store samples long term (frozen) without apparent loss in diagnostic power; and ii) reduced labour and the ability to process large batches. Further evaluation of cELISA sensitivity in red deer, where a range of fluke burdens can be obtained, is desirable. In the interim, the cELISA is a practicable diagnostic for F. hepatica surveillance in red deer, and its application here has revealed considerable geographic, temporal, sex and age related differences in F. hepatica prevalence in wild Scottish Highland red deer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew S. French
- Environmental Research Institute, North Highland College, University of the Highlands and Islands, Castle Street, Thurso, KW14 7JD, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Ruth N. Zadoks
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, EH26 0PZ, United Kingdom
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH, United Kingdom
| | - Philip J. Skuce
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, EH26 0PZ, United Kingdom
| | - Gillian Mitchell
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, EH26 0PZ, United Kingdom
| | - Danielle K. Gordon-Gibbs
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, EH26 0PZ, United Kingdom
| | - Alexandra Craine
- Environmental Research Institute, North Highland College, University of the Highlands and Islands, Castle Street, Thurso, KW14 7JD, United Kingdom
| | - David Shaw
- UHI Rural Studies Centre, North Highland College, University of the Highlands and Islands, Dale Farm, Halkirk, KW12 6UW, United Kingdom
| | - Stuart W. Gibb
- Environmental Research Institute, North Highland College, University of the Highlands and Islands, Castle Street, Thurso, KW14 7JD, United Kingdom
| | - Mark A. Taggart
- Environmental Research Institute, North Highland College, University of the Highlands and Islands, Castle Street, Thurso, KW14 7JD, United Kingdom
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19
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Foo YZ, Nakagawa S, Rhodes G, Simmons LW. The effects of sex hormones on immune function: a meta-analysis. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2016; 92:551-571. [DOI: 10.1111/brv.12243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 220] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2015] [Revised: 10/30/2015] [Accepted: 11/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yong Zhi Foo
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders, School of Psychology, University of Western Australia; 35 Stirling Hwy Crawley Western Australia 6009 Australia
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Animal Biology, University of Western Australia; 35 Stirling Hwy Crawley Western Australia 6009 Australia
| | - Shinichi Nakagawa
- Department of Zoology; University of Otago; 340 Great King Street Dunedin 9016 New Zealand
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales; UNSW Sydney NSW 2052 Australia
| | - Gillian Rhodes
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders, School of Psychology, University of Western Australia; 35 Stirling Hwy Crawley Western Australia 6009 Australia
| | - Leigh W. Simmons
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders, School of Psychology, University of Western Australia; 35 Stirling Hwy Crawley Western Australia 6009 Australia
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Animal Biology, University of Western Australia; 35 Stirling Hwy Crawley Western Australia 6009 Australia
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20
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Pavitt AT, Walling CA, Möstl E, Pemberton JM, Kruuk LEB. Cortisol but not testosterone is repeatable and varies with reproductive effort in wild red deer stags. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2015. [PMID: 26209865 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2015.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Although it is known that hormone concentrations vary considerably between individuals within a population, how they change across time and how they relate to an individual's reproductive effort remains poorly quantified in wild animals. Using faecal samples collected from wild red deer stags, we examined sources of variation in faecal cortisol and androgen metabolites, and the potential relationship that these might have with an index of reproductive effort. We also biologically validated an assay for measuring androgen metabolites in red deer faeces. We show that variation in hormone concentrations between samples can be accounted for by the age of the individual and the season when the sample was collected. Faecal cortisol (but not androgen) metabolites also showed significant among-individual variation across the 10-year sampling time period, which accounted for 20% of the trait's phenotypic variance after correcting for the age and season effects. Finally, we show that an index of male reproductive effort (cumulative harem size) during the mating season (rut) was positively correlated with male cortisol concentrations, both among and within individuals. We suggest that the highest ranking males have the largest cumulative harem sizes (i.e. invest the greatest reproductive effort), and that this social dominance may have associated behaviours such as increased frequency of agonistic interactions which are associated with corresponding high levels of faecal cortisol metabolites (FCM).
