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Gourlay KP, McAdie ML, Gorrell JC. POPULATION DYNAMICS OF ENTERIC PARASITES IN THE ENDANGERED VANCOUVER ISLAND MARMOT (MARMOTA VANCOUVERENSIS). J Parasitol 2024; 110:300-310. [PMID: 39034041 DOI: 10.1645/24-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Enteric parasites can have wide-ranging effects throughout an ecosystem, often driving coevolutionary and ecological processes. Parasites have long been overlooked in conservation efforts because of the negative impact inflicted on their hosts; however, parasites make up a significant component of Earth's biodiversity and host conservation efforts need to be parasite inclusive. The Vancouver Island marmot (VIM), Marmota vancouverensis, is an endangered alpine rodent endemic to Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. Captive-bred VIMs are released to augment the wild population, but their susceptibility to parasites is unknown. The objectives of this study were to describe the diversity, prevalence, severity, and temporal variation of VIM enteric parasites. Noninvasive fecal samples were collected from wild and captive marmots and analyzed using a modified McMaster fecal egg floatation technique to indicate parasite prevalence and relative mean abundance. We identified oocysts and ova from 3 parasite taxa including a protozoan coccidium not previously described in the VIM (prevalence 68%), an ascarid nematode Baylisascaris laevis (prevalence 82%), and an anoplocephalid cestode Diandrya vancouverensis (prevalence 8%). Depending on the species, comparisons revealed variation in parasite infection by sex, by colony, and between wild and captive VIMs, but not among age classes or by female reproductive status. Finally, captive VIMs displayed significant monthly variation in parasite prevalence and mean egg abundance, suggesting a seasonal influence on parasite egg shedding. This information is critically important for future research investigating the influences of these trends on the health, ecology, and conservation of VIMs and their parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin P Gourlay
- Biology Department, Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo, British Columbia V9R 5S5, Canada
- Marmot Recovery Foundation, Nanaimo, British Columbia V9R 6X9, Canada
| | - Malcolm L McAdie
- Marmot Recovery Foundation, Nanaimo, British Columbia V9R 6X9, Canada
| | - Jamieson C Gorrell
- Biology Department, Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo, British Columbia V9R 5S5, Canada
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2
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Horrocks M, Presswell B. The cestode Stringopotaenia psittacea (Fuhrmann, 1904) (Cestoda: Anoplocephalidae) from a critically endangered New Zealand bird: New evidence from ancient coprolites. J Helminthol 2023; 97:e93. [PMID: 38053349 DOI: 10.1017/s0022149x23000780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
New Zealand's kākāpō parrot, once widespread, is now critically endangered due to habitat loss and introduced mammalian predators. Prior to major population decline, a unique kākāpō cestode, Stringopotaenia psittacea, was found in the 1880s and first described in 1904. Here we report the discovery of eggs of this cestode in kākāpō coprolites of pre-human settlement age from the Honeycomb Hill cave system, north-west Nelson. Analysis of 52 samples, including coprolites of post-human settlement age, from nine sites within six South Island locations across a wide geographic range, yielded only eight infected samples in this single cave system. Results suggest that prior to human settlement, S.psittacea was not widespread within and between kākāpō populations, in marked contrast to other parasite types of the extinct moa spp. Intense management of the last remaining kākāpō has endangered or possibly caused the extinction of this cestode. This is the first confirmed record of S.psittacea since its discovery in 1884.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Horrocks
- Microfossil Research Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand
- School of Environment, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - B Presswell
- Evolutionary and Ecological Parasitology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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3
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Lymbery AJ, Smit NJ. Conservation of parasites: A primer. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2023; 21:255-263. [PMID: 37483309 PMCID: PMC10359719 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2023.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
Although parasites make up a substantial proportion of the biotic component of ecosystems, in terms of both biomass and number of species, they are rarely considered in conservation planning, except where they are thought to pose a threat to the conservation of their hosts. In this review, we address a number of unresolved questions concerning parasite conservation. Arguments for conserving parasite species refer to the intrinsic value conferred by their evolutionary heritage and potential, their functional role in the provision of ecosystem services, and their value as indicators of ecosystem quality. We propose that proper consideration of these arguments mean that it is not logically defensible to automatically exclude parasite species from conservation decisions; rather, endangered hosts and parasites should be considered together as a threatened ecological community. The extent to which parasites are threatened with extinction is difficult to estimate with any degree of confidence, because so many parasite species have yet to be identified and, even for those which have been formally described, we have limited information on the factors affecting their distribution and abundance. This lack of ecological information may partially explain the under-representation of parasites on threatened species lists. Effective conservation of parasites requires maintaining access to suitable hosts and the ecological conditions that permit successful transmission between hosts. When implementing recovery plans for threatened host species, this may be best achieved by attempting to restore the ecological conditions that maintain the host and its parasite fauna in dynamic equilibrium. Ecosystem-centred conservation may be a more effective strategy than species-centred (or host-parasite community-centred) approaches for preventing extinction of parasites, but the criteria which are typically used to identify protected areas do not provide information on the ecological conditions required for effective transmission. We propose a simple decision tree to aid the identification of appropriate conservation actions for threatened parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan J. Lymbery
- Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, 6150, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Nico J. Smit
- Water Research Group, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa
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4
