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Heiderich E, Keller S, Pewsner M, Origgi FC, Zürcher-Giovannini S, Borel S, Marti I, Scherrer P, Pisano SRR, Friker B, Adrian-Kalchhauser I, Ryser-Degiorgis MP. Analysis of a European general wildlife health surveillance program: Chances, challenges and recommendations. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0301438. [PMID: 38771857 PMCID: PMC11108157 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0301438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
In a One Health perspective general wildlife health surveillance (GWHS) gains importance worldwide, as pathogen transmission among wildlife, domestic animals and humans raises health, conservation and economic concerns. However, GWHS programs operate in the face of legal, geographical, financial, or administrative challenges. The present study uses a multi-tiered approach to understand the current characteristics, strengths and gaps of a European GWHS that operates in a fragmented legislative and multi-stakeholder environment. The aim is to support the implementation or improvement of other GWHS systems by managers, surveillance experts, and administrations. To assess the current state of wildlife health investigations and trends within the GWHS, we retrospectively analyzed 20 years of wildlife diagnostic data to explore alterations in annual case numbers, diagnosed diseases, and submitter types, conducted an online survey and phone interviews with official field partners (hunting administrators, game wardens and hunters) to assess their case submission criteria as well as their needs for post-mortem investigations, and performed in-house time estimations of post-mortem investigations to conduct a time-per-task analysis. Firstly, we found that infectious disease dynamics, the level of public awareness for specific diseases, research activities and increasing population sizes of in depth-monitored protected species, together with biogeographical and political boundaries all impacted case numbers and can present unexpected challenges to a GWHS. Secondly, we found that even a seemingly comprehensive GWHS can feature pronounced information gaps, with underrepresentation of common or easily recognizable diseases, blind spots in non-hunted species and only a fraction of discovered carcasses being submitted. Thirdly, we found that substantial amounts of wildlife health data may be available at local hunting administrations or disease specialist centers, but outside the reach of the GWHS and its processes. In conclusion, we recommend that fragmented and federalist GWHS programs like the one addressed require a central, consistent and accessible collection of wildlife health data. Also, considering the growing role of citizen observers in environmental research, we recommend using online reporting systems to harness decentrally available information and fill wildlife health information gaps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Heiderich
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, Institute for Fish and Wildlife Health, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Saskia Keller
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, Institute for Fish and Wildlife Health, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Mirjam Pewsner
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, Institute for Fish and Wildlife Health, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Francesco Carlo Origgi
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, Institute of Animal Pathology (ITPA), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Samoa Zürcher-Giovannini
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, Institute for Fish and Wildlife Health, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Stéphanie Borel
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, Institute for Fish and Wildlife Health, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Iris Marti
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, Institute for Fish and Wildlife Health, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Patrick Scherrer
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, Institute for Fish and Wildlife Health, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Simone Roberto Rolando Pisano
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, Institute for Fish and Wildlife Health, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Brian Friker
- Department of Clinical Research and Veterinary Public Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, Veterinary Public Health Institute, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Irene Adrian-Kalchhauser
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, Institute for Fish and Wildlife Health, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Marie-Pierre Ryser-Degiorgis
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, Institute for Fish and Wildlife Health, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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2
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Konradsen SN, Havmøller LW, Krag C, Møller PR, Havmøller RW. Elusive mustelids-18 months in the search of near-threatened stoat ( Mustela erminea) and weasel ( M. nivalis) reveals low captures. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11374. [PMID: 38698927 PMCID: PMC11063614 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Stoat (Mustela erminea) and weasel (M. nivalis) are hard to monitor as they are elusive of nature and leave few identifying marks in their surroundings. Stoat and weasel are both fully protected in Denmark and are thought to be widely distributed throughout the country. Despite this stoat and weasel were listed on the Danish Red List as Near Threatened in 2019, as their densities and population trends are unknown. Using a modified novel camera trapping device, the Double-Mostela, a wooden box comprising a tracking tunnel and two camera traps, we attempted to obtain density estimates based on identification of individual stoats and weasels. We deployed camera traps both inside Double-Mostela traps and externally in three different study areas in northern Zealand, Denmark, and tested commercial, American scent-based lures to attract stoat and weasel. We obtained very low seasonal trapping rates of weasel in two study areas, but in one study area, we obtained a seasonal trapping rate of stoat larger compared to another study using the Mostela. In one study area, both species were absent. We observed no effect of scent-based lures in attracting small mustelids compared to non-bait traps. Potential reasons behind low capture rates of weasel and stoat are suboptimal habitat placement and timing of deployment of the Double-Mostelas, land-use changes over the last 200 years, predation from larger predators, as well as unintended secondary poisoning with rodenticides. Due to the scarcity of weasel and stoat captures, we were unable to make density estimates based on identification of individuals; however, we identified potential features that could be used for identification and density estimates with more captures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofie Nørgaard Konradsen
- Department of Zoology, Natural History Museum of DenmarkUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
| | - Linnea Worsøe Havmøller
- Department of Zoology, Natural History Museum of DenmarkUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
| | - Charlotte Krag
- Department of Zoology, Natural History Museum of DenmarkUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
| | - Peter Rask Møller
- Department of Zoology, Natural History Museum of DenmarkUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
- Norwegian College of Fishery ScienceUiT—The Arctic University of NorwayTromsøNorway
| | - Rasmus Worsøe Havmøller
- Department of Zoology, Natural History Museum of DenmarkUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
- Department for the Ecology of Animal SocietiesMax Planck Institute for Animal BehaviourGermany
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3
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Huang J, Cortey M, Darwich L, Griffin J, Obón E, Molina R, Martín M. Study of Canine Distemper Virus Presence in Catalonia's Wild Carnivores through H Gene Amplification and Sequencing. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:436. [PMID: 38338078 PMCID: PMC10854788 DOI: 10.3390/ani14030436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Canine distemper virus (CDV) is recognised worldwide as an important pathogen in both domestic and wild carnivores. Few data are available on its impact and spread on the wildlife/wildlife-domestic animal-environment interface. This study, aimed at developing a conservation-oriented control strategy, analysed 89 sick or deceased animals from 2019 to 2023 at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre in Torreferrussa. RT-PCR and sequencing of the partial H gene were used to detect and analyse CDV in tissues. The total positive percentage was 20.22% (18/89), comprising 13 red foxes (44.8%), 4 European badgers (28.6%), and 1 American mink (4.5%), while 24 Eurasian otters tested negative. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that all of the CDV strains belong to the European lineage. Geographically distant individuals and different species shared the same viral strain, suggesting a strong capacity of CDV for interspecies and long-distance transmission. This calls for further research, particularly focusing on potential impacts of CDV on endangered carnivores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junhao Huang
- Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain; (J.H.); (M.C.); (L.D.); (J.G.)
| | - Martí Cortey
- Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain; (J.H.); (M.C.); (L.D.); (J.G.)
| | - Laila Darwich
- Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain; (J.H.); (M.C.); (L.D.); (J.G.)
| | - Jenna Griffin
- Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain; (J.H.); (M.C.); (L.D.); (J.G.)
| | - Elena Obón
- Torreferrussa Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, Catalan Wildlife Service-Forestal Catalana S.A., 08130 Santa Perpètua de Mogoda, Spain;
| | - Rafael Molina
- Torreferrussa Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, Catalan Wildlife Service-Forestal Catalana S.A., 08130 Santa Perpètua de Mogoda, Spain;
| | - Margarita Martín
- Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain; (J.H.); (M.C.); (L.D.); (J.G.)
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4
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Vanderwolf K, Kyle C, Davy C. A review of sebum in mammals in relation to skin diseases, skin function, and the skin microbiome. PeerJ 2023; 11:e16680. [PMID: 38144187 PMCID: PMC10740688 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Diseases vary among and within species but the causes of this variation can be unclear. Immune responses are an important driver of disease variation, but mechanisms on how the body resists pathogen establishment before activation of immune responses are understudied. Skin surfaces of mammals are the first line of defense against abiotic stressors and pathogens, and skin attributes such as pH, microbiomes, and lipids influence disease outcomes. Sebaceous glands produce sebum composed of multiple types of lipids with species-specific compositions. Sebum affects skin barrier function by contributing to minimizing water loss, supporting thermoregulation, protecting against pathogens, and preventing UV-induced damage. Sebum also affects skin microbiome composition both via its antimicrobial properties, and by providing potential nutrient sources. Intra- and interspecific variation in sebum composition influences skin disease outcomes in humans and domestic mammal species but is not well-characterized in wildlife. We synthesized knowledge on sebum function in mammals in relation to skin diseases and the skin microbiome. We found that sebum composition was described for only 29 live, wild mammalian species. Sebum is important in dermatophilosis, various forms of dermatitis, demodicosis, and potentially white-nose syndrome. Sebum composition likely affects disease susceptibility, as lipid components can have antimicrobial functions against specific pathogens. It is unclear why sebum composition is species-specific, but both phylogeny and environmental effects may drive differences. Our review illustrates the role of mammal sebum function and influence on skin microbes in the context of skin diseases, providing a baseline for future studies to elucidate mechanisms of disease resistance beyond immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Vanderwolf
- Department of Environmental and Life Sciences, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
| | - Christopher Kyle
- Forensic Science Department, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
- Natural Resources DNA Profiling and Forensics Center, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
| | - Christina Davy
- Department of Environmental and Life Sciences, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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5
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Arcenillas-Hernández I, de Ybáñez MRR, Martínez-Carrasco C. What is the sensitivity and exactness of post-mortem diagnostic method for cardiopulmonary nematodes in wild carnivores? towards the gold standard. Vet Res Commun 2023; 47:1369-1378. [PMID: 36918466 PMCID: PMC10485123 DOI: 10.1007/s11259-023-10084-3] [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: 06/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
Cardiopulmonary nematodes cause health and fitness disorders in wild and domestic carnivores. The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) participates in the spread of these shared parasites at the domestic-wildlife interface. This study aimed to evaluate the sensitivity of post-mortem diagnostic method for detecting lungworms in carnivores, and its exactness to estimate the parasite intensity of each nematode species. Cardiorespiratory system of fifty-one foxes were examined through three consecutively methodological steps: first, the tracheobronchial tree, pulmonary arteries and their branches were opened (OT); next, lung parenchyma was immersed in water and squeezed (WS); finally, the parenchyma was artificially digested in a pepsin and chlorhydric acid solution (AD). Eucoleus aerophilus, Angiostrongylus vasorum, Crenosoma vulpis and Metathelazia capsulata were identified. The number of recovered nematodes in each step were 454 (OT), 285 (WS) and 141 (AD). The use of OT and WS helped to improve parasite intensity results and decreased false negative cases. Accordingly, when OT and WS were used together, the sensitivity in the detection of parasitized foxes was 96.1%, while the exactness of parasite intensity was 84%. When AD was performed, although sensitivity does not rise, results were more exact, increasing the total number of detected parasites by 16%. Moreover, AD improved the sensitivity in the detection of A. vasorum and M. capsulata, as well as quantifying more exactly the parasite intensity (92.5% and 92.3% of exactness without AD, respectively). Our study provides valuable information that should be taken into account when planning epidemiological studies based on cardiopulmonary nematode detection in carnivores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Arcenillas-Hernández
- Dpto. de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Campus de Excelencia Internacional "Campus Mare, Nostrum" Universidad de Murcia, Espinardo, Murcia, 30100, España
| | - M R Ruiz de Ybáñez
- Dpto. de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Campus de Excelencia Internacional "Campus Mare, Nostrum" Universidad de Murcia, Espinardo, Murcia, 30100, España.
