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Wilkinson V, Richards SA, Carver S, Næsborg-Nielsen C, Cray C, Rossi G. Non-specific markers of inflammation in bare-nosed wombats ( Vombatus ursinus) with sarcoptic mange. Front Vet Sci 2024; 11:1403221. [PMID: 39005722 PMCID: PMC11240855 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1403221] [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: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Sarcoptic mange, caused by epidermal infection with Sarcoptes scabiei, negatively impacts the health, welfare, and local abundance of bare-nosed wombats (Vombatus ursinus) in Australia. Improved understanding of the host immune response to disease and its contribution to pathophysiology could be used to inform management actions for this species in and ex situ. To evaluate the immune response of bare-nosed wombats to sarcoptic mange, we validated three assays (haptoglobin, agarose gel electrophoresis, and micro-erythrocyte sedimentation rate) measuring non-specific markers of inflammation using serum samples from free-living wombats from Tasmania (n = 33). We then analysed correlations between the assay results for each non-specific marker of inflammation and wombat's sarcoptic mange scores, and performed histopathological examinations to investigate association of the acute phase response with systemic amyloidosis. We present evidence that haptoglobin and erythrocyte sedimentation rate increased, and albumin decreased, in association with sarcoptic mange scores. This research demonstrates links between the acute phase response and sarcoptic mange severity in bare-nosed wombats, highlighting the utility of non-specific markers of inflammation for aiding assessment of the systemic effects of mange. Showing the value of agarose gel electrophoresis, we also identified specific acute phase proteins warranting future evaluation and found evidence of an immunoglobulin response in mange-affected wombats, revealed by increasing γ-globulins in association with apparent disease severity. Meanwhile, owing to its relatively low resource requirements and rapidity, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate assay may be useful as a point-of-care test to support therapeutic decisions in the field. Our methods and findings are likely to be applicable to a range of other clinical and population health scenarios in captive and free-living wombats, and species impacted by sarcoptic mange globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vicky Wilkinson
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - Shane A Richards
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - Scott Carver
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | | | - Carolyn Cray
- Division of Comparative Pathology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Gabriele Rossi
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia
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Saleh MN, Ramos RA, Verocai GG, Monahan CF, Goss R, Needle DB. Apparent fatal winter tick ( Dermacentor albipictus) infestation in captive reindeer ( Rangifertarandus). Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2024; 23:100900. [PMID: 38274347 PMCID: PMC10808900 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2023.100900] [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: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
The winter tick, Dermacentor albipictus (Ixodidae), commonly infests a wide variety of wild and domestic ungulates throughout North America. This one-host-tick infests animals from October to April, with moose (Alces alces) particularly affected. Animals highly infested may present with anemia, tick-induced alopecia, and alterations in thermoregulation, often resulting in death. Mortality from winter tick infestation has been reported in free-ranging woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) and captive reindeer in Alberta, Canada. This historic report raises concern about mortality due to D. albipictus in a wider host range, specifically on translocated caribou. The aim of this report was to describe three cases of winter tick infestation in captive reindeer resulting in severe anemia and mortality likely due to the infestation in New Hampshire, northeastern United States (US). Additionally, ticks were screened molecularly for the detection of tick-borne pathogens. At time of necropsy, all three reindeer showed decreased nutritional status, marked submandibular edema, and had heavy D. albipictus infestation. None of the reindeer exhibited alopecia, which is a common clinical manifestation in moose that die from winter tick infestation. No pathogens were detected via qPCR screening. This report highlights the risk that captive cervids face in areas where winter tick is endemic; therefore, the adoption of preventive control measures should be encouraged to reduce the risk of tick infestation and potential death of these animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meriam N. Saleh
- Texas A&M University, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, 4467 TAMU, 668 Raymond Stotzer Parkway, College Station, TX, 77843-4467, USA
| | - Rafael A.N. Ramos
- Texas A&M University, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, 4467 TAMU, 668 Raymond Stotzer Parkway, College Station, TX, 77843-4467, USA
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Federal University of the Agreste of Pernambuco, Garanhuns, Pernambuco, 55292-270, Brazil
| | - Guilherme G. Verocai
- Texas A&M University, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, 4467 TAMU, 668 Raymond Stotzer Parkway, College Station, TX, 77843-4467, USA
| | - Collen F. Monahan
- University of New Hampshire, New Hampshire Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, 21 Botanical Lane, Durham, NH, 03824, USA
| | - Ryan Goss
- Charles River Laboratories, 334 South St., Shrewsbury, MA, 01545, USA
| | - David B. Needle
- University of New Hampshire, New Hampshire Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, 21 Botanical Lane, Durham, NH, 03824, USA
