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Vital-García C, Beristain-Ruíz DM, Acosta R, Marta CIP, Gatica-Colima AB, Aristizabal JF, Valdez-Rubio A, Escudero-Fragosso C, Martínez-Calderas JM. Ecological factors shaping ectoparasite communities on heteromyid rodents at Médanos de Samalayuca. Parasitol Res 2024; 123:85. [PMID: 38182760 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-08098-6] [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: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024]
Abstract
Rodent ectoparasites are vectors for important pathogens of wildlife, domestic animals, and even zoonosis. Nevertheless, distribution patterns of ectoparasites are not fully understood; habitat, season, and host species are important predictors of distribution and prevalence. Heteromyid rodents are considered important reservoirs of diseases, given the presence of different ectoparasites and pathogens in them, and they offer the opportunity to learn about the ecology of parasites. The aim of the present work was to survey ectoparasites associated with heteromyid rodents near a National Protected Area in Chihuahua Mexico, south of the USA-Mexico border, and asses the effects of ecological factors (season, vegetation type, host species, and host body condition) on parasite infestation. We sampled five different locations from January 2018 to July 2022; 845 heteromyid rodents were examined and 49 fleas and 33 ticks were collected. Ectoparasites belonged to the Siphonaptera and Ixodida orders, including three families Ixodidae (Riphicephalus sanguineus), Pulicidae (Pulex irritans), and Ctenophthalmidae (Meringins altipecten, M. dipodomys). Five species of host rodents were captured, Dipodomys merriami, D. ordii, Chaetodipus eremicus, C. hispidus, and C. intermedius, but the last two species did not present any ectoparasites. Dipodomys merriami presented the highest flea and tick prevalence followed by D. ordii. We found parasitic partnerships between heteromyids according to ecological factors. The infestation in C. eremicus was related to body condition, vegetation type, and sex; in D. merriami, it was related to vegetation type and season, while D. ordii did not present a clear pattern of infestation. Our results suggest that the infestation patterns of heteromyid rodents in desert habitats are species dependent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cuauhcihuatl Vital-García
- Departamento de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, México, 32310.
| | - Diana Marcela Beristain-Ruíz
- Departamento de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, México, 32310
| | - Roxana Acosta
- Museo de Zoología "Alfonso L. Herrera" Departamento de Biología Evolutiva, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), 04510, Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | - Ana Bertha Gatica-Colima
- Departamento de Ciencias Químico-Biológicas, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, Av. Plutarco Elías Calles 1210, Fovissste Chamizal, Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, México, 32310
| | - John F Aristizabal
- Departamento de Ciencias Químico-Biológicas, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, Av. Plutarco Elías Calles 1210, Fovissste Chamizal, Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, México, 32310
| | | | | | - Jesús M Martínez-Calderas
- Departamento de Ciencias Químico-Biológicas, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, Av. Plutarco Elías Calles 1210, Fovissste Chamizal, Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, México, 32310
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Ming M, Yuan S, Fu H, Li X, Zhang H, Liu T, Bu F, Wu X. Influence of biotic and abiotic factors on flea species population dynamics on Lasiopodomys brandtii. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2023; 21:185-191. [PMID: 37575662 PMCID: PMC10422677 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2023.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
Brandt's Vole (Lasiopodomys brandtii) is one of the most abundant rodent species in the grasslands of Inner Mongolia, China, and one of the main carriers of Yersinia pestis, the plague bacterium. There have been several instances of plague transmission among L. brandtii, and all of their dominant flea species are known carriers of plague. Little work has been done to understand the regulation of flea abundance on L. brandtii by biotic and abiotic factors. Here, we examine the impacts of host and climate variation on flea abundance on L. brandtii in May, July, and September of 2021 in the East Ujumqin Banner, Xilinhot City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. We arrived at the following conclusions: 1) There were 8 flea species representing 2 families and 5 genera collected from L. brandtii, and Frontopsylla luculenta, Neopsylla pleskei orientalis, and Amphipsylla primaris mitis were most common. 2) Host body weight, host age, season, temperature, and humidity are key factors influencing flea abundance on L. brandtii. 3) Flea species vary in their respective responses to factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Ming
- College of Grassland, Resources and Environment, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University. Hohhot, China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Rodent Ecology and Pest Controlled, Inner Mongolia. Hohhot, China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Resources of the Ministry of Education. Hohhot, China
| | - Shuai Yuan
- College of Grassland, Resources and Environment, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University. Hohhot, China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Rodent Ecology and Pest Controlled, Inner Mongolia. Hohhot, China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Resources of the Ministry of Education. Hohhot, China
| | - Heping Fu
- College of Grassland, Resources and Environment, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University. Hohhot, China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Rodent Ecology and Pest Controlled, Inner Mongolia. Hohhot, China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Resources of the Ministry of Education. Hohhot, China
| | - Xin Li
- College of Grassland, Resources and Environment, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University. Hohhot, China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Rodent Ecology and Pest Controlled, Inner Mongolia. Hohhot, China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Resources of the Ministry of Education. Hohhot, China
| | - Haoting Zhang
