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Viadanna PHO, Surphlis A, Cheng AC, Dixon CE, Meisner S, Wilson KN, White ZS, DeRuyter E, Logan TD, Krauer JMC, Lednicky JA, Wisely SM, Subramaniam K. A novel bluetongue virus serotype 2 strain isolated from a farmed Florida white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) arose from reassortment of gene segments derived from co-circulating serotypes in the Southeastern USA. Virus Genes 2024; 60:100-104. [PMID: 38182930 DOI: 10.1007/s11262-023-02047-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024]
Abstract
Bluetongue disease is a reportable animal disease that affects wild and farmed ruminants, including white-tailed deer (WTD). This report documents the clinical findings, ancillary diagnostics, and genomic characterization of a novel reassortant bluetongue virus serotype 2 (BTV-2) strain isolated from a dead Florida farmed WTD in 2022. Our analyses support that this BTV-2 strain likely stemmed from the acquisition of genome segments from co-circulating BTV strains in Florida and Louisiana. In addition, our analyses also indicate that genetically uncharacterized BTV strains may be circulating in the Southeastern USA; however, the identity and reassortant status of these BTV strains cannot be determined based on the VP2 and VP5 genome sequences. Hence, continued surveillance based on complete genome characterization is needed to understand the genetic diversity of BTV strains in this region and the potential threat they may pose to the health of deer and other ruminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro H O Viadanna
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, 2015 SW 16th Avenue, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, 2055 Mowry Rd, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Austin Surphlis
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, 2015 SW 16th Avenue, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, 2055 Mowry Rd, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - An-Chi Cheng
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, 2015 SW 16th Avenue, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Catherine E Dixon
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, 2015 SW 16th Avenue, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Sarah Meisner
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, 2015 SW 16th Avenue, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Kristen N Wilson
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, 2055 Mowry Rd, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, 110 Newins-Ziegler Hall, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Zoe S White
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, 2055 Mowry Rd, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, 110 Newins-Ziegler Hall, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Emily DeRuyter
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, 2055 Mowry Rd, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- Department of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, 1225 Center Dr, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Tracey D Logan
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, 2055 Mowry Rd, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- Department of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, 1225 Center Dr, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Juan M C Krauer
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, 2015 SW 16th Avenue, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - John A Lednicky
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, 2055 Mowry Rd, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- Department of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, 1225 Center Dr, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Samantha M Wisely
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, 2055 Mowry Rd, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, 110 Newins-Ziegler Hall, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Kuttichantran Subramaniam
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, 2015 SW 16th Avenue, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, 2055 Mowry Rd, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
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Cauvin AR, Wisely SM, Baiser B, Peters RM, Sayler KA, Orange JP, Blackburn JK, Stacy NI. Blood analytes of clinically normal and diseased neonatal and weaned farmed white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus) fawns. Vet Q 2023; 43:1-10. [PMID: 37589252 PMCID: PMC10453971 DOI: 10.1080/01652176.2023.2249072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent research focused on farmed deer has exposed many knowledge gaps regarding health assessment protocols for white-tailed deer (WTD). The objectives of this study were to establish de novo blood analyte reference intervals for farmed WTD fawns at birth (1-2 days of age; n = 84) and again at weaning (76-125 days of age; n = 28), to compare data at birth and at weaning to understand how these analytes are affected by the intrinsic factors age and sex in clinically normal WTD fawns, and to compare between clinically normal and sick WTD weanlings (respiratory disease n = 12; orbivirus-infected n = 6). Reference intervals were established for WTD fawns at birth and weaning. Female WTD neonates had significantly higher red blood cell counts, hematocrit, and hemoglobin compared to males. Most blood analytes were significantly different in clinically normal WTD neonates compared to weanlings, suggesting an effect of age. The observed sex- and age-related variations in WTD highlight the need to establish reference intervals that account for intrinsic factors. The comparison of clinically normal and sick WTD weanlings in this study identified higher MCHC and absolute monocytes in sick weanlings but these findings were presumably not biologically relevant given the small sample size for sick fawns. While the reference interval data presented herein will be useful for the veterinary care of WTD fawns at critical time periods in a high-density farm setting, this study also demonstrates the need to identify more sensitive and specific biomarkers for the assessment of health status in farmed WTD with specific underlying diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison R. Cauvin
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Samantha M. Wisely
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Benjamin Baiser
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Rebecca M. Peters
- Department of Geography, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Katherine A. Sayler
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Jeremy P. Orange
- Department of Geography, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | | | - Nicole I. Stacy
- Department of Comparative, Diagnostic, & Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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Viadanna PHO, Grace SG, Logan TD, DeRuyter E, Loeb JC, Wilson KN, White ZS, Krauer JMC, Lednicky JA, Waltzek TB, Wisely SM, Subramaniam K. Characterization of two novel reassortant bluetongue virus serotype 1 strains isolated from farmed white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in Florida, USA. Virus Genes 2023; 59:732-740. [PMID: 37439882 DOI: 10.1007/s11262-023-02019-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
Hemorrhagic diseases caused by epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus or by bluetongue virus (BTV) are the most important orbivirus diseases affecting ruminants, including white-tailed deer (WTD). Bluetongue virus is of particular concern for farmed WTD in Florida, given its lethality and its wide distribution throughout the state. This study reports the clinical findings, ancillary diagnostics, and genomic characterization of two BTV serotype 1 strains isolated from two farmed WTD, from two different farms in Florida in 2019 and 2022. Phylogenetic and genetic analyses indicated that these two novel BTV-1 strains were reassortants. In addition, our analyses reveal that most genome segments of these strains were acquired from BTVs previously detected in ruminants in Florida, substantiating their endemism in the Southeastern U.S. Our findings underscore the need for additional research to determine the genetic diversity of BTV strains in Florida, their prevalence, and the potential risk of new BTV strains to WTD and other ruminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro H O Viadanna
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, 32611, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, 32611, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Savannah G Grace
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, 32611, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, 32611, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Tracey D Logan
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, 32611, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, 32611, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Emily DeRuyter
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, 32611, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, 32611, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Julia C Loeb
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, 32611, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, 32611, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Kristen N Wilson
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, 32611, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, 32611, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Zoe S White
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, 32611, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, 32611, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Juan M C Krauer
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, 32611, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, 99164, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - John A Lednicky
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, 32611, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, 32611, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Thomas B Waltzek
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, 32611, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, 32611, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, 99164, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Samantha M Wisely
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, 32611, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, 32611, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Kuttichantran Subramaniam
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, 32611, Gainesville, FL, USA.
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, 32611, Gainesville, FL, USA.