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Hernández-Ortiz A, Bouchard É, Snyman LP, Al-Adhami BH, Gouin GG, Neelin M, Jenkins EJ. Toxoplasma gondii and related Sarcocystidae parasites in harvested caribou from Nunavik, Canada. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2023; 21:246-254. [PMID: 37575665 PMCID: PMC10422106 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2023.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
Caribou are keystone species important for human harvest and of conservation concern; even so, much is unknown about the impact of parasites on caribou health and ecology. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence, tissue prevalence, and diversity of tissue-dwelling coccidian parasites (including Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum and Sarcocystis spp.) in 88 migratory caribou (Rangifer tarandus) harvested for human consumption in two communities in Nunavik, Québec, Canada. Both T. gondii and N. caninum have potential to cause abortions and neurological disease in caribou. Seroprevalence for antibodies to T. gondii using ELISA on fluid from thawed hearts was 18% overall, and no DNA of T. gondii was detected in tissues, which has positive implications for food safety since this parasite is zoonotic. Seroprevalence for antibodies to N. caninum using competitive ELISA was 5%, and DNA of N. caninum was detected in only one heart sample. DNA of Sarcocystis, a non-zoonotic, related coccidian, was detected in tissue samples from 85% of caribou, with higher prevalence in heart (82%) than skeletal muscle (47%). This is the first time that Sarcocystis spp. from caribou in Canada have been identified to species level, many of which have been described in reindeer from Fennoscandia. The high prevalence and diversity of Sarcocystis spp. suggests intact trophic relationships between canids and caribou in Nunavik. Besnoitia spp. was serendipitously detected in three muscle samples, a parasite previously associated with skin lesions in caribou in Nunavik. Community-level differences in T. gondii exposure and prevalence of Sarcocystis spp. in skeletal muscle tissues may reflect differences in hunter selection of individual animals and muscles, or possibly regional differences in the ecology of carnivore definitive hosts for these parasites. Further work is needed to explore effects of tissue coccidians in caribou, their taxonomic classifications, and community level differences in parasite prevalence and diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrián Hernández-Ortiz
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5B4, Canada
| | - Émilie Bouchard
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5B4, Canada
- Research Group on Epidemiology of Zoonoses and Public Health (GREZOSP), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, 3200 rue Sicotte, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, J2S 2M2, Canada
| | - Louwrens P. Snyman
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5B4, Canada
| | - Batol H. Al-Adhami
- Centre for Food-borne and Animal Parasitology, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 2R3, Canada
| | | | - Mikhaela Neelin
- Nunavik Hunting Fishing Trapping Association (NHFTA), Tasiujaq, QC, J0M 1T0, Canada
| | - Emily J. Jenkins
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5B4, Canada
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Rakic F, Fernandez-Aguilar X, Pruvot M, Whiteside DP, Mastromonaco GF, Leclerc LM, Jutha N, Kutz SJ. Variation of hair cortisol in two herds of migratory caribou ( Rangifer tarandus): implications for health monitoring. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 11:coad030. [PMID: 37228297 PMCID: PMC10203588 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coad030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Migratory caribou (Rangifer tarandus sspp.) is an ecotype of conservation concern that is experiencing increased cumulative stressors associated with rapid climate change and development in Arctic Canada. Increasingly, hair cortisol concentrations (HCCs) are being used to monitor seasonal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity of ungulate populations; yet, the effect of key covariates for caribou (sex, season, sampling source, body location) are largely unknown. The objectives of this research were 4-fold: first, we assessed the impact of body location (neck, rump) sampling sites on HCC; second, we assessed key covariates (sex, sampling method, season) impacting HCCs of caribou; third, we investigated inter-population (Dolphin and Union (DU), Bluenose-East (BNE)) and inter-annual differences in HCC and fourth, we examined the association between HCCs and indices of biting insect activity on the summer range (oestrid index, mosquito index). We examined hair from 407 DU and BNE caribou sampled by harvesters or during capture-collaring operations from 2012 to 2020. Linear mixed-effect models were used to assess the effect of body location on HCC and generalized least squares regression (GLS) models were used to examine the impacts of key covariates, year and herd and indices of biting insect harassment. HCC varied significantly by body location, year, herd and source of samples (harvester vs capture). HCC was higher in samples taken from the neck and in the DU herd compared with the BNE, decreased linearly over time and was higher in captured versus hunted animals (P < 0.05). There was no difference in HCC between sexes, and indices of biting insect harassment in the previous year were not significantly associated with HCC. This study identifies essential covariates impacting the HCC of caribou that must be accounted for in sampling, monitoring and data interpretation.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Rakic
- Corresponding author: Department of Ecosystem and Public Health – Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary; 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada.