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Zamora-Mejías D, Trejo-Salazar RE, Eguiarte LE, Ojeda M, Rodríguez-Herrera B, Morales-Malacara JB, Medellín RA. Traveler Mites: Population Genetic Structure of the Wing Mites Periglischrus paracaligus (Acari: Mesostigmata: Spinturnicidae). JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2022; 59:1198-1210. [PMID: 35639803 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjac059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2020] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Wing mites of the genus Periglischrus are ectoparasites exclusively associated with phyllostomid bats. These mites show high host specificity and have been studied to understand the evolutionary history of their bat hosts mainly by using a morphological variation. Through a phylogeographic approach, we analyzed the genetic diversity and population genetic structure of the ectoparasite Periglischrus paracaligus Herrin and Tipton which parasitizes Leptonycteris yerbabuenae Martínez and Villa (lesser long-nosed bat) in Mexico. By the implementation of a multilocus approach, we found that P. paracaligus populations were diverse for haplotype diversity, and had values ranging from 0.5 to 1. No genetic structuring in the P. paracaligus parasites was observed along with the distribution of the host, L. yerbabuenae, in Mexico, nor when populations or regions were compared, but our results revealed a process of historical demographic expansion in all the analyzed markers. We discuss possible scenarios that could explain the lack of population structure in the light of the data analyzed for the parasites and the biology of L. yerbabuenae, such as the interplay between parasite and host traits being responsible for the genetic make-up of parasite populations. We also inferred its phylogenetic position among wing mites parasitizing the two other species of Leptonycteris bats. Long-nosed bats' monophyly helps to explain the observed presence of distinctive clades in the wing mite's phylogeny in specific association with each long-nosed bat host species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Zamora-Mejías
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Tercer Circuito Exterior s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, CP 04510, México
- Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 70-275 04510, Circuito Exterior s/n Anexo al Jardín Botánico, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, CP 04510, México
- Universidad de Costa Rica, A.P. 2060, San Pedro de Montes de Oca, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Roberto-Emiliano Trejo-Salazar
- Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias Biomédicas, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito Exterior s/n Anexo al Jardín Botánico, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, CP 04510, México
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Tercer Circuito Exterior s/n Anexo al Jardín Botánico, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, CP 04510, México
| | - Luis E Eguiarte
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Tercer Circuito Exterior s/n Anexo al Jardín Botánico, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, CP 04510, México
| | - Margarita Ojeda
- Laboratorio de Ecología y Sistemática de Microartrópodos, Departamento de Ecología y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito Exterior s/n, Coyoacán, Ciudad Universitaria, 04510, Ciudad de México, México
| | | | - Juan B Morales-Malacara
- Unidad Multidisciplinaria de Docencia e Investigación, Facultad de Ciencias, Campus Juriquilla, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro, 76230, México
| | - Rodrigo A Medellín
- Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 70-275 04510, Circuito Exterior s/n Anexo al Jardín Botánico, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, CP 04510, México
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Unintentional Recovery of Parasitic Diversity Following Restoration of Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) in North-Western Italy. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12111433. [PMID: 35681897 PMCID: PMC9179837 DOI: 10.3390/ani12111433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 05/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary In the early sixties, free ranging red deer (Cervus elaphus, L.) were absent in Piedmont. Human-driven translocations and spontaneous migration of red deer from Switzerland and France resulted in the successful redistribution of this wild ungulate. In parallel, host-specific parasites harbored by red deer populations disappeared in the same area until the restoration of red deer in north-western Italy. The parasitic community has been enriched with at least two species-specific taxa, Onchocerca jakutensis and Pharyngomyia picta, suggesting that the recovery of parasitic biodiversity could be included amongst future conservation goals of this intensively managed game. Abstract Red deer (Cervus elaphus) populations in north-western Italy have been remodeled in recent decades. Multiple translocations and the spontaneous migration from Switzerland and France resulted in the successful redistribution of the red deer after human-driven extirpation during the 18th century. The scarcely diverse parasitic community harbored by these cervids has been enriched with two species-specific taxa, Onchocerca jakutensis and Phayigomyia picta, suggesting that the recovery of parasitic biodiversity could be included amongst future conservation goals of this intensively managed game. Nodular onchocercosis was reported in three red deer populations since 2011, while nasal bots were reported since 2018. Hypoderma spp. larvae were identified for the first time in 1989, then a second record was made in 2014 in the province of Biella, where a yearling male in poor condition infested with Hypoderma diana was observed. In the perspective that the restoration of species-specific parasite communities of native mammals in Europe is increasingly perceived as a conservation target, with similar dignity as the conservation of their hosts, baseline data presented in this communication may give new insights for future parasite conservation efforts.
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6
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Dunlop JA, Watson MJ. The hitchhiker's guide to Australian conservation: A parasitological perspective on fauna translocations. AUSTRAL ECOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/aec.13171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Judy A. Dunlop
- School of Agriculture and Environment University of Western Australia Perth Western Australia Australia
- Western Australian Feral Cat Working Group Perth Western Australia Australia
- Institute for Land, Water & Society Charles Sturt University Albury New South Wales Australia
- Western Australian Biodiversity Science Institute 2/133 St George's Terrace Perth Western Australia 6000 Australia
| | - Maggie J. Watson
- Institute for Land, Water & Society Charles Sturt University Albury New South Wales Australia
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7
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Bethge J, Razafimampiandra JC, Wulff A, Dausmann KH. Seasonal changes in the parasite prevalence of a small Malagasy lemur species (Lepilemur edwardsi). Integr Zool 2022; 18:427-439. [PMID: 35276032 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Parasitic infections can impact the fitness of individuals and can have influence on animals' population dynamics. An individuals' parasite prevalence often changes depending on external or seasonal changes, e.g., rainfall and ambient temperatures, but also on internal changes, e.g., changes in body condition. In this study we aimed to identify the environmental factors that may influence the intestinal parasite and ectoparasite prevalence of the folivorous Malagasy primate species, Lepilemur edwardsi, living in a seasonal dry deciduous forest. Species living in this habitat have to adapt to seasonal changes of ambient temperature, with almost no precipitation during the dry season and hence strong fluctuations of resource availability throughout the year. We sampled the feces and ectoparasites of L. edwardsi throughout the year. Intestinal parasite prevalence increased from the wet to the dry season and was highest in the late dry season, which might be due to the accompanying decrease in diet-quality. Conversely, ectoparasite prevalence decreased in the dry season, presumably due to the prevailing unfavorable environmental conditions for the development of ectoparasites (i.e., mites and ticks). Paired with the higher resting metabolism and stress level of L. edwardsi during the late dry season, it seems that this species may struggle when dry seasons intensify in its habitat. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janina Bethge
- Institute of Zoology, Functional Ecology, Universität Hamburg, Martin-Luther-King-Platz 3, Hamburg, 20146, Germany
| | - Jean Claude Razafimampiandra
- Mention Zoologie et Biodiversité Animale, Faculté des Sciences, Université d'Antananarivo, B.P. 906, 101, Antananarivo, Madagascar
| | - Arne Wulff
- Institute of Zoology, Functional Ecology, Universität Hamburg, Martin-Luther-King-Platz 3, Hamburg, 20146, Germany
| | - Kathrin H Dausmann
- Institute of Zoology, Functional Ecology, Universität Hamburg, Martin-Luther-King-Platz 3, Hamburg, 20146, Germany
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8
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Giardia duodenalis in Wildlife: Exploring Genotype Diversity in Italy and across Europe. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11010105. [PMID: 35056053 PMCID: PMC8777849 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11010105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2021] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Fragmented data are so far available on genotype diversity of G. duodenalis in wildlife in different countries in Europe, in particular, in Italy. In the present study, G. duodenalis sequences obtained from different Italian wild animals [12 porcupines (Hystrix cristata), 4 wild boars (Sus scrofa), 1 wolf (Canis lupus italicus), 6 Alpine chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra rupicapra)] were compared with those available from wild host species in Europe to add new data on the geographic distribution of Giardia assemblages/sub-assemblages and their transmission patterns among natural hosts. Thirty-eight sequences were obtained by MLG analysis (SSU-rRNA, bg, gdh, and tpi genes) and subsequently compared by phylogenetic and network analyses with those from wild species monitored in the last decades in Europe. The results revealed the presence of potentially zoonotic (A-AI, A-AII from wild boar; B from porcupine) and host-adapted (D from wolf; E, A-AIII from chamois) assemblages and sub-assemblages and represent the first report for Italian wild boar. The analysis did not find any evidence of spatial or host segregation for specific genetic variants, mostly shared between different hosts from different European countries. However, conflicting evidence was found in genotypic assignment, advocating for data improvement and new genomic approaches.
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9
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Khanyari M, Suryawanshi KR, Milner-Gulland EJ, Dickinson E, Khara A, Rana RS, Rose Vineer H, Morgan ER. Predicting Parasite Dynamics in Mixed-Use Trans-Himalayan Pastures to Underpin Management of Cross-Transmission Between Livestock and Bharal. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:714241. [PMID: 34660759 PMCID: PMC8511524 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.714241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The complexities of multi-use landscapes require sophisticated approaches to addressing disease transmission risks. We explored gastro-intestinal nematode (GINs) infections in the North India Trans-Himalayas through a socio-ecological lens, integrating parasite transmission modelling with field surveys and local knowledge, and evaluated the likely effectiveness of potential interventions. Bharal (blue sheep; Pseudois nayaur), a native wild herbivore, and livestock share pasture year-round and livestock commonly show signs of GINs infection. While both wild and domestic ungulates had GINs infections, egg counts indicated significantly higher parasite burdens in bharal than livestock. However, due to higher livestock densities, they contributed more to the total count of eggs and infective larvae on pasture. Herders also reported health issues in their sheep and goats consistent with parasite infections. Model simulations suggested that pasture infectivity in this system is governed by historical pasture use and gradually accumulated larval development during the summer, with no distinct short-term flashpoints for transmission. The most effective intervention was consequently predicted to be early-season parasite suppression in livestock using temperature in spring as a cue. A 1-month pause in egg output from livestock could lead to a reduction in total annual availability of infective larvae on pasture of 76%, potentially benefitting the health of both livestock and bharal. Modelling suggested that climate change over the past 33 years has led to no overall change in GINs transmission potential, but an increase in the relative influence of temperature over precipitation in driving pasture infectivity. Our study provides a transferable multi-pronged approach to investigating disease transmission, in order to support herders' livelihoods and conserve wild ungulates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Munib Khanyari
- Nature Conservation Foundation, Bangalore, India.,Interdisciplinary Centre for Conservation Sciences, Oxford, United Kingdom.,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | | | - E J Milner-Gulland
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Conservation Sciences, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Eleanor Dickinson
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Hannah Rose Vineer
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Eric R Morgan
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom.,School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University, Belfast, United Kingdom
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10
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Eleftheriou A. Implications for One Health of Anthelmintic Use in Wildlife Conservation Programs. ECOHEALTH 2021; 18:280-282. [PMID: 34601702 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-021-01556-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2020] [Revised: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Eleftheriou
- Wildlife Biology Program, University of Montana, 32 Campus Drive, FOR 109, Missoula, MT, 59812, USA.
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11
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Nyman T, Papadopoulou E, Ylinen E, Wutke S, Michell CT, Sromek L, Sinisalo T, Andrievskaya E, Alexeev V, Kunnasranta M. DNA barcoding reveals different cestode helminth species in northern European marine and freshwater ringed seals. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE 2021; 15:255-261. [PMID: 34277335 PMCID: PMC8261468 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2021.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Three subspecies of the ringed seal (Pusa hispida) are found in northeastern Europe: P. h. botnica in the Baltic Sea, P. h saimensis in Lake Saimaa in Finland, and P. h. ladogensis in Lake Ladoga in Russia. We investigated the poorly-known cestode helminth communities of these closely related but ecologically divergent subspecies using COI barcode data. Our results show that, while cestodes from the Baltic Sea represent Schistocephalus solidus, all worms from the two lakes are identified as Ligula intestinalis, a species that has previously not been reported from seals. The observed shift in cestode communities appears to be driven by differential availability of intermediate fish host species in marine vs. freshwater environments. Both observed cestode species normally infect fish-eating birds, so further work is required to elucidate the health and conservation implications of cestode infections in European ringed seals, whether L. intestinalis occurs also in marine ringed seals, and whether the species is able to reproduce in seal hosts. In addition, a deep barcode divergence found within S. solidus suggests the presence of cryptic diversity under this species name. COI barcoding reveals different cestodes in marine and freshwater ringed seals. Ligula intestinalis is reported for the first time from seals. A deep barcode divergence is found within Schistocephalus solidus in the Baltic Sea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tommi Nyman
- Department of Ecosystems in the Barents Region, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, Svanvik, Norway
| | - Elena Papadopoulou
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland
| | - Eeva Ylinen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland
| | - Saskia Wutke
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland
| | - Craig T Michell
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland
| | - Ludmila Sromek
- Department of Marine Ecosystems Functioning, Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdansk, Gdynia, Poland
| | - Tuula Sinisalo
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | | | | | - Mervi Kunnasranta
- Natural Resources Institute Finland, Joensuu, Finland.,Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland
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12
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Khanyari M, Robinson S, Morgan ER, Brown T, Singh NJ, Salemgareyev A, Zuther S, Kock R, Milner‐Gulland EJ. Building an ecologically founded disease risk prioritization framework for migratory wildlife species based on contact with livestock. J Appl Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Munib Khanyari
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Bristol Bristol UK
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Conservation Sciences (ICCS) Department of Zoology University of Oxford Oxford UK
- Nature Conservation Foundation Mysore India
| | - Sarah Robinson
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Conservation Sciences (ICCS) Department of Zoology University of Oxford Oxford UK
| | - Eric R. Morgan
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Bristol Bristol UK
- School of Biological Sciences Queen's University Belfast Belfast UK
| | - Tony Brown
- School of Biological Sciences Queen's University Belfast Belfast UK
| | | | - Albert Salemgareyev
- Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan Astana Kazakhstan
| | - Steffen Zuther
- Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan Astana Kazakhstan
- Frankfurt Zoological Society Frankfurt Germany
| | | | - E. J. Milner‐Gulland
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Conservation Sciences (ICCS) Department of Zoology University of Oxford Oxford UK
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13
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A RETROSPECTIVE REVIEW OF POST-METAMORPHIC MOUNTAIN CHICKEN FROG ( LEPTODACTYLUS FALLAX) NECROPSY FINDINGS FROM EUROPEAN ZOOLOGICAL COLLECTIONS, 1998 TO 2018. J Zoo Wildl Med 2021; 52:133-144. [PMID: 33827170 DOI: 10.1638/2019-0158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The mountain chicken frog (Leptodactylus fallax) is the largest endemic amphibian species in the Western Hemisphere. Since 1998, this critically endangered species has been maintained as a European Endangered Species Programme, but low breeding success and a high mortality rate threaten the sustainability of the captive frog population. In the current study, we analyzed gross and histopathologic postmortem information from 212 mountain chicken frogs that died in European zoological collections from 1998 to 2018. Thin body condition was the most commonly reported finding across all submissions, observed in 125 frogs. The gastrointestinal and urinary systems were reported to have the highest prevalence of pathologic findings on gross and histopathologic examination. Inflammatory disease was the most frequent diagnosis after histopathologic examination of relevant tissues, with intestinal inflammatory disease (n = 76) followed by tubulointerstitial nephritis (n = 26) being the most commonly reported. Neoplasia was reported in 42 of 212 (19.8%) frogs, all of which were adults. A defined cause of death, or reason for euthanasia, was proposed for 164 of 212 (77.4%) frogs, with inflammatory diseases processes (74 of 212; 34.9%) most commonly implicated. Intestinal adenocarcinoma, seemingly restricted to the colon, caused the deaths of 31 adult frogs. Further investigations to determine factors contributing to the high incidence of inflammatory disease processes and neoplasia are advocated to improve the health and sustainability of the captive mountain chicken frog population.
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14
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MODIFIED LIVE DISTEMPER VACCINES CARRY LOW MORTALITY RISK FOR CAPTIVE AFRICAN WILD DOGS, LYCAON PICTUS. J Zoo Wildl Med 2021; 52:176-184. [PMID: 33827174 DOI: 10.1638/2020-0045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, canine distemper virus (CDV) has been linked to population declines in the endangered African wild dog (Lycaon pictus). As CDV appears able to persist in wildlife, threats to free-ranging wild dogs cannot be eliminated by vaccinating domestic dogs. Conservation managers may therefore consider CDV vaccination of wild dogs in highly threatened populations. For use in field conservation, the ideal CDV vaccine would be safe, immunogenic, and readily available in Africa. The CDV vaccine type most commonly used for domestic dogs (modified live vaccine) is available in Africa, and apparently immunogenic in wild dogs, but has been linked to fatal vaccine-induced distemper in captive wild dogs. However, alternatives are either ineffective (inactivated vaccine) or difficult to obtain in Africa (recombinant vaccine). Data from a questionnaire survey of zoo vaccination practices were therefore combined with studbook tracing to assess the safety of modified live CDV vaccine in captive African wild dogs. Among 135 wild dog pups given modified live CDV vaccine for the first time, there was a single, unconfirmed, case of potential vaccine-induced distemper. Pups given modified live vaccine survived better than those given inactivated vaccine or no vaccine. Although studbook tracing revealed higher overall pup survival at zoos which responded to the questionnaire than at zoos which did not, tracing of all pups born during a 20-yr period that lived long enough to be vaccinated (n = 698 pups in 155 litters) revealed no mortality events consistent with vaccine-induced distemper. Modified live CDV vaccine thus appears to carry low mortality risks for African wild dog pups in captivity, and may warrant trials in free-ranging populations.
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Galosi L, Attili AR, Perrucci S, Origgi FC, Tambella AM, Rossi G, Cuteri V, Napoleoni M, Mandolini NA, Perugini G, Loehr VJT. Health assessment of wild speckled dwarf tortoises, CHERSOBIUS SIGNATUS. BMC Vet Res 2021; 17:102. [PMID: 33663511 PMCID: PMC7934230 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-021-02800-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In free-ranging reptile populations, bacterial, fungal, viral and parasitic pathogens may affect hosts through impairment in movements, thermoregulation, reproduction, survival, and population dynamics. The speckled dwarf tortoise (Chersobius [Homopus] signatus) is a threatened species that is mostly restricted to the Succulent Karoo biome in South Africa, and little information on pathogens of this species is available yet. We derived baseline parameters for five males and five females that were captured to genetically enhance a conservation breeding program in Europe. Upon collection of the tortoises, ticks were removed and identified. Immediately upon arrival in Europe, ocular, nasal, oral and cloacal swabs were taken for viral, bacteriological and mycological examinations. Fecal samples were collected before and 1 month after fenbendazole treatment, and analyzed for parasites. A panel of PCR, aiming to detect herpesviruses, adenoviruses and iridoviruses, was carried out. RESULTS Samples were negative for viruses, while bacteriological examination yielded detectable growth in 82.5% of the swabs with a mean load of 16 × 107 ± 61 × 108 colony forming units (CFU) per swab, representing 34 bacterial species. Cloacal and oral swabs yielded higher detectable growth loads than nasal and ocular swabs, but no differences between sexes were observed. Fungi and yeasts (mean load 5 × 103 ± 13 × 103 CFU/swab) were detected in 25% of the swabs. All pre-treatment fecal samples were positive for oxyurid eggs, ranging from 200 to 2400 eggs per gram of feces, whereas after the treatment a significantly reduced egg count (90-100% reduction) was found in seven out of 10 individuals. One remaining individual showed 29% reduction, and two others had increased egg counts. In five tortoises, Nycthocterus spp. and coccidian oocysts were also identified. Soft ticks were identified as Ornithodoros savignyi. CONCLUSIONS Our baseline data from clinically healthy individuals will help future studies to interpret prevalences of microorganisms in speckled dwarf tortoise populations. The study population did not appear immediately threatened by current parasite presence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Livio Galosi
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62024, Matelica, Italy.
| | - Anna Rita Attili
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62024, Matelica, Italy
| | - Stefania Perrucci
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Pisa, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesco C Origgi
- Centre for Fish and Wildlife Health (FIWI), DIP, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3001, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Adolfo Maria Tambella
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62024, Matelica, Italy
| | - Giacomo Rossi
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62024, Matelica, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Cuteri
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62024, Matelica, Italy
| | - Maira Napoleoni
- Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute (IZS) of Umbria and Marche 'Togo Rosati', 06126, Perugia, Italy
| | | | - Gianni Perugini
- Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute (IZS) of Umbria and Marche 'Togo Rosati', 06126, Perugia, Italy
| | - Victor J T Loehr
- Dwarf Tortoise Conservation, Kwikstaartpad 1, 3403ZH, IJsselstein, Netherlands
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Mather E, Fogell DJ, McCready M, McInnes K, Ewen JG. Testing management alternatives for controlling nest parasites in an endangered bird. Anim Conserv 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- E. Mather
- Institute of Zoology Zoological Society of London London UK
- Royal Veterinary College London UK
| | - D. J. Fogell
- Institute of Zoology Zoological Society of London London UK
- Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology School of Anthropology and Conservation University of Kent Canterbury UK
| | - M. McCready
- Hihi Conservation Charitable Trust Wellington New Zealand
| | - K. McInnes
- Department of Conservation Conservation House – Whare Kaupapa Atawhai Wellington New Zealand
| | - J. G. Ewen
- Institute of Zoology Zoological Society of London London UK
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Saidi A, Mimouni R, Hamadi F, Oubrou W. Coprological Survey of Protostrongylid Infections in Antelopes from Souss-Massa National Park (Morocco). Helminthologia 2020; 57:306-313. [PMID: 33364899 PMCID: PMC7734666 DOI: 10.2478/helm-2020-0045] [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: 01/08/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Protostrongylids, small nematode lungworms, are an integral part of the wild ruminant helminth community, which can damage animals' health when they are held in captivity or semi-captive conditions. The Sahelo-Saharan antelope species dorcas gazelle (Gazella dorcas), the scimitar-horned oryx (Oryx dammah), and the addax (Addax nasomacculatus), reintroduced to Souss-Massa National Park in Morocco, could be host to many species of Protostrongylids. This study was conducted from January to July 2015 to identify infecting parasite species, and determine their prevalence and abundance in all three antelope species. A total of 180 individual fecal samples were collected, morphologically examined by the Baermann technique, and molecularly identified by PCR amplification and sequencing of the second internal transcribed spacer region of the rDNA (ITS-2). Two parasite species were found in the three antelope populations: Muellerius capillaris and Neostrongylus linearis. The prevalence scores recorded for M. capillaris were 98.40 % in the addax, 96.70 % in dorcas gazelle, and 28.40 % in the oryx. The prevalence rates of N. linearis were 60 % in the addax, 23.40 % in dorcas gazelle, and 90 % in the oryx. Excreted larvae were quantified by LPG (larvae per gram) counting: for M. capillaris, the LPG mean values were 92.94 in the addax, 133.09 in dorcas gazelle, and 1.48 in the oryx; and for N. linearis, the LPG mean values were 6.02 in the addax, 1.37 in dorcas gazelle, and 32.81 in the oryx. These findings indicate that the three species of antelopes are infected with Muellerius capillaris and Neostrongylus linearis to varying degrees in intensity and prevalence.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Saidi
- Agadir Regional Laboratory of ONSSA, Agadir 80000, Morocco
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Ibn Zohr University, Agadir 80000, Morocco
| | - R. Mimouni
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Ibn Zohr University, Agadir 80000, Morocco
| | - F. Hamadi
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Ibn Zohr University, Agadir 80000, Morocco
| | - W. Oubrou
- Souss-Massa National Park, Agadir 80000, Morocco
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Alves F, Langmore N, Heinsohn R, Stojanovic D. ‘Self‐fumigation’ of nests by an endangered avian host using insecticide‐treated feathers increases reproductive success more than tenfold. Anim Conserv 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- F. Alves
- Division of Ecology and Evolution Research School of Biology Australian National University Canberra ACT Australia
- Fenner School of Environment and Society Australian National University Canberra ACT Australia
| | - N. Langmore
- Division of Ecology and Evolution Research School of Biology Australian National University Canberra ACT Australia
| | - R. Heinsohn
- Fenner School of Environment and Society Australian National University Canberra ACT Australia
| | - D. Stojanovic
- Fenner School of Environment and Society Australian National University Canberra ACT Australia
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Chen SH, Shen HM, Lu Y, Ai L, Chen JX, Xu XN, Song P, Cai YC, Zhou XN. Establishment and application of the National Parasitic Resource Center (NPRC) in China. ADVANCES IN PARASITOLOGY 2020; 110:373-400. [PMID: 32563332 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apar.2020.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The National Parasitic Resource Center (NPRC) was created in 2004. It is a first-level platform under the Basic Condition Platform Center of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China. The resource centre involves 21 depository institutions in 15 regions of the country, including human parasite and vector depository, animal parasite depository, plant nematode characteristic specimen library, medical insect characteristic specimen library, trematode model specimen library, parasite-vector/snail model specimen library, etc. After nearly 15 years of operation, the resource centre has been built into a physical library with a database of 11 phyla, 23 classes, 1115 species and 117,814 pieces of parasitic germplasm resources, and three live collection bases of parasitic germplasm resources. A variety of new parasite-related immunological and molecular biological detection and identification technologies produced by the resource centre are widely used in the fields of public health responses, risk assessments on food safety, and animal or plant quarantine. The NPRC is the largest and top level resource centre on parasitology in China, and it is a leading technology platform for collecting and identifying parasitic resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shao-Hong Chen
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, People's Republic of China; WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, People's Republic of China; National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, Ministry of Health, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Hai-Mo Shen
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, People's Republic of China; WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, People's Republic of China; National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, Ministry of Health, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Lu
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, People's Republic of China; WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, People's Republic of China; National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, Ministry of Health, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Lin Ai
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, People's Republic of China; WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, People's Republic of China; National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, Ministry of Health, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Jia-Xu Chen
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, People's Republic of China; WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, People's Republic of China; National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, Ministry of Health, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Xue-Nian Xu
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, People's Republic of China; WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, People's Republic of China; National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, Ministry of Health, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Peng Song
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, People's Republic of China; WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, People's Republic of China; National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, Ministry of Health, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu-Chun Cai
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, People's Republic of China; WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, People's Republic of China; National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, Ministry of Health, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Nong Zhou
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, People's Republic of China; School of Global Health, Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China; WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, People's Republic of China; National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, Ministry of Health, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
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Sevá ADP, Pena HFDJ, Nava A, Sousa AOD, Holsback L, Soares RM. Endoparasites in domestic animals surrounding an Atlantic Forest remnant, in São Paulo State, Brazil. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 27:13-19. [PMID: 29641793 DOI: 10.1590/s1984-29612017078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2017] [Accepted: 11/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Morro do Diabo State Park (MDSP) is a significant remnant of the Atlantic Rain Forest in Brazil and is surrounded by rural properties. In that area, wild and domestic animals and humans are in close contact, which facilitates the two-way flow of infectious diseases among them. We assessed endoparasites in domestic livestock from all rural properties surrounding MDSP. There were sampled 197 cattle, 37 horses, 11 sheep, 25 swine, 21 dogs, one cat and 62 groups of chickens from 10 large private properties and 75 rural settlements. Eimeria spp. was present in almost all hosts, excepted in horses, dogs and cats. Giardia cysts were present only in cattle. Nematodes were found in swine, ruminants and horses in high prevalence. Ancylostoma, Toxocara and Sarcocystis were found in dogs. Chickens were found with coccidia, Ascaridida and Capillaria spp.. These parasites can cause malnutrition and reproductive disorders for their hosts. Strategies to prevent and control the spread of endoparasites can improve wildlife, animal and human health in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anaiá da Paixão Sevá
- Laboratório de Epidemiologia e Bioestatística, Departamento de Medicina Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Hilda Fátima de Jesus Pena
- Laboratório de Parasitologia, Departamento de Medicina Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Alessandra Nava
- Instituto Leonidas & Maria Deane, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz - FIOCRUZ, Manaus, AM, Brasil
| | - Amanda Oliveira de Sousa
- Laboratório de Epidemiologia e Bioestatística, Departamento de Medicina Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Luciane Holsback
- Setor de Veterinária e Produção Animal, Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Estadual do Norte do Paraná - UENP, Bandeirantes, PR, Brasil
| | - Rodrigo Martins Soares
- Laboratório de Parasitologia, Departamento de Medicina Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
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21
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Thompson RA, Lymbery AJ, Godfrey SS. Parasites at Risk – Insights from an Endangered Marsupial. Trends Parasitol 2018; 34:12-22. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2017.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2017] [Revised: 09/04/2017] [Accepted: 09/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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22
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Klaus A, Zimmermann E, Röper KM, Radespiel U, Nathan S, Goossens B, Strube C. Co-infection patterns of intestinal parasites in arboreal primates (proboscis monkeys, Nasalis larvatus) in Borneo. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2017; 6:320-329. [PMID: 29988805 PMCID: PMC6031963 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2017.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2017] [Revised: 08/28/2017] [Accepted: 09/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Non-human primates of South-East Asia remain under-studied concerning parasite epidemiology and co-infection patterns. Simultaneously, efforts in conservation demand knowledge of parasite abundance and biodiversity in threatened species. The Endangered proboscis monkey, Nasalis larvatus, a primate flagship species for conservation in Borneo, was investigated in the present study. Habitat loss and fragmentation are among the greatest threats to bachelor and harem groups of this folivorous colobine. Designed as a follow-up study, prevalence and co-infection status of intestinal parasites from N. larvatus in a protected area in Malaysian Borneo were analyzed from fecal samples using a flotation method. For the first time, the intestinal parasite co-infection patterns were examined using quantitative analyses. Overall, 92.3% of fecal samples (N = 652) were positive for helminth eggs. Five helminth groups were detected: (1) trichurids (82.7% prevalence) including Trichuris spp. (82.1%) and Anatrichosoma spp. (1.4%), (2) strongyles (58.9%) including Trichostrongylus spp. (48.5%) and Oesophagostomum/Ternidens spp. (22.8%), (3) Strongyloides fuelleborni (32.7%), (4) Ascaris lumbricoides (8.6%), and (5) Enterobius spp. (5.5%). On average, an individual was co-infected with two different groups. Significant positive associations were found for co-infections of trichurids with strongyles and S. fuelleborni as well as S. fuelleborni with A. lumbricoides and strongyles. This study shows a high prevalence of various gastrointestinal helminths with potential transmission pathways primarily related to soil and with zoonotic relevance in wild proboscis monkeys in their remaining natural habitats. Observed positive associations of trichurids with strongyles and Strongyloides spp. may result from the high prevalence of trichurids. Similarly, positive associations between Strongyloides and Ascaris were found, both of which typically occur predominantly in juvenile hosts. These findings should be considered when proposing conservation actions in altered habitats nearby human settlements and when managing captive populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annette Klaus
- Institute for Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany
- Institute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany
| | - Elke Zimmermann
- Institute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany
| | - Kathrin Monika Röper
- Institute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany
| | - Ute Radespiel
- Institute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany
| | - Senthilvel Nathan
- Sabah Wildlife Department, 5th Floor, B Block, Wisma MUIS, 88100 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Benoit Goossens
- Sabah Wildlife Department, 5th Floor, B Block, Wisma MUIS, 88100 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
- Organisms and Environment Division, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, The Sir Martin Evans Building, Museum Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3AX, United Kingdom
- Danau Girang Field Centre, C/o Sabah Wildlife Department, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
- Sustainable Places Research Institute, Cardiff University, 33 Park Pl, Cardiff CF10 3BA, United Kingdom
| | - Christina Strube
- Institute for Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany
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Hayward MW, Ripple WJ, Kerley GIH, Landman M, Plotz RD, Garnett ST. Neocolonial Conservation: Is Moving Rhinos to Australia Conservation or Intellectual Property Loss. Conserv Lett 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/conl.12354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Matt W. Hayward
- College of Natural Sciences; Bangor University; Gwynedd LL572UW UK
- Centre for African Conservation Ecology; Nelson Mandela University; Port Elizabeth South Africa
| | - William J. Ripple
- Global Trophic Cascades Program, Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society; Oregon State University; Corvallis OR 97330 USA
| | - Graham I. H. Kerley
- Centre for African Conservation Ecology; Nelson Mandela University; Port Elizabeth South Africa
| | - Marietjie Landman
- Centre for African Conservation Ecology; Nelson Mandela University; Port Elizabeth South Africa
| | - Roan D. Plotz
- Centre for African Conservation Ecology; Nelson Mandela University; Port Elizabeth South Africa
- Centre for Biodiversity and Restoration Ecology, School of Biological Sciences; Victoria University of Wellington; New Zealand
| | - Stephen T. Garnett
- Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods; Charles Darwin University; Darwin Australia
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Northover AS, Godfrey SS, Lymbery AJ, Morris K, Wayne AF, Thompson RCA. Evaluating the Effects of Ivermectin Treatment on Communities of Gastrointestinal Parasites in Translocated Woylies (Bettongia penicillata). ECOHEALTH 2017; 14:117-127. [PMID: 26719294 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-015-1088-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2015] [Revised: 09/23/2015] [Accepted: 11/02/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Wildlife species are often treated with anti-parasitic drugs prior to translocation, despite the effects of this treatment being relatively unknown. Disruption of normal host-parasite relationships is inevitable during translocation, and targeted anti-parasitic drug treatment may exacerbate this phenomenon with inadvertent impacts on both target and non-target parasite species. Here, we investigate the effects of ivermectin treatment on communities of gastrointestinal parasites in translocated woylies (Bettongia penicillata). Faecal samples were collected at three time points (at the time of translocation, and 1 and 3 months post-translocation) and examined for nematode eggs and coccidian oocysts. Parasite prevalence and (for nematodes) abundance were estimated in both treated and untreated hosts. In our study, a single subcutaneous injection of ivermectin significantly reduced Strongyloides-like egg counts 1 month post-translocation. Strongyle egg counts and coccidia prevalence were not reduced by ivermectin treatment, but were strongly influenced by site. Likewise, month of sampling rather than ivermectin treatment positively influenced body condition in woylies post-translocation. Our results demonstrate the efficacy of ivermectin in temporarily reducing Strongyloides-like nematode abundance in woylies. We also highlight the possibility that translocation-induced changes to host density may influence coinfecting parasite abundance and host body condition post-translocation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy S Northover
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia.
| | - Stephanie S Godfrey
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia
| | - Alan J Lymbery
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia
| | - Keith Morris
- Science and Conservation Division, Western Australian Department of Parks and Wildlife, Woodvale, WA, 6946, Australia
| | - Adrian F Wayne
- Science and Conservation Division, Western Australian Department of Parks and Wildlife, Manjimup, WA, 6258, Australia
| | - R C Andrew Thompson
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia
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Dougherty ER, Carlson CJ, Bueno VM, Burgio KR, Cizauskas CA, Clements CF, Seidel DP, Harris NC. Paradigms for parasite conservation. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2016; 30:724-33. [PMID: 26400623 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.12634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2015] [Revised: 09/11/2015] [Accepted: 09/18/2015] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Parasitic species, which depend directly on host species for their survival, represent a major regulatory force in ecosystems and a significant component of Earth's biodiversity. Yet the negative impacts of parasites observed at the host level have motivated a conservation paradigm of eradication, moving us farther from attainment of taxonomically unbiased conservation goals. Despite a growing body of literature highlighting the importance of parasite-inclusive conservation, most parasite species remain understudied, underfunded, and underappreciated. We argue the protection of parasitic biodiversity requires a paradigm shift in the perception and valuation of their role as consumer species, similar to that of apex predators in the mid-20th century. Beyond recognizing parasites as vital trophic regulators, existing tools available to conservation practitioners should explicitly account for the unique threats facing dependent species. We built upon concepts from epidemiology and economics (e.g., host-density threshold and cost-benefit analysis) to devise novel metrics of margin of error and minimum investment for parasite conservation. We define margin of error as the risk of accidental host extinction from misestimating equilibrium population sizes and predicted oscillations, while minimum investment represents the cost associated with conserving the additional hosts required to maintain viable parasite populations. This framework will aid in the identification of readily conserved parasites that present minimal health risks. To establish parasite conservation, we propose an extension of population viability analysis for host-parasite assemblages to assess extinction risk. In the direst cases, ex situ breeding programs for parasites should be evaluated to maximize success without undermining host protection. Though parasitic species pose a considerable conservation challenge, adaptations to conservation tools will help protect parasite biodiversity in the face of an uncertain environmental future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric R Dougherty
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, Berkeley, 130 Mulford Hall, Berkeley, CA, 94720, U.S.A
| | - Colin J Carlson
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, Berkeley, 130 Mulford Hall, Berkeley, CA, 94720, U.S.A
| | - Veronica M Bueno
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, 75 N. Eagleville Road, Storrs, CT, 06269, U.S.A
| | - Kevin R Burgio
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, 75 N. Eagleville Road, Storrs, CT, 06269, U.S.A
| | - Carrie A Cizauskas
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, 106A Guyot Hall, Princeton, NJ, 08544, U.S.A
| | - Christopher F Clements
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Dana P Seidel
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, Berkeley, 130 Mulford Hall, Berkeley, CA, 94720, U.S.A
| | - Nyeema C Harris
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, 830 North University Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, U.S.A
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Spencer HG, Zuk M. For Host's Sake: The Pluses of Parasite Preservation. Trends Ecol Evol 2016; 31:341-343. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2016.02.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2015] [Revised: 02/21/2016] [Accepted: 02/25/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Strona G, Fattorini S. Are generalist parasites being lost from their hosts? J Anim Ecol 2016; 85:621-3. [PMID: 26751407 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2015] [Accepted: 08/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Co-extinctions should be regarded as fundamental co-evolutionary events promoting species turnover, prior than a consequence of human induced biodiversity loss. Focusing on current scenarios is key to biodiversity conservation, but predicting future trends could be harder and less fruitful than trying to get a better grasp on the past.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Strona
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Environment and Sustainability, Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027, Ispra (VA), Italy
| | - Simone Fattorini
- CE3C - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Departamento de Ciéncias Agrárias, Azorean Biodiversity Group and Universidade dos Açores, 9700-042, Angra do Heroísmo, Açores, Portugal
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Strona G. Past, present and future of host-parasite co-extinctions. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2015; 4:431-41. [PMID: 26835251 PMCID: PMC4699984 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2015.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2015] [Revised: 08/25/2015] [Accepted: 08/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Human induced ecosystem alterations and climate change are expected to drive several species to extinction. In this context, the attention of public opinion, and hence conservationists' efforts, are often targeted towards species having emotional, recreational and/or economical value. This tendency may result in a high number of extinctions happening unnoticed. Among these, many could involve parasites. Several studies have highlighted various reasons why we should care about this, that go far beyond the fact that parasites are amazingly diverse. A growing corpus of evidence suggests that parasites contribute much to ecosystems both in terms of biomass and services, and the seemingly paradoxical idea that a healthy ecosystem is one rich in parasites is becoming key to the whole concept of parasite conservation. Although various articles have covered different aspects of host-parasite co-extinctions, I feel that some important conceptual issues still need to be formally addressed. In this review, I will attempt at clarifying some of them, with the aim of providing researchers with a unifying conceptual framework that could help them designing future studies. In doing this, I will try to draw a more clear distinction between the (co-)evolutionary and the ecological dimensions of co-extinction studies, since the ongoing processes that are putting parasites at risk now operate at a scale that is extremely different from the one that has shaped host-parasite networks throughout million years of co-evolution. Moreover, I will emphasize how the complexity of direct and indirect effects of parasites on ecosystems makes it much challenging to identify the mechanisms possibly leading to co-extinction events, and to predict how such events will affect ecosystems in the long run.
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Wood CL, Johnson PT. A world without parasites: exploring the hidden ecology of infection. FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT 2015; 13:425-434. [PMID: 28077932 PMCID: PMC5222570 DOI: 10.1890/140368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Parasites have historically been considered a scourge, deserving of annihilation. Although parasite eradications rank among humanity's greatest achievements, new research is shedding light on the collateral effects of parasite loss. Here, we explore a "world without parasites": a thought experiment for illuminating the ecological roles that parasites play in ecosystems. While there is robust evidence for the effects of parasites on host individuals (eg affecting host vital rates), this exercise highlights how little we know about the influence of parasites on communities and ecosystems (eg altering energy flow through food webs). We present hypotheses for novel, interesting, and general effects of parasites. These hypotheses are largely untested, and should be considered a springboard for future research. While many uncertainties exist, the available evidence suggests that a world without parasites would be very different from the world we know, with effects extending from host individuals to populations, communities, and even ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chelsea L Wood
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI; Michigan Society of Fellows, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI; Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO
| | - Pieter Tj Johnson
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO
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Marcus AD, Higgins DP, Gray R. Ivermectin treatment of free-ranging endangered Australian sea lion (Neophoca cinerea) pups: effect on hookworm and lice infection status, haematological parameters, growth, and survival. Parasitol Res 2015; 114:2743-55. [DOI: 10.1007/s00436-015-4481-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2015] [Accepted: 04/09/2015] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
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