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Beatty NL, Bhosale CR, Torhorst CW, Burkett-Cadena ND, Oi FM, Forsyth CJ, Wisely SM. Integrated pest management strategies targeting the Florida kissing bug, Triatoma sanguisuga: Preventing this vector of Chagas disease from invading your home. Curr Res Parasitol Vector Borne Dis 2023; 4:100144. [PMID: 37841307 PMCID: PMC10570570 DOI: 10.1016/j.crpvbd.2023.100144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Triatomines (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae), commonly called "kissing bugs", are blood-sucking pests and vectors of the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease (CD). Eleven species of kissing bugs occur throughout the southern half of the USA, four of which are well known to invade human dwellings. Certain kissing bugs in the USA are known to transmit T. cruzi to humans and other animals and their bites can also lead to serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. In Florida, the kissing bug Triatoma sanguisuga frequently invades homes, bites residents, and has been found infected with T. cruzi, placing humans and companion animals at risk for CD. This review outlines integrated pest management (IPM) strategies for minimizing human exposure to T. sanguisuga and CD. A comprehensive IPM plan for kissing bugs includes detailed inspections, removal of vertebrate host nesting areas, and kissing bug harborage, home improvements to exclude kissing bugs from entering structures, pest removal, and judicious use of pesticides. This approach can limit or eliminate kissing bug entry into residential structures, thereby preventing kissing bug bites, and CD infections in humans and companion animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norman L. Beatty
- University of Florida College of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Chanakya R. Bhosale
- Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA
| | - Carson W. Torhorst
- University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Nathan D. Burkett-Cadena
- Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Vero Beach, FL, USA
| | - Faith M. Oi
- University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Entomology and Nematology Department, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | | | - Samantha M. Wisely
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Gainesville, FL, USA
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Torhorst CW, Ledger KJ, White ZS, Milleson MP, Corral CC, Beatty NL, Wisely SM. Trypanosoma cruzi infection in mammals in Florida: New insight into the transmission of T. cruzi in the southeastern United States. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2023; 21:237-245. [PMID: 37575667 PMCID: PMC10422094 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2023.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
In Latin America, synanthropic mammalian reservoirs maintain Trypanosoma cruzi, a parasitic protozoan, where they facilitate the transmission of the parasite to humans and other reservoir hosts in peridomestic settings. In the United States, raccoons (Procyon lotor) and Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana) are known synanthropic T. cruzi reservoir hosts; however, the role these species have in the peridomestic transmission cycle in the US is not well understood. This study aimed to identify the suite of mammalian reservoirs of T. cruzi in Florida. We also compared infection prevalence in raccoon populations sampled from within and outside of the estimated distribution of the common T. cruzi vector in Florida to gain insight into how the arthropod vector distribution impacts the distribution of infected reservoirs in the state. Finally, to investigate the impact of peridomestic landscapes on parasite prevalence, we compared the prevalence of T. cruzi-infected raccoons and opossums across five paired peridomestic and sylvatic sites. We live-trapped and collected peripheral blood samples from 135 raccoons, 112 opossums, 18 nine-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus), and nine species of rodents in north central Florida. Using quantitative PCR methods, we found that raccoons (42.2%, 95% CI [34.2-50.7%]) and opossums (50.9%, 95% CI [41.8-60.0%]) were infected with T. cruzi and the prevalence across habitats was similar for both raccoons (peridomestic: n = 77, 44.2%, 95% CI [33.6-55.3%], sylvatic: n = 58, 39.7%, 95% CI [28.1-52.5%]) and opossums (peridomestic: n = 66, 48.5%, 95% CI [36.8-60.3%], sylvatic: n = 46, 54.3%, 95% CI [40.2-67.8%]). Raccoons sampled outside the estimated distribution of Triatoma sanguisuga were not infected with T. cruzi (n = 73, 0.0%, 95% CI [0.0-5.0%]). Our study did not indicate that peridomestic habitats in Florida maintained a higher infection prevalence than their sylvatic counterparts; however, we did find a difference in prevalence within vs. outside the estimated vector distribution in Florida.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carson W. Torhorst
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Kimberly J. Ledger
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Zoe S. White
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Michael P. Milleson
- United States Department of Agriculture-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, National Wildlife Disease Surveillance and Emergency Response Program, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Catalina C. Corral
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Norman L. Beatty
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Medicine, Department of Medicine in the College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Samantha M. Wisely
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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Mays Maestas SE, Campbell LP, Milleson MP, Reeves LE, Kaufman PE, Wisely SM. Ticks and Tick-Borne Pathogens from Wild Pigs in Northern and Central Florida. Insects 2023; 14:612. [PMID: 37504618 PMCID: PMC10380241 DOI: 10.3390/insects14070612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Invasive wild pigs are distributed across much of the U.S. and are hosts to tick vectors of human disease. Herein, adult ticks were collected from 157 wild pigs in 21 northern and central Florida counties from 2019-2020 during removal efforts by USDA-APHIS Wildlife Services personnel and evaluated for their potential to be used as a method of tick-borne disease surveillance. Collected ticks were identified, screened for pathogens, and the effects of landscape metrics on tick community composition and abundance were investigated. A total of 1415 adult ticks of four species were collected. The diversity of tick species collected from wild pigs was comparable to collections made throughout the state with conventional surveillance methods. All species collected have implications for pathogen transmission to humans and other animals. Ehrlichia, Anaplasma-like, and Rickettsia spp. were detected in ticks collected from wild pigs. These results suggest that tick collection from wild pigs is a suitable means of surveillance for pathogens and vectors. The strongest drivers of variation in tick community composition were the developed open space and mixed forest landcover classes. Fragmented shrub/scrub habitat was associated with increased tick abundance. Similar models may be useful in predicting tick abundance and distribution patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Mays Maestas
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA
| | - Lindsay P Campbell
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA
- Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, University of Florida, Vero Beach, FL 32962, USA
| | - Michael P Milleson
- National Wildlife Disease Surveillance and Emergency Response Program, United States Department of Agriculture-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Gainesville, FL 32641, USA
| | - Lawrence E Reeves
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA
- Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, University of Florida, Vero Beach, FL 32962, USA
| | - Phillip E Kaufman
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77845, USA
| | - Samantha M Wisely
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA
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Mays Maestas SE, Campbell LP, Wisely SM, Dingman PA, Reeves LE, Kaufman PE. Comparison of ectoparasite communities of sylvatic and urban wild mesomammals and unowned community cats in north-central Florida. J Med Entomol 2023; 60:460-469. [PMID: 36946466 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjad026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
The adaptation of wildlife species to urban environments can drive changes in the ecology of ectoparasites and vector-borne disease. To better understand ectoparasite dynamics in an urban environment, we investigated the ectoparasite communities of 183 sylvatic and urban opossums and raccoons captured across four seasons at a rural research station and within the city of Gainesville, FL, and of 115 community cats from the Gainesville, FL area. Amblyomma americanum (L.) (Acari: Ixodidae), Dermacentor variabilis (Say), and Ixodes texanus Banks were collected from raccoons, A. americanum, D. variabilis, and Ixodes scapularis Say from opossums, and A. americanum from cats. Few ticks were collected from urban animals, although species richness of ectoparasites was similar between urban and sylvatic habitats. Ctenocephalides felis (Bouché) (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) was collected from all sampled host species, but was particularly abundant on opossums. Additionally, Orchopeas howardi (Baker) (Siphonaptera: Ceratophyllidae) was collected from raccoons, and O. howardi and Xenopsylla cheopis (Rothschild) (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) from opossums. Only raccoons were infested with raccoon lice, and only cats were infested with cat lice. Primarily opossums were infested with mites. Ectoparasite community composition varied by habitat, host species, and season; seasonal variation in ectoparasite communities differed between the sylvatic and urban habitats. While urban mesomammals did not appear to play an important role in supporting tick populations in an urban habitat, urban opossums appear to serve as an alternate host for large numbers of cat fleas, which may be an important consideration for treatment and control efforts against ectoparasites of companion animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- S E Mays Maestas
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - L P Campbell
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, University of Florida, Vero Beach, FL, USA
| | - S M Wisely
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - P A Dingman
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Services, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - L E Reeves
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, University of Florida, Vero Beach, FL, USA
| | - P E Kaufman
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
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Sloyer KE, Acevedo C, Wisely SM, Burkett-Cadena ND. Host associations of biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae: Culicoides) at deer farms in Florida, USA. J Med Entomol 2023; 60:518-526. [PMID: 37040561 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjad036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Documenting the host use of vector species is important for understanding the transmission dynamics of vector-borne pathogens. Biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae: Culicoides) are vectors of epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) and bluetongue virus (BTV) worldwide. However, relative to mosquitoes and many other vector groups, host associations of this group are poorly documented. In this study, we used PCR-based bloodmeal analysis to determine species-level host associations of 3,603 blood-engorged specimens belonging to 18 Culicoides species at 8 deer farms in Florida, USA. We used a binomial mixed model with a Bayesian framework to compare the effect of host composition on the feeding patterns of Culicoides spp. and employed the Morisita-Horn Index to investigate the similarity of host use between farms for Culicoides stellifer and Culicoides insignis. Results show that the estimated probability of Culicoides spp. feeding upon white-tailed deer depends on the availability of cattle or exotic game and demonstrates differences in host-feeding selection among species. Culicoides insignis had high host similarity across farms suggesting that its host-use patterns are somewhat conserved. Culicoides stellifer had lower host similarity across farms suggesting that it is a more opportunistic feeder. White-tailed deer are fed upon by many Culicoides species on deer farms in Florida, and while most Culicoides species feed on white-tailed deer, the ratio of white-tailed deer bloodmeals to other bloodmeals is likely influenced by host availability. Culicoides spp. taking a majority of their bloodmeals from farmed white-tailed deer should be assessed for their vector competence for EHDV and BTV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin E Sloyer
- Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, University of Florida IFAS, 200 9th St. SE, Vero Beach, FL, USA
| | - Carolina Acevedo
- Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, University of Florida IFAS, 200 9th St. SE, Vero Beach, FL, USA
| | - Samantha M Wisely
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, 110 Newins-Ziegler Hall, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Nathan D Burkett-Cadena
- Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, University of Florida IFAS, 200 9th St. SE, Vero Beach, FL, USA