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyson T Pavitt
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK.
| | - Craig A Walling
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Erich Möstl
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinärplatz 1, A-1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Josephine M Pemberton
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Loeske E B Kruuk
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK; Division of Evolution, Ecology & Genetics, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, ACT 2601, Australia
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21
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Hadinger U, Haymerle A, Knauer F, Schwarzenberger F, Walzer C. Faecal cortisol metabolites to assess stress in wildlife: evaluation of a field method in free‐ranging chamois. Methods Ecol Evol 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.12422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ulrike Hadinger
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology University of Veterinary Medicine Savoyenstraße 1 1160Vienna Austria
| | - Agnes Haymerle
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology University of Veterinary Medicine Savoyenstraße 1 1160Vienna Austria
| | - Felix Knauer
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology University of Veterinary Medicine Savoyenstraße 1 1160Vienna Austria
| | - Franz Schwarzenberger
- Depatment of Biomedical Sciences – Biochemistry University of Veterinary Medicine Veterinärplatz 1 1210Vienna Austria
| | - Chris Walzer
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology University of Veterinary Medicine Savoyenstraße 1 1160Vienna Austria
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22
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Martínez-Guijosa J, Martínez-Carrasco C, López-Olvera JR, Fernández-Aguilar X, Colom-Cadena A, Cabezón O, Mentaberre G, Ferrer D, Velarde R, Gassó D, Garel M, Rossi L, Lavín S, Serrano E. Male-biased gastrointestinal parasitism in a nearly monomorphic mountain ungulate. Parasit Vectors 2015; 8:165. [PMID: 25888900 PMCID: PMC4408582 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-015-0774-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2015] [Accepted: 02/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pyrenean chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica pyrenaica) is a nearly monomorphic mountain ungulate with an unbiased sex-specific overwinter adult survival. Few differences in gastrointestinal parasitism have been reported by coprology as yet. This study aims to assess diversity, prevalence, intensity of infection and aggregation of gastrointestinal nematodes in male and female adult chamois. We expect no differences in the parasite infection rates between sexes. FINDINGS Gastrointestinal tracts of 28 harvested Pyrenean chamois in the Catalan Pyrenees (autumn 2012 and 2013) were necropsied and sexual differences in the diversity and structure of parasite community, prevalence, intensity of infection, and richness were investigated. We found 25 helminth species belonging to 13 different genera. CONCLUSIONS Contrary to our expectations, male chamois showed different parasite communities, higher prevalence, intensity of infection and richness than females. Such sexual differences were clear irrespective of age of individuals. Hence, male chamois must cope with a more diverse and abundant parasite community than females, without apparent biological cost. Further research will be required to confirm this hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordi Martínez-Guijosa
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
| | | | - Jorge Ramón López-Olvera
- Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Wildlife Health Service - Departament de Medicina i Cirugia Animal, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain.
| | - Xavier Fernández-Aguilar
- Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Wildlife Health Service - Departament de Medicina i Cirugia Animal, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain.
| | - Andreu Colom-Cadena
- Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Wildlife Health Service - Departament de Medicina i Cirugia Animal, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain.
| | - Oscar Cabezón
- Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Wildlife Health Service - Departament de Medicina i Cirugia Animal, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain.
| | - Gregorio Mentaberre
- Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Wildlife Health Service - Departament de Medicina i Cirugia Animal, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain.
| | - David Ferrer
- Departament de Sanitat i d'Anatomia Animals, Bellaterra, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, Spain.
| | - Roser Velarde
- Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Wildlife Health Service - Departament de Medicina i Cirugia Animal, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain.
| | - Diana Gassó
- Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Wildlife Health Service - Departament de Medicina i Cirugia Animal, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain.
| | - Mathieu Garel
- Centre National d'Études et de Recherche Appliquée Faune de Montagne, Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage (ONCFS), Juvignac, France.
| | - Luca Rossi
- Dipartimento de Produzioni Animali, Epidemiologia ed Ecologia, Universtità di Torino, Turin, Italy.
| | - Santiago Lavín
- Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Wildlife Health Service - Departament de Medicina i Cirugia Animal, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain.
| | - Emmanuel Serrano
- Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Wildlife Health Service - Departament de Medicina i Cirugia Animal, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain.