| | - Carlos Martínez-Carrasco
- Dpto. de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Campus de Excelencia Internacional "Campus Mare, Nostrum" Universidad de Murcia, Espinardo, Murcia, 30100, España
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Matos AC, Jota Baptista C, Oliveira PA, Soares AS, Figueira L, Matos M, Coelho AC. First morphological and molecular isolation of Talaromyces marneffei in beech marten (Martes foina) in Portugal. Res Vet Sci 2023; 162:104945. [PMID: 37421825 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2023.104945] [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] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/10/2023]
Abstract
Talaromyces marneffei is a zoonotic fungus that mostly infects immunocompromised individuals. For the first time, this fungus was isolated in an adult beech marten (Martes foina) hit by a car, found dead in Penamacor, Portugal. During the necropsy, different samples (skin, fur, lymph nodes, lung, spleen, kidneys, and brain) were collected and processed for microbiology (including mycology) and molecular biology. T. marneffei was identified through its mycological characteristics and confirmed by PCR in hair samples. No other lesions or alterations were reported, except a concomitant presence of M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis in lung, kidney and brain samples. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first description of this fungus beech marten, as well as the first case of co-infection with M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis in wildlife fauna. These results suggest a sylvatic life-cycle of T. marneffei, involving beech martens, in Portugal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Cristina Matos
- CERNAS, Research Center for Natural Resources, Environment and Society, Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco, 6000-084 Castelo Branco, Portugal; QRural- Quality of Life in the Rural World- Research Unit, Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco, 6000-084 Castelo Branco, Portugal
| | - Catarina Jota Baptista
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Quinta de Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal; Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), Inov4Agro - Institute for Innovation, Capacity Building and Sustainability of Agri-food Production, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal; IBIOMED - Instituto de Biomedicina de la Universidad de León, León, Spain; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lusófona University of Humanities and Technologies (FMV-ULHT), Lisbon; Portugal.
| | - Paula A Oliveira
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Quinta de Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal; Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), Inov4Agro - Institute for Innovation, Capacity Building and Sustainability of Agri-food Production, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Ana Sofia Soares
- CECAV - Animal and Veterinary Research Centre, Vila Real, Portugal; Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), Portugal
| | - Luís Figueira
- QRural- Quality of Life in the Rural World- Research Unit, Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco, 6000-084 Castelo Branco, Portugal
| | - Manuela Matos
- Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), Inov4Agro - Institute for Innovation, Capacity Building and Sustainability of Agri-food Production, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal; Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, UTAD, 5000-801, Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Ana Cláudia Coelho
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Quinta de Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal; CECAV - Animal and Veterinary Research Centre, Vila Real, Portugal; Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), Portugal
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7
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Prpić J, Lojkić I, Keros T, Krešić N, Jemeršić L. Canine Distemper Virus Infection in the Free-Living Wild Canines, the Red Fox ( Vulpes vulpes) and Jackal ( Canis aureus moreoticus), in Croatia. Pathogens 2023; 12:833. [PMID: 37375523 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12060833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The canine distemper virus (CDV), a paramyxovirus that is closely related to the human measles virus and rinderpest virus of cattle, is a highly contagious viral disease in dogs and wild carnivores worldwide. CDV represents a serious threat to domestic and wild animals, especially to the conservation of endangered wild carnivores. Our study aims to investigate the occurrence of CDV in free-living wild canines in Croatia. For this purpose, 176 red foxes and 24 jackal brain samples collected in the frame of the active surveillance of rabies during winter 2021/2022 were tested. This study provided the first comprehensive overview of the prevalence and spatial distribution of CDV in the wildlife of Croatia, including the molecular phylogenetic analysis of the H gene sequence of field CDV strains circulating in red fox and jackal populations of Croatia. The molecular characterization of hemagglutinin gene genomic regions confirmed the phylogenetic clustering of obtained sequences into the Europa 1 genotype. The obtained CDV red fox sequences were mutually very similar (97.60%). This study indicates the high genetic similarity of Croatian CDV red fox sequences and CDV red fox sequences from Italy and Germany, badger sequences from Germany, polecat sequences from Hungary, and dog sequences from Hungary and Germany.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jelena Prpić
- Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska cesta 143, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ivana Lojkić
- Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska cesta 143, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Tomislav Keros
- Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska cesta 143, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Nina Krešić
- Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska cesta 143, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Lorena Jemeršić
- Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska cesta 143, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
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8
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Wang H, Guo H, Hein VG, Xu Y, Yu S, Wang X. The evolutionary dynamics history of canine distemper virus through analysis of the hemagglutinin gene during 1930-2020. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2023; 69:56. [PMID: 37252648 PMCID: PMC10198785 DOI: 10.1007/s10344-023-01685-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Canine distemper virus (CDV) is a lethal viral disease of carnivores which is considered to be a serious threat to domestic and wild species. Despite the widespread use of vaccines, CDV still occurs in vaccinated animals and current vaccines does not guarantee complete protection. In this study, a total of 286 hemagglutinin (H) gene sequences of the virus isolated in 25 countries during 90 years (1930-2020) were analyzed by Bayesian maximum likelihood analysis to estimate the population dynamics. We identified the most recent common ancestor (TMRCA) of the virus in 1868 in the USA which arrived in continental Europe in 1948, and from there, the virus spread rapidly to other continents. The Canidae family was identified as the original host as well as a source of the subsequent spread. We identified 11 lineages of geographic co-circulating strains globally. The effective population size experienced a two-phase-exponential growth between 2000-2005 and 2010-2012. Our findings provide a novel insight into the epidemic history of canine distemper virus which may facilitate more effective disease management. This study uses a large set of sequencing data on the H gene of CDV to identify distinct lineages of the virus, track its geographic spread over time, analyze its likelihood of transmission within and between animal families, and provide suggestions for improved strategies to combat the virus. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10344-023-01685-z.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoning Wang
- Heilongjiang Cold Region Wetland Ecology and Environment Research Key Laboratory, School of Geography and Tourism, Harbin University, 109 Zhongxing Road, Harbin, 150086 Heilongjiang Province People’s Republic of China
- School of Geography and Tourism, Harbin University, Harbin, 150086 Heilongjiang Province People’s Republic of China
- The Key Laboratory of Wildlife Diseases and Biosecurity Management of Heilongjiang Province, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province People’s Republic of China
- Collage of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, No. 26, Hexing Road, Xiangfang District, Harbin, 150040 Heilongjiang People’s Republic of China
| | - Hong Guo
- Heilongjiang Cold Region Wetland Ecology and Environment Research Key Laboratory, School of Geography and Tourism, Harbin University, 109 Zhongxing Road, Harbin, 150086 Heilongjiang Province People’s Republic of China
- School of Geography and Tourism, Harbin University, Harbin, 150086 Heilongjiang Province People’s Republic of China
| | - Van Gils Hein
- Department of Geography, Geoinformatics & Meteorology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002 Gauteng Province Republic of South Africa
| | - Yanchun Xu
- Collage of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, No. 26, Hexing Road, Xiangfang District, Harbin, 150040 Heilongjiang People’s Republic of China
| | - Shaopeng Yu
- Heilongjiang Cold Region Wetland Ecology and Environment Research Key Laboratory, School of Geography and Tourism, Harbin University, 109 Zhongxing Road, Harbin, 150086 Heilongjiang Province People’s Republic of China
- School of Geography and Tourism, Harbin University, Harbin, 150086 Heilongjiang Province People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaolong Wang
- The Key Laboratory of Wildlife Diseases and Biosecurity Management of Heilongjiang Province, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province People’s Republic of China
- Collage of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, No. 26, Hexing Road, Xiangfang District, Harbin, 150040 Heilongjiang People’s Republic of China
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9
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Moroni B, Albanese F, Rita Molinar Min A, Pasquetti M, Guillot J, Pisano SRR, Ryser-Degiorgis MP, Rüfenacht S, Gauthier D, Cano-Terriza D, Scaravelli D, Rossi L, Peano A. Sarcoptic mange in Felidae: does Sarcoptes scabiei var. felis exist? A first molecular study. Parasite 2023; 30:11. [PMID: 37010452 PMCID: PMC10069400 DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2023012] [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] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Domestic and wild felids are considered suitable hosts for the parasitic mite Sarcoptes scabiei, and sarcoptic mange is reported in several felid species in the scientific literature. However, the historic classification of Sarcoptes mites into host-specific varieties does not include S. scabiei var. felis. It is unclear whether sarcoptic mange transmission in felids involves canids, other sympatric species, or exclusively felids. This study aimed to characterize the genetic structure of S. scabiei mites from domestic cats (Felis catus) and Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx carpathicus), comparing them with Sarcoptes mites from sympatric domestic and wild carnivores. Ten Sarcoptes microsatellite markers were used to genotype 81 mites obtained from skin scrapings of 36 carnivores: 4 domestic cats, one dog (Canis lupus familiaris), 4 Eurasian lynx, 23 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), and 4 grey wolves (Canis lupus lupus) from either Italy, Switzerland or France. Two genetic clusters of S. scabiei with a geographical distribution pattern were detected: mites from cats originating from Central Italy clustered with those from sympatric wolves. In contrast, all the other mites from Switzerland, France and Northern Italy clustered together. These results strengthen the previously advanced hypothesis that genetic variants of S. scabiei have a predominant geographic-related distribution with cryptic transmission patterns. These patterns may rely on the interactions between different hosts living in the same ecological niche rather than a simple infection among hosts belonging to the same taxon, reinforcing the idea that the S. scabiei historic classification into "var" might have little ongoing relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Moroni