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Bhosale CR, Wilson KN, Ledger KJ, White ZS, Dorleans R, De Jesus CE, Wisely SM. Ticks and Tick-Borne Pathogens in Recreational Greenspaces in North Central Florida, USA. Microorganisms 2023; 11:756. [PMID: 36985329 PMCID: PMC10057063 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11030756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne infections are an increasing medical and veterinary concern in the southeastern United States, but there is limited understanding of how recreational greenspaces influence the hazard of pathogen transmission. This study aimed to estimate the potential human and companion animal encounter risk with different questing tick species, and the bacterial or protozoal agents they carry in recreational greenspaces. We collected ticks bimonthly along trails and designated recreational areas in 17 publicly accessible greenspaces, in and around Gainesville, Florida, USA. We collected Amblyomma americanum, Ixodes scapularis, Amblyomma maculatum, Dermacentor variabilis, Ixodes affinis, and Haemaphysalis leporispalustris. Across the six tick species collected, we detected 18 species of bacteria or protozoa within the Babesia, Borrelia, Cytauxzoon, Cryptoplasma (Allocryptoplasma), Ehrlichia, Hepatozoon, Rickettsia, and Theileria genera, including pathogens of medical or veterinary importance. While tick abundance and associated microorganism prevalence and richness were the greatest in natural habitats surrounded by forests, we found both ticks and pathogenic microorganisms in manicured groundcover. This relationship is important for public health and awareness, because it suggests that the probability of encountering an infected tick is measurable and substantial even on closely manicured turf or gravel, if the surrounding landcover is undeveloped. The presence of medically important ticks and pathogenic microorganisms in recreational greenspaces indicates that public education efforts regarding ticks and tick-borne diseases are warranted in this region of the United States.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chanakya R. Bhosale
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
- Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328, USA
| | - Kristen N. Wilson
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Kimberly J. Ledger
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Zoe S. White
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Rayann Dorleans
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Carrie E. De Jesus
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Samantha M. Wisely
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
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10
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Torhorst CW, White ZS, Bhosale CR, Beatty NL, Wisely SM. Identification of the parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi, in multiple tissues of epidemiological significance in the Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana): Implications for environmental and vertical transmission routes. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010974. [PMID: 36534706 PMCID: PMC9810149 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Trypanosoma cruzi, a parasitic protozoan, is endemic to the Americas and the causative agent of Chagas disease in humans. In South America, opossums facilitate transmission via infected anal gland secretions in addition to transmission via triatomine vectors. In North America, the Virginia opossum is a reservoir host for the parasite with transmission routes that are not clearly defined. The unique biology of this marsupial provides the opportunity to investigate vertical transmission in this wildlife species in situ. Our objectives were to investigate alternative routes of transmission that may facilitate spillover into other species and to determine if vertical transmission was evident. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Virginia opossums were sampled at 10 trapping locations over a 10-month period in a 5-county region of north central Florida. Peripheral blood, fecal swabs, and anal gland secretions were collected from each adult individual, and peripheral blood was collected from joey opossums. Total DNA was extracted from each collected sample type, and T. cruzi infected individuals and the infecting Discrete Typing Unit (DTU) were identified using real time PCR methods. Adult Virginia opossums (n = 112) were infected with T. cruzi (51.8%, 95% CI [42.6-60.8%]) throughout the sampled period and at each location. T. cruzi DNA was found in each of the three biological sample types. Vertical transmission of T. cruzi was inferred in one litter of mother-dependent (n = 20, 5.0%, 95% CI [0.9-23.6%]) joey opossums where 2 joeys from this same litter were rtPCR positive for T. cruzi. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE We inferred vertical transmission from mother to neonate which may serve to amplify the prevalence of T. cruzi in adult Virginia opossums. T. cruzi DNA was detected in the anal gland secretions of Virginia opossums. Infected anal gland secretions suggest a possible environmental route of transmission for T. cruzi via the deposition of contaminated feces and spraint at wildlife latrines. Only DTU1 was identified in the sampled population which is consistent with human autochthonous cases in the United States.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carson W. Torhorst
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Zoe S. White
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Chanakya R. Bhosale
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Norman L. Beatty
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Medicine, Department of Medicine in the College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Samantha M. Wisely
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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11
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Rodrigues TCS, Viadanna PHO, Subramaniam K, Hawkins IK, Jeon AB, Loeb JC, Krauer JMC, Lednicky JA, Wisely SM, Waltzek TB. Characterization of a Novel Reassortant Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease Virus Serotype 6 Strain Isolated from Diseased White-Tailed Deer ( Odocoileus virginianus) on a Florida Farm. Viruses 2022; 14:1012. [PMID: 35632753 PMCID: PMC9146129 DOI: 10.3390/v14051012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
We report an outbreak of a novel reassortant epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus serotype 6 (EHDV-6) in white-tailed deer (WTD) on a Florida farm in 2019. At necropsy, most animals exhibited hemorrhagic lesions in the lung and heart, and congestion in the lung, liver, and spleen. Histopathology revealed multi-organ hemorrhage and congestion, and renal tubular necrosis. Tissues were screened by RT-qPCR and all animals tested positive for EHDV. Tissues were processed for virus isolation and next-generation sequencing was performed on cDNA libraries generated from the RNA extracts of cultures displaying cytopathic effects. Six isolates yielded nearly identical complete genome sequences of a novel U.S. EHDV-6 strain. Genetic and phylogenetic analyses revealed the novel strain to be most closely related to a reassortant EHDV-6 strain isolated from cattle in Trinidad and both strains received segment 4 from an Australian EHDV-2 strain. The novel U.S. EHDV-6 strain is unique in that it acquired segment 8 from an Australian EHDV-8 strain. An RNAscope® in situ hybridization assay was developed against the novel U.S. EHDV-6 strain and labeling was detected within lesions of the heart, kidney, liver, and lung. These data support the novel U.S. reassortant EHDV-6 strain as the cause of disease in the farmed WTD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thaís C. S. Rodrigues
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; (T.C.S.R.); (P.H.O.V.); (K.S.)
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; (J.C.L.); (J.A.L.); (S.M.W.)
| | - Pedro H. O. Viadanna
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; (T.C.S.R.); (P.H.O.V.); (K.S.)
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; (J.C.L.); (J.A.L.); (S.M.W.)
| | - Kuttichantran Subramaniam
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; (T.C.S.R.); (P.H.O.V.); (K.S.)
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; (J.C.L.); (J.A.L.); (S.M.W.)
| | - Ian K. Hawkins
- Department of Comparative, Diagnostic, and Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; (I.K.H.); (A.B.J.)
| | - Albert B. Jeon
- Department of Comparative, Diagnostic, and Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; (I.K.H.); (A.B.J.)
| | - Julia C. Loeb
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; (J.C.L.); (J.A.L.); (S.M.W.)
- Department of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Juan M. C. Krauer
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA;
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - John A. Lednicky
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; (J.C.L.); (J.A.L.); (S.M.W.)
- Department of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Samantha M. Wisely
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; (J.C.L.); (J.A.L.); (S.M.W.)
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Thomas B. Waltzek
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; (T.C.S.R.); (P.H.O.V.); (K.S.)
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; (J.C.L.); (J.A.L.); (S.M.W.)
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12
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Beatty NL, White ZS, Bhosale CR, Wilson K, Cannella AP, Stenn T, Burkett-Cadena N, Wisely SM. Anaphylactic Reactions Due to Triatoma protracta (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae) and Invasion into a Home in Northern California, USA. Insects 2021; 12:insects12111018. [PMID: 34821818 PMCID: PMC8619147 DOI: 10.3390/insects12111018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Kissing bugs are bloodsucking insects found throughout the Western Hemisphere, including the United States, but also within certain regions of the Western Pacific, India, the Middle East, and Africa. Within the Americas, these insects are known to harbor a parasite known as Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of an infection in humans and other mammals known as Chagas disease. The infection can be spread through the fecal matter of the kissing bug when exposed to the skin or ingested from contaminated food or drink products. Kissing bugs will invade human homes and bite residents and their pets. The bite from a kissing bug can also lead to serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. A potentially life-threatening allergic response typically needs emergency medical attention. We describe a home that was invaded by kissing bugs in northern California where the resident developed serious allergic reactions to the bite. The kissing bugs were identified and a blood meal investigation found the presence of human blood as well as the parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi. The resident was tested extensively for chronic Chagas disease due to his repeated exposure to the kissing bug but was found to not have the disease. Those who live in regions where kissing bugs are found naturally should be aware that their bites can be highly allergenic. Abstract Background: Triatoma protracta is a triatomine found naturally throughout many regions of California and has been shown to invade human dwellings and bite residents. A man living in Mendocino County, California, reported developing anaphylactic reactions due to the bite of an “unusual bug”, which he had found in his home for several years. Methods: We conducted environmental, entomological, and clinical investigations to examine the risk for kissing bug invasion, presence of Trypanosoma cruzi, and concerns for Chagas disease at this human dwelling with triatomine invasion. Results: Home assessment revealed several risk factors for triatomine invasion, which includes pack rat infestation, above-ground wooden plank floor without a concrete foundation, canine living in the home, and lack of residual insecticide use. Triatomines were all identified as Triatoma protracta. Midgut molecular analysis of the collected triatomines revealed the detection of T. cruzi discrete typing unit I among one of the kissing bugs. Blood meal PCR-based analysis showed these triatomines had bitten humans, canine and unidentified snake species. The patient was tested for chronic Chagas disease utilizing rapid diagnostic testing and laboratory serological testing, and all were negative. Conclusions: Triatoma protracta is known to invade human dwellings in the western portions of the United States. This is the first report of T. cruzi-infected triatomines invading homes in Mendocino County, California. Triatoma protracta is a known vector responsible for autochthonous Chagas disease within the United States, and their bites can also trigger serious systemic allergic reactions, such as anaphylaxis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norman L. Beatty
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA;
- Correspondence:
| | - Zoe S. White
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; (Z.S.W.); (C.R.B.); (K.W.)
| | - Chanakya R. Bhosale
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; (Z.S.W.); (C.R.B.); (K.W.)
| | - Kristen Wilson
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; (Z.S.W.); (C.R.B.); (K.W.)
| | - Anthony P. Cannella
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and International Medicine, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL 33610, USA;
| | - Tanise Stenn
- Entomology and Nematology Department, Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, University of Florida, Vero Beach, FL 32962, USA; (T.S.); (N.B.-C.)
| | - Nathan Burkett-Cadena
- Entomology and Nematology Department, Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, University of Florida, Vero Beach, FL 32962, USA; (T.S.); (N.B.-C.)
| | - Samantha M. Wisely
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA;
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; (Z.S.W.); (C.R.B.); (K.W.)