- Departamento de Biologia & CESAM, Universidade de Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal.
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23
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Gourbière S, Morand S, Waxman D. Fundamental factors determining the nature of parasite aggregation in hosts. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0116893. [PMID: 25689685 PMCID: PMC4331092 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0116893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2014] [Accepted: 12/16/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The distribution of parasites in hosts is typically aggregated: a few hosts harbour many parasites, while the remainder of hosts are virtually parasite free. The origin of this almost universal pattern is central to our understanding of host-parasite interactions; it affects many facets of their ecology and evolution. Despite this, the standard statistical framework used to characterize parasite aggregation does not describe the processes generating such a pattern. In this work, we have developed a mathematical framework for the distribution of parasites in hosts, starting from a simple statistical description in terms of two fundamental processes: the exposure of hosts to parasites and the infection success of parasites. This description allows the level of aggregation of parasites in hosts to be related to the random variation in these two processes and to true host heterogeneity. We show that random variation can generate an aggregated distribution and that the common view, that encounters and success are two equivalent filters, applies to the average parasite burden under neutral assumptions but it does not apply to the variance of the parasite burden, and it is not true when heterogeneity between hosts is incorporated in the model. We find that aggregation decreases linearly with the number of encounters, but it depends non-linearly on parasite success. We also find additional terms in the variance of the parasite burden which contribute to the actual level of aggregation in specific biological systems. We have derived the formal expressions of these contributions, and these provide new opportunities to analyse empirical data and tackle the complexity of the origin of aggregation in various host-parasite associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sébastien Gourbière
- Université de Perpignan Via Domitia, EA 4218, ‘Institut de Modélisation et d’Analyse en Géo-Environnements et Santé’ (IMAGES), Perpignan 66100, France
- University of Sussex, School of Life Sciences, Centre for the Study of Evolution, Brighton BN1 9QG, UK
| | - Serge Morand
- Institut des Sciences de l’Evolution—CNRS, Département Génétique Environnement, CC065, Université Montpellier 2, 34095, Montpellier cedex 05, France
| | - David Waxman
- Centre for Computational Systems Biology, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, PRC
- * E-mail:
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Corlatti L, Palme R, Lovari S. Physiological response to etho-ecological stressors in male Alpine chamois: timescale matters! Naturwissenschaften 2014; 101:577-86. [DOI: 10.1007/s00114-014-1195-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2014] [Revised: 05/27/2014] [Accepted: 05/29/2014] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Ryser-Degiorgis MP. Wildlife health investigations: needs, challenges and recommendations. BMC Vet Res 2013; 9:223. [PMID: 24188616 PMCID: PMC4228302 DOI: 10.1186/1746-6148-9-223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2013] [Accepted: 10/30/2013] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
In a fast changing world with growing concerns about biodiversity loss and an increasing number of animal and human diseases emerging from wildlife, the need for effective wildlife health investigations including both surveillance and research is now widely recognized. However, procedures applicable to and knowledge acquired from studies related to domestic animal and human health can be on partly extrapolated to wildlife. This article identifies requirements and challenges inherent in wildlife health investigations, reviews important definitions and novel health investigation methods, and proposes tools and strategies for effective wildlife health surveillance programs. Impediments to wildlife health investigations are largely related to zoological, behavioral and ecological characteristics of wildlife populations and to limited access to investigation materials. These concerns should not be viewed as insurmountable but it is imperative that they are considered in study design, data analysis and result interpretation. It is particularly crucial to remember that health surveillance does not begin in the laboratory but in the fields. In this context, participatory approaches and mutual respect are essential. Furthermore, interdisciplinarity and open minds are necessary because a wide range of tools and knowledge from different fields need to be integrated in wildlife health surveillance and research. The identification of factors contributing to disease emergence requires the comparison of health and ecological data over time and among geographical regions. Finally, there is a need for the development and validation of diagnostic tests for wildlife species and for data on free-ranging population densities. Training of health professionals in wildlife diseases should also be improved. Overall, the article particularly emphasizes five needs of wildlife health investigations: communication and collaboration; use of synergies and triangulation approaches; investments for the long term; systematic collection of metadata; and harmonization of definitions and methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Pierre Ryser-Degiorgis
- Centre for Fish and Wildlife Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Postfach 8466, CH-3001 Bern, Switzerland.