- College of Grassland, Resources and Environment, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University. Hohhot, China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Rodent Ecology and Pest Controlled, Inner Mongolia. Hohhot, China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Resources of the Ministry of Education. Hohhot, China
| | - Tao Liu
- College of Grassland, Resources and Environment, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University. Hohhot, China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Rodent Ecology and Pest Controlled, Inner Mongolia. Hohhot, China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Resources of the Ministry of Education. Hohhot, China
| | - Fan Bu
- College of Grassland, Resources and Environment, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University. Hohhot, China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Rodent Ecology and Pest Controlled, Inner Mongolia. Hohhot, China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Resources of the Ministry of Education. Hohhot, China
| | - Xiaodong Wu
- College of Grassland, Resources and Environment, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University. Hohhot, China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Rodent Ecology and Pest Controlled, Inner Mongolia. Hohhot, China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Resources of the Ministry of Education. Hohhot, China
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3
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Xu L, Wang Q, Yang R, Ganbold D, Tsogbadrakh N, Dong K, Liu M, Altantogtokh D, Liu Q, Undrakhbold S, Boldgiv B, Liang W, Stenseth NC. Climate-driven marmot-plague dynamics in Mongolia and China. Sci Rep 2023; 13:11906. [PMID: 37488160 PMCID: PMC10366125 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-38966-1] [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: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The incidence of plague has rebounded in the Americas, Asia, and Africa alongside rapid globalization and climate change. Previous studies have shown local climate to have significant nonlinear effects on plague dynamics among rodent communities. We analyzed an 18-year database of plague, spanning 1998 to 2015, in the foci of Mongolia and China to trace the associations between marmot plague and climate factors. Our results suggested a density-dependent effect of precipitation and a geographic location-dependent effect of temperature on marmot plague. That is, a significantly positive relationship was evident between risk of plague and precipitation only when the marmot density exceeded a certain threshold. The geographical heterogeneity of the temperature effect and the contrasting slopes of influence for the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) and other regions in the study (nQTP) were primarily related to diversity of climate and landscape types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Xu
- Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Qian Wang
- Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Ruifu Yang
- Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Dalantai Ganbold
- National Center for Zoonotic Diseases, Ulaanbaatar, 211137, Mongolia
| | | | - Kaixing Dong
- Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Min Liu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | | | - Qiyong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changping, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Sainbileg Undrakhbold
- Professional Biological Society of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, 14201, Mongolia
- Department of Biology, National University of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, 14201, Mongolia
| | - Bazartseren Boldgiv
- Department of Biology, National University of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, 14201, Mongolia.
| | - Wannian Liang
- Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
| | - Nils Chr Stenseth
- Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
- The Centre for Pandemics and One-Health Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis, Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
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Goldberg AR, Eads DA, Biggins DE. Plague circulation in small mammals elevates extinction risk for the endangered Peñasco least chipmunk. Glob Ecol Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022] Open
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5
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Buttke D, Wild M, Monello R, Schuurman G, Hahn M, Jackson K. Managing Wildlife Disease Under Climate Change. ECOHEALTH 2021; 18:406-410. [PMID: 34462847 PMCID: PMC8742803 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-021-01542-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Revised: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Danielle Buttke
- National Park Service Biological Resources Division and Office of Public Health, 1201 Oakridge Drive, Suite 200, Fort Collins, CO, 80524, USA.
| | - Margaret Wild
- Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Pullman, USA
| | - Ryan Monello
- National Park Service Pacific Island Inventory and Monitoring Network, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, USA
| | - Gregor Schuurman
- National Park Service Climate Change Response Program, Fort Collins, USA
| | - Micah Hahn
- University of Alaska Anchorage Institute for Circumpolar Health Studies, Anchorage, USA
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6
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Prevalence and Molecular Characterization of Rickettsia spp. from Wild Small Mammals in Public Parks and Urban Areas of Bangkok Metropolitan, Thailand. Trop Med Infect Dis 2021; 6:tropicalmed6040199. [PMID: 34842856 PMCID: PMC8628900 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed6040199] [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: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Rural areas usually show a higher prevalence of rickettsial infection than urban areas. However, information on the rickettsial infection status in urban settings (e.g., built-up areas and city parks) is still limited, particularly in the Bangkok metropolitan area. In this study, we performed a molecular rickettsial survey of spleen samples of small mammals caught in public parks and built-up areas of Bangkok. Out of 198 samples, the Rattus rattus complex was found to be most prevalent. The amplification of rickettsial gltA fragment gene (338 bp) by nested PCR assay revealed positive results in four samples, yielding a low prevalence of infection of 2.02%. DNA sequencing results confirmed that three samples were matched with Rickettsia typhi, and one was identified as R. felis. It is noteworthy that this is the first report of the occurrence of R. felis DNA in rodents in Southeast Asia.