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13
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Aristizabal-Henao JJ, Brown HJ, Griffin EK, Ostfeld RS, Oggenfuss K, Parker BM, Wisely SM, Bowden JA. Ticks as novel sentinels to monitor environmental levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Environ Sci Process Impacts 2021; 23:1301-1307. [PMID: 34369533 DOI: 10.1039/d1em00209k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are environmentally persistent, ubiquitous pollutants. It is important to continuously monitor the presence of PFAS contamination, utilizing both legacy and new sentinels. In this study, environmental PFAS levels were evaluated using ticks as a sentinel model due to their world-wide distribution, hematophagous nature, and ease of collection and sampling. Hematophagy in discrete blood meals, from a suite of vertebrates, allows ticks to sample dozens of species of consumers and bioaccumulation across communities. Four different species of ticks, across two states (NY, n = 28 in mid-April of 2020 and FL, n = 32 between 2015 and 2020) with two sampling sites in each state were analyzed for the presence of 53 PFAS. The total PFAS concentration in ticks was the lowest at Newburgh (NY), a site that has been undergoing remediation efforts, while the highest total PFAS concentrations were measured in ticks at the Sweetwater site, a wastewater treatment wetland. Detection of PFAS and the potential for variation between tick species and between locations are necessary to establish the utility of ticks as sentinels, in addition to assessing additional environmental factors, such as other wildlife, water, or soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan J Aristizabal-Henao
- Center for Environmental & Human Toxicology, Department, of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, 1333 Center Dr, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
| | - Hannah J Brown
- Center for Environmental & Human Toxicology, Department, of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, 1333 Center Dr, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
| | - Emily K Griffin
- Center for Environmental & Human Toxicology, Department, of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, 1333 Center Dr, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
| | | | | | - Brandon M Parker
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Samantha M Wisely
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - John A Bowden
- Center for Environmental & Human Toxicology, Department, of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, 1333 Center Dr, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
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14
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McGregor BL, Erram D, Alto BW, Lednicky JA, Wisely SM, Burkett-Cadena ND. Vector Competence of Florida Culicoides insignis (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) for Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease Virus Serotype-2. Viruses 2021; 13:v13030410. [PMID: 33807536 PMCID: PMC7998304 DOI: 10.3390/v13030410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Revised: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV; family Reoviridae, genus Orbivirus) is an arthropod-borne virus of ungulates, primarily white-tailed deer in North America. Culicoides sonorensis, the only confirmed North American vector of EHDV, is rarely collected from Florida despite annual virus outbreaks. Culicoides insignis is an abundant species in Florida and is also a confirmed vector of the closely related Bluetongue virus. In this study, oral challenge of C. insignis was performed to determine vector competence for EHDV serotype-2. Field-collected female midges were provided bovine blood spiked with three different titers of EHDV-2 (5.05, 4.00, or 2.94 log10PFUe/mL). After an incubation period of 10 days or after death, bodies and legs were collected. Saliva was collected daily from all females from 3 days post feeding until their death using honey card assays. All samples were tested for EHDV RNA using RT-qPCR. Our results suggest that C. insignis is a weakly competent vector of EHDV-2 that can support a transmissible infection when it ingests a high virus titer (29% of midges had virus positive saliva when infected at 5.05 log10PFUe/mL), but not lower virus titers. Nevertheless, due to the high density of this species, particularly in peninsular Florida, it is likely that C. insignis plays a role in the transmission of EHDV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bethany L. McGregor
- Center for Grain and Animal Health Research, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Manhattan, KS 66502, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-785-477-1259
| | - Dinesh Erram
- Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Vero Beach, FL 32962, USA; (D.E.); (B.W.A.); (N.D.B.-C.)
| | - Barry W. Alto
- Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Vero Beach, FL 32962, USA; (D.E.); (B.W.A.); (N.D.B.-C.)
| | - John A. Lednicky
- Department of Environmental & Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA;
| | - Samantha M. Wisely
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA;
| | - Nathan D. Burkett-Cadena
- Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Vero Beach, FL 32962, USA; (D.E.); (B.W.A.); (N.D.B.-C.)
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15
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McGregor BL, Blackburn JK, Wisely SM, Burkett-Cadena ND. Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) Communities Differ Between a Game Preserve and Nearby Natural Areas in Northern Florida. J Med Entomol 2021; 58:450-457. [PMID: 32743667 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjaa152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Culicoides Latreille biting midges are small hematophagous flies that feed on a variety of vertebrate animals. White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), a farmed species in the United States, can occur at high densities on farms. This elevated density of available hosts may result in greater abundance of midges and greater potential for disease transmission on farms than natural ecosystems. This research aimed to determine whether Culicoides abundance varied between a game preserve in Gadsden County, Florida, a site bordering the preserve ('adjacent'), a site 3.5 km away ('moderate'), and a site 13 km away ('distant'). CDC light traps were set one night per week at the preserve, adjacent site, and moderate site in 2016 and at all four sites in 2017. Total abundance was greatest at the preserve and second greatest at the adjacent site both years. Average abundance of female Culicoides stellifer (Coquillett) was an order of magnitude greater on the preserve (x¯=24.59 in 2016, 17.95 in 2017) than at any other site (x¯≤1.68 in 2016, x¯≤1.03 in 2017), whereas the greatest average abundance of Culicoides venustus Hoffman was found at the adjacent site (x¯=5.15 in 2016, x¯=1.92 in 2017). Distance from the preserve significantly affected overall average abundance for both species (P < 0.001), although pairwise significance varied. Species diversity was lowest on the preserve and highest at the moderate site both years. These data suggest that high densities of animals may increase transmission potential on high fence preserves and in adjacent areas by contributing to high densities of vector species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bethany L McGregor
- Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, University of Florida, Vero Beach, FL
- Current affiliation: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Center for Grain and Animal Health Research, Manhattan, KS
| | - Jason K Blackburn
- Spatial Epidemiology and Ecology Research Laboratory, Department of Geography, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
| | - Samantha M Wisely
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville FL
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16
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Chaudhary V, Wisely SM, Hernández FA, Hines JE, Nichols JD, Oli MK. A multi‐state occupancy modelling framework for robust estimation of disease prevalence in multi‐tissue disease systems. J Appl Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Vratika Chaudhary
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation University of Florida Gainesville FL USA
| | - Samantha M. Wisely
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation University of Florida Gainesville FL USA
- School of Natural Resources and Environment University of Florida Gainesville FL USA
| | - Felipe A. Hernández
- Instituto de Medicina Preventiva VeterinariaFacultad de Ciencias VeterinariasEdificio Federico Saelzer Valdivia Chile
| | - James E. Hines
- U.S. Geological SurveyPatuxent Wildlife Research Center Beltsville MD USA
| | - James D. Nichols
- U.S. Geological SurveyPatuxent Wildlife Research Center Laurel MD USA
| | - Madan K. Oli
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation University of Florida Gainesville FL USA
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17
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Hernández FA, Carr AN, Milleson MP, Merrill HR, Avery ML, Parker BM, Pylant CL, Austin JD, Wisely SM. Dispersal and Land Cover Contribute to Pseudorabies Virus Exposure in Invasive Wild Pigs. Ecohealth 2020; 17:498-511. [PMID: 33447876 PMCID: PMC8192353 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-020-01508-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2019] [Revised: 10/17/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
We investigated the landscape epidemiology of a globally distributed mammal, the wild pig (Sus scrofa), in Florida (U.S.), where it is considered an invasive species and reservoir to pathogens that impact the health of people, domestic animals, and wildlife. Specifically, we tested the hypothesis that two commonly cited factors in disease transmission, connectivity among populations and abundant resources, would increase the likelihood of exposure to both pseudorabies virus (PrV) and Brucella spp. (bacterial agent of brucellosis) in wild pigs across the Kissimmee Valley of Florida. Using DNA from 348 wild pigs and sera from 320 individuals at 24 sites, we employed population genetic techniques to infer individual dispersal, and an Akaike information criterion framework to compare candidate logistic regression models that incorporated both dispersal and land cover composition. Our findings suggested that recent dispersal conferred higher odds of exposure to PrV, but not Brucella spp., among wild pigs throughout the Kissimmee Valley region. Odds of exposure also increased in association with agriculture and open canopy pine, prairie, and scrub habitats, likely because of highly localized resources within those land cover types. Because the effect of open canopy on PrV exposure reversed when agricultural cover was available, we suggest that small-scale resource distribution may be more important than overall resource abundance. Our results underscore the importance of studying and managing disease dynamics through multiple processes and spatial scales, particularly for non-native pathogens that threaten wildlife conservation, economy, and public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe A Hernández
- School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
- Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Instituto de Medicina Preventiva Veterinaria, Universidad Austral de Chile, Edificio Federico Saelzer, 5º Piso, Campus Isla Teja S/N, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Amanda N Carr
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Michael P Milleson
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, Gainesville, FL, 32641, USA
| | - Hunter R Merrill
- Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Michael L Avery
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Gainesville, FL, 32641, USA
| | - Brandon M Parker
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Cortney L Pylant
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - James D Austin
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Samantha M Wisely
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA.