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Godfrey SS. Networks and the ecology of parasite transmission: A framework for wildlife parasitology. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE 2013; 2:235-45. [PMID: 24533342 PMCID: PMC3862525 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2013.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2013] [Revised: 08/30/2013] [Accepted: 09/04/2013] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Animal behaviour can generate heterogeneities in parasite transmission. Network models represent these heterogeneities as links (edges) among hosts (nodes). Variety of lifecycles and transmission methods can be represented using networks. Framework for exploring a range of ecological questions about parasite transmission. Challenges remain in their application to wildlife parasitology.
Social network analysis has recently emerged as a popular tool for understanding disease transmission in host populations. Although social networks have most extensively been applied to modelling the transmission of diseases through human populations, more recently the method has been applied to wildlife populations. The majority of examples from wildlife involve modelling the transmission of contagious microbes (mainly viruses and bacteria), normally in context of understanding wildlife disease epidemics. However, a growing number of studies have used networks to explore the ecology of parasite transmission in wildlife populations for a range of endemic parasites representing a diversity of life cycles and transmission methods. This review addresses the application of network models in representing the transmission of parasites with more complex life cycles, and illustrates the way in which this approach can be used to answer ecological questions about the transmission of parasites in wildlife populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie S Godfrey
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch 6150, Western Australia, Australia
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Hormones, parasites and male mating tactics in Alpine chamois: identifying the mechanisms of life history trade-offs. Anim Behav 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2012.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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Bordes F, Ponlet N, de Bellocq JG, Ribas A, Krasnov BR, Morand S. Is there sex-biased resistance and tolerance in Mediterranean wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus) populations facing multiple helminth infections? Oecologia 2012; 170:123-35. [DOI: 10.1007/s00442-012-2300-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2011] [Accepted: 03/01/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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Schaschl H, Suchentrunk F, Morris DL, Ben Slimen H, Smith S, Arnold W. Sex-specific selection for MHC variability in Alpine chamois. BMC Evol Biol 2012; 12:20. [PMID: 22335968 PMCID: PMC3340304 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2148-12-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2011] [Accepted: 02/15/2012] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In mammals, males typically have shorter lives than females. This difference is thought to be due to behavioural traits which enhance competitive abilities, and hence male reproductive success, but impair survival. Furthermore, in many species males usually show higher parasite burden than females. Consequently, the intensity of selection for genetic factors which reduce susceptibility to pathogens may differ between sexes. High variability at the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes is believed to be advantageous for detecting and combating the range of infectious agents present in the environment. Increased heterozygosity at these immune genes is expected to be important for individual longevity. However, whether males in natural populations benefit more from MHC heterozygosity than females has rarely been investigated. We investigated this question in a long-term study of free-living Alpine chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra), a polygynous mountain ungulate. Results Here we show that male chamois survive significantly (P = 0.022) longer if heterozygous at the MHC class II DRB locus, whereas females do not. Improved survival of males was not a result of heterozygote advantage per se, as background heterozygosity (estimated across twelve microsatellite loci) did not change significantly with age. Furthermore, reproductively active males depleted their body fat reserves earlier than females leading to significantly impaired survival rates in this sex (P < 0.008). This sex-difference was even more pronounced in areas affected by scabies, a severe parasitosis, as reproductively active males were less likely to survive than females. However, we did not find evidence for a survival advantage associated with specific MHC alleles in areas affected by scabies. Conclusions Increased MHC class II DRB heterozygosity with age in males, suggests that MHC heterozygous males survive longer than homozygotes. Reproductively active males appear to be less likely to survive than females most likely because of the energetic challenge of the winter rut, accompanied by earlier depletion of their body fat stores, and a generally higher parasite burden. This scenario renders the MHC-mediated immune response more important for males than for females, which implies a relatively stronger selection pressure on MHC genes in males than in females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helmut Schaschl
- Department for Integrative Biology and Evolution, Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Savoyenstrasse 1, 1160 Vienna, Austria.
