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Vincent LM, Allender MC, Curtis AE, Madden NE, Cray C, Lance S, McFall A, Adamovicz L. CUTANEOUS MYIASIS AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO WELLNESS IN EASTERN BOX TURTLES ( TERRAPENE CAROLINA CAROLINA) IN CAPE COD, MASSACHUSETTS. J Zoo Wildl Med 2024; 54:785-795. [PMID: 38252002 DOI: 10.1638/2022-0173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina) face a variety of anthropogenic, infectious, and environmental threats and have been affected by high morbidity and mortality disease events. Wellness parameters in free-ranging eastern box turtles with a high prevalence of myiasis on Cape Cod, MA, were documented to identify epidemiologic trends or associations with several health parameters. There were 109 samples collected from 59 individual box turtles over the course of 4 mon. Six turtles died over the course of this study. Fly larvae infestations varied in severity and were observed in the cutaneous and subcutaneous tissue (n = 18; 30.5%). Animals with myiasis had fewer plastron abnormalities than those without (P = 0.034), and all turtles found in bogs had evidence of fly larvae infections (P < 0.0001). Individuals with myiasis also had lower body condition index (P = 0.014), lower total white blood cells (P = 0.031), lower PCV (P < 0.0001), lower total solids (P < 0.0001), higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate (P < 0.0001), lower calcium (P = 0.018), and lower phosphorus (P = 0.017). Three turtles tested positive for terrapene herpesvirus 1, but presence was not associated with myiasis. Heavy metal analysis revealed no significant differences between turtles with and without myiasis. This study examined the health of a population of eastern box turtles, and continued health assessments will be beneficial in determining the impact of myiasis on future conservation plans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren M Vincent
- Wildlife Epidemiology Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, IL 61802, USA,
| | - Matthew C Allender
- Wildlife Epidemiology Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, IL 61802, USA
- Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, IL 61802, USA
- Chicago Zoological Society, Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield, IL 60513, USA
| | - Annie E Curtis
- Natural Resources and Integrated Training Area Management Office, Massachusetts Army National Guard, MA 02542, USA
| | - Nicole E Madden
- Natural Resources and Integrated Training Area Management Office, Massachusetts Army National Guard, MA 02542, USA
| | - Carolyn Cray
- Comparative Pathology Laboratory, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, FL 33136, USA
| | - Stacey Lance
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC 29802, USA
| | - Adam McFall
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC 29802, USA
| | - Laura Adamovicz
- Wildlife Epidemiology Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, IL 61802, USA
- Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, IL 61802, USA
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Meyerholz DK, Beck AP. Fundamental Concepts for Semiquantitative Tissue Scoring in Translational Research. ILAR J 2019; 59:13-17. [PMID: 30715381 PMCID: PMC6927897 DOI: 10.1093/ilar/ily025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2017] [Revised: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Failure to reproduce results from some scientific studies has raised awareness of the critical need for reproducibility in translational studies. Macroscopic and microscopic examination is a common approach to determine changes in tissues, but text descriptions and visual images have limitations for group comparisons. Semiquantitative scoring is a way of transforming qualitative tissue data into numerical data that allow more robust group comparisons. Semiquantitative scoring has broad uses in preclinical and clinical studies for evaluation of tissue lesions. Reproducibility can be improved by constraining bias through appropriate experimental design, randomization of tissues, effective use of multidisciplinary collaborations, and valid masking procedures. Scoring can be applied to tissue lesions (eg, size, distribution, characteristics) and also to tissues through evaluation of staining distribution and intensity. Semiquantitative scores should be validated to demonstrate relevance to biological data and to demonstrate observer reproducibility. Statistical analysis should make use of appropriate tests to give robust confidence in the results and interpretations. Following key principles of semiquantitative scoring will not only enhance descriptive tissue evaluation but also improve quality, reproducibility, and rigor of tissue studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- David K Meyerholz
- Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Amanda P Beck
- Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
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Finger JW, Hamilton MT, Kelley MD, Zhang Y, Kavazis AN, Glenn TC, Tuberville TD. Dietary Selenomethionine Administration and Its Effects on the American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis): Oxidative Status and Corticosterone Levels. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2018; 75:37-44. [PMID: 29737374 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-018-0530-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2018] [Accepted: 04/21/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Selenium (Se) is an essential nutrient which in excess causes toxicity. The disposal of incompletely combusted coal, which often is rich in Se, into aquatic settling basins is increasing the risk of Se exposure worldwide. However, very few studies have looked at the physiological effects of Se exposure on long-lived, top trophic vertebrates, such as the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis). During a 7-week period, alligators were fed one of three dietary treatments: mice injected with deionized water or mice injected with water containing 1000 or 2000 ppm selenomethionine (SeMet). One week after the last feeding alligators were bled within 3 min of capture for plasma corticosterone (CORT). A few days later, all alligators were euthanized and whole blood and tail tissue were harvested to measure oxidative damage, an antioxidant-associated transcription factor, and antioxidant enzymes [glutathione peroxidase-1 (GPX1), superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1), and SOD2] by Western blotting. There was a dose-dependent increase in baseline CORT levels in alligators administered SeMet. Except for blood SOD2 levels, SeMet treatment had no effect (p > 0.05 for all) on oxidative status: oxidative damage, GPX1, SOD1, and muscle SOD2 levels were similar among treatments. Our results illustrate that high levels of Se may act as a stressor to crocodilians. Future studies should investigate further the physiological effects of Se accumulation in long-lived, top-trophic vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- John W Finger
- Department of Environmental Health Science, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA.
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, PO Drawer E, Aiken, SC, 29802, USA.
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA.
| | - Matthew T Hamilton
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, PO Drawer E, Aiken, SC, 29802, USA
| | - Meghan D Kelley
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA
| | - Yufeng Zhang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA, 94945, USA
| | | | - Travis C Glenn
- Department of Environmental Health Science, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Tracey D Tuberville
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, PO Drawer E, Aiken, SC, 29802, USA
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