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Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin Largo Braccini 2 10095 Grugliasco Italy
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Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte Liguria e Val d’Aosta, Via Bologna 148 10154 Torino Italy
| | - Francesco Albanese
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Centro Dermatologico Veterinario Toscano Via Romana, 4 52100 Arezzo Italy
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Mylav Private Veterinary Laboratory Via Sirtori, 9 20017 Passirana di Rho-Milano Italy
| | - Anna Rita Molinar Min
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Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin Largo Braccini 2 10095 Grugliasco Italy
| | - Mario Pasquetti
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Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin Largo Braccini 2 10095 Grugliasco Italy
| | - Jacques Guillot
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Department of Dermatology-Parasitology-Mycology Oniris 44300 Nantes France
| | - Simone Roberto Rolando Pisano
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Institute for Fish and Wildlife Health (FIWI), Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern Laenggassstrasse 122, PO Box 3001 Bern Switzerland
| | - Marie-Pierre Ryser-Degiorgis
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Institute for Fish and Wildlife Health (FIWI), Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern Laenggassstrasse 122, PO Box 3001 Bern Switzerland
| | | | - Dominique Gauthier
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Laboratoire Départemental Vétérinaire des Hautes-Alpes (LDVHA 05) 05000 Gap France
| | - David Cano-Terriza
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Department of Animal Health, UIC ENZOEM, Animal Health and Zoonosis Research Group (GISAZ), University of Cordoba 14014 Córdoba Spain
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CIBERINFEC, ISCIII-CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III 28029 Madrid Spain
| | - Dino Scaravelli
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Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna via Selmi 3 40126 Bologna Italy
| | - Luca Rossi
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Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin Largo Braccini 2 10095 Grugliasco Italy
| | - Andrea Peano
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Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin Largo Braccini 2 10095 Grugliasco Italy
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10
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Lanszki Z, Lanszki J, Tóth GE, Cserkész T, Csorba G, Görföl T, Csathó AI, Jakab F, Kemenesi G. Detection and sequence analysis of Canine morbillivirus in multiple species of the Mustelidae family. BMC Vet Res 2022; 18:450. [PMID: 36564834 PMCID: PMC9789673 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-022-03551-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Canine morbillivirus (canine distemper virus, CDV) is a member of the Paramyxoviridae family. Canine distemper is a serious viral disease that affects many mammalian species, including members of the Mustelidae family. These animals have an elusive nature, which makes related virological studies extremely challenging. There is a significant knowledge gap about the evolution of their viruses and about the possible effects of these viruses to the population dynamics of the host animals. Spleen and lung tissue samples of 170 road-killed mustelids belonging to six species were collected between 1997 and 2022 throughout Hungary and tested for CDV with real-time RT-PCR. RESULTS Three species were positive for viral RNA, 2 out of 64 Steppe polecats (Mustela eversmanii), 1 out of 36 European polecats (Mustela putorius) and 2 out of 36 stone martens (Martes foina); all 18 pine martens (Martes martes), 10 least weasels (Mustela nivalis) and 6 stoats (Mustela erminea) tested negative. The complete CDV genome was sequenced in five samples using pan-genotype CDV-specific, amplicon-based Nanopore sequencing. Based on the phylogenetic analysis, all five viral sequences were grouped to the Europe/South America 1 lineage and the distribution of one sequence among trees indicated recombination of the Hemagglutinin gene. We verified the recombination with SimPlot analysis. CONCLUSIONS This paper provides the first CDV genome sequences from Steppe polecats and additional complete genomes from European polecats and stone martens. The infected specimens of various species originated from distinct parts of the country over a long time, indicating a wide circulation of CDV among mustelids throughout Hungary. Considering the high virulence of CDV and the presence of the virus in these animals, we highlight the importance of conservation efforts for wild mustelids. In addition, we emphasize the importance of full genomic data acquisition and analysis to better understand the evolution of the virus. Since CDV is prone to recombination, specific genomic segment analyses may provide less representative evolutionary traits than using complete genome sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zsófia Lanszki
- grid.9679.10000 0001 0663 9479National Laboratory of Virology, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary ,grid.9679.10000 0001 0663 9479Institute of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - József Lanszki
- grid.418201.e0000 0004 0484 1763Balaton Limnological Research Institute, 8237 Tihany, Hungary ,grid.129553.90000 0001 1015 7851Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 7400 Kaposvár, Hungary
| | - Gábor Endre Tóth
- grid.9679.10000 0001 0663 9479National Laboratory of Virology, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary ,grid.9679.10000 0001 0663 9479Institute of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Tamás Cserkész
- grid.424755.50000 0001 1498 9209Department of Zoology, Hungarian Natural History Museum, 1088 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gábor Csorba
- grid.424755.50000 0001 1498 9209Department of Zoology, Hungarian Natural History Museum, 1088 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Tamás Görföl
- grid.9679.10000 0001 0663 9479National Laboratory of Virology, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | | | - Ferenc Jakab
- grid.9679.10000 0001 0663 9479National Laboratory of Virology, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary ,grid.9679.10000 0001 0663 9479Institute of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Gábor Kemenesi
- grid.9679.10000 0001 0663 9479National Laboratory of Virology, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary ,grid.9679.10000 0001 0663 9479Institute of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
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11
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Seki F, Takeda M. Novel and classical morbilliviruses: Current knowledge of three divergent morbillivirus groups. Microbiol Immunol 2022; 66:552-563. [PMID: 36151905 DOI: 10.1111/1348-0421.13030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Currently, seven species of morbillivirus have been classified. Six of these species (Measles morbillivirus, Rinderpest morbillivirus, Small ruminant morbillivirus, Canine morbillivirus, Phocine morbillivirus, and Cetacean morbillivirus) are highly infectious and cause serious systemic diseases in humans, livestock, domestic dogs, and wild animals. These species commonly use the host proteins signaling lymphocytic activation molecule (SLAM) and nectin-4 as receptors, and this usage contributes to their virulence. The seventh species (Feline morbillivirus: FeMV) is phylogenetically divergent from the six SLAM-using species. FeMV differs from the SLAM-using morbillivirus group in pathogenicity and infectivity, and is speculated to use non-SLAM receptors. Recently, novel species of morbilliviruses have been discovered in bats, rodents, and domestic pigs. Because the ability to use SLAM and nectin-4 is closely related to the infectivity and pathogenicity of morbilliviruses, investigation of the potential usage of these receptors is useful for estimating infectivity and pathogenicity. The SLAM-binding sites in the receptor-binding protein show high similarity among the SLAM-using morbilliviruses. This feature may help to estimate whether novel morbillivirus species can use SLAM as a receptor. A novel morbillivirus species isolated from wild mice diverged from the classified morbilliviruses in the phylogenetic tree, forming a third group separate from the SLAM-using morbillivirus group and FeMV. This suggests that the novel rodent morbillivirus may exhibit a different risk from the SLAM-using morbillivirus group, and analyses of its viral pathogenicity and infectivity toward humans are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fumio Seki
- Department of Virology 3, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Musashimurayama, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Makoto Takeda
- Department of Virology 3, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Musashimurayama, Tokyo, Japan
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12
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Weinberg M, Mazar O, Rachum A, Chen X, Goutink S, Lifshitz N, Winter-Livneh R, Czirják GÁ, Yovel Y. Seasonal challenges of tropical bats in temperate zones. Sci Rep 2022; 12:16869. [PMID: 36207354 PMCID: PMC9546901 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-21076-9] [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: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
To examine the challenges faced by free-ranging Rousettus aegyptiacus living at the northern edge of their distribution, we performed a retrospective analysis of 2196 clinical cases reported by a bat rescue NGO over a period of 36 months, from throughout Israel. All cases of injured bats were evaluated and categorized according to date, place, sex, age, and etiology of the morbidity. The data analysis revealed an increase in all types of morbidity during the wintertime, with more than two-fold the number of cases per week compared to in the summer, over three consecutive years. Moreover, we found that the number of abandoned pups peaked during spring and summer, when adult morbidity is minimal. We characterized two prominent types of previously undescribed morbidities in R. aegyptiacus. We also employed GPS tracking to monitor the movement and foraging of dozens of bats, and to examine the potential correlates of elevated winter morbidity. Our results suggest that it is mainly harsh weather that drives the observed winter morbidity, with food limitations playing a minor-role. We hypothesize that R. aegyptiacus, of tropical origin, is facing major seasonal survival difficulties near the northern edge of its distribution, probably limiting its spread further northwards still.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya Weinberg
- School of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, 6997801, Tel Aviv, Israel. .,Amutat Atalef, The Israeli Bat Sanctuary (NGO), Beit-Shemesh, Israel.
