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Signs of Rumpwear in the Common Ringtail Possum, Pseudocheirus peregrinus. J Wildl Dis 2022; 58:675-679. [PMID: 35671494 DOI: 10.7589/jwd-d-21-00115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
We report the physical characteristics of rumpwear in the Australian common ringtail possum, Pseudocheirus peregrinus. Rumpwear presents as varying grades of hair breakage and dermatitis on the lumbosacral region. This condition has been reported in Trichosurus spp. (brushtail possums) previously, but never in P. peregrinus. The etiology remains poorly understood.
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Komnenou AT, Gkafas GA, Kofidou E, Sarantopoulou J, Exadactylos A, Tounta E, Koemtzopoulos K, Dendrinos P, Karamanlidis AA, Gulland F, Papadopoulos E. First Report of Uncinaria hamiltoni in Orphan Eastern Mediterranean Monk Seal Pups in Greece and Its Clinical Significance. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10121581. [PMID: 34959536 PMCID: PMC8708642 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10121581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) is classified by the IUCN as “endangered,” with a global population estimated to number fewer than 800 individuals. Our understanding of the biology and health status of the species is still limited, rendering every medical case a challenge for conservationists and veterinary clinicians. Although studying and managing disease in wild marine hosts is complex and challenging, studying and mitigating the effects of any disease to the Mediterranean monk seal is of utmost importance for conservation. The aim of this study was to document for the first time the presence of the hookworm Uncinaria hamiltoni in rehabilitated Mediterranean monk seal pups in Greece. A detailed examination protocol was followed for all pups that live-stranded over 30 years in 22 different locations, including physical, parasitological, and other examinations. Hookworms (adults and/or eggs) were detected in all the fecal samples, from all animals. Molecular identification using MtDNA (COI) and ribosomal DNA (D2/D3 28S and internal transcribed spacer [ITS] regions) identified the nematode species as Uncinaria hamiltoni. The clinical impacts and the benefits of anthelmintic treatment as a tool for the conservation management of the species are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Th. Komnenou
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54627 Thessaloniki, Greece; (A.T.K.); (E.K.)
- MOm/Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal, 10682 Athens, Greece; (E.T.); (K.K.); (P.D.); (A.A.K.)
| | - George A. Gkafas
- Department of Ichthyology and Aquatic Environment, School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Thessaly, 38446 Volos, Greece; (G.A.G.); (J.S.); (A.E.)
| | - Evangelia Kofidou
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54627 Thessaloniki, Greece; (A.T.K.); (E.K.)
| | - Joanne Sarantopoulou
- Department of Ichthyology and Aquatic Environment, School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Thessaly, 38446 Volos, Greece; (G.A.G.); (J.S.); (A.E.)
| | - Athanasios Exadactylos
- Department of Ichthyology and Aquatic Environment, School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Thessaly, 38446 Volos, Greece; (G.A.G.); (J.S.); (A.E.)
| | - Eleni Tounta
- MOm/Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal, 10682 Athens, Greece; (E.T.); (K.K.); (P.D.); (A.A.K.)
| | - Kimon Koemtzopoulos
- MOm/Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal, 10682 Athens, Greece; (E.T.); (K.K.); (P.D.); (A.A.K.)
| | - Panagiotis Dendrinos
- MOm/Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal, 10682 Athens, Greece; (E.T.); (K.K.); (P.D.); (A.A.K.)
| | - Alexandros A. Karamanlidis
- MOm/Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal, 10682 Athens, Greece; (E.T.); (K.K.); (P.D.); (A.A.K.)