| | - X Fernandez-Aguilar
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health – Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary; 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2N 4Z6
| | - M Pruvot
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health – Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary; 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2N 4Z6
| | - D P Whiteside
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health – Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary; 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2N 4Z6
| | - G F Mastromonaco
- Reproductive Sciences Unit, Toronto Zoo, 361A Old Finch Avenue, Scarborough, Ontario, Canada, M1B 5K7
| | - L M Leclerc
- Department of Environment, Government of Nunavut, P.O. Box 377, Kugluktuk, Nunavut, Canada, X0B 0E0
| | - N Jutha
- Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Government of the Northwest Territories, 5112 52 st, Yellowknife, The Northwest Territories, Canada, X1A 2L9
| | - S J Kutz
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health – Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary; 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2N 4Z6
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Loginova OA, Kolpashchikov LA, Spiridonov SE. First report of Orthostrongylus sp. (Nematoda: Protostrongylidae) in wild reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) from the Taimyr, Russia: Nearctic parasites in a Palearctic host. Parasitol Res 2023; 122:685-689. [PMID: 36513811 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-022-07754-7] [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: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
First stage larvae of an unknown lungworm (Protostrongylidae) were isolated in the feces of a wild reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) from Taimyr, Russia. Larvae were 365-366 μm long and had a tail spike lacking a dorsal spine. DNA analyses using BLAST showed that nuclear sequences obtained (LSU rDNA, 825 bp and ITS2 rDNA, 395 bp) were highly similar (99.50% and 98.88% identity, respectively) to an isolate of Orthostrongylus macrotis (GenBank: EU595592.1) from North America. It cannot be confirmed whether these larvae represent an uncharacterized species of Orthostrongylus or can be referred to O. macrotis, a species that has historically only been reported from the Nearctic. This is the first report of lungworms attributable to Protostrongylinae in R. tarandus across its vast geographic in the Holarctic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga A Loginova
- Laboratory of Parasite Systematics and Evolution, Center for Parasitology, A. N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
| | | | - Sergey E Spiridonov
- Laboratory of Parasite Systematics and Evolution, Center for Parasitology, A. N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
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Karaer MC, Čebulj-Kadunc N, Snoj T. Stress in wildlife: comparison of the stress response among domestic, captive, and free-ranging animals. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1167016. [PMID: 37138925 PMCID: PMC10150102 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1167016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The stress response, which involves joint activity of the nervous and endocrine systems, is one of the basic adaptive mechanisms that ensures the survival of the individual. The activation of the sympathetic nervous system, the sympathetic-adrenal-medullary axis, and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis enables organisms to respond to endogenous and exogenous challenges. Repeated short-term stress leads to long-term stress, which disrupts physiological homeostasis. Unlike domestic animals, wild animals are not protected from environmental and weather influences or treated for diseases. In addition, climate change, habitat fragmentation and loss, and urban stressors (such as light, noise and chemical pollution; xenobiotics; traffic; and buildings) affect individual wildlife and populations. In this review, we have attempted to depict the magnitude of the stress response in wildlife and related domestic animals as well as in captive and free-ranging animals. The intensity of the stress response can be estimated by determining the concentration of glucocorticoids in body fluids, tissues, and excreta. A comparison of results from different studies suggests that domestic animals have lower fecal and hair glucocorticoid concentrations than related wild animals. Additionally, fecal and hair glucocorticoid concentrations in captive animals are higher than in free-ranging animals of the same species. As there are limited data on this topic, we cannot draw definitive conclusions about glucocorticoid concentration and stress response. Further studies are needed to clarify these issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mina Cansu Karaer
- Food and Agriculture Vocational School, Çankiri Karatekin University, Çankiri, Türkiye
| | - Nina Čebulj-Kadunc
- Veterinary Faculty, Institute of Preclinical Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Gerbičeva, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Tomaž Snoj
- Veterinary Faculty, Institute of Preclinical Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Gerbičeva, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- *Correspondence: Tomaž Snoj
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7
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Links between individual performance, trace elements and stable isotopes in an endangered caribou population. Glob Ecol Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
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Aleuy OA, Anholt M, Orsel K, Mavrot F, Gagnon CA, Beckmen K, Côté SD, Cuyler C, Dobson A, Elkin B, Leclerc LM, Taillon J, Kutz S. Association of Environmental Factors with Seasonal Intensity of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae Seropositivity among Arctic Caribou. Emerg Infect Dis 2022; 28:1650-1658. [PMID: 35876625 PMCID: PMC9328914 DOI: 10.3201/eid2808.212144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Several caribou (Rangifer tarandus) populations have been declining concurrently with increases in infectious diseases in the Arctic. Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, a zoonotic bacterium, was first described in 2015 as a notable cause of illness and death among several Arctic wildlife species. We investigated epidemiologic and environmental factors associated with the seroprevalence of E. rhusiopathiae in the Arctic and found that seropositivity was highest during warmer months, peaking in September, and was highest among adult males. Summer seroprevalence increases tracked with the oestrid index from the previous year, icing and snowing events, and precipitation from the same year but decreased with growing degree days in the same year. Seroprevalence of E. rhusiopathiae varied more during the later years of the study. Our findings provide key insights into the influence of environmental factors on disease prevalence that can be instrumental for anticipating and mitigating diseases associated with climate change among Arctic wildlife and human populations.