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Ganser C, Monadjem A, McCleery RA, Ndlela T, Wisely SM. Is it best on the nest? Effects of avian life-history on haemosporidian parasitism. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2020; 13:62-71. [PMID: 32884900 PMCID: PMC7452475 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2020.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Revised: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Infectious diseases vary in prevalence and pathology among host species. Species may differ in prevalence of infection due to varying exposure and susceptibility to disease agents throughout their lifetime, which may be attributable to underlying differences in their phenology, physiology and behavior. A recently growing body of literature has focused on the utility of host life-history traits to provide mechanistic explanations for interspecific variation in host-parasite associations. In this study, we utilized diverse avian and haemosporidian assemblages in an African savanna to evaluate the link between haemosporidia prevalence (Plasmodium, Haemoproteus, Leucocytozoon) and avian life-history traits such as body size, mating system, nest care and nest structure. We found that variation of haemosporidia prevalence was consistent with life-history traits that pertain to the reproduction of avian host. Nest care was the single most important predictor of infection status. In birds with shared and female-only nest care, the expected rates of parasitism were between 8- and 12-fold higher than in avian brood parasites that provide no nest care. This finding supports the hypothesis that parental care is an evolutionarily costly life-history trait that increases species' risk of infection with vector-borne diseases. The influence of other host traits (nest structure, body size) was less consistent suggesting that differences in the vectors’ ecology and host-seeking behavior produce variable patterns of parasitism among haemosporidia genera. Nest structure influenced infection with Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon only. Leucocytozoon infections were associated with ground-nesting birds, while Haemoproteus infections were associated with birds that build open nest structures. Body size was an important predictor of Leucocytozoon infections, particularly large-bodied birds like guineafowl and doves, which exhibited high prevalences. Variation in infection prevalence was consistent with reproductive traits in avian hosts. Avian species that invested less in nest care had lower infection rates than species with other nest care strategies. Leucocytozoon infections were high in ground-nesting birds; birds with open nests had higher Haemoproteus infections. Birds like guineafowl and doves with larger body size had more Leucocytozoon infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Ganser
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, 110 Newins-Ziegler Hall, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Ara Monadjem
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Eswatini, Kwaluseni, Eswatini.,Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology & Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Robert A McCleery
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, 110 Newins-Ziegler Hall, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Thandeka Ndlela
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Eswatini, Kwaluseni, Eswatini
| | - Samantha M Wisely
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, 110 Newins-Ziegler Hall, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
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Dinh ETN, Cauvin A, Orange JP, Shuman RM, Wisely SM, Blackburn JK. Living la Vida T-LoCoH: site fidelity of Florida ranched and wild white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus) during the epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) transmission period. Mov Ecol 2020; 8:14. [PMID: 32257219 PMCID: PMC7076934 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-020-00200-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) is a pathogen vectored by Culicoides midges that causes significant economic loss in the cervid farming industry and affects wild deer as well. Despite this, its ecology is poorly understood. Studying movement and space use by ruminant hosts during the transmission season may elucidate EHDV ecology by identifying behaviors that can increase exposure risk. Here we compared home ranges (HRs) and site fidelity metrics within HRs using the T-LoCoH R package and GPS data from collared deer. METHODS Here, we tested whether white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) roaming within a high-fenced, private deer farm (ranched) and native deer from nearby state-managed properties (wild) exhibited differences in home range (HR) size and usage during the 2016 and 2017 EHDV seasons. We captured male and female individuals in both years and derived seasonal HRs for both sexes and both groups for each year. HRs were calculated using a time-scale distance approach in T-LoCoH. We then derived revisitation and duration of visit metrics and compared between years, sexes, and ranched and wild deer. RESULTS We found that ranched deer of both sexes tended to have smaller activity spaces (95% HR) and revisited sites within their HR more often but stayed for shorter periods than wild deer. However, core area (25% HR) sizes did not significantly differ between these groups. CONCLUSIONS The contrast in our findings between wild and ranched deer suggest that home range usage, rather than size, in addition to differences in population density, likely drive differences in disease exposure during the transmission period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily T. N. Dinh
- Spatial Epidemiology & Ecology Research Laboratory, Department of Geography, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA
| | - Allison Cauvin
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA
| | - Jeremy P. Orange
- Spatial Epidemiology & Ecology Research Laboratory, Department of Geography, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA
| | - Rebecca M. Shuman
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Gainesville, FL USA
| | - Samantha M. Wisely
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA
| | - Jason K. Blackburn
- Spatial Epidemiology & Ecology Research Laboratory, Department of Geography, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA
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20
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Wilber MQ, Chinn SM, Beasley JC, Boughton RK, Brook RK, Ditchkoff SS, Fischer JW, Hartley SB, Holmstrom LK, Kilgo JC, Lewis JS, Miller RS, Snow NP, VerCauteren KC, Wisely SM, Webb CT, Pepin KM. Predicting functional responses in agro-ecosystems from animal movement data to improve management of invasive pests. Ecol Appl 2020; 30:e02015. [PMID: 31596984 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2019] [Revised: 08/22/2019] [Accepted: 09/04/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Functional responses describe how changing resource availability affects consumer resource use, thus providing a mechanistic approach to prediction of the invasibility and potential damage of invasive alien species (IAS). However, functional responses can be context dependent, varying with resource characteristics and availability, consumer attributes, and environmental variables. Identifying context dependencies can allow invasion and damage risk to be predicted across different ecoregions. Understanding how ecological factors shape the functional response in agro-ecosystems can improve predictions of hotspots of highest impact and inform strategies to mitigate damage across locations with varying crop types and availability. We linked heterogeneous movement data across different agro-ecosystems to predict ecologically driven variability in the functional responses. We applied our approach to wild pigs (Sus scrofa), one of the most successful and detrimental IAS worldwide where agricultural resource depredation is an important driver of spread and establishment. We used continental-scale movement data within agro-ecosystems to quantify the functional response of agricultural resources relative to availability of crops and natural forage. We hypothesized that wild pigs would selectively use crops more often when natural forage resources were low. We also examined how individual attributes such as sex, crop type, and resource stimulus such as distance to crops altered the magnitude of the functional response. There was a strong agricultural functional response where crop use was an accelerating function of crop availability at low density (Type III) and was highly context dependent. As hypothesized, there was a reduced response of crop use with increasing crop availability when non-agricultural resources were more available, emphasizing that crop damage levels are likely to be highly heterogeneous depending on surrounding natural resources and temporal availability of crops. We found significant effects of crop type and sex, with males spending 20% more time and visiting crops 58% more often than females, and both sexes showing different functional responses depending on crop type. Our application demonstrates how commonly collected animal movement data can be used to understand context dependencies in resource use to improve our understanding of pest foraging behavior, with implications for prioritizing spatiotemporal hotspots of potential economic loss in agro-ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Q Wilber
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80523, USA
- USDA, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80521-2154, USA
| | - Sarah M Chinn
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, P.O. Drawer E, Aiken, South Carolina, 29081, USA
| | - James C Beasley
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, P.O. Drawer E, Aiken, South Carolina, 29081, USA
| | - Raoul K Boughton
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Range Cattle Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Ona, Florida, 33865, USA
| | - Ryan K Brook
- Department of Animal & Poultry Science and Indigenous Land Management Institute, College of Agriculture and Bioresources, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 5AB, Canada
| | - Stephen S Ditchkoff
- School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, 36849 , USA
| | - Justin W Fischer
- USDA, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80521-2154, USA
| | - Steve B Hartley
- U.S. Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, 700 Cajundome Boulevarde, Lafayette, Louisiana, 70506, USA
| | - Lindsey K Holmstrom
- Center for Epidemiology and Animal Health, USDA Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80526, USA
| | - John C Kilgo
- USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station, P.O. Box 700, New Ellenton, South Carolina, 29809, USA
| | - Jesse S Lewis
- College of Integrative Sciences and Arts, Arizona State University, Mesa, Arizona, 85212, USA
| | - Ryan S Miller
- Center for Epidemiology and Animal Health, USDA Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80526, USA
| | - Nathan P Snow
- USDA, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80521-2154, USA
| | - Kurt C VerCauteren
- USDA, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80521-2154, USA
| | - Samantha M Wisely
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32611, USA
| | - Colleen T Webb
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80523, USA
| | - Kim M Pepin
- USDA, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80521-2154, USA
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21