| | - Omer Mazar
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, 6997801, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Adi Rachum
- School of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, 6997801, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Xing Chen
- School of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, 6997801, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Sophia Goutink
- School of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, 6997801, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Nora Lifshitz
- Amutat Atalef, The Israeli Bat Sanctuary (NGO), Beit-Shemesh, Israel
| | - Rona Winter-Livneh
- Open Landscape Institute (OLI), The Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Gábor Á Czirják
- Department of Wildlife Diseases, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Yossi Yovel
- School of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, 6997801, Tel Aviv, Israel.,Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, 6997801, Tel Aviv, Israel.,National Research Center for Biodiversity Studies, The Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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13
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Maestrini M, Berrilli F, Di Rosso A, Coppola F, Guadano Procesi I, Mariacher A, Felicioli A, Perrucci S. Zoonotic Giardia duodenalis Genotypes and Other Gastrointestinal Parasites in a Badger Population Living in an Anthropized Area of Central Italy. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11080906. [PMID: 36015027 PMCID: PMC9416481 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11080906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The Eurasian badger (Meles meles) is widespread in Italy and occupies different habitats. The occurrence and species of gastrointestinal parasites were evaluated in a free-ranging badger population living in a highly anthropic area in central Italy. A total of 43 fecal samples were examined using the flotation test, the Mini-FLOTAC and Baermann techniques, and a rapid immunoassay for the detection of Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. fecal antigens. Molecular investigations were also performed that aimed at identifying Giardia genotypes. Overall, 37/43 samples (86%) were found positive. Specifically, 48.8% (21 samples) were positive for G.duodenalis, 23.2% (10/43) for Cryptosporidium spp., and 7% (3/43) for coccidian oocysts. Strongyloides sp. nematode larvae were detected in 3/43 samples (7%). Ascarid (1/43, 2.3%), capillariid (1/43, 2.3%), and strongyle-type eggs (76.7%, 33/43) were also identified. Among the 11 readable sequences of samples that were positive for G. duodenalis by end-point PCR (18/21), the zoonotic assemblage A sub-assemblage AII and mixed assemblage A and B were identified. This is the first report of zoonotic G. duodenalis genotypes in the Eurasian badger. Moreover, most of identified parasites have zoonotic potential and/or potential impact on the population health of wild badgers and other wild and domestic animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Maestrini
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge n. 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Federica Berrilli
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Alessia Di Rosso
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge n. 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesca Coppola
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge n. 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Isabel Guadano Procesi
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy
- PhD Program in Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Alessia Mariacher
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Regioni Lazio e Toscana, 58100 Grosseto, Italy
| | - Antonio Felicioli
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge n. 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Stefania Perrucci
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge n. 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-050-2216949
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14
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Wilmes D, Mayer U, Wohlsein P, Suntz M, Gerkrath J, Schulze C, Holst I, von Bomhard W, Rickerts V. Animal Histoplasmosis in Europe: Review of the Literature and Molecular Typing of the Etiological Agents. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8080833. [PMID: 36012821 PMCID: PMC9410202 DOI: 10.3390/jof8080833] [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: 06/25/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Histoplasmosis has been previously diagnosed in animals from Europe. The aim of this study is to review the literature on these reports, to analyze cases diagnosed at our laboratory (2000–2022) and to improve molecular typing of Histoplasma capsulatum directly from tissue to study the molecular epidemiology of Histoplasma capsulatum causing animal infections in Europe. Including 15 cases studied in our laboratory, we identified 39 cases of animal histoplasmosis between 1968 and 2022. They were diagnosed mostly in superficial tissue biopsies from cats and badgers from Central Europe. Using phylogenetic analyses of six partial genes, we were able to classify eight of the etiological agents as belonging to a highly supported lineage within the Eurasian clade. This study confirms the occurrence of autochthonous histoplasmosis in animals in Central Europe and proposes the addition of new loci to the MLST scheme to study the molecular epidemiology of histoplasmosis using either formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue and fresh or cadaveric biopsies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dunja Wilmes
- Reference Laboratory for Cryptococcosis and Uncommon Invasive Fungal Infections, Division for Mycotic and Parasitic Agents and Mycobacteria, Robert Koch Institute, 13353 Berlin, Germany
- Correspondence:
| | - Ursula Mayer
- VetMed Labor GmbH–Division of IDEXX Laboratories, 70806 Kornwestheim, Germany
| | - Peter Wohlsein
- Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559 Hanover, Germany
| | - Michael Suntz
- State Institute for Chemical and Veterinary Analysis Freiburg, 79108 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Jasmin Gerkrath
- Reference Laboratory for Cryptococcosis and Uncommon Invasive Fungal Infections, Division for Mycotic and Parasitic Agents and Mycobacteria, Robert Koch Institute, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Christoph Schulze
- Landeslabor Berlin-Brandenburg, Fb III-1 Pathologie, Bakteriologie, Fleischhygiene, 15236 Frankfurt (Oder), Germany
| | - Ina Holst
- Staatliches Tierärztliches Untersuchungsamt Aulendorf-Diagnostikzentrum, 88326 Aulendorf, Germany
| | | | - Volker Rickerts
- Reference Laboratory for Cryptococcosis and Uncommon Invasive Fungal Infections, Division for Mycotic and Parasitic Agents and Mycobacteria, Robert Koch Institute, 13353 Berlin, Germany
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15
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Retrospective Detection and Complete Genomic Sequencing of Canine morbillivirus in Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra) Using Nanopore Technology. Viruses 2022; 14:v14071433. [PMID: 35891411 PMCID: PMC9323228 DOI: 10.3390/v14071433] [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: 04/19/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) is a piscivorous apex predator in aquatic habitats, and a flagship species of conservation biology throughout Europe. Despite the wide distribution and ecological relevance of the species, there is a considerable lack of knowledge regarding its virological and veterinary health context, especially in Central Europe. Canine morbillivirus (Canine distemper virus (CDV)) is a highly contagious viral agent of the family Paramyxoviridae with high epizootic potential and veterinary health impact. CDV is present worldwide among a wide range of animals; wild carnivores are at particular risk. As part of a retrospective study, lung-tissue samples (n = 339) from Eurasian otters were collected between 2000 and 2021 throughout Hungary. The samples were screened for CDV using a real-time RT-PCR method. Two specimens proved positive for CDV RNA. In one sample, the complete viral genome was sequenced using a novel, pan-genotype CDV-specific amplicon-based sequencing method with Oxford Nanopore sequencing technology. Both viral sequences were grouped to a European lineage based on the hemagglutinin-gene phylogenetic classification. In this article, we present the feasibility of road-killed animal samples for understanding the long-term dynamics of CDV among wildlife and provide novel virological sequence data to better understand CDV circulation and evolution.
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16
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Natterson-Horowitz B, Boddy AM, Zimmerman D. Female Health Across the Tree of Life: Insights at the Intersection of Women's Health, One Health and Planetary Health. PNAS NEXUS 2022; 1:pgac044. [PMID: 35668878 PMCID: PMC9154074 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgac044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Across the tree of life, female animals share biological characteristics that place them at risk for similar diseases and disorders. Greater awareness of these shared vulnerabilities can accelerate insight and innovation in women's health. We present a broadly comparative approach to female health that can inform issues ranging from mammary, ovarian, and endometrial cancer to preeclampsia, osteoporosis, and infertility. Our focus on female health highlights the interdependence of human, animal, and environmental health. As the boundaries between human and animal environments become blurred, female animals across species are exposed to increasingly similar environmental hazards. As such, the health of female animals has unprecedented relevance to the field of woman's health. Expanding surveillance of animal populations beyond zoonoses to include noncommunicable diseases can strengthen women's health prevention efforts as environmental factors are increasingly implicated in human mortality. The physiology of nonhuman females can also spark innovation in women's health. There is growing interest in those species of which the females appear to have a level of resistance to pathologies that claim millions of human lives every year. These physiologic adaptations highlight the importance of biodiversity to human health. Insights at the intersection of women's health and planetary health can be a rich source of innovations benefitting the health of all animals across the tree of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Natterson-Horowitz
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Amy M Boddy
- Arizona Cancer Evolution Center, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
- Department of Anthropology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Dawn Zimmerman
- Director of Wildlife Health, Veterinary Medical Officer, Global Health Program, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20008, USA
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Disease, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
- Veterinary Initiative for Endangered Wildlife, Bozeman, MT 59715, USA
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17
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Trichinella spp. Infection in European Polecats ( Mustela Putorius Linnaeus, 1758) from Romania. Helminthologia 2021; 58:323-327. [PMID: 34934394 PMCID: PMC8647949 DOI: 10.2478/helm-2021-0032] [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: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The European polecat (Mustela putorius Linnaeus, 1758) is in decline in Romania, often living near human settlements, from mountains to lowlands. They feed on a wide variety of small animals, including rodents, such as mice or rats. The occurrence of this parasite in polecats from Romania was mentioned only once in 1991, but the parasite species was not confirmed by molecular biology. The study aimed to investigate the occurrence of Trichinella spp. in European polecats from Romania and to identify the parasite species by molecular tools. A total of 75 wild European polecats were examined by trichinoscopy and artificial digestion. A large number of animals were examined because of their wide distribution in Romanian territory and their presence near human settlements. For species determination, the positive muscle samples and the larvae recovered from artificial digestion were collected for DNA isolation and further processed by means of Multiplex PCR. Only two polecats from southern Romania tested positive for Trichinella spp. infection. During trichinoscopy examination, 48 (in a polecat from Giurgiu County) and 78 (in a polecat from Ialomița County) cysts were found in the tested (56 samples/animal) tissue samples. Artificial digestion revealed infection with 2466 larvae/100 g of muscle in the polecat from Ialomița and 254/100 g in the polecat from Giurgiu. The Multiplex PCR indicated the occurrence of Trichinella spiralis in the polecat from Giurgiu and a co-infection with T. spiralis and T. britovi in the polecat from Ialomița. The current study confirms through molecular biology, the occurrence of T. spiralis and T. britovi, as well as the occurrence of co-infection with these two Trichinella species in European polecats from Romania.