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Evaluating the use of hair as a non-invasive indicator of trace mineral status in woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou). PLoS One 2022; 17:e0269441. [PMID: 35763458 PMCID: PMC9239472 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0269441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Trace mineral imbalances can have significant effects on animal health, reproductive success, and survival. Monitoring their status in wildlife populations is, therefore, important for management and conservation. Typically, livers and kidneys are sampled to measure mineral status, but biopsies and lethal-sampling are not always possible, particularly for Species at Risk. We aimed to: 1) determine baseline mineral levels in Northern Mountain caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou; Gmelin, 1788) in northwestern British Columbia, Canada, and 2) determine if hair can be used as an effective indicator of caribou mineral status by evaluating associations between hair and organ mineral concentrations. Hair, liver, and kidney samples from adult male caribou (nHair = 31; nLiver, nKidney = 43) were collected by guide-outfitters in 2016–2018 hunting seasons. Trace minerals and heavy metals were quantified using inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and organ and hair concentrations of same individuals were compared. Some organ mineral concentrations differed from other caribou populations, though no clinical deficiency or toxicity symptoms were reported in our population. Significant correlations were found between liver and hair selenium (rho = 0.66, p<0.05), kidney and hair cobalt (rho = 0.51, p<0.05), and liver and hair molybdenum (rho = 0.37, p<0.10). These findings suggest that hair trace mineral assessment may be used as a non-invasive and easily-accessible way to monitor caribou selenium, cobalt, and molybdenum status, and may be a valuable tool to help assess overall caribou health.
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A SCOPING REVIEW OF THE RANGIFER TARANDUS INFECTIOUS DISEASE LITERATURE: GAP BETWEEN INFORMATION AND APPLICATION. J Wildl Dis 2022; 58:473-486. [PMID: 35675481 DOI: 10.7589/jwd-d-21-00165] [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: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The role and impact of infectious diseases in wildlife population dynamics are increasingly recognized, yet disease information is variably incorporated into wildlife management frameworks. This discrepancy is particularly relevant for Rangifer tarandus (caribou or reindeer), a keystone circumarctic species experiencing widespread population declines. The primary objective of this review was to characterize the available peer-reviewed literature on infectious diseases of Rangifer by using a scoping review methodology. Three databases of peer-reviewed literature-Web of Science, BIOSIS previews, and Scopus-were searched and 695 articles met the criteria for initial review. After screening for relevance and language, 349 articles, published between 1967 and 2020, remained. More than half of the excluded articles (181/346; 52%) were left out because they were not published in English; the majority of these excluded articles (120) were in Russian. From the 349 included articles, 137 (39%) pertained to wild (as opposed to semidomesticated or captive) Rangifer populations. Articles on infectious disease in wild Rangifer were published in 40 different journals across various disciplines; the most common journals were disease and parasitology oriented, accounting for 55% of included articles. Most studies were descriptive (87%), followed by experimental (9%). Of the pathogen taxa investigated, helminths were the most common, comprising 35% of articles. Rangifer subspecies were not equally represented in the literature, with barren-ground caribou (R. t. groenlandicus; n=40) and woodland caribou (R. t. caribou; n=39) having the greatest abundance and diversity of infectious disease information available. Few studies explicitly examined individual or population-level impacts of disease, or related disease to vital population rates, and only 27 articles explicitly related results to management or conservation. Findings from this review highlight an unbalanced distribution of studies across Rangifer ecotypes, a preference for dissemination in disease-specialized publication venues, and an opportunity for investigating population-level impacts that may be more readily integrated into caribou conservation frameworks.