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Cauvin A, Dinh ETN, Orange JP, Shuman RM, Blackburn JK, Wisely SM. Antibodies to Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease Virus (EHDV) in Farmed and Wild Florida White-Tailed Deer ( Odocoileus virginianus). J Wildl Dis 2020; 56:208-213. [PMID: 31298969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The transmission of multiple serotypes of epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) between farmed and free-ranging wildlife is of interest to livestock industries and natural resource agencies. We compared the seroprevalence of EHDV-1, -2, and -6 in wild and farmed white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) herds in Florida, US. We compared serological prevalence, circulating serotypes, antibody titers, and viremia with the use of 171 whole-blood samples from 150 unvaccinated white-tailed deer from farm pens, a farm preserve, and wild deer on adjacent public lands between March 2016 and May 2017. Despite aggressive chemical vector control on the farm, we found higher seroprevalence and titers against the predominant EHDV serotype in farmed deer (in pens and the preserve) than in wild deer. The higher exposure to EHDV of farmed vs. wild deer may have been because of the higher densities of farmed vs. wild deer, the presence of exotic amplifying hosts such as elk (Cervus canadensis) in the preserve, or genetic factors that predisposed farmed deer to disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison Cauvin
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, 110 Newins-Ziegler Hall, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA
| | - Emily T N Dinh
- Spatial Epidemiology & Ecology Research Laboratory, Department of Geography, 3141 Turlington Hall, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, 2055 Mowry Road, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA
| | - Jeremy P Orange
- Spatial Epidemiology & Ecology Research Laboratory, Department of Geography, 3141 Turlington Hall, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, 2055 Mowry Road, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA
| | - Rebecca M Shuman
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 1105 SW Williston Road, Gainesville, Florida 32601, USA
| | - Jason K Blackburn
- Spatial Epidemiology & Ecology Research Laboratory, Department of Geography, 3141 Turlington Hall, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, 2055 Mowry Road, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA
| | - Samantha M Wisely
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, 110 Newins-Ziegler Hall, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA
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Wisely SM, Glass GE. Advancing the Science of Tick and Tick-Borne Disease Surveillance in the United States. Insects 2019; 10:E361. [PMID: 31635108 PMCID: PMC6835491 DOI: 10.3390/insects10100361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2019] [Accepted: 10/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Globally, vector-borne diseases are an increasing public health burden; in the United States, tick-borne diseases have tripled in the last three years. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recognizes the need for resilience to the increasing vector-borne disease burden and has called for increased partnerships and sustained networks to identify and respond to the most pressing challenges that face vector-borne disease management, including increased surveillance. To increase applied research, develop communities of practice, and enhance workforce development, the CDC has created five regional Centers of Excellence in Vector-borne Disease. These Centers are a partnership of public health agencies, vector control groups, academic institutions, and industries. This special issue on tick and tick-borne disease surveillance is a collection of research articles on multiple aspects of surveillance from authors that are affiliated with or funded by the CDC Centers of Excellence. This body of work illustrates a community-based system of research by which participants share common problems and use integrated methodologies to produce outputs and effect outcomes that benefit human, animal and environmental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha M Wisely
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, 110 Newins Ziegler Hall, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
| | - Gregory E Glass
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
- Department of Geography, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
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23
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Klarenberg G, Wisely SM. Evaluation of NEON Data to Model Spatio-Temporal Tick Dynamics in Florida. Insects 2019; 10:E321. [PMID: 31569729 PMCID: PMC6836180 DOI: 10.3390/insects10100321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2019] [Revised: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 09/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
In 2013, the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) started collecting 30-year multi-faceted ecological data at various spatial and temporal scales across the US including ticks. Understanding the abundance and dynamics of disease vectors under changing environmental conditions in the long-term is important to societies, but sustained long-term collection efforts are sparse. Using hard-bodied tick data collected by NEON, the vegetation and atmospheric data and a statistical state-space model, which included a detection probability component, this study estimated the abundance of tick nymphs and adult ticks across a Florida NEON location. It took into account the spatial and temporal variation, and factors affecting detection. Its purpose was to test the applicability of data collected thus far and evaluate tick abundance. The study found an increase in tick abundance at this Florida location, and was able to explain spatial and temporal variability in abundance and detection. This approach shows the potential of NEON data. The NEON data collection is unique in scale, and promises to be of great value to understand tick and disease dynamics across the US. From a public health perspective, the detection probability of vectors can be interpreted as the probability of encountering that vector, making these types of analyses useful for estimating disease risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geraldine Klarenberg
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
| | - Samantha M Wisely
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
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24
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Ledger KJ, Keenan RM, Sayler KA, Wisely SM. Multi-scale patterns of tick occupancy and abundance across an agricultural landscape in southern Africa. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0222879. [PMID: 31539412 PMCID: PMC6754170 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0222879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2019] [Accepted: 09/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Land use influences the prevalence and distribution of ticks due to the intimate relationship of ticks with their environment. This relationship occurs because land use alters two essential tick requirements: vertebrate hosts for blood meals and a suitable microclimate when off-host. Given the risks to human and animal health associated with pathogens transmitted by ticks, there is an ongoing need to understand the impact of environmental drivers on tick distributions. Here, we assessed how landscape features, neighborhood effects, and edges influenced tick occupancy and abundance across an agricultural landscape in southern Africa. We found that Rhipicephalus appendiculatus and Rhipicephalus simus increased in abundance closer to protected savanna, while Haemaphysalis elliptica increased in abundance closer to human habitation. The composition of the landscape surrounding savanna patches also differentially influenced the occupancy of each tick species; H. elliptica was more likely to be found in savanna patches surrounded by subsistence agriculture while R. appendiculatus and R. simus were more likely to be found in savanna surrounded by sugarcane monocultures. At the local scale we found that R. appendiculatus and R. simus avoided savanna edges. The availability of hosts and variation in vegetation structure between commercial agriculture, subsistence agriculture, and savanna likely drove the distribution of ticks at the landscape scale. Understanding how anthropogenic land use influences where ticks occur is useful for land use planning and for assessing public and animal health risks associated with ticks and tick-borne diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly J. Ledger
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Ryan M. Keenan
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Katherine A. Sayler
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Samantha M. Wisely
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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25
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De Jesus CE, Ganser C, Kessler WH, White ZS, Bhosale CR, Glass GE, Wisely SM. A Survey of Tick-Borne Bacterial Pathogens in Florida. Insects 2019; 10:insects10090297. [PMID: 31540253 PMCID: PMC6780285 DOI: 10.3390/insects10090297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Revised: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Within the past three decades, new bacterial etiological agents of tick-borne disease have been discovered in the southeastern U.S., and the number of reported tick-borne pathogen infections has increased. In Florida, few systematic studies have been conducted to determine the presence of tick-borne bacterial pathogens. This investigation examined the distribution and presence of tick-borne bacterial pathogens in Florida. Ticks were collected by flagging at 41 field sites, spanning the climatic regions of mainland Florida. DNA was extracted individually from 1608 ticks and screened for Anaplasma, Borrelia, Ehrlichia and Rickettsia using conventional PCR and primers that amplified multiple species for each genus. PCR positive samples were Sanger sequenced. Four species of ticks were collected: Amblyomma americanum, Amblyomma maculatum, Dermacentor variabilis, and Ixodes scapularis. Within these ticks, six bacterial species were identified: Borrelia burgdorferi, Borrelia lonestari, Ehrlichia ewingii, Rickettsia amblyommatis, Rickettsia andeanae, Rickettsia parkeri, and Rickettsia endosymbionts. Pathogenic Borrelia, Ehrlichia, and Rickettsia species were all detected in the North and North-Central Florida counties; however, we found only moderate concordance between the distribution of ticks infected with pathogenic bacteria and human cases of tick-borne diseases in Florida. Given the diversity and numerous bacterial species detected in ticks in Florida, further investigations should be conducted to identify regional hotspots of tick-borne pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carrie E De Jesus
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
| | - Claudia Ganser
- Department of Geography, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
| | - William H Kessler
- Department of Geography, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
| | - Zoe S White
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
| | - Chanakya R Bhosale
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
| | - Gregory E Glass
- Department of Geography, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
| | - Samantha M Wisely
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
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26
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Bonzi VR, Carneiro CM, Wisely SM, Monadjem A, McCleery RA, Gumbi B, Austin JD. Comparative spatial genetic structure of two rodent species in an agro-ecological landscape in southern Africa. Mamm Biol 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mambio.2019.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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27