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7
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Pauling CD, Finke DL, Anderson DM. Interrelationship of soil moisture and temperature to sylvatic plague cycle among prairie dogs in the Western United States. Integr Zool 2021; 16:852-867. [PMID: 34219394 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Plague, caused by Yersinia pestis, is a flea-borne disease that is endemic in areas throughout the world due to its successful maintenance in a sylvatic cycle, mainly in areas with temperate climates. Burrowing rodents are thought to play a key role in the enzootic maintenance as well as epizootic outbreaks of plague. In the United States, prairie dogs (Cynomys), rodents (Muridae), and ground squirrels (Spermophilus) are susceptible to infection and are parasitized by fleas that transmit plague. In particular, prairie dogs can experience outbreaks that rapidly spread, which can lead to extirpation of colonies. A number of ecological parameters, including climate, are associated with these epizootics. In this study, we asked whether soil parameters, primarily moisture and temperature, are associated with outbreaks of plague in black-tailed prairie dogs and Gunnison's prairie dogs in the Western United States, and at what depth these associations were apparent. We collected publicly available county-level information on the occurrence of population declines or colony extirpation, while historical soil data was collected from SCAN and USCRN stations in counties and states where prairie dogs have been located. The analysis suggests that soil moisture at lower depths correlates with colony die-offs, in addition to temperature near the surface, with key differences within the landscape ecology that impact the occurrence of plague. Overall, the model suggests that the burrow environment may play a significant role in the epizootic spread of disease amongst black-tailed and Gunnison's prairie dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra D Pauling
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Deborah L Finke
- Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Deborah M Anderson
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
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8
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Eads DA, Biggins DE. Utah prairie dog population dynamics on the Awapa Plateau: precipitation, elevation, and plague. J Mammal 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyab103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Utah prairie dogs (UPDs, Cynomys parvidens) are colonial, herbivorous rodents listed under the Endangered Species Act as threatened. Little is known about UPD population dynamics at higher elevations in the species’ range. From 2013 through 2016, we studied UPDs on five colonies at 2,645 to 2,873 m elevation on the Awapa Plateau, Utah, USA. Primary production increases with precipitation and precipitation increases with elevation on the plateau. We hypothesized that UPD body condition, reproduction, survival, and population growth all would vary directly with precipitation and elevation. Each year, we live-trapped UPDs from late-Jun through Aug, weighing each UPD, aging it as adult or pup, measuring its right hind foot, marking it for unique identification, and releasing it at point of capture. Fleas from live-trapped UPDs and opportunistically collected rodent carcasses, and rodent carcasses themselves, were tested for the agent of sylvatic plague (Yersinia pestis), a lethal invasive pathogen. Adult UPD body condition (mass:foot) increased with elevation. In addition, UPD reproduction (pups:adults) and population growth (λ) increased with precipitation. Annual survival declined from 0.49 in 2013–2014 to 0.24 in 2015–2016. We captured 421 UPDs in 2013 but only 149 in 2016. Sylvatic plague may have contributed to population declines. Notwithstanding, plague detection (yes/no by colony and year) had no statistical effect on population growth or annual survival, raising suspicion about the predictive value of binary plague detection variables. Generally speaking, efforts to conserve UPDs may benefit from the restoration and preservation of large colonies at mesic sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Eads
- U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, 2150 Centre Avenue, Building C, Fort Collins, CO 80526, USA
| | - Dean E Biggins
- U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, 2150 Centre Avenue, Building C, Fort Collins, CO 80526, USA
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Giglio RM, Rocke TE, Osorio JE, Latch EK. Characterizing patterns of genomic variation in the threatened Utah prairie dog: Implications for conservation and management. Evol Appl 2021; 14:1036-1051. [PMID: 33897819 PMCID: PMC8061279 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2020] [Revised: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Utah prairie dogs (Cynomys parvidens) are federally threatened due to eradication campaigns, habitat destruction, and outbreaks of plague. Today, Utah prairie dogs exist in small, isolated populations, making them less demographically stable and more susceptible to erosion of genetic variation by genetic drift. We characterized patterns of genetic structure at neutral and putatively adaptive loci in order to evaluate the relative effects of genetic drift and local adaptation on population divergence. We sampled individuals across the Utah prairie dog species range and generated 2955 single nucleotide polymorphisms using double digest restriction site-associated DNA sequencing. Genetic diversity was lower in low-elevation sites compared to high-elevation sites. Population divergence was high among sites and followed an isolation-by-distance model. Our results indicate that genetic drift plays a substantial role in the population divergence of the Utah prairie dog, and colonies would likely benefit from translocation of individuals between recovery units, which are characterized by distinct elevations, despite the detection of environmental associations with outlier loci. By understanding the processes that shape genetic structure, better informed decisions can be made with respect to the management of threatened species to ensure that adaptation is not stymied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachael M. Giglio
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of Wisconsin‐MilwaukeeMilwaukeeWIUSA
| | | | - Jorge E. Osorio
- Department of Pathobiological SciencesSchool of Veterinary MedicineUniversity of Wisconsin‐MadisonMadisonWIUSA
| | - Emily K. Latch
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of Wisconsin‐MilwaukeeMilwaukeeWIUSA
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10
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Plague transforms positive effects of precipitation on prairie dogs to negative effects. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE 2021; 14:329-334. [PMID: 33898234 PMCID: PMC8056143 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2021.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Revised: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 02/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Rodents characteristically benefit from increased precipitation, especially in typically dry habitats; “good years” of high precipitation improve their forage and water balance. However, Yersinia pestis (plague), a flea-borne pathogen of mammals that was introduced to western North America, has the greatest negative impact on at least some species of rodents during years of above-average precipitation. In the absence of plague mitigation, negative effects of plague in wet years might overwhelm the otherwise beneficial effects of increased moisture. In Montana and Utah, USA, where plague now occurs enzootically, we investigated the influence of precipitation on finite rates of annual population change (2000–2005) for 3 species of prairie dogs (Cynomys spp.) in replicated plots treated with deltamethrin dust and in non-treated plots for paired comparisons. There was a significant interaction between precipitation and treatment. When we reduced plague vector fleas, prairie dog visual counts tended to increase with increasing precipitation. Simultaneously, there was a negative relationship between counts and precipitation on paired plots where plague was not managed, suggesting that plague transformed and reversed the otherwise beneficial effect of increased precipitation. Are the good years gone for prairie dogs? Even if the good years are not gone, they are perhaps relatively scarce compared to historic times prior to the invasion of plague. This scenario might apply to other ecosystems and may pose broad conservation challenges in western North America. Negative plague effects overwhelm positive precipitation effects on prairie dogs. “Good years” of primary production may be gone in the introduced ranges of plague. Plague management with flea-control addresses this conservation challenge.