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Improving Widescale Monitoring of Ectoparasite Presence in Northern Canadian Wildlife with the Aid of Citizen Science. INSECTS 2022; 13:insects13040380. [PMID: 35447822 PMCID: PMC9025924 DOI: 10.3390/insects13040380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Revised: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Simple Summary Surveying ticks on wildlife hosts consistently over time and across space presents many challenges. In Yukon, Canada, the winter tick, Dermacentor albipictus, is a blood-feeding parasite that can cause significant losses of hair and blood in moose and other wildlife. The impacts of winter tick infestation in wildlife hosts in this northern region are not well documented. To enhance existing surveillance of winter ticks in Yukon, we implemented a three-year citizen science program, the Yukon Winter Tick Monitoring Project (YWTMP) to engage hunters in the collection of underrepresented moose and caribou samples. Social media, participation incentives, and hide-sampling kits distributed to hunters increased the combined number of annual moose and caribou hide submissions almost 100-fold, and the geographical range of samples by almost 500 km, compared with submission numbers in the previous seven years. Citizen science samples were also used to detect previously unknown infection localities on moose in southeastern Yukon that are spatially separate to known infestations found on elk and deer, helping to build a better picture of infection dynamics on different host animals. Engaging with key demographic groups using structured citizen science programs like the YWTMP can significantly expand sampling efforts in remote areas while maintaining systematic sampling methods to monitor parasites of wildlife health concern. Abstract Sampling hides from harvested animals is commonly used for passive monitoring of ectoparasites on wildlife hosts, but often relies heavily on community engagement to obtain spatially and temporally consistent samples. Surveillance of winter ticks (Dermacentor albipictus) on moose (Alces alces) and caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) hosts in Yukon, Canada, has relied in part on voluntary submission of hides by hunters since 2011, but few samples were submitted. To enhance sampling efforts on underrepresented moose and caribou hosts, we implemented a three-year citizen science program, the Yukon Winter Tick Monitoring Project (YWTMP), to better engage with hunters in hide sample collection. A combination of in-person and social media outreach, incentivized engagement, and standardized hide sampling kits increased voluntary submissions of moose and caribou hides almost 100-fold since surveillance began. Citizen science samples expanded the northernmost geographic extent of existing sampling efforts for moose by 480 km and for caribou by 650 km to reach 67.5° N latitude. Samples also resulted in new detections of winter ticks on moose hides that are spatially separate to those submitted for other cervids in Yukon. Findings from the YWTMP have provided an essential baseline to monitor future winter tick host–parasite dynamics in the region and highlighted priority areas for ongoing tick surveillance.
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Dubey JP, Murata FHA, Cerqueira-Cézar CK, Kwok OCH. Epidemiologic and Public Health Significance of Toxoplasma gondii Infections in Venison: 2009-2020. J Parasitol 2021; 107:309-319. [PMID: 33886960 DOI: 10.1645/20-162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii infections are common in humans and animals worldwide. The ingestion of food or water contaminated with oocysts excreted by infected cats or ingestion of uncooked or undercooked meat containing tissue cysts of T. gondii are the 2 major modes of transmission of T. gondii. Deer are a popular game. Recently, outbreaks of clinical toxoplasmosis were reported in humans in North America linked to ingestion of undercooked venison. Here, we review prevalence, persistence of infection, clinical disease, epidemiology, and public health risks of T. gondii infections in deer and other cervids for the past decade. Estimates of worldwide serological prevalence are summarized individually for each species of deer, elk, moose, and caribou. Genetic diversity of 112 viable isolates of T. gondii from cervids is discussed, including its public health significance. Prevalence of T. gondii in deer is very high. Any part of a deer, including liver, spleen, and muscles, should be cooked thoroughly before human consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- J P Dubey
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Building 1001, Beltsville, Maryland 20705-2350
| | - F H A Murata
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Building 1001, Beltsville, Maryland 20705-2350
| | - C K Cerqueira-Cézar
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Building 1001, Beltsville, Maryland 20705-2350
| | - O C H Kwok
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Building 1001, Beltsville, Maryland 20705-2350