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18
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Oleaga Á, Vázquez CB, Royo LJ, Barral TD, Bonnaire D, Armenteros JÁ, Rabanal B, Gortázar C, Balseiro A. Canine distemper virus in wildlife in south-western Europe. Transbound Emerg Dis 2021; 69:e473-e485. [PMID: 34536064 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Multi-host pathogens emerging and re-emerging at the wildlife-domestic animal interface affect wildlife management and conservation. This is the case of canine distemper virus (CDV), a paramyxovirus closely related to human measles virus and rinderpest virus of cattle. With an area of 10,603 km2 , Asturias region in Atlantic Spain is a hotspot of carnivore diversity, which includes the largest Eurasian brown bear (Ursus arctos arctos) population and one of the largest wolf (Canis lupus) populations in south-western Europe. In 2020-2021, we recorded mortality due to distemper in four carnivore species including three mustelids (Eurasian badger Meles meles, European marten Martes martes and European polecat Mustela putorius) and one canid (red fox, Vulpes vulpes). Clinical signs and pathology were similar across species and consistent with the emergence of a highly pathogenic viral strain, with CDV antigen mainly located in the central nervous system, lungs, spleen and lymph nodes. A molecular study in eight wild carnivore species, also including the Iberian wolf, Eurasian brown bear, American mink (Neovison vison) and stone marten (Martes foina), revealed 19.51% (16/82) of positivity. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that CDV belonged to the previously described European lineage. A retrospective serosurvey (2008-2020) showed a high seroprevalence of CDV antibodies (43.4%) in 684 analyzed badgers, indicating a long-term though not stable viral circulation in this multi-host community. The possible triggers of the 2020-2021 outbreak and the implications for carnivore management and conservation are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Álvaro Oleaga
- Sociedad de Servicios del Principado de Asturias S.A. (SERPA), Gijón, Spain
| | - Cristina Blanco Vázquez
- Servicio Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario del Principado de Asturias (SERIDA), Villaviciosa, Spain
| | - Luis José Royo
- Servicio Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario del Principado de Asturias (SERIDA), Villaviciosa, Spain
| | - Thiago Doria Barral
- Laboratório de Imunologia e Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Debby Bonnaire
- Ecole Supérieure d'Ingénieurs Agroalimentaires de Bretagne atlantique, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Brest, France.,Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, León, Spain
| | - José Ángel Armenteros
- Consejería de Fomento, Ordenación del Territorio y Medio Ambiente del Principado de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Benjamín Rabanal
- Laboratorio de Técnicas Instrumentales, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, León, Spain
| | - Christian Gortázar
- SaBio. Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos-IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Ana Balseiro
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, León, Spain.,Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña (CSIC-Universidad de León), León, Spain
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19
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Boros Z, Ionică AM, Deak G, Mihalca AD, Chisamera GB, Györke A, Gherman CM, Cozma V. Reprint of: The European badger, Meles Meles, as a new host for Trichinella britovi in Romania. Vet Parasitol 2021; 297:109545. [PMID: 34389191 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2021.109545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The European badger, Meles meles (Carnivora, Mustelidae) is a widespread opportunistic omnivorous mammal. Its food spectrum comprises a wide variety of plants and small animals, occasionally including rodents, such as mice or rats. Considering that rodents are known to play a key role in the life cycle of Trichinella spp., the aims of this study were to investigate the occurrence of these parasites in badgers from Romania and to identify the species. Overall, 61 badgers originating from 14 counties were examined by trichinoscopy and artificial digestion. For species determination, the positive muscle samples, and the larvae recovered from the artificial digestion were used for DNA isolation, and further processed by multiplex PCR. A single badger, originating from Sibiu County, Central Romania, was found positive for Trichinella spp. Five cysts were identified using trichinoscopy: four in the diaphragm and one in the foreleg muscles. Artificial digestion revealed an infection rate of 70 larvae/100 g of muscle. The PCR indicated the occurrence of T. britovi, which is the most commonly detected species in wild carnivores in temperate areas. Although T. britovi has previously been reported in Romania, this represents the first report of its occurrence in the European badger in the country. However, the low prevalence indicates a minor reservoir role of this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zsolt Boros
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Calea Mănăștur 3-5, Cluj-Napoca, 400372, Romania.
| | - Angela Monica Ionică
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Calea Mănăștur 3-5, Cluj-Napoca, 400372, Romania; CDS-9, "Regele Mihai I al României" Life Sciences Institute, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Calea Mănăștur 3-5, Cluj-Napoca, 400372, Romania.
| | - Georgiana Deak
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Calea Mănăștur 3-5, Cluj-Napoca, 400372, Romania.
| | - Andrei Daniel Mihalca
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Calea Mănăștur 3-5, Cluj-Napoca, 400372, Romania.
| | - Gabriel Bogdan Chisamera
- "Grigore Antipa" National Museum of Natural History, Șoseaua Kiseleff, Bucharest 1, 011341, Romania.
| | - Adriana Györke
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Calea Mănăștur 3-5, Cluj-Napoca, 400372, Romania.
| | - Călin Mircea Gherman
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Calea Mănăștur 3-5, Cluj-Napoca, 400372, Romania.
| | - Vasile Cozma
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Calea Mănăștur 3-5, Cluj-Napoca, 400372, Romania; Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences Gheorghe Ionescu-Siseşti (A.S.A.S), Boulevardul Mărăști 61, Bucharest, 011464, Romania.
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Schmiedel Y, Büchi AE, Berezowska S, Pöllinger A, Mühlethaler K, Funke-Chambour M. Autochthonous Case of Pulmonary Histoplasmosis, Switzerland. Emerg Infect Dis 2021; 27:966-969. [PMID: 33622462 PMCID: PMC7920691 DOI: 10.3201/eid2703.191831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In Europe, pulmonary histoplasmosis is rarely diagnosed except in travelers. We report a probable autochthonous case of severe chronic pulmonary histoplasmosis in an immunocompetent man in Switzerland without travel history outside of Europe. Diagnosis was achieved by histopathology, fungal culture, and serology, but the source of the infection remains speculative.
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Antinori S, Giacomelli A, Corbellino M, Torre A, Schiuma M, Casalini G, Parravicini C, Milazzo L, Gervasoni C, Ridolfo AL. Histoplasmosis Diagnosed in Europe and Israel: A Case Report and Systematic Review of the Literature from 2005 to 2020. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7060481. [PMID: 34198597 PMCID: PMC8231918 DOI: 10.3390/jof7060481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Human histoplasmosis is a mycosis caused by two distinct varieties of a dimorphic fungus: Histoplasma capsulatum var. capsulatum and H. capsulatum var. duboisii. In Europe, it is usually imported by migrants and travellers, although there have been some autochthonous cases, especially in Italy; however, most European physicians are unfamiliar with its clinical and pathological picture, particularly among immunocompromised patients without HIV infection. This systematic review of all the cases of histoplasmosis reported in Europe and Israel between 2005 and 2020 identified 728 cases diagnosed in 17 European countries and Israel described in 133 articles. The vast majority were imported (mainly from Central and South America), but there were also seven autochthonous cases (six in Europe and one in Israel). The patients were prevalently males (60.4%), and their ages ranged from 2 to 86 years. The time between leaving an endemic region and the diagnosis of histoplasmosis varied from a few weeks to more than 40 years. Progressive disseminated histoplasmosis was the most frequent clinical picture among people living with HIV infection (89.5%) or a different immunocompromising condition (57.1%), but it was also recorded in 6.2% of immunocompetent patients. Twenty-eight cases were caused by Histoplasma duboisii. Immunocompromised patients without HIV infection had the worst outcomes, with a mortality rate of 32%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Spinello Antinori
- Luigi Sacco Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Università di Milano, 20157 Milan, Italy; (A.G.); (M.S.); (G.C.)
- III Division of Infectious Diseases, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, 20157 Milan, Italy; (M.C.); (A.T.); (L.M.); (C.G.); (A.L.R.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0250319765; Fax: +39-0250319758
| | - Andrea Giacomelli
- Luigi Sacco Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Università di Milano, 20157 Milan, Italy; (A.G.); (M.S.); (G.C.)