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11
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Smith JE, Smith IB, Working CL, Russell ID, Krout SA, Singh KS, Sih A. Host traits, identity, and ecological conditions predict consistent flea abundance and prevalence on free-living California ground squirrels. Int J Parasitol 2021; 51:587-598. [PMID: 33508332 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2020.12.001] [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: 09/15/2020] [Revised: 11/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Understanding why some individuals are more prone to carry parasites and spread diseases than others is a key question in biology. Although epidemiologists and disease ecologists increasingly recognize that individuals of the same species can vary tremendously in their relative contributions to the emergence of diseases, very few empirical studies systematically assess consistent individual differences in parasite loads within populations over time. Two species of fleas (Oropsylla montana and Hoplopsyllus anomalous) and their hosts, California ground squirrels (Otospermophilus beecheyi), form a major complex for amplifying epizootic plague in the western United States. Understanding its biology is primarily of major ecological importance and is also relevant to public health. Here, we capitalize on a long-term data set to explain flea incidence on California ground squirrels at Briones Regional Park in Contra Costa County, USA. In a 7 year study, we detected 42,358 fleas from 2,759 live trapping events involving 803 unique squirrels from two free-living populations that differed in the amount of human disturbance in those areas. In general, fleas were most abundant and prevalent on adult males, on heavy squirrels, and at the pristine site, but flea distributions varied among years, with seasonal conditions (e.g., temperature, rainfall, humidity), temporally within summers, and between flea species. Although on-host abundances of the two flea species were positively correlated, each flea species occupied a distinctive ecological niche. The common flea (O. montana) occurred primarily on adults in cool, moist conditions in early summer whereas the rare flea (H. anomalous) was mainly on juveniles in hot, dry conditions in late summer. Beyond this, we uncovered significantly repeatable and persistent effects of host individual identity on flea loads, finding consistent individual differences among hosts in all parasite measures. Taken together, we reveal multiple determinants of parasites on free-living mammals, including the underappreciated potential for host heterogeneity - within populations - to structure the emergence of zoonotic diseases such as bubonic plague.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer E Smith
- Biology Department, Mills College, 5000 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland, CA 94631, USA.
| | - Imani B Smith
- Biology Department, Mills College, 5000 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland, CA 94631, USA
| | - Cecelia L Working
- Biology Department, Mills College, 5000 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland, CA 94631, USA; Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, 140 E Green St, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Imani D Russell
- Biology Department, Mills College, 5000 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland, CA 94631, USA
| | - Shelby A Krout
- Biology Department, Mills College, 5000 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland, CA 94631, USA
| | - Kajol S Singh
- Biology Department, Mills College, 5000 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland, CA 94631, USA
| | - Andrew Sih
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of California Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA
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Ceradini J, Keinath D, Abernethy I, Andersen M, Wallace Z. Crossing boundaries in conservation: land ownership and habitat influence the occupancy of an at‐risk small mammal. Ecosphere 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Ceradini
- Capitol Reef Field Station and Department of Biology Utah Valley University Orem Utah84058USA
| | - Douglas Keinath
- Wyoming Ecological Services Field Office U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Cheyenne Wyoming82009USA
| | - Ian Abernethy
- Wyoming Natural Diversity Database University of Wyoming Laramie Wyoming82071USA
| | - Mark Andersen
- Wyoming Natural Diversity Database University of Wyoming Laramie Wyoming82071USA
| | - Zach Wallace
- Wyoming Natural Diversity Database University of Wyoming Laramie Wyoming82071USA
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Barbieri R, Signoli M, Chevé D, Costedoat C, Tzortzis S, Aboudharam G, Raoult D, Drancourt M. Yersinia pestis: the Natural History of Plague. Clin Microbiol Rev 2020; 34:e00044-19. [PMID: 33298527 PMCID: PMC7920731 DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00044-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The Gram-negative bacterium Yersinia pestis is responsible for deadly plague, a zoonotic disease established in stable foci in the Americas, Africa, and Eurasia. Its persistence in the environment relies on the subtle balance between Y. pestis-contaminated soils, burrowing and nonburrowing mammals exhibiting variable degrees of plague susceptibility, and their associated fleas. Transmission from one host to another relies mainly on infected flea bites, inducing typical painful, enlarged lymph nodes referred to as buboes, followed by septicemic dissemination of the pathogen. In contrast, droplet inhalation after close contact with infected mammals induces primary pneumonic plague. Finally, the rarely reported consumption of contaminated raw meat causes pharyngeal and gastrointestinal plague. Point-of-care diagnosis, early antibiotic treatment, and confinement measures contribute to outbreak control despite residual mortality. Mandatory primary prevention relies on the active surveillance of established plague foci and ectoparasite control. Plague is acknowledged to have infected human populations for at least 5,000 years in Eurasia. Y. pestis genomes recovered from affected archaeological sites have suggested clonal evolution from a common ancestor shared with the closely related enteric pathogen Yersinia pseudotuberculosis and have indicated that ymt gene acquisition during the Bronze Age conferred Y. pestis with ectoparasite transmissibility while maintaining its enteric transmissibility. Three historic pandemics, starting in 541 AD and continuing until today, have been described. At present, the third pandemic has become largely quiescent, with hundreds of human cases being reported mainly in a few impoverished African countries, where zoonotic plague is mostly transmitted to people by rodent-associated flea bites.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Barbieri
- Aix-Marseille University, IRD, MEPHI, IHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
- Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, EFS, ADES, Marseille, France
- Fondation Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - M Signoli
- Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, EFS, ADES, Marseille, France
| | - D Chevé
- Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, EFS, ADES, Marseille, France
| | - C Costedoat
- Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, EFS, ADES, Marseille, France
| | - S Tzortzis
- Ministère de la Culture, Direction Régionale des Affaires Culturelles de Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Service Régional de l'Archéologie, Aix-en-Provence, France
| | - G Aboudharam
- Aix-Marseille University, IRD, MEPHI, IHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
- Aix-Marseille University, Faculty of Odontology, Marseille, France
| | - D Raoult
- Aix-Marseille University, IRD, MEPHI, IHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
- Fondation Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - M Drancourt
- Aix-Marseille University, IRD, MEPHI, IHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
- Fondation Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
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14
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Poje JE, Rocke TE, Samuel MD. Impacts of environmental conditions on fleas in black-tailed prairie dog burrows. JOURNAL OF VECTOR ECOLOGY : JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR VECTOR ECOLOGY 2020; 45:356-365. [PMID: 33207046 DOI: 10.1111/jvec.12405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 09/05/2020] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Sylvatic plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis and transmitted by fleas, occurs in prairie dogs of the western United States. Outbreaks can devastate prairie dog communities, often causing nearly 100% mortality. Three competent flea vectors, prairie dog specialists Oropsylla hirsuta and O. tuberculata, and generalist Pulex simulans, are found on prairie dogs and in their burrows. Fleas are affected by climate, which varies across the range of black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus), but these effects may be ameliorated somewhat due to the burrowing habits of prairie dogs. Our goal was to assess how temperature and precipitation affect off-host flea abundance and whether relative flea abundance varied across the range of black-tailed prairie dogs. Flea abundance was measured by swabbing 300 prairie dog burrows at six widely distributed sites in early and late summer of 2016 and 2017. Relative abundance of flea species varied among sites and sampling sessions. Flea abundance and prevalence increased with monthly mean high temperature and declined with higher winter precipitation. Predicted climate change in North America will likely influence flea abundance and distribution, thereby impacting plague dynamics in prairie dog colonies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia E Poje
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 53706, U.S.A
| | - Tonie E Rocke
- U.S. Geological Survey National Wildlife Health Center, Madison, WI, 53711, U.S.A
| | - Michael D Samuel
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 53706, U.S.A
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15
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Bruggeman JE, Licht DS. Drought-mediated changes in black-tailed prairie dog colonies in the Northern Great Plains. J Mammal 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyaa070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Populations of many mammal species living in grassland ecosystems across North America have been reduced greatly over the past 200 years due to conversion of native prairie to human-related uses. Foremost among these species is the black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus), populations of which have declined an estimated 98% during that time. In addition to anthropogenic factors including plague, black-tailed prairie dog populations can vary in size in response to grazing by native ungulates, fire, and precipitation. Colonies in the Northern Great Plains have expanded and contracted during dry and wet periods, respectively. Drought reduces vegetation height; tall vegetation is known to limit colony expansion, possibly due to increased predation risk. We used mixed-effects models to analyze data sets of colony areas of black-tailed prairie dogs spanning 16–22 years and 983 total colony counts, from 142 unique colonies at Badlands National Park and Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota, United States, and Scotts Bluff National Monument, Nebraska, United States, to relate areal dynamics of colonies over time to total annual precipitation, drought stress, and plague. We also analyzed the relationship between active-burrow densities and precipitation and drought stress using 7 years of data from 271 colony counts at Badlands National Park. Black-tailed prairie dog colonies expanded in response to drought conditions in all three national parks, with colonies in Wind Cave National Park exhibiting a time-delayed response. In addition, colony area was negatively related to total accumulated precipitation for the preceding 12 months for Scotts Bluff National Monument. Active-burrow density at Badlands National Park decreased in response to drought stress with a time lag of 24–36 months. Plague first was reported at Badlands National Park in 2008 and colony areas decreased dramatically and rapidly during plague epizootic events. Our results support observations that black-tailed prairie dog colonies in the Northern Great Plains expand and contract in response to drought stress and wet weather. Furthermore, our findings provide new insights into the role of climate on a keystone species of conservation importance and demonstrate the value of collecting long-term ecological data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason E Bruggeman
- Minnesota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA
| | - Daniel S Licht
- Midwest Regional Office, National Park Service, Rapid City, SD, USA
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16
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Claar DC, Wood CL. Pulse Heat Stress and Parasitism in a Warming World. Trends Ecol Evol 2020; 35:704-715. [PMID: 32439076 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2020.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2019] [Revised: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Infectious disease outbreaks emerged across the globe during the recent 2015-2016 El Niño event, re-igniting research interest in how climate events influence disease dynamics. While the relationship between long-term warming and the transmission of disease-causing parasites has received substantial attention, we do not yet know how pulse heat events - common phenomena in a warming world - will alter parasite transmission. The effects of pulse warming on ecological and evolutionary processes are complex and context dependent, motivating research to understand how climate oscillations drive host health and disease. Here, we develop a framework for evaluating and predicting the effects of pulse warming on parasitic infection. Specifically, we synthesize how pulse heat stress affects hosts, parasites, and the ecological interactions between them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle C Claar
- University of Washington School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, Seattle, WA 98105, USA; NOAA Climate and Global Change Postdoctoral Scholar, Boulder, CO 80301, USA.