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Post-Translational Protein Deimination Signatures in Plasma and Plasma EVs of Reindeer ( Rangifer tarandus). BIOLOGY 2021; 10:biology10030222. [PMID: 33805829 PMCID: PMC7998281 DOI: 10.3390/biology10030222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Reindeer are an important wild and domesticated species of the Arctic, Northern Europe, Siberia and North America. As reindeer have developed various strategies to adapt to extreme environments, this makes them an interesting species for studies into diversity of immune and metabolic functions in the animal kingdom. Importantly, while reindeer carry natural infections caused by viruses (including coronaviruses), bacteria and parasites, they can also act as carriers for transmitting such diseases to other animals and humans, so called zoonosis. Reindeer are also affected by chronic wasting disease, a neuronal disease caused by prions, similar to scrapie in sheep, mad cows disease in cattle and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans. The current study assessed a specific protein modification called deimination/citrullination, which can change how proteins function and allow them to take on different roles in health and disease processes. Profiling of deiminated proteins in reindeer showed that many important pathways for immune defenses, prion diseases and metabolism are enriched in deiminated proteins, both in plasma, as well as in plasma extracellular vesicles. This study provides a platform for the development of novel biomarkers to assess wild life health status and factors relating to zoonotic disease. Abstract The reindeer (caribou) Rangifer tarandus is a Cervidae in the order Artiodactyla. Reindeer are sedentary and migratory populations with circumpolar distribution in the Arctic, Northern Europe, Siberia and North America. Reindeer are an important wild and domesticated species, and have developed various adaptive strategies to extreme environments. Importantly, deer have also been identified to be putative zoonotic carriers, including for parasites, prions and coronavirus. Therefore, novel insights into immune-related markers are of considerable interest. Peptidylarginine deiminases (PADs) are a phylogenetically conserved enzyme family which causes post-translational protein deimination by converting arginine into citrulline in target proteins. This affects protein function in health and disease. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) participate in cellular communication, in physiological and pathological processes, via transfer of cargo material, and their release is partly regulated by PADs. This study assessed deiminated protein and EV profile signatures in plasma from sixteen healthy wild female reindeer, collected in Iceland during screening for parasites and chronic wasting disease. Reindeer plasma EV profiles showed a poly-dispersed distribution from 30 to 400 nm and were positive for phylogenetically conserved EV-specific markers. Deiminated proteins were isolated from whole plasma and plasma EVs, identified by proteomic analysis and protein interaction networks assessed by KEGG and GO analysis. This revealed a large number of deimination-enriched pathways for immunity and metabolism, with some differences between whole plasma and EVs. While shared KEGG pathways for whole plasma and plasma EVs included complement and coagulation pathways, KEGG pathways specific for EVs were for protein digestion and absorption, platelet activation, amoebiasis, the AGE–RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications, ECM receptor interaction, the relaxin signaling pathway and the estrogen signaling pathway. KEGG pathways specific for whole plasma were pertussis, ferroptosis, SLE, thyroid hormone synthesis, phagosome, Staphylococcus aureus infection, vitamin digestion and absorption, and prion disease. Further differences were also found between molecular function and biological processes GO pathways when comparing functional STRING networks for deiminated proteins in EVs, compared with deiminated proteins in whole plasma. This study highlights deiminated proteins and EVs as candidate biomarkers for reindeer health and may provide information on regulation of immune pathways in physiological and pathological processes, including neurodegenerative (prion) disease and zoonosis.
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Patterns and processes of pathogen exposure in gray wolves across North America. Sci Rep 2021; 11:3722. [PMID: 33580121 PMCID: PMC7881161 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-81192-w] [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: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The presence of many pathogens varies in a predictable manner with latitude, with infections decreasing from the equator towards the poles. We investigated the geographic trends of pathogens infecting a widely distributed carnivore: the gray wolf (Canis lupus). Specifically, we investigated which variables best explain and predict geographic trends in seroprevalence across North American wolf populations and the implications of the underlying mechanisms. We compiled a large serological dataset of nearly 2000 wolves from 17 study areas, spanning 80° longitude and 50° latitude. Generalized linear mixed models were constructed to predict the probability of seropositivity of four important pathogens: canine adenovirus, herpesvirus, parvovirus, and distemper virus-and two parasites: Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii. Canine adenovirus and herpesvirus were the most widely distributed pathogens, whereas N. caninum was relatively uncommon. Canine parvovirus and distemper had high annual variation, with western populations experiencing more frequent outbreaks than eastern populations. Seroprevalence of all infections increased as wolves aged, and denser wolf populations had a greater risk of exposure. Probability of exposure was positively correlated with human density, suggesting that dogs and synanthropic animals may be important pathogen reservoirs. Pathogen exposure did not appear to follow a latitudinal gradient, with the exception of N. caninum. Instead, clustered study areas were more similar: wolves from the Great Lakes region had lower odds of exposure to the viruses, but higher odds of exposure to N. caninum and T. gondii; the opposite was true for wolves from the central Rocky Mountains. Overall, mechanistic predictors were more informative of seroprevalence trends than latitude and longitude. Individual host characteristics as well as inherent features of ecosystems determined pathogen exposure risk on a large scale. This work emphasizes the importance of biogeographic wildlife surveillance, and we expound upon avenues of future research of cross-species transmission, spillover, and spatial variation in pathogen infection.