- III Division of Infectious Diseases, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, 20157 Milan, Italy; (M.C.); (A.T.); (L.M.); (C.G.); (A.L.R.)
| | - Mario Corbellino
- III Division of Infectious Diseases, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, 20157 Milan, Italy; (M.C.); (A.T.); (L.M.); (C.G.); (A.L.R.)
| | - Alessandro Torre
- III Division of Infectious Diseases, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, 20157 Milan, Italy; (M.C.); (A.T.); (L.M.); (C.G.); (A.L.R.)
| | - Marco Schiuma
- Luigi Sacco Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Università di Milano, 20157 Milan, Italy; (A.G.); (M.S.); (G.C.)
- III Division of Infectious Diseases, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, 20157 Milan, Italy; (M.C.); (A.T.); (L.M.); (C.G.); (A.L.R.)
| | - Giacomo Casalini
- Luigi Sacco Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Università di Milano, 20157 Milan, Italy; (A.G.); (M.S.); (G.C.)
- III Division of Infectious Diseases, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, 20157 Milan, Italy; (M.C.); (A.T.); (L.M.); (C.G.); (A.L.R.)
| | | | - Laura Milazzo
- III Division of Infectious Diseases, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, 20157 Milan, Italy; (M.C.); (A.T.); (L.M.); (C.G.); (A.L.R.)
| | - Cristina Gervasoni
- III Division of Infectious Diseases, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, 20157 Milan, Italy; (M.C.); (A.T.); (L.M.); (C.G.); (A.L.R.)
| | - Anna Lisa Ridolfo
- III Division of Infectious Diseases, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, 20157 Milan, Italy; (M.C.); (A.T.); (L.M.); (C.G.); (A.L.R.)
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LEPTOSPIRA, PARVOVIRUS, AND TOXOPLASMA IN THE NORTH AMERICAN RIVER OTTER (LONTRA CANADENSIS) IN NORTH CAROLINA, USA. J Wildl Dis 2021; 56:791-802. [PMID: 32320341 DOI: 10.7589/2019-05-129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Accepted: 11/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) is the largest mustelid in North Carolina, US, and was once extirpated from the central and western portions of the state. Over time and after a successful reintroduction project, otters are now abundant and occur throughout North Carolina. However, there is a concern that diseases may have an impact on the otter population, as well as on other aquatic mammals, either through exposure to emerging diseases, contact with domestic animals such as domestic cats (Felis catus), or less robust condition of individuals through declines in water quality. We tested brain and kidney tissue from harvested otters for the pathogens that cause leptospirosis, parvovirus, and toxoplasmosis. Leptospirosis and toxoplasmosis are priority zoonoses and are maintained by domestic and wild mammals. Although parvovirus is not zoonotic, it does affect pets, causing mild to fatal symptoms. Across the 2014-15 and 2015-16 trapping seasons, we tested 220 otters (76 females, 144 males) using real-time PCR for Leptospira interrogans, parvovirus, and Toxoplasma gondii. Of the otters tested, 1% (3/220) were positive for L. interrogans, 19% (41/220) were positive for parvovirus, and 24% (53/220) were positive for T. gondii. Although the pathogens for parvovirus and toxoplasmosis are relatively common in North Carolina otters, the otter harvest has remained steady and the population appears to be abundant and self-sustaining. Therefore, parvovirus and toxoplasmosis do not currently appear to be negatively impacting the population. However, subsequent research should examine transmission parameters between domestic and wild species and the sublethal effects of infection.
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A RETROSPECTIVE SUMMARY OF CERVID MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY IN ONTARIO AND NUNAVUT REGIONS OF CANADA (1991-2017). J Wildl Dis 2021; 56:884-895. [PMID: 32348201 DOI: 10.7589/jwd-d-19-00018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Free-ranging cervids in Canada face diverse threats such as climate change, human population expansion, and the northward spread of vector-borne pathogens. However, we currently have a limited understanding of the impacts of these health challenges in Ontario cervids. Our objective was to identify and characterize causes of morbidity and mortality in free-ranging cervids submitted to the Ontario and Nunavut node of the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative (CWHC) over a 27-yr period (1991 to 2017). Submissions included carcasses submitted for full postmortem examination (gross and histopathology; n=196) and field-collected tissues (n=384). Ancillary tests were performed on a case-by-case basis. Univariable logistic regression was used to test for associations between select causes of morbidity and mortality, and factors such as sex, age, and season. Four cervid species were examined: white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus; n=211), moose (Alces alces; n=140), elk (Cervus canadensis; n=136), and caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou; n=93). Noninfectious disease was the most common general cause of morbidity and mortality (38.1%; 221/580) and was most commonly attributed to trauma (49.7%; 110/221). Deaths attributed to infectious diseases (34.3%; 199/580) were most often bacterial in etiology (45.7%; 91/199). The most common primary infectious disease diagnosed in caribou was digital limb infection, and moose were most commonly diagnosed with parasitic causes, including meningeal worm (Parelaphostrongylus tenuis) and winter tick (Dermacentor albipictus). Chronic wasting disease was not diagnosed among cervids tested during the study period, consistent with the previous lack of detection of the disease in Ontario. These results reveal that anthropogenic, infectious, and environmentally associated causes of morbidity and mortality are commonly diagnosed in cervids submitted to the CWHC Ontario and Nunavut regions, and represent potential population threats that should continue to be monitored.
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24
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Logeot M, Mauroy A, Thiry E, De Regge N, Vervaeke M, Beck O, De Waele V, Van den Berg T. Risk assessment of SARS-CoV-2 infection in free-ranging wild animals in Belgium. Transbound Emerg Dis 2021; 69:986-996. [PMID: 33909351 PMCID: PMC8242903 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this review paper is to evaluate the putative susceptibilities of different free-ranging wild animal species in Belgium to SARS-CoV-2 and provide a risk assessment of SARS-CoV-2 infection in those animals. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, natural SARS-CoV-2 infections have mainly been confirmed in domestic and production animals, and in wild animals kept in captivity, although the numbers remain limited when compared to human cases. Recently, the first SARS-CoV-2 infections in presumably escaped minks found in the wild have been detected, further addressing the much-feared scenario of transmission of the virus to animals living in the wild and its consequences. Considering the most likely origin of the virus being a wild animal and the putative susceptibilities of free-ranging wild animal species to SARS-CoV-2, the risk of infection with possible establishment of the virus in these populations has to be investigated closely. The authors conclude that most attention should be given to surveillance and awareness-raising activities for SARS-CoV-2 infection in wild mustelids, bats, wild canids and felids, particularly these collected in wildlife rescue centres. People involved in frequent and close contact with wild animals should take all necessary precautionary measures to protect wild animals against exposure to the virus. More than one year after the first detection of SARS-CoV-2 in humans, the time has come to increase investments in research and surveillance activities in animals, including in free-ranging wild animals, as part of a One Health control of this pandemic. This study focussing on Belgium could be helpful for other countries with similar animal densities and ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myriam Logeot
- Department of Animal Health and Safety of Animal Products, Directorate General Control Policy, Federal Agency for Safety of the Food Chain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Axel Mauroy
- Staff Direction for Risk Assessment, Directorate General Control Policy, Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Etienne Thiry
- Veterinary Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, FARAH Research Center, Liège University, Liège, Belgium
| | - Nick De Regge
- Scientific Direction Viral Diseases in Animals, Sciensano, National Reference Laboratory, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Muriel Vervaeke
- Policy Department-Wildlife disease management, Agency for Nature and Forests, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Olivier Beck
- Department Biodiversity, Brussels Environment, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Valérie De Waele
- Department of Environmental and Agricultural Studies, Public Service of Wallonia, Gembloux, Belgium
| | - Thierry Van den Berg
- Scientific Director for Animal Infectious Diseases, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium
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Twenty Years of Passive Disease Surveillance of Roe Deer ( Capreolus capreolus) in Slovenia. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11020407. [PMID: 33562662 PMCID: PMC7915899 DOI: 10.3390/ani11020407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Wildlife can serve as a reservoir for highly contagious and deadly diseases, many of which are infectious to domestic animals and/or humans. Wildlife disease surveillance can be considered an essential tool to provide important information on the health status of the population and for the protection of human health. Between 2000 and 2019, examinations of 510 roe deer carcasses were conducted by comprehensive necropsy and other laboratory tests. In conclusion, the results of this research indicate a broad spectrum of roe deer diseases, but no identified disease can be considered a significant health threat to other wildlife species and/or to humans. Abstract In this paper, we provide an overview of the causes of death of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) diagnosed within the national passive health surveillance of roe deer in Slovenia. From 2000 to 2019, postmortem examinations of 510 free-ranging roe deer provided by hunters were conducted at the Veterinary Faculty, Slovenia. A comprehensive necropsy was performed. According to the results of the necropsy, the samples were subjected to microscopic, histopathological, bacteriological, parasitological, or virological examination. The most frequent causes of death in roe deer were infectious diseases (67%), followed by noninfectious diseases (28%). Of all deaths, parasitic infections represented 48%, bacterial infections 14.8%, trauma 12.5%, and metabolic disorders 9.8%. Less frequent causes were diseases like neoplasia and mycotic infections, winter starvation, hernias, and lightning strike. This study covered an estimated 1% of the total disease-related mortality of roe deer in Slovenia. Comparisons of sex/age structure indicated that hunters did not provide random samples (e.g., young males were disproportionately represented). Therefore, such monitoring does not ensure an unbiased assessment of the significance of the individual disease for the mortality of the population; however, it can provide credible evidence of whether or not a particular disease is present in a population. We show that no identified disease in roe deer in Slovenia can be considered a significant health threat to roe deer, other wildlife species, or humans.