| | - Chelsea L Wood
- University of Washington School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
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17
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Liccioli S, Stephens T, Wilson SC, McPherson JM, Keating LM, Antonation KS, Bollinger TK, Corbett CR, Gummer DL, Lindsay LR, Galloway TD, Shury TK, Moehrenschlager A. Enzootic maintenance of sylvatic plague in Canada's threatened black‐tailed prairie dog ecosystem. Ecosphere 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Liccioli
- Grasslands National Park Parks Canada Agency P.O. Box 150 Val Marie Saskatchewan S0N2T0 Canada
| | - Tara Stephens
- Centre for Conservation Research Calgary Zoological Society 1300 Zoo Road N.E. Calgary Alberta T2E 7V6 Canada
| | - Sian C. Wilson
- Centre for Conservation Research Calgary Zoological Society 1300 Zoo Road N.E. Calgary Alberta T2E 7V6 Canada
| | - Jana M. McPherson
- Centre for Conservation Research Calgary Zoological Society 1300 Zoo Road N.E. Calgary Alberta T2E 7V6 Canada
| | - Laura M. Keating
- Centre for Conservation Research Calgary Zoological Society 1300 Zoo Road N.E. Calgary Alberta T2E 7V6 Canada
| | - Kym S. Antonation
- Bioforensics Assay Development and Diagnostics National Microbiology Laboratory Public Health Agency of Canada 1015 Arlington Street Winnipeg Manitoba R3E 3R2 Canada
| | - Trent K. Bollinger
- Department of Veterinary Pathology Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative 52 Campus Drive Saskatoon Saskatchewan S7N 5B4 Canada
| | - Cindi R. Corbett
- Bioforensics Assay Development and Diagnostics National Microbiology Laboratory Public Health Agency of Canada 1015 Arlington Street Winnipeg Manitoba R3E 3R2 Canada
| | - David L. Gummer
- Natural Resource Management Branch Parks Canada Agency 720 – 220 4 Avenue SE Calgary Alberta T2G 4X3 Canada
| | - L. Robbin Lindsay
- Zoonotic Diseases and Special Pathogens National Microbiology Laboratory Public Health Agency of Canada 1015 Arlington Street Winnipeg Manitoba R3E 3R2 Canada
| | - Terry D. Galloway
- Department of Entomology Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences University of Manitoba 12 Dafoe Road Winnipeg Manitoba R3T 2N2 Canada
| | - Todd K. Shury
- Parks Canada Agency 52 Campus Drive Saskatoon Saskatchewan S7N 5B4 Canada
| | - Axel Moehrenschlager
- Centre for Conservation Research Calgary Zoological Society 1300 Zoo Road N.E. Calgary Alberta T2E 7V6 Canada
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18
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Goldberg AR, Conway CJ, Biggins DE. Flea sharing among sympatric rodent hosts: implications for potential plague effects on a threatened sciurid. Ecosphere 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Amanda R. Goldberg
- Department of Fish & Wildlife Sciences Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit University of Idaho 875 Perimeter Drive, MS 1141 Moscow Idaho 83844 USA
| | - Courtney J. Conway
- U.S. Geological Survey Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit University of Idaho 875 Perimeter Drive, MS 1141 Moscow Idaho 83844 USA
| | - Dean E. Biggins
- U.S. Geological Survey Fort Collins Science Center 2150 Centre Avenue Building C Fort Collins Colorado 80526 USA
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19
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FLEA PARASITISM AND HOST SURVIVAL IN A PLAGUE-RELEVANT SYSTEM: THEORETICAL AND CONSERVATION IMPLICATIONS. J Wildl Dis 2019; 56:378-387. [PMID: 31880988 DOI: 10.7589/2019-08-201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Plague is a bacterial zoonosis of mammalian hosts and flea vectors. The disease is capable of ravaging rodent populations and transforming ecosystems. Because plague mortality is likely to be predicted by flea parasitism, it is critical to understand vector dynamics. It has been hypothesized that paltry precipitation and reduced vegetative production predispose herbivorous rodents to malnourishment and flea parasitism, and flea parasitism varies directly with plague mortality. We evaluated these hypotheses on five colonies of Utah prairie dogs (UPDs; Cynomys parvidens), on the Awapa Plateau, Utah, US, in 2013-16. Ten flea species were identified among 3,257 fleas from UPDs. These 10 flea species parasitize prairie dogs, mice, rats, voles, ground squirrels, chipmunks, and marmots, all known hosts of plague. The abundance of fleas on individual UPDs (1,198 observations) varied inversely with UPD body condition; fleas were most abundant on lightweight, malnourished UPDs. Flea abundance on UPDs was highest in dry years that were preceded by wet years. Increased precipitation and soil moisture in the prior year might generate humid microclimates in UPD burrows (that could facilitate flea survival and reproduction) and paltry precipitation in the current year could predispose UPDs to malnourishment and flea parasitism. Annual re-encounter rates for UPDs (1,072 observations) were reduced in wetter years preceded by drier years; reduced precipitation and vegetative production might kill UPDs, and increased flea densities in drier years could provide conditions for plague transmission (and UPD mortality) when moisture returns. Re-encounter rates were reduced for UPDs carrying at least one flea compared to UPDs with no detected fleas. These results support the hypothesis that reduced precipitation in the current year predisposes UPDs to flea parasitism. Our results also suggest a link between flea parasitism and UPD mortality. Given documented connections between flea parasitism and plague transmission, our results point toward an effect of flea parasitism on plague-related deaths for individual UPDs, a phenomenon rarely investigated in nature.