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Sauvé CC, Hernández-Ortiz A, Jenkins E, Mavrot F, Schneider A, Kutz S, Saliki JT, Daoust PY. Exposure of the Gulf of St. Lawrence grey seal Halichoerus grypus population to potentially zoonotic infectious agents. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2020; 142:105-118. [PMID: 33269722 DOI: 10.3354/dao03536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The population of grey seals Halichoerus grypus in Canadian waters is currently used as a commercial source of meat for human consumption. As with domestic livestock, it is important to understand the occurrence in these seals of infectious agents that may be of public health significance and thus ensure appropriate measures are in place to avoid zoonotic transmission. This study examined the prevalence of antibodies against Brucella spp., Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, 6 serovars of Leptospira interrogans, and Toxoplasma gondii in 59 grey seals and determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) the presence of these potentially zoonotic agents in specific organs and tissues of seropositive animals. The presence of encysted Trichinella spp. larvae was also investigated by digestion of tongue, diaphragm and other muscle samples, but none were detected. Seroprevalence against Brucella spp. and E. rhusiopathiae was low (5 and 3%, respectively). All 59 seals tested had antibodies against L. interrogans, but no carrier of this bacterium was detected by PCR. Seroprevalence against T. gondii was 53%, and DNA of this protozoan was detected by PCR in 11/30 (37%) seropositive animals. Standard sanitary measures mandatory for commercialization of meat products for human consumption should greatly reduce the potential for exposure to these infectious agents. However, special consideration should be given to freezing seal meat for at least 3 d to ensure destruction of tissue cysts of T. gondii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline C Sauvé
- Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, Canada
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Prevalence of Winter Ticks ( Dermacentor albipictus) in Hunter-Harvested Wild Elk ( Cervus canadensis) from Pennsylvania, USA (2017-2018). Vet Sci 2020; 7:vetsci7040177. [PMID: 33198183 PMCID: PMC7712540 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci7040177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Winter ticks (Dermacentor albipictus) are an aggressive one-host tick that infest a wide-diversity of ungulates. Infestations can result in anemia, alopecia, emaciation, and death. Most notably, the winter tick has caused negative impacts to moose (Alces alces) populations in the northeast United States and Canada. Winter ticks have been identified on other cervid species, including deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and elk (Cervus canadensis), which generally results in low tick burdens and mild or no disease. Recently, however, a wild yearling bull elk in Pennsylvania was found dead as a result of severe winter tick infestation. To obtain baseline data on winter ticks in wild elk in Pennsylvania, we collected 1453 ticks from 190 hunter-harvested wild elk between 2017-2018. Of the 204 harvested elk, 94.3% (190/204) had ticks collected for this study and none of the sampled elk had evidence of winter-tick associated disease. The average tick burden was 7.7 ticks/elk and average winter tick load on all elk was 0.5. Results of this study indicate that winter ticks do infest wild elk in Pennsylvania. However, during the fall months, the tick burden is low and rarely associated with lesions. These data herein serve as a baseline to monitor winter tick populations over time.
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Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and hemoglobin-binding protein in free-living box turtles (Terrapene spp.). PLoS One 2020; 15:e0234805. [PMID: 32555669 PMCID: PMC7299368 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0234805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The acute phase response is a highly conserved reaction to infection, inflammation, trauma, stress, and neoplasia. Acute phase assays are useful for wildlife health assessment, however, they are infrequently utilized in reptiles. This study evaluated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) in eastern (Terrapene carolina carolina) and ornate box turtles (Terrapene ornata ornata) and hemoglobin-binding protein (HBP) in T. ornata. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate in 90 T. carolina and 105 T. ornata was negatively associated with packed cell volume and was greater in unhealthy turtles (p < 0.05). Female T. ornata had higher ESR values than males (p < 0.05). Measurement of ESR with a microhematocrit tube proportionally overestimated values from a commercial kit (Winpette), though both methods may retain utility with separate reference intervals. Hemoglobin-binding protein concentration in 184 T. ornata was significantly increased in adults and unhealthy turtles (p < 0.05). Erythrocyte sedimentation rate values were similar between seasons and populations, and HBP values were consistent between years, indicating that these analytes may have more stable baseline values than traditional health metrics in reptiles. This study demonstrates that ESR and HBP are promising diagnostics for health assessment in wild box turtles. Incorporating these tests into wild herptile health assessment protocols may support conservation efforts and improve ecosystem health monitoring.