| | - Frances Gulland
- Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Heath Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA;
- Marine Mammal Commission, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Elias Papadopoulos
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54627 Thessaloniki, Greece; (A.T.K.); (E.K.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +30-6944882872
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Veitch JSM, Bowman J, Mastromonaco G, Schulte-Hostedde AI. Corticosterone response by Peromyscus mice to parasites, reproductive season, and age. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2021; 300:113640. [PMID: 33017585 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2020.113640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
A common response to parasite infestations is increased production of glucocorticoid hormones that regulate immune function. We examined relationships between ectoparasite infestations and fecal corticosterone metabolites (FCM) in deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus). Furthermore, we experimentally removed fleas to determine if reductions in ectoparasites affected FCM production. Individuals were assigned to control (no flea removal) or treatment (anti-flea application, physical combing) groups and individuals were recaptured to assess changes in FCM concentrations. There was a significant and negative effect of number of anti-flea treatment applications on FCM concentrations of deer mice. However, models including host biology traits and environmental predictors had a better model fit compared to models containing ectoparasite predictors. In particular, there was a significant relationship of deer mouse FCM with date and host age, where glucocorticoid production decreased towards the end of the breeding season and increased with age. Overall, adverse events associated with reproduction and age class, rather than ectoparasites, may be more important to variation in glucocorticoids of deer mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine S M Veitch
- Department of Biology, Laurentian University, 935 Ramsey Lake Road, Sudbury, ON P3E 2C6, Canada. https://www.0000-0003-0010-3475
| | - Jeff Bowman
- Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Wildlife Research and Monitoring Section, 2140 East Bank Drive, DNA Building, Peterborough, ON K9L 0G2, Canada; Trent University, 1600 East Bank Drive, Peterborough, ON K9L 0G2, Canada
| | - Gabriela Mastromonaco
- Reproductive Sciences, Toronto Zoo, 361A Old Finch Avenue, Toronto, ON M1B 5K7, Canada
| | - Albrecht I Schulte-Hostedde
- Department of Biology, Laurentian University, 935 Ramsey Lake Road, Sudbury, ON P3E 2C6, Canada. https://www.0000-0001-7263-4764
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Tolpinrud A, Firestone SM, Diaz-Méndez A, Wicker L, Lynch SE, Dunowska M, Devlin JM. Serological evidence for the presence of wobbly possum disease virus in Australia. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0237091. [PMID: 32750064 PMCID: PMC7402471 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0237091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Wobbly possum disease virus (WPDV) is an arterivirus that was originally identified in common brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) in New Zealand, where it causes severe neurological disease. In this study, serum samples (n = 188) from Australian common brushtail, mountain brushtail (Trichosurus cunninghami) and common ringtail (Pseudocheirus peregrinus) possums were tested for antibodies to WPDV using ELISA. Antibodies to WPDV were detected in possums from all three species that were sampled in the states of Victoria and South Australia. Overall, 16% (30/188; 95% CI 11.0-22.0) of possums were seropositive for WPDV and 11.7% (22/188; 95% CI 7.5-17.2) were equivocal. The frequency of WPDV antibody detection was the highest in possums from the two brushtail species. This is the first reported serological evidence of infection with WPDV, or an antigenically similar virus, in Australian possums, and the first study to find antibodies in species other than common brushtail possums. Attempts to detect viral RNA in spleens by PCR were unsuccessful. Further research is needed to characterise the virus in Australian possums and to determine its impact on the ecology of Australian marsupials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita Tolpinrud
- Asia Pacific Centre for Animal Health, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Australian Wildlife Health Centre, Healesville Sanctuary, Zoos Victoria, Badger Creek, Victoria, Australia
| | - Simon M Firestone
- Asia Pacific Centre for Animal Health, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Andrés Diaz-Méndez
- Asia Pacific Centre for Animal Health, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Leanne Wicker
- Australian Wildlife Health Centre, Healesville Sanctuary, Zoos Victoria, Badger Creek, Victoria, Australia
| | - Stacey E Lynch
- Agriculture Victoria Research, AgriBio Centre for AgriBioscience, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - Magdalena Dunowska
- School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Joanne M Devlin
- Asia Pacific Centre for Animal Health, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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Defolie C, Merkling T, Fichtel C. Patterns and variation in the mammal parasite-glucocorticoid relationship. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2020; 95:74-93. [PMID: 31608587 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2019] [Revised: 08/23/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Parasites are ubiquitous and can strongly affect their hosts through mechanisms such as behavioural changes, increased energetic costs and/or immunomodulation. When parasites are detrimental to their hosts, they should act as physiological stressors and elicit the release of glucocorticoids. Alternatively, previously elevated glucocorticoid levels could facilitate parasite infection due to neuroimmunomodulation. However, results are equivocal, with studies showing either positive, negative or no relationship between parasite infection and glucocorticoid levels. Since factors such as parasite type, infection severity or host age and sex can influence the parasite-glucocorticoid relationship, we review the main mechanisms driving this relationship. We then perform a phylogenetic meta-analysis of 110 records from 65 studies in mammalian hosts from experimental and observational studies to quantify the general direction of this relationship and to identify ecological and methodological drivers of the observed variability. Our review produced equivocal results concerning the direction of the relationship, but there was stronger support for a positive relationship, although causality remained unclear. Mechanisms such as host manipulation for parasite survival, host response to infection, cumulative effects of multiple stressors, and neuro-immunomodulatory effects of glucocorticoids could explain the positive relationship. Our meta-analysis results revealed an overall positive relationship between glucocorticoids and parasitism among both experimental and observational studies. Because all experimental studies included were parasite manipulations, we conclude that parasites caused in general an increase in glucocorticoid levels. To obtain a better understanding of the directionality of this link, experimental manipulation of glucocorticoid levels is now required to assess the causal effects of high glucocorticoid levels on parasite infection. Neither parasite type, the method used to assess parasite infection nor phylogeny influenced the relationship, and there was no evidence for publication bias. Future studies should attempt to be as comprehensive as possible, including moderators potentially influencing the parasite-glucocorticoid relationship. We particularly emphasise the importance of testing hosts of a broad age range, concomitantly measuring sex hormone levels or at least reproductive status, and for observational studies, also considering food availability, host body condition and social stressors to obtain a better understanding of the parasite-glucocorticoid relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Defolie