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20
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Harvey E, Rose K, Eden JS, Lawrence A, Doggett SL, Holmes EC. Identification of diverse arthropod associated viruses in native Australian fleas. Virology 2019; 535:189-199. [PMID: 31319276 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2019.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2019] [Revised: 07/02/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Fleas are important vectors of zoonotic disease. However, little is known about the natural diversity and abundance of flea viruses, particularly in the absence of disease associations, nor the evolutionary relationships among those viruses found in different parasitic vector species. Herein, we present the first virome scale study of fleas, based on the meta-transcriptomic analysis of 52 fleas collected along the eastern coast of Australia. Our analysis revealed 18 novel RNA viruses belonging to nine viral families with diverse genome organizations, although the majority (72%) possessed single-stranded positive-sense genomes. Notably, a number of the viruses identified belonged to the same phylogenetic groups as those observed in ticks sampled at the same locations, although none were likely associated with mammalian infection. Overall, we identified high levels of genomic diversity and abundance of viruses in the flea species studied, and established that fleas harbor viruses similar to those seen to other vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin Harvey
- Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, Charles Perkins Centre, School of Life and Environmental Sciences and Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Karrie Rose
- Australian Registry of Wildlife Health, Taronga Conservation Society Australia, Mosman, NSW, 2088, Australia
| | - John-Sebastian Eden
- Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, Charles Perkins Centre, School of Life and Environmental Sciences and Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia; Centre for Virus Research, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead, NSW, 2145, Australia
| | - Andrea Lawrence
- Medical Entomology, NSW Health Pathology, ICPMR, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW, 2145, Australia; Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia; SpeeDx, Pty Ltd., Eveleigh, NSW, 2015, Australia
| | - Stephen L Doggett
- Department of Medical Entomology, NSWHP-ICPMR, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW, 2145, Australia
| | - Edward C Holmes
- Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, Charles Perkins Centre, School of Life and Environmental Sciences and Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
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21
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Biggins DE, Eads DA. Prairie Dogs, Persistent Plague, Flocking Fleas, and Pernicious Positive Feedback. Front Vet Sci 2019; 6:75. [PMID: 30984769 PMCID: PMC6447679 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2019.00075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2018] [Accepted: 02/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Plague (caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis) is a deadly flea-borne disease that remains a threat to public health nearly worldwide and is particularly disruptive ecologically where it has been introduced. We review hypotheses regarding maintenance and transmission of Y. pestis, emphasizing recent data from North America supporting maintenance by persistent transmission that results in sustained non-epizootic (but variable) rates of mortality in hosts. This maintenance mechanism may facilitate periodic epizootic eruptions "in place" because the need for repeated reinvasion from disjunct sources is eliminated. Resulting explosive outbreaks that spread rapidly in time and space are likely enhanced by synergistic positive feedback (PFB) cycles involving flea vectors, hosts, and the plague bacterium itself. Although PFB has been implied in plague literature for at least 50 years, we propose this mechanism, particularly with regard to flea responses, as central to epizootic plague rather than a phenomenon worthy of just peripheral mention. We also present new data on increases in flea:host ratios resulting from recreational shooting and poisoning as possible triggers for the transition from enzootic maintenance to PFB cycles and epizootic explosions. Although plague outbreaks have received much historic attention, PFB cycles that result in decimation of host populations lead to speculation that epizootic eruptions might not be part of the adaptive evolutionary strategy of Y. pestis but might instead be a tolerated intermittent cost of its modus operandi. We also speculate that there may be mammal communities where epizootics, as we define them, are rare or absent. Absence of plague epizootics might translate into reduced public health risk but does not necessarily equate to inconsequential ecologic impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dean E. Biggins
- United States Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - David A. Eads
- United States Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, CO, United States
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
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22
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Duchardt CJ, Porensky LM, Augustine DJ, Beck JL. Disturbance shapes avian communities on a grassland-sagebrush ecotone. Ecosphere 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Courtney J. Duchardt
- Department of Ecosystem Science and Management and Program in Ecology; University of Wyoming; 1000 East University Avenue Laramie Wyoming 82070 USA
| | - Lauren M. Porensky
- USDA-ARS Rangeland Resources and Systems Research Unit; 1701 Centre Avenue Fort Collins Colorado 80526 USA