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Merrill MM, Boughton RK, Lollis LO, Sayler KA, Wisely SM. Epidemiology of Bluetongue Virus and Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease Virus in Beef Cattle on a Ranch in South-Central Florida. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2019; 19:752-757. [PMID: 31135300 PMCID: PMC6765206 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2018.2406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Bluetongue virus (BTV) and epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) infect a variety of wild and domestic ruminant hosts in the United States, with outcomes ranging from subclinical infection to clinical disease resulting in mortality. Because cattle have been suggested as a temporary reservoir for both BTV and EHDV, ongoing national surveillance for these viruses may benefit from inclusion of domestic cattle as a supplement to current programs, such as surveillance of wild white-tailed deer. To better understand the prevalence of BTV and EHDV in cattle, we surveyed for viral RNA (vRNA) in the blood of 1,604 beef cattle on a south-central Florida cattle ranch over 3 years. While overall prevalence of vRNA in blood was low (<2% for either virus), the occurrence of vRNA was much higher in young animals: in 2016, 24% of animals 2 years old were positive by PCR for either BTV or EHDV. Our results suggest that cattle are a likely temporary reservoir for these viruses in Florida, and could provide additional information on the spatial distribution, viral diversity, and timing of emergence of these viruses, particularly if surveillance was restricted to cattle ≤2 years of age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary M Merrill
- Department of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Raoul K Boughton
- Range Cattle Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Ona, Florida
| | - Laurent O Lollis
- Buck Island Ranch, MacArthur Agro-Ecology Research Center, Archbold Biological Station, Lake Placid, Florida
| | - Katherine A Sayler
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Samantha M Wisely
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
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28
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Cauvin A, Hood K, Shuman R, Orange J, Blackburn JK, Sayler KA, Wisely SM. The impact of vector control on the prevalence of Theileria cervi in farmed Florida white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:100. [PMID: 30867021 PMCID: PMC6417225 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3344-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2018] [Accepted: 02/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Vector-borne diseases exert a global economic impact to the livestock industry. Understanding how agriculture practices and acaricide usage affect the ecology of these diseases is important for making informed management decisions. Theileria cervi is a hemoprotozoan parasite infecting white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and is transmitted by the lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum. The purpose of this study was to determine if acaricide treatment decreased hematozoan prevalence in farmed white-tailed deer when compared to geographically-close wild deer or altered the genotypes of T. cervi present. Results We compared prevalence of T. cervi in 52 farmed adult white-tailed deer which were regularly treated with permethrin and ivermectin, 53 farmed neonates that did not receive treatment for vector control, and 42 wild deer that received no form of chemical vector control. Wild deer had significantly higher prevalence of T. cervi than farmed deer. Additionally, no neonate fawns tested positive for T. cervi, and we found that age was a significant predictor of infection status. We found no difference in genotypic variation in T. cervi isolates between adjacent herds of farmed and wild white-tailed deer, although a divergent genotype X was identified. Chronic infection with T. cervi had no significant effects on mortality in the white-tailed deer. Conclusions We found significantly lower prevalence of T. cervi infection in farmed (40%) compared to wild white-tailed deer (98%), which may be due to the inclusion of chemical vector control strategies. More work is needed to determine the implications, if any, of mixed genotypic infections of T. cervi, although we found no significant effect of infection with Theileria on mortality in farmed deer. Theileria infection does sometimes cause disease when an animal is stressed, immunosuppressed, or translocated from non-endemic to endemic regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison Cauvin
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Karen Hood
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Rebecca Shuman
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Jeremy Orange
- Spatial Epidemiology & Ecology Research Laboratory, Department of Geography, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Jason K Blackburn
- Spatial Epidemiology & Ecology Research Laboratory, Department of Geography, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.,Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Katherine A Sayler
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Samantha M Wisely
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
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McGregor BL, Stenn T, Sayler KA, Blosser EM, Blackburn JK, Wisely SM, Burkett-Cadena ND. Host use patterns of Culicoides spp. biting midges at a big game preserve in Florida, U.S.A., and implications for the transmission of orbiviruses. Med Vet Entomol 2019; 33:110-120. [PMID: 30063255 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2017] [Revised: 05/11/2018] [Accepted: 06/10/2018] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Culicoides spp. biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are vectors of pathogens that have a significant economic impact on the livestock industry. White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), a farmed species in the U.S.A., are susceptible to two Culicoides spp. borne orbiviruses: bluetongue virus and epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus. Elucidating host-vector interactions is an integral step in studying disease transmission. This study investigated the host range of Culicoides spp. present on a big game preserve in Florida on which a variety of Cervidae and Bovidae freely roam. Culicoides were captured with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) miniature light traps run twice weekly on the preserve for 18 consecutive months (July 2015-December 2016). Host preference was quantified through forage ratios, based upon PCR-based bloodmeal analysis of Culicoides spp. and overall animal relative abundance on the preserve. Culicoides stellifer preferentially fed on Cervus spp. and fallow deer (Dama dama) and displayed a relative avoidance of Bovidae and white-tailed deer. Culicoides debilipalpis preferred white-tailed deer and avoided all Bovidae. Culicoides pallidicornis and Culicoides biguttatus showed preferences for white-tailed deer and Père David's deer (Elaphurus davidianus), respectively. These results add to current knowledge of preferred hosts of Florida Culicoides spp. and have implications for the spread of orbiviruses. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- B L McGregor
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, University of Florida, Vero Beach, FL, U.S.A
| | - T Stenn
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, University of Florida, Vero Beach, FL, U.S.A
| | - K A Sayler
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, U.S.A
| | - E M Blosser
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, University of Florida, Vero Beach, FL, U.S.A
| | - J K Blackburn
- Department of Geography, Spatial Epidemiology and Ecology Research Laboratory, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, U.S.A
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, U.S.A
| | - S M Wisely
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, U.S.A
| | - N D Burkett-Cadena
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, University of Florida, Vero Beach, FL, U.S.A
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30
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Sloyer KE, Wisely SM, Burkett-Cadena ND. Effects of ultraviolet LED versus incandescent bulb and carbon dioxide for sampling abundance and diversity of Culicoides in Florida. J Med Entomol 2019; 56:353-361. [PMID: 30383275 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjy195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Biting midges (Ceratopogonidae: Culicoides) are vectors of bluetongue virus and epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus which cause significant morbidity and mortality in ruminants. Recently, ultraviolet light emitting diodes (UV/LEDs) in conjunction with suction traps have been widely utilized for Culicoides spp. collections. Despite the use of these traps, limited work has been done comparing sampling variability associated with these light types with and without CO2. For this objective, mini-CDC light traps with four different attractant combinations were operated at eight sites across Florida between April and October 2017. Trap attractants included white-incandescent lights and UV/LEDs with and without CO2 to determine optimum combinations of light type and attractant for species richness, diversity, and abundance of Culicoides spp. in Florida. The results of the study demonstrate that traps with UV/LED light collect greater richness, diversity, and abundance of Culicoides species than traps with white-incandescent light. Addition of CO2 resulted in greater diversity in traps with UV/LED lights, but lower diversity in traps with white-incandescent light. Therefore, CO2 may be used to increase the abundance of Culicoides spp. collected by traps, regardless of light type, but the ability for CO2 to attract a higher number and diversity of species to traps varies by the light type used. Therefore, we suggest using CO2 primarily in conjunction with UV/LED light. When CO2 is not available, UV/LED light used alone can be substituted without a significant loss in species richness or diversity, although abundance of most Culicoides species will be significantly lower in the absence of CO2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin E Sloyer
- University of Florida IFAS, Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, Vero Beach, FL
| | - Samantha M Wisely
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
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31