- Sociobiology/Anthropology Department, University of Göttingen, Kellnerweg 6, 37077, Göttingen, Germany.,Behavioral Ecology & Sociobiology Unit, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Kellnerweg 4, 37077, Göttingen, Germany.,Leibniz ScienceCampus "Primate Cognition", German Primate Center, Kellnerweg 4, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Thomas Merkling
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Macdonald-Stewart Building, 21111 Lakeshore Road, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Québec, H9X 3V9, Canada
| | - Claudia Fichtel
- Behavioral Ecology & Sociobiology Unit, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Kellnerweg 4, 37077, Göttingen, Germany.,Leibniz ScienceCampus "Primate Cognition", German Primate Center, Kellnerweg 4, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
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Narayan EJ. Evaluation of physiological stress in Australian wildlife: Embracing pioneering and current knowledge as a guide to future research directions. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2017; 244:30-39. [PMID: 26686317 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2015.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2015] [Revised: 12/02/2015] [Accepted: 12/09/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Australia has a rich terrestrial and marine biodiversity and high species endemism. However, the oceanic continent is facing the biodiversity extinction crisis. The primary factors are anthropogenic induced environmental changes, including wildlife habitat destruction through urbanisation and predation by feral animals (e.g. red foxes and feral cats), increased severity of diseases (e.g. chytridiomycosis and chlamydia), and increased occurrence of summer heat waves and bush fires. Stress physiology is a dynamic field of science based on the studies of endocrine system functioning in animals. The primary stress regulator is the hypothalamo-pituitary adrenal (interrenal) axis and glucocorticoids (corticosterone and/or cortisol) provide stress index across vertebrate groups. This review paper focuses on physiological stress assessments in Australian wildlife using examples of amphibians, reptiles, birds and marsupials. I provide a thorough discussion of pioneering studies that have shaped the field of stress physiology in Australian wildlife species. The main findings point towards key aspects of stress endocrinology research, such as quantification of biologically active levels of glucocorticoids, development of species-specific GC assays and applications of stress physiology approaches in field ecology and wildlife conservation programs. Furthermore, I also discuss the importance of chronic stress assessment in wildlife populations. Finally, I provide a conceptual framework presenting key research questions in areas of wildlife stress physiology research. In conclusion, wildlife management programs can immensely benefit from stress physiology assessments to gauge the impact of human interventions on wildlife such as species translocation and feral species eradication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward J Narayan
- Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation & School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Science, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2678, Australia.
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Stannard HJ, Thompson P, McAllan BM, Raubenheimer D. Hematology and serum biochemistry reference ranges of healthy captive Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii) and their association with age, gender and seasonal variation. Mamm Biol 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mambio.2016.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Marcus AD, Higgins DP, Gray R. Health assessment of free-ranging endangered Australian sea lion (Neophoca cinerea) pups: effect of haematophagous parasites on haematological parameters. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2015; 184:132-43. [PMID: 25724096 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2015.02.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2014] [Revised: 02/19/2015] [Accepted: 02/19/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Evaluation of the health status of free-ranging populations is important for understanding the impact of disease on individuals and on population demography and viability. In this study, haematological reference intervals were developed for free-ranging endangered Australian sea lion (Neophoca cinerea) pups within the context of endemic hookworm (Uncinaria sanguinis) infection and the effects of pathogen, host, and environment factors on the variability of haematological parameters were investigated. Uncinaria sanguinis was identified as an important agent of disease, with infection causing regenerative anaemia, hypoproteinaemia, and a predominantly lymphocytic-eosinophilic systemic inflammatory response. Conversely, the effects of sucking lice (Antarctophthirus microchir) were less apparent and infestation in pups appears unlikely to cause clinical impact. Overall, the effects of U. sanguinis, A. microchir, host factors (standard length, body condition, pup sex, moult status, and presence of lesions), and environment factors (capture-type and year of sampling) accounted for 26-65% of the total variance observed in haematological parameters. Importantly, this study demonstrated that anaemia in neonatal Australian sea lion pups is not solely a benign physiological response to host-environment changes, but largely reflects a significant pathological process. This impact of hookworm infection on pup health has potential implications for the development of foraging and diving behaviour, which would subsequently influence the independent survival of juveniles following weaning. The haematological reference intervals developed in this study can facilitate long-term health surveillance, which is critical for the early recognition of changes in disease impact and to inform conservation management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan D Marcus
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, McMaster Building B14, Camperdown, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Damien P Higgins
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, McMaster Building B14, Camperdown, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Rachael Gray
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, McMaster Building B14, Camperdown, New South Wales 2006, Australia.
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