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Winder R, Stewart FEC, Nebel S, McIntire EJB, Dyk A, Omendja K. Cumulative Effects and Boreal Woodland Caribou: How Bow-Tie Risk Analysis Addresses a Critical Issue in Canada's Forested Landscapes. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.00001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Verocai GG, Hoberg EP, Simard M, Beckmen KB, Musiani M, Wasser S, Cuyler C, Manseau M, Chaudhry UN, Kashivakura CK, Gilleard JS, Kutz SJ. The biogeography of the caribou lungworm, Varestrongylus eleguneniensis (Nematoda: Protostrongylidae) across northern North America. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE 2020; 11:93-102. [PMID: 31970056 PMCID: PMC6965202 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2020.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2019] [Revised: 01/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Varestrongylus eleguneniensis (Nematoda; Protostrongylidae) is a recently described species of lungworm that infects caribou (Rangifer tarandus), muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) and moose (Alces americanus) across northern North America. Herein we explore the geographic distribution of V. eleguneniensis through geographically extensive sampling and discuss the biogeography of this multi-host parasite. We analyzed fecal samples of three caribou subspecies (n = 1485), two muskox subspecies (n = 159), and two moose subspecies (n = 264) from across northern North America. Protostrongylid dorsal-spined larvae (DSL) were found in 23.8%, 73.6%, and 4.2% of these ungulates, respectively. A portion of recovered DSL were identified by genetic analyses of the ITS-2 region of the nuclear rDNA or the cytochrome oxidase c subunit I (COI) region of the mtDNA. We found V. eleguneniensis widely distributed among caribou and muskox populations across most of their geographic prange in North America but it was rare in moose. Parelaphostrongylus andersoni was present in caribou and moose and we provide new geographic records for this species. This study provides a substantial expansion of the knowledge defining the current distribution and biogeography of protostrongylid nematodes in northern ungulates. Insights about the host and geographic range of V. eleguneniensis can serve as a geographically extensive baseline for monitoring current distribution and in anticipating future biogeographic scenarios under a regime of accelerating climate and anthropogenic perturbation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme G Verocai
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4N1, Canada.,Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, TAMU, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Eric P Hoberg
- Museum of Southwestern Biology, Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87108, USA
| | | | - Kimberlee B Beckmen
- Division of Wildlife Conservation, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, 1300 College Road, Fairbanks, AK, USA
| | - Marco Musiani
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Sam Wasser
- Center for Conservation Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Christine Cuyler
- Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Department of Mammals & Birds, DK-3900, Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Micheline Manseau
- Natural Resources Institute, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, R3T 2M6
| | - Umer N Chaudhry
- Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Cyntia K Kashivakura
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - John S Gilleard
- Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Susan J Kutz
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4N1, Canada
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Carlsson AM, Curry P, Elkin B, Russell D, Veitch A, Branigan M, Campbell M, Croft B, Cuyler C, Côté SD, Leclerc LM, Tryland M, Nymo IH, Kutz SJ. Multi-pathogen serological survey of migratory caribou herds: A snapshot in time. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0219838. [PMID: 31365561 PMCID: PMC6668789 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0219838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Pathogens can impact host survival, fecundity, and population dynamics even when no obvious disease is observed. Few baseline data on pathogen prevalence and diversity of caribou are available, which hampers our ability to track changes over time and evaluate impacts on caribou health. Archived blood samples collected from ten migratory caribou herds in Canada and two in Greenland were used to test for exposure to pathogens that have the potential to effect population productivity, are zoonotic or are emerging. Relationships between seroprevalence and individual, population, and other health parameters were also examined. For adult caribou, the highest overall seroprevalence was for alphaherpesvirus (49%, n = 722), pestivirus (49%, n = 572) and Neospora caninum (27%, n = 452). Lower seroprevalence was found for parainfluenza virus type 3 (9%, n = 708), Brucella suis (2%, n = 758), and Toxoplasma gondii (2%, n = 706). No animal tested positive for antibodies against West Nile virus (n = 418) or bovine respiratory syncytial virus (n = 417). This extensive multi-pathogen survey of migratory caribou herds provides evidence that caribou are exposed to pathogens that may have impacts on herd health and revealed potential interactions between pathogens as well as geographical differences in pathogen exposure that could be linked to the bio-geographical history of caribou. Caribou are a keystone species and the socio-economic cornerstone of many indigenous cultures across the North. The results from this study highlight the urgent need for a better understanding of pathogen diversity and the impact of pathogens on caribou health.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. M. Carlsson
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- * E-mail:
| | - P. Curry
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - B. Elkin
- Environment and Natural Resources, Government of the Northwest Territories, Yellowknife, Alberta, Canada
| | - D. Russell
- CircumArctic Rangifer Monitoring and Assessment Network, Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada
| | - A. Veitch
- Environment and Natural Resources, Government of the Northwest Territories, Yellowknife, Alberta, Canada
| | - M. Branigan
- Environment and Natural Resources, Government of the Northwest Territories, Yellowknife, Alberta, Canada
| | - M. Campbell
- Department of Environment, Government of Nunavut, Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada
| | - B. Croft
- Environment and Natural Resources, Government of the Northwest Territories, Yellowknife, Alberta, Canada
| | - C. Cuyler
- Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Nuuk, Greenland
| | - S. D. Côté
- Caribou Ungava, Département de Biologie and Centre d’études nordiques, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - L-M Leclerc
- Department of Environment, Government of Nunavut, Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada
| | - M. Tryland
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromso, Norway
| | - I. H. Nymo
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromso, Norway
| | - S. J. Kutz
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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