| | - David J. Augustine
- USDA-ARS Rangeland Resources and Systems Research Unit; 1701 Centre Avenue Fort Collins Colorado 80526 USA
| | - Jeffrey L. Beck
- Department of Ecosystem Science and Management and Program in Ecology; University of Wyoming; 1000 East University Avenue Laramie Wyoming 82070 USA
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23
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Russell RE, Abbott RC, Tripp DW, Rocke TE. Local factors associated with on-host flea distributions on prairie dog colonies. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:8951-8972. [PMID: 30271558 PMCID: PMC6157659 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2018] [Revised: 06/01/2018] [Accepted: 06/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Outbreaks of plague, a flea-vectored bacterial disease, occur periodically in prairie dog populations in the western United States. In order to understand the conditions that are conducive to plague outbreaks and potentially predict spatial and temporal variations in risk, it is important to understand the factors associated with flea abundance and distribution that may lead to plague outbreaks. We collected and identified 20,041 fleas from 6,542 individual prairie dogs of four different species over a 4-year period along a latitudinal gradient from Texas to Montana. We assessed local climate and other factors associated with flea prevalence and abundance, as well as the incidence of plague outbreaks. Oropsylla hirsuta, a prairie dog specialist flea, and Pulex simulans, a generalist flea species, were the most common fleas found on our pairs. High elevation pairs in Wyoming and Utah had distinct flea communities compared with the rest of the study pairs. The incidence of prairie dogs with Yersinia pestis detections in fleas was low (n = 64 prairie dogs with positive fleas out of 5,024 samples from 4,218 individual prairie dogs). The results of our regression models indicate that many factors are associated with the presence of fleas. In general, flea abundance (number of fleas on hosts) is higher during plague outbreaks, lower when prairie dogs are more abundant, and reaches peak levels when climate and weather variables are at intermediate levels. Changing climate conditions will likely affect aspects of both flea and host communities, including population densities and species composition, which may lead to changes in plague dynamics. Our results support the hypothesis that local conditions, including host, vector, and environmental factors, influence the likelihood of plague outbreaks, and that predicting changes to plague dynamics under climate change scenarios will have to consider both host and vector responses to local factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin E. Russell
- U.S. Geological SurveyNational Wildlife Health CenterMadisonWisconsin
| | - Rachel C. Abbott
- U.S. Geological SurveyNational Wildlife Health CenterMadisonWisconsin
| | - Daniel W. Tripp
- Colorado Division of Parks and WildlifeWildlife Health ProgramFort CollinsColorado
| | - Tonie E. Rocke
- U.S. Geological SurveyNational Wildlife Health CenterMadisonWisconsin
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24
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D’Ortenzio E, Lemaître N, Brouat C, Loubet P, Sebbane F, Rajerison M, Baril L, Yazdanpanah Y. Plague: Bridging gaps towards better disease control. Med Mal Infect 2018; 48:307-317. [DOI: 10.1016/j.medmal.2018.04.393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2018] [Accepted: 04/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
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25
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Davidson AD, Hunter EA, Erz J, Lightfoot DC, McCarthy AM, Mueller JK, Shoemaker KT. Reintroducing a keystone burrowing rodent to restore an arid North American grassland: challenges and successes. Restor Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.12671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ana D. Davidson
- Department of Wildlife Humboldt State University Arcata CA 95521 U.S.A
- Department of Biology University of New Mexico Albuquerque NM 87131 U.S.A
- Present address: Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology and the Colorado Natural Heritage Program, College of Natural Resources Colorado State University Fort Collins CO 80524 U.S.A
| | - Elizabeth A. Hunter
- Natural Resources & Environmental Science University of Nevada Reno NV 89557 U.S.A
| | - Jon Erz
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge Socorro NM 87801 U.S.A
| | - David C. Lightfoot
- Department of Biology University of New Mexico Albuquerque NM 87131 U.S.A
| | - Aliya M. McCarthy
- Department of Wildlife Humboldt State University Arcata CA 95521 U.S.A
- Present address: San Francisco Bay Estuary Field Station Western Ecological Research Center, USGS Vallejo CA 94592 U.S.A
| | - Jennifer K. Mueller
- Department of Wildlife Humboldt State University Arcata CA 95521 U.S.A
- Present address: Surprise Field Station, Applegate, Field Office, Bureau of Land Management, Cedarville CA 96104 U.S.A
| | - Kevin T. Shoemaker
- Natural Resources & Environmental Science University of Nevada Reno NV 89557 U.S.A
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26
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Eads DA, Biggins DE. Paltry past-precipitation: Predisposing prairie dogs to plague? J Wildl Manage 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- David A. Eads
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University; U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center; 2150 Centre Avenue, Building C Fort Collins CO 80526 USA
| | - Dean E. Biggins
- U.S. Geological Survey; Fort Collins Science Center; 2150 Centre Avenue, Building C Fort Collins CO 80526 USA
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