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Sloyer KE, Burkett-Cadena ND, Yang A, Corn JL, Vigil SL, McGregor BL, Wisely SM, Blackburn JK. Ecological niche modeling the potential geographic distribution of four Culicoides species of veterinary significance in Florida, USA. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0206648. [PMID: 30768605 PMCID: PMC6377124 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0206648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2018] [Accepted: 02/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) is a viral arthropod-borne disease affecting wild and domestic ruminants, caused by infection with epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV). EHDV is transmitted to vertebrate animal hosts by biting midges in the genus Culicoides Latreille (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). Culicoides sonorensis Wirth and Jones is the only confirmed vector of EHDV in the United States but is considered rare in Florida and not sufficiently abundant to support EHDV transmission. This study used ecological niche modeling to map the potential geographical distributions and associated ecological variable space of four Culicoides species suspected of transmitting EHDV in Florida, including Culicoides insignis Lutz, Culicoides stellifer (Coquillett), Culicoides debilipalpis Hoffman and Culicoides venustus Lutz. Models were developed with the Genetic Algorithm for Rule Set Production in DesktopGARP v1.1.3 using species occurrence data from field sampling along with environmental variables from WorldClim and Trypanosomiasis and Land use in Africa. For three Culicoides species (C. insignis, C. stellifer and C. debilipalpis) 96-98% of the presence points were predicted across the Florida landscape (63.8% - 72.5%). For C. venustus, models predicted 98.00% of presence points across 27.4% of Florida. Geographic variations were detected between species. Culicoides insignis was predicted to be restricted to peninsular Florida, and in contrast, C. venustus was predicted to be primarily in north Florida and the panhandle region. Culicoides stellifer and C. debilipalpis were predicted nearly statewide. Environmental conditions also differed by species, with some species' ranges predicted by more narrow ranges of variables than others. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was a major predictor of C. venustus and C. insignis presence. For C. stellifer, Land Surface Temperature, Middle Infrared were the most limiting predictors of presence. The limiting variables for C. debilipalpis were NDVI Bi-Annual Amplitude and NDVI Annual Amplitude at 22.5% and 28.1%, respectively. The model outputs, including maps and environmental variable range predictions generated from these experiments provide an important first pass at predicting species of veterinary importance in Florida. Because EHDV cannot exist in the environment without the vector, model outputs can be used to estimate the potential risk of disease for animal hosts across Florida. Results also provide distribution and habitat information useful for integrated pest management practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin E. Sloyer
- Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, University of Florida, Vero Beach, Florida, United States of America
| | - Nathan D. Burkett-Cadena
- Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, University of Florida, Vero Beach, Florida, United States of America
| | - Anni Yang
- Spatial Epidemiology and Ecology Research Laboratory, Geography Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Joseph L. Corn
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Stacey L. Vigil
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Bethany L. McGregor
- Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, University of Florida, Vero Beach, Florida, United States of America
| | - Samantha M. Wisely
- Department of Wildlife, Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Jason K. Blackburn
- Spatial Epidemiology and Ecology Research Laboratory, Geography Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
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32
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Wisely SM, Sayler KA, Anderson CJ, Boyce CL, Klegarth AR, Johnson SA. Macacine Herpesvirus 1 Antibody Prevalence and DNA Shedding among Invasive Rhesus Macaques, Silver Springs State Park, Florida, USA. Emerg Infect Dis 2019; 24:345-351. [PMID: 29350146 PMCID: PMC5782895 DOI: 10.3201/eid2402.171439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
We compiled records on macacine herpesvirus 1 (McHV-1) seroprevalence and, during 2015–2016, collected saliva and fecal samples from the free-ranging rhesus macaques of Silver Springs State Park, a popular public park in central Florida, USA, to determine viral DNA shedding and perform sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis of the US5 and US5-US6 intragenic sequence from free-ranging and laboratory McHV-1 variants did not reveal genomic differences. In animals captured during 2000–2012, average annual seroprevalence was 25% ± 9 (mean ± SD). We found 4%–14% (95% CI 2%–29%) of macaques passively sampled during the fall 2015 mating season shed McHV-1 DNA orally. We did not observe viral shedding during the spring or summer or from fecal samples. We conclude that these macaques can shed McHV-1, putting humans at risk for exposure to this potentially fatal pathogen. Management plans should be put in place to limit transmission of McHV-1 from these macaques.
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33
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Carr AN, Milleson MP, Hernández FA, Merrill HR, Avery ML, Wisely SM. Wildlife Management Practices Associated with Pathogen Exposure in Non-Native Wild Pigs in Florida, U.S. Viruses 2018; 11:E14. [PMID: 30587789 PMCID: PMC6356989 DOI: 10.3390/v11010014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2018] [Revised: 12/11/2018] [Accepted: 12/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Land use influences disease emergence by changing the ecological dynamics of humans, wildlife, domestic animals, and pathogens. This is a central tenet of One Health, and one that is gaining momentum in wildlife management decision-making in the United States. Using almost 2000 serological samples collected from non-native wild pigs (Sus scrofa) throughout Florida (U.S.), we compared the prevalence and exposure risk of two directly transmitted pathogens, pseudorabies virus (PrV) and Brucella spp., to test the hypothesis that disease emergence would be positively correlated with one of the most basic wildlife management operations: Hunting. The seroprevalence of PrV-Brucella spp. coinfection or PrV alone was higher for wild pigs in land management areas that allowed hunting with dogs than in areas that culled animals using other harvest methods. This pattern did not hold for Brucella alone. The likelihood of exposure to PrV, but not Brucella spp., was also significantly higher among wild pigs at hunted sites than at sites where animals were culled. By failing to consider the impact of dog hunting on the emergence of non-native pathogens, current animal management practices have the potential to affect public health, the commercial livestock industry, and wildlife conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda N Carr
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
- Present Address: Biology Department, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225, USA.
| | - Michael P Milleson
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, Gainesville, FL 32641, USA.
| | - Felipe A Hernández
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
- School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32601, USA.
| | - Hunter R Merrill
- Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32603, USA.
| | - Michael L Avery
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, Gainesville, FL 32641, USA.
| | - Samantha M Wisely
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
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34
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Sayler KA, Subramaniam K, Jacob JM, Loeb JC, Craft WF, Farina LL, Stacy NI, Moussatche N, Cook L, Lednicky JA, Wisely SM, Waltzek TB. Characterization of mule deerpox virus in Florida white-tailed deer fawns expands the known host and geographic range of this emerging pathogen. Arch Virol 2018; 164:51-61. [PMID: 30238163 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-018-3991-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2018] [Accepted: 06/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Infections caused by mule deerpox virus (MDPV) have been sporadically reported in North American cervids. White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) fawns from a farm located in South Central Florida presented with ulcerative and crusting lesions on the coronary band as well as the mucocutaneous tissues of the head. Evaluation of the crusted skin lesions was undertaken using microscopic pathology and molecular techniques. A crusted skin sample was processed for virus isolation in four mammalian cell lines. The resulting isolate was characterized by negative staining electron microscopy and deep sequencing. Histopathologic evaluation of the skin lesions from the fawns revealed a hyperplastic and proliferative epidermis with ballooning degeneration of epidermal and follicular keratinocytes with intracytoplasmic eosinophilic inclusions. Electron microscopy of cell culture supernatant demonstrated numerous large brick-shaped particles typical of most poxviruses. Polymerase chain reaction assays followed by Sanger sequencing revealed a poxvirus gene sequence nearly identical to that of previous strains of MDPV. The full genome was recovered by deep sequencing and genetic analyses supported the Florida white-tailed deer isolate (MDPV-F) as a strain of MDPV. Herein, we report the first genome sequence of MDPV from a farmed white-tailed deer fawn in the South Central Florida, expanding the number of locations and geographic range in which MDPV has been identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine A Sayler
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Kuttichantran Subramaniam
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Bldg 1379, Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Jessica M Jacob
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Bldg 1379, Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Julia C Loeb
- Department of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.,Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - William F Craft
- Department of Comparative, Diagnostic and Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Lisa L Farina
- Department of Comparative, Diagnostic and Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Nicole I Stacy
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Nissin Moussatche
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Laurie Cook
- BDRL Whitetail Paradise Farm, Okeechobee, FL, USA
| | - John A Lednicky
- Department of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.,Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Samantha M Wisely
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Thomas B Waltzek
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Bldg 1379, Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA.
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McGregor BL, Runkel AE, Wisely SM, Burkett-Cadena ND. Vertical stratification of Culicoides biting midges at a Florida big game preserve. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:505. [PMID: 30201023 PMCID: PMC6131774 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-3080-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2018] [Accepted: 08/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many important vector arthropods are known to stratify vertically in forest environments, a phenomenon which has important implications for vector-borne disease transmission and vector control. Culicoides Latreille biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) have been documented using the forest canopy; however, studies of this phenomenon are lacking for many Culicoides species found in great abundance in the state of Florida, USA, some of which have been implicated as suspected vectors of hemorrhagic diseases of white-tailed deer. The present study aimed to determine whether common Culicoides species in Florida stratify vertically and to determine whether strata used by midges corresponded to host use. METHODS Trapping was conducted at a big game preserve in Gadsden County, FL, USA. Over two summer field seasons in 2016 and 2017, CDC miniature light traps were set at two levels, one set at 1.37 m, designated as the ground trap, and a nearby trap in the forest canopy set at 6 m during 2016 and 9 m during 2017. Species abundance, physiological status, and blood-meal sources were analyzed and compared between trap heights. RESULTS Species abundances for C. haematopotus, C. stellifer and C. venustus were not significantly different between trap heights during the 2016 season; however, canopy traps were found to have significantly higher abundance of C. arboricola, C. biguttatus, C. debilