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Doekes HP, Petie R, de Jong R, Adriaens I, Wisselink HJ, Stockhofe-Zurwieden N. Added Value of Sensor-Based Behavioural Monitoring in an Infectious Disease Study with Sheep Infected with Toxoplasma gondii. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1908. [PMID: 38998020 PMCID: PMC11240357 DOI: 10.3390/ani14131908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2024] [Revised: 06/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Sensor technologies are increasingly used to monitor laboratory animal behaviour. The aim of this study was to investigate the added value of using accelerometers and video to monitor the activity and drinking behaviour of three rams from 5 days before to 22 days after inoculation with Toxoplasma gondii. We computed the activity from accelerometer data as the vectorial dynamic body acceleration (VDBA). In addition, we assessed individual drinking behaviour from video, using frame differencing above the drinker to identify drinking bouts, and Aruco markers for individual identification. Four days after inoculation, rams developed fever and activity decreased. The daytime VDBA from days 4 to 10 was 60-80% of that before inoculation. Animal caretakers scored rams as lethargic on days 5 and 6 and, for one ram, also on the morning of day 7. Video analysis showed that each ram decreased its number of visits to the drinker, as well as its time spent at the drinker, by up to 50%. The fever and corresponding sickness behaviours lasted until day 10. Overall, while we recognize the limited conclusiveness due to the small number of animals, the sensor technologies provided continuous, individual, detailed, and objective data and offered additional insights as compared to routine observations. We recommend the wider implementation of such technologies in animal disease trials to refine experiments and guarantee the quality of experimental results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harmen P. Doekes
- Animal Breeding and Genomics, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen University & Research, 8221 RA Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - Ronald Petie
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen University & Research, 8221 RA Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - Rineke de Jong
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen University & Research, 8221 RA Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - Ines Adriaens
- Research Group BioVism, Department of Data Analysis and Mathematical Modelling, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Livestock Technology Group, Department of Biosystems, Division of Animal and Human Health Engineering, Kleinhoefstraat 4, 2440 Geel, Belgium
| | - Henk J. Wisselink
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen University & Research, 8221 RA Lelystad, The Netherlands
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Headley SA, Fritzen JTT, Silva FHP, Minarelli SLM, Biondo LM, Kmetiuk LB, Biondo AW, Alfieri AA. Subclinical Ovine Gammaherpesvirus 2-Related Infections in Free-Ranging Wild Boars ( Sus scrofa) from Southern Brazil. Pathogens 2024; 13:515. [PMID: 38921812 PMCID: PMC11207053 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13060515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Ovine gammaherpesvirus 2 (OvGHV2), is a Macavirus and the cause of sheep-associated malignant catarrhal fever (SA-MCF), in which sheep are the asymptomatic reservoir hosts. Susceptible mammalian populations infected by OvGHV2 may develop clinical SA-MCF or subclinical infections. All members of the Macavirus genus known to be associated with MCF are collectively referred to as the MCF virus (MCFV) complex. This report describes the occurrence of subclinical OvGHV2-related infections in free-ranging wild boars (Sus scrofa) from southern Brazil. Specific body organs (n = 14) and biological samples (nasal and oral swabs; n = 17) were collected from 24 asymptomatic wild boars from a conservation unit located within the Central-eastern mesoregion of Paraná State. Organs were processed to observe histopathological patterns suggestive of diseases of domestic animals; only pulmonary samples were used in an immunohistochemical assay designed to detect MCFV tissue antigens. Furthermore, all samples were submitted to molecular assays designed to detect the OvGHV2 tegument protein gene. Viral-induced pneumonia was diagnosed in two wild boars; one of these contained OvGHV2 DNA, with MCFV antigens identified in the other. Additionally, MCFV tissue antigens were detected within pulmonary epithelial cells of the lungs with and without pulmonary disease. Collectively, OvGHV2 was detected in 37.5% (9/24) of all wild boars, with detection occurring in the organs of 57.1% (8/14) wild boars and the oral cavity of one animal. These results demonstrated that these wild boars were subclinically infected by OvGHV2, and that infection produced typical pulmonary alterations. In addition, the detection of OvGHV2 within the oral cavity of one wild boar may suggest that this animal may be a potential disseminator of this pathogen to susceptible animal populations, including livestock and wildlife, acting as a possible bridge host for OvGHV2. Furthermore, infection by OvGHV2 probably occurred due to incidental contact with asymptomatic sheep maintained within the surrounding rural areas and not within the conservation units.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selwyn Arlington Headley
- Laboratory of Animal Pathology, Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Paraná 86057-970, Brazil;
- Multi-User Animal Health Laboratory (LAMSA), Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina 86057-970, Brazil;
| | - Juliana Torres Tomazi Fritzen
- Laboratory of Animal Virology, Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina 86057-970, Brazil; (J.T.T.F.); (S.L.M.M.)
| | - Flavia Helena Pereira Silva
- Laboratory of Animal Pathology, Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Paraná 86057-970, Brazil;
| | - Silvio Luis Marsiglio Minarelli
- Laboratory of Animal Virology, Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina 86057-970, Brazil; (J.T.T.F.); (S.L.M.M.)
| | - Leandro Meneguelli Biondo
- National Institute of the Atlantic Forest (INMA), Brazilian Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Santa Teresa 29650-000, Brazil;
| | - Louise Bach Kmetiuk
- Zoonosis Surveillance Unit, City Secretary of Health, Curitiba 81265-320, Brazil;
| | - Alexander Welker Biondo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba 80035-050, Brazil;
| | - Amauri Alcindo Alfieri
- Multi-User Animal Health Laboratory (LAMSA), Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina 86057-970, Brazil;
- Laboratory of Animal Virology, Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina 86057-970, Brazil; (J.T.T.F.); (S.L.M.M.)
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Goicolea T, Cisneros-Araújo P, Vega CA, Sánchez-Vizcaíno JM, Mateo-Sánchez MC, Bosch J. Landscape connectivity for predicting the spread of ASF in the European wild boar population. Sci Rep 2024; 14:3414. [PMID: 38341478 PMCID: PMC10858927 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53869-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
African swine fever (ASF) is an infectious and highly fatal disease affecting wild and domestic swine, which is unstoppably spreading worldwide. In Europe, wild boars are one of the main drivers of spread, transmission, and maintenance of the disease. Landscape connectivity studies are the main discipline to analyze wild-species dispersal networks, and it can be an essential tool to predict dispersal-wild boar movement routes and probabilities and therefore the associated potential ASF spread through the suitable habitat. We aimed to integrate wild boar habitat connectivity predictions with their occurrence, population abundance, and ASF notifications to calculate the impact (i.e., the capacity of a landscape feature to favor ASF spread) and the risk (i.e., the likelihood of a habitat patch becoming infected) of wild boar infection across Europe. Furthermore, we tested the accuracy of the risk of infection by comparing the results with the temporal distribution of ASF cases. Our findings identified the areas with the highest impact and risk factors within Europe's central and Eastern regions where ASF is currently distributed. Additionally, the impact factor was 31 times higher on habitat patches that were infected vs non-infected, proving the utility of the proposed approach and the key role of wild boar movements in ASF-spread. All data and resulting maps are openly accessible and usable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Goicolea
- ETSI Montes, Forestal y del Medio Natural, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Biology (Botany), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Pablo Cisneros-Araújo
- ETSI Montes, Forestal y del Medio Natural, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Cecilia Aguilar Vega
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Center, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Animal HealthFaculty of Veterinary, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jose Manuel Sánchez-Vizcaíno
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Center, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Animal HealthFaculty of Veterinary, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - MCruz Mateo-Sánchez
- ETSI Montes, Forestal y del Medio Natural, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jaime Bosch
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Center, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
- Department of Animal HealthFaculty of Veterinary, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
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