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Marreros N, Frey CF, Willisch CS, Signer C, Ryser-Degiorgis MP. Coprological analyses on apparently healthy Alpine ibex (Capra ibex ibex) from two Swiss colonies. Vet Parasitol 2011; 186:382-9. [PMID: 22119388 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2011.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2011] [Revised: 10/21/2011] [Accepted: 11/01/2011] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
To provide baseline parasitological data for health surveillance in free-ranging Alpine ibex (Capra ibex ibex), we assessed the endoparasite population and level of parasitism in apparently healthy ibex. Faecal samples from 148 ibex were collected between 2006 and 2008 in two different Swiss ibex colonies. They were analysed by coprology, including combined sedimentation/flotation method, sedimentation method, Baermann funnel technique and Ziehl-Neelsen staining. Gastrointestinal parasites and lungworms were identified in 100% and 81.8% of the examined animals, respectively. Highest prevalences were recorded for gastrointestinal strongylids other than Nematodirus/Marshallagia spp. (100%), Eimeria spp. (100%), Muellerius spp. (79.8%) and Nematodirus/Marshallagia spp. (79.0%). We report for the first time Cryptosporidium sp. in free-ranging Alpine ibex and Cystocaulus spp. in free-ranging ibex from Switzerland. On average, ibex were infected with 3.9 different parasites taxa (range: 1-8). Parasite prevalence and diversity varied significantly between sexes, study sites and seasons. Parasite egg output was low in 95.7% and moderate in 5.3% of the samples. Overall, the results indicate that Alpine ibex are widely infected with endoparasites and suggest that multiple infections are very common in apparently healthy populations. Furthermore, our data underline the potential influence of factors such as sex, study site and season on parasitological findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nelson Marreros
- Centre for Fish and Wildlife Health, Institute of Animal Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Postfach 8466, CH-3001 Bern, Switzerland
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Khokhlova IS, Serobyan V, Degen AA, Krasnov BR. Host gender and offspring quality in a flea parasitic on a rodent. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011; 213:3299-304. [PMID: 20833922 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.046565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The quality of offspring produced by parent fleas (Xenopsylla ramesis) fed on either male or female rodent hosts (Meriones crassus) was studied. The emergence success, duration of development, resistance to starvation upon emergence and body size of the flea offspring were measured. It was predicted that offspring of fleas produced by parents that fed on male hosts (i) will survive better as pre-imago, (ii) will develop faster, (iii) will live longer under starvation after emergence and (iv) will be larger than offspring of fleas fed on female hosts. The emergence success of pre-imaginal fleas was relatively high, ranging from 46.9% to 100.0% and averaging 78.4±3.0%, and was not affected by host gender. The duration of development of pre-imaginal fleas depended on the gender of the host of parents and differed between male and female offspring, with female fleas developing faster. Furthermore, male fleas developed faster if their parents fed on female rather than on male hosts, whereas no difference in the duration of development between host genders was found in female fleas. The time to death under starvation did not depend on the gender of either the flea or the host. A newly emerged flea, on average, lived 31.9±1.0 days without access to food. The relationship between host gender and body size of male flea offspring was the only effect that supported the predictions. An increase in body size in male fleas could increase their mating success and, ultimately, their fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina S Khokhlova
- Desert Animal Adaptations and Husbandry, Wyler Department of Dryland Agriculture, French Associates Institute for Agriculture and Biotechnology of Drylands, Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede-Boqer Campus, 84990 Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Israel