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Dubey JP, Murata FHA, Cerqueira-Cézar CK, Kwok OCH. Recent epidemiologic and clinical Toxoplasma gondii infections in wild canids and other carnivores: 2009-2020. Vet Parasitol 2020; 290:109337. [PMID: 33476902 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2020.109337] [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: 10/01/2020] [Revised: 12/13/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii infections are common in humans and animals worldwide. The present review summarizes worldwide information on the prevalence of clinical and subclinical infections, epidemiology, diagnosis, and genetic diversity of T. gondii in wild canids and other carnivores for the past decade. Seroprevalence estimates of T. gondii worldwide were tabulated for each host. Seroprevalence in wild foxes was very high compared with farmed Arctic foxes. Economic and public health aspects of some of the carnivore species raised for fur and meat (raccoon dogs, mink) are discussed. Diagnostic efficacies of different serological methods and PCR methods are discussed. Clinical toxoplasmosis was observed mainly in carnivores concurrently infected with immunosuppressive Canine Distemper Virus infection. Abortion and blindness were noted in mink. Genetic diversity of isolates using DNA derived from 162 (89 viable T. gondii isolates and 73 DNA extracted from tissues) of wild carnivores from several countries is discussed. However, 69 of the 162 T. gondii isolates were strains from USA and these were genetically diverse with predominance of ToxoDB genotypes #4 and #5 (haplogroup 12). Only limited information is available concerning genotyping of T. gondii isolates from other countries; none of the 93 T. gondii isolates from other countries (Brazil, China, France, Grenada) were haplogroup 12.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jitender P Dubey
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Building 1001, Beltsville, MD, 20705-2350, USA.
| | - Fernando H A Murata
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Building 1001, Beltsville, MD, 20705-2350, USA
| | - Camila K Cerqueira-Cézar
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Building 1001, Beltsville, MD, 20705-2350, USA
| | - Oliver C H Kwok
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Building 1001, Beltsville, MD, 20705-2350, USA
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27
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Boros Z, Ionică AM, Deak G, Mihalca AD, Chisamera GB, Györke A, Gherman CM, Cozma V. The European badger, Meles meles, as a new host for Trichinella britovi in Romania. Vet Parasitol 2020; 288:109301. [PMID: 33161282 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2020.109301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2019] [Revised: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The European badger, Meles meles (Carnivora, Mustelidae) is a widespread opportunistic omnivorous mammal. Its food spectrum comprises a wide variety of plants and small animals, occasionally including rodents, such as mice or rats. Considering that rodents are known to play a key role in the life cycle of Trichinella spp., the aims of this study were to investigate the occurrence of these parasites in badgers from Romania and to identify the species. Overall, 61 badgers originating from 14 counties were examined by trichinoscopy and artificial digestion. For species determination, the positive muscle samples, and the larvae recovered from the artificial digestion were used for DNA isolation, and further processed by multiplex PCR. A single badger, originating from Sibiu County, Central Romania, was found positive for Trichinella spp. Five cysts were identified using trichinoscopy: four in the diaphragm and one in the foreleg muscles. Artificial digestion revealed an infection rate of 70 larvae/100 g of muscle. The PCR indicated the occurrence of T. britovi, which is the most commonly detected species in wild carnivores in temperate areas. Although T. britovi has previously been reported in Romania, this represents the first report of its occurrence in the European badger in the country. However, the low prevalence indicates a minor reservoir role of this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zsolt Boros
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Calea Mănăștur 3-5, Cluj-Napoca, 400372, Romania.
| | - Angela Monica Ionică
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Calea Mănăștur 3-5, Cluj-Napoca, 400372, Romania; CDS-9, "Regele Mihai I al României" Life Sciences Institute, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Calea Mănăștur 3-5, Cluj-Napoca, 400372, Romania.
| | - Georgiana Deak
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Calea Mănăștur 3-5, Cluj-Napoca, 400372, Romania.
| | - Andrei Daniel Mihalca
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Calea Mănăștur 3-5, Cluj-Napoca, 400372, Romania.
| | - Gabriel Bogdan Chisamera
- "Grigore Antipa" National Museum of Natural History, Șoseaua Kiseleff, Bucharest 1, 011341, Romania.
| | - Adriana Györke
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Calea Mănăștur 3-5, Cluj-Napoca, 400372, Romania.
| | - Călin Mircea Gherman
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Calea Mănăștur 3-5, Cluj-Napoca, 400372, Romania.
| | - Vasile Cozma
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Calea Mănăștur 3-5, Cluj-Napoca, 400372, Romania; Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences Gheorghe Ionescu-Siseşti (A.S.A.S), Boulevardul Mărăști 61, Bucharest, 011464, Romania.
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28
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Kadota A, Iwaide S, Miyazaki S, Mitsui I, Machida N, Murakami T. Pathology and Proteomics-Based Diagnosis of Localized Light-Chain Amyloidosis in Dogs and Cats. Vet Pathol 2020; 57:658-665. [PMID: 32880234 DOI: 10.1177/0300985820934113] [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] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Amyloidosis is classified according to the amyloid precursor protein, and accurate diagnosis of the amyloidosis type may guide appropriate treatment. Immunohistochemistry and Congo red staining are the most frequently used methods used to distinguish types of amyloidosis, but problems with specificity and sensitivity indicate the need for an alternative diagnostic method. In this study, we evaluated laser microdissection-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LMD-LC-MS/MS) for the diagnosis of amyloid light-chain (AL) amyloidosis in animals. Plasmacytomas with amyloid deposits from 15 dogs and 2 cats were subjected to Congo red staining with or without potassium permanganate pretreatment, immunohistochemistry for kappa and lambda light chains, and LMD-LC-MS/MS. Congo red staining was diagnostic in 12 of 17 cases based on resistance to potassium permanganate pretreatment, but in 5 of 17 cases the pretreatment unexpectedly reduced Congo red staining or abrogated the birefringence and a definitive diagnosis could not be reached. Immunohistochemistry detected kappa or lambda light chains in 6 of 17 cases. With LMD-LC-MS/MS, immunoglobulin lambda light chain was detected in all 17 cases. The amyloid signature proteins ApoA-I, ApoA-IV, and ApoE were detected in 9, 1, and 3 of the 15 canine cases by LMD-LC-MS/MS, but not in the feline cases. In conclusion, LMD-LC-MS/MS consistently determined the amyloid type in all examined specimens, while Congo red staining after potassium permanganate treatment and immunohistochemistry were less sensitive tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayumi Kadota
- Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Susumu Iwaide
- Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shinya Miyazaki
- Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ikki Mitsui
- 13019Okayama University of Science, Ehime, Japan
| | - Noboru Machida
- Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, Japan
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29
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Bianco C, Sánchez-Cordón PJ, Verin R, Godinho A, Weyer U, Lesellier S, Spiropoulos J, Floyd T, Everest D, Núñez A. Investigation into the Pathology of Idiopathic Systemic Amyloidosis in Four Captive Badgers (Meles meles). J Comp Pathol 2020; 176:128-132. [PMID: 32359625 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcpa.2020.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Revised: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Systemic idiopathic amyloidosis was described in four captive badgers (Meles meles). Two animals (B1 and B2) were not enrolled in any trial, while animals B3 and B4 took part in a vaccine efficacy study and had been challenged with Mycobacterium bovis. A full set of tissues was collected and processed routinely for histopathological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural studies. Splenomegaly was found in three out of four animals. Histopathological evaluation revealed congophilic, permanganate-resistant systemic amyloid deposits in the tissues of all badgers. Animals B2 and B4 displayed a marked granulomatous response to amyloid within the spleen. Animals B1 and B2 also displayed clinicopathological findings suggestive of chronic kidney disease. Ultrastructural examination identified peculiar star-shaped arrays of amyloid. Immunohistochemical studies were unrewarding. Systemic amyloidosis should be considered among the differentials of wasting in captive badgers.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Bianco
- Pathology Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Lasswade, UK.
| | | | - R Verin
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - A Godinho
- Pathology Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Weybridge, UK; ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal; Life and Health Sciences Research Institute, School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - U Weyer
- Animal and Plant Health Agency, Weybridge, UK
| | - S Lesellier
- Animal and Plant Health Agency, Weybridge, UK
| | - J Spiropoulos
- Pathology Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Weybridge, UK
| | - T Floyd
- Pathology Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Weybridge, UK
| | - D Everest
- Pathology Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Weybridge, UK
| | - A Núñez
- Pathology Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Weybridge, UK
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30
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Bianco C, Lesellier S, Barrat J, Richomme C, Boschiroli ML, Núñez A. Subclinical BCG-osis in a Captive Badger (Meles meles) with Lymphoma. J Comp Pathol 2020; 176:76-80. [PMID: 32359639 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcpa.2020.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2019] [Revised: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Subclinical systemic dissemination of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is described in a captive badger (Meles meles) with lymphoma. An adult female European badger was vaccinated per os with BCG and after 8 weeks post-mortem examination identified marked lymphadenomegaly and multinodular hepatic lesions. The histopathology and immunohistochemistry confirmed a multicentric T-cell lymphoma, associated with high BCG bacterial load in numerous tissues. The histology did not identify BCG-associated lesions. The scenario suggested that the T-cell lymphoma likely favoured the dissemination of the BCG ('BCG-osis'). Given that lymphoma is rare in badgers, this neoplasm should not interfere with the efficacy of large-scale vaccination programmes.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Bianco
- Pathology Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Lasswade, UK.
| | - S Lesellier
- Animal and Plant Health Agency, Weybridge, UK
| | - J Barrat
- Nancy Laboratory for Rabies and Wildlife, Malzéville, France
| | - C Richomme
- Nancy Laboratory for Rabies and Wildlife, Malzéville, France
| | - M-L Boschiroli
- University Paris-Est, French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety, Laboratory for Animal Health, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - A Núñez
- Pathology Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Weybridge, UK
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Canuti M, Todd M, Monteiro P, Van Osch K, Weir R, Schwantje H, Britton AP, Lang AS. Ecology and Infection Dynamics of Multi-Host Amdoparvoviral and Protoparvoviral Carnivore Pathogens. Pathogens 2020; 9:pathogens9020124. [PMID: 32075256 PMCID: PMC7168296 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9020124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2020] [Revised: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Amdoparvovirus and Protoparvovirus are monophyletic viral genera that infect carnivores. We performed surveillance for and sequence analyses of parvoviruses in mustelids in insular British Columbia to investigate parvoviral maintenance and cross-species transmission among wildlife. Overall, 19.1% (49/256) of the tested animals were parvovirus-positive. Aleutian mink disease virus (AMDV) was more prevalent in mink (41.6%, 32/77) than martens (3.1%, 4/130), feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) was more prevalent in otters (27.3%, 6/22) than mink (5.2%, 4/77) or martens (2.3%, 3/130), and canine parvovirus 2 (CPV-2) was found in one mink, one otter, and zero ermines (N = 27). Viruses were endemic and bottleneck events, founder effects, and genetic drift generated regional lineages. We identified two local closely related AMDV lineages, one CPV-2 lineage, and five FPV lineages. Highly similar viruses were identified in different hosts, demonstrating cross-species transmission. The likelihood for cross-species transmission differed among viruses and some species likely represented dead-end spillover hosts. We suggest that there are principal maintenance hosts (otters for FPV, raccoons for CPV-2/FPV, mink for AMDV) that enable viral persistence and serve as sources for other susceptible species. In this multi-host system, viral and host factors affect viral persistence and distribution, shaping parvoviral ecology and evolution, with implications for insular carnivore conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Canuti
- Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 232 Elizabeth Ave., St. John’s, NL A1B 3X9, Canada
- Correspondence: (M.C.); (A.S.L.); Tel.: +1-709-864-8761 (M.C.); +1-709-864-7517 (A.S.L.)
| | - Melissa Todd
- British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations, and Rural Development, Coast Area Research Section, Suite 103-2100 Labieux Rd., Nanaimo, BC V9T 6E9, Canada; (M.T.); (P.M.); (K.V.O.)
| | - Paige Monteiro
- British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations, and Rural Development, Coast Area Research Section, Suite 103-2100 Labieux Rd., Nanaimo, BC V9T 6E9, Canada; (M.T.); (P.M.); (K.V.O.)
| | - Kalia Van Osch
- British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations, and Rural Development, Coast Area Research Section, Suite 103-2100 Labieux Rd., Nanaimo, BC V9T 6E9, Canada; (M.T.); (P.M.); (K.V.O.)
| | - Richard Weir
- British Columbia Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, PO Box 9338 STN Prov Govt, Victoria, BC V8W 9M2, Canada;
| | - Helen Schwantje
- British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, Wildlife Health Program, Wildlife and Habitat Branch, 2080 Labieux Rd., Nanaimo, BC V9T 6J9, Canada;
| | - Ann P. Britton
- Animal Health Center, British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture, 1767 Angus Campbell Rd., Abbotsford, BC V3G 2M3, Canada;
| | - Andrew S. Lang
- Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 232 Elizabeth Ave., St. John’s, NL A1B 3X9, Canada
- Correspondence: (M.C.); (A.S.L.); Tel.: +1-709-864-8761 (M.C.); +1-709-864-7517 (A.S.L.)
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Pisano SRR, Zimmermann F, Rossi L, Capt S, Akdesir E, Bürki R, Kunz F, Origgi FC, Ryser-Degiorgis MP. Spatiotemporal spread of sarcoptic mange in the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) in Switzerland over more than 60 years: lessons learnt from comparative analysis of multiple surveillance tools. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:521. [PMID: 31690337 PMCID: PMC6833187 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3762-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2019] [Accepted: 10/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sarcoptic mange is a contagious skin disease of wild and domestic mammals caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei. Reports of sarcoptic mange in wildlife increased worldwide in the second half of the 20th century, especially since the 1990s. The aim of this study was to provide new insights into the epidemiology of mange by (i) documenting the emergence of sarcoptic mange in the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) in the last decades in Switzerland; and (ii) describing its spatiotemporal spread combining data obtained through different surveillance methods. METHODS Retrospective analysis of archived material together with prospective data collection delivered a large dataset from the 19th century to 2018. Methods included: (i) a review of historical literature; (ii) screening of necropsy reports from general health surveillance (1958-2018); (iii) screening of data on mange (1968-1992) collected during the sylvatic rabies eradication campaign; (iv) a questionnaire survey (<1980-2017) and (v) evaluation of camera-trap bycatch data (2005-2018). RESULTS Sarcoptic mange in red foxes was reported as early as 1835 in Switzerland. The first case diagnosed in the framework of the general health surveillance was in 1959. Prior to 1980, sarcoptic mange occurred in non-adjacent surveillance districts scattered all over the country. During the period of the rabies epidemic (1970s-early 1990s), the percentage of foxes tested for rabies with sarcoptic mange significantly decreased in subregions with rabies, whereas it remained high in the few rabies-free subregions. Sarcoptic mange re-emerged in the mid-1990s and continuously spread during the 2000-2010s, to finally extend to the whole country in 2017. The yearly prevalence of mange in foxes estimated by camera-trapping ranged from 0.1-12%. CONCLUSIONS Sarcoptic mange has likely been endemic in Switzerland as well as in other European countries at least since the mid-19th century. The rabies epidemics seem to have influenced the pattern of spread of mange in several locations, revealing an interesting example of disease interaction in free-ranging wildlife populations. The combination of multiple surveillance tools to study the long-term dynamics of sarcoptic mange in red foxes in Switzerland proved to be a successful strategy, which underlined the usefulness of questionnaire surveys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Roberto Rolando Pisano
- Centre for Fish and Wildlife Health (FIWI), Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Laenggassstrasse 122, PO Box, 3001 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Fridolin Zimmermann
- KORA – Carnivore Ecology and Wildlife Management, Thunstrasse 31, 3074 Muri, Switzerland
| | - Luca Rossi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università degli Studi di Torino, Largo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy
| | - Simon Capt
- Info Fauna, Swiss Centre for the Cartography of the Fauna, Bellevaux 51, 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Ezgi Akdesir
- Swiss Rabies Centre, Institute of Virology and Immunology (IVI), Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Laenggassstrasse 122, PO Box, 3001 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Roland Bürki
- KORA – Carnivore Ecology and Wildlife Management, Thunstrasse 31, 3074 Muri, Switzerland
| | - Florin Kunz
- KORA – Carnivore Ecology and Wildlife Management, Thunstrasse 31, 3074 Muri, Switzerland
| | - Francesco Carlo Origgi
- Centre for Fish and Wildlife Health (FIWI), Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Laenggassstrasse 122, PO Box, 3001 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Marie-Pierre Ryser-Degiorgis
- Centre for Fish and Wildlife Health (FIWI), Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Laenggassstrasse 122, PO Box, 3001 Bern, Switzerland
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Byrne RL, Fogarty U, Mooney A, Marples NM, Holland CV. A comparison of helminth infections as assessed through coprological analysis and adult worm burdens in a wild host. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE 2018; 7:439-444. [PMID: 30533382 PMCID: PMC6261086 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2018.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2018] [Revised: 11/12/2018] [Accepted: 11/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Coprological analysis is the most widely used diagnostic tool for helminth infection in both domestic and wild mammals. Evaluation of the efficacy of this technique is rare, due to the lack of availability of adult worm burden. Where information is available the majority of studies are in small ruminants and seldom in a wild host. This study of 289 wild badgers is the first to report the relationship between faecal egg/larval counts and adult worm burden in badgers whilst also evaluating the reliability of coprological analysis as a diagnostic tool for hookworm (Uncinaria criniformis) and lungworm (Aelurostrongylus falciformis) infection. The prevalence of hookworm and lungworm infection, as assessed through adult worm burden was 59.2% and 20.8% respectively. For both species of helminth, infection was consistently under-reported by coprological analysis compared to adult worm burden with a reported 41% sensitivity for hookworm and 10% for lungworm. A significant positive relationship was found between faecal counts and adult worm burden for both species of helminths. Additionally the density –dependent relationship often reported in helminth infection appears to be weak or non-existent in this study, up to the observed worm intensity of 500. Hookworm infection is endemic within the Irish badger population. Lungworm infection is also common in Irish badgers. Coprological analysis has a low sensitivity for diagnosing infection compared to adult worm burden. Faecal is a reliable indicator of intensity of infection. Density-dependence is weak, or non-existent up to the observed intensity of 500 worms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel L. Byrne
- Department of Zoology, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
- Corresponding author.
| | - Ursula Fogarty
- Irish Equine Centre, Johnstown, Naas, County Kildare, Ireland
| | - Andrew Mooney
- Department of Zoology, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
| | - Nicola M. Marples
- Department of Zoology, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
| | - Celia V. Holland
- Department of Zoology, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
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