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Painer J, Kaczensky P, Ganbaatar O, Huber K, Walzer C. Comparative parasitological examination on sympatric equids in the Great Gobi “B” Strictly Protected Area, Mongolia. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2010. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-010-0415-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Alasaad S, Morrondo P, Dacal-Rivas V, Soriguer RC, Granados JE, Serrano E, Zhu XQ, Rossi L, Pérez JM. Bronchopulmonary nematode infection of Capra pyrenaica in the Sierra Nevada massif, Spain. Vet Parasitol 2009; 164:340-3. [PMID: 19596519 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2009.06.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2009] [Revised: 06/06/2009] [Accepted: 06/15/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The present investigation examined the prevalence and abundance of bronchopulmonary nematodes in 213 randomly hunted Iberian ibexes (Capra pyrenaica) (87 females and 126 males) in the Sierra Nevada mountain range in Spain between 2003 and 2006. Post mortem examination revealed an overall prevalence of 72% for adult nematodes (Cystocaulus ocreatus 44%, Muellerius capillaris 44%, Protostrongylus sp. 40%, and Dictyocaulus filaria 4%). The abundances were 13.45+/-3.97, 5.18+/-2.49, 6.36+/-2.16, and 2.27+/-0.46, respectively. Protostrongylid adults showed similar infection rates, which were statistically different from that of D. filaria. 20% of the examined Iberian ibexes were infected by three protostrongylid nematodes species, 24% of C. pyrenaica were affected by two protostrongylid species, while infestations with only one protostrongylid species were detected in 20% of the examined animals. The overall prevalence of larvae nematodes in the examined animals was 100%, and the overall abundance (number of the first stage larvae per gram) was 86.45+/-20.63. There was a high correlation between the two sets of data (adults and larvae). Results of the present investigation provided foundation for the effective control of bronchopulmonary nematode infection in Iberian ibex.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Alasaad
- Department of Ecology and Sylviculture, Euphrates University, 3314 Deir Ez-Zor, Syria.
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Incubation Environment Affects Immune System Development in a Turtle with Environmental Sex Determination. J HERPETOL 2008; 42:536-541. [PMID: 20300480 DOI: 10.1670/07-133.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The developmental environment can have lasting effects on posthatching phenotype in oviparous animals. Innate immune response is one important component of fitness in vertebrates because it provides a generalized defense against infection. In addition, because male vertebrates are at a higher risk of infection than females, males may benefit more from increased innate immunity than females. We determined the effects of incubation temperature on the innate immune response of hatchling map turtles (Graptemys) by incubating eggs at a range of male and female producing-temperatures and assessing plasma complement activity in the resulting hatchlings. We found a significant effect of incubation environment on circulating complement in hatchling Graptemys ouachitensis, with male-producing temperatures yielding the highest innate immune response. Most important, these results demonstrate that immune response is affected by developmental environment in a species with environmental sex determination, potentially resulting in sex differences in the ability to fend off pathogens.
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Hillegass MA, Waterman JM, Roth JD. The influence of sex and sociality on parasite loads in an African ground squirrel. Behav Ecol 2008. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arn070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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Krone O, Guminsky O, Meinig H, Herrmann M, Trinzen M, Wibbelt G. Endoparasite spectrum of wild cats (Felis silvestris Schreber, 1777) and domestic cats (Felis catus L.) from the Eifel, Pfalz region and Saarland, Germany. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2007. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-007-0116-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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SCHWARZENBERGER F. The many uses of non-invasive faecal steroid monitoring in zoo and wildlife species. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1748-1090.2007.00017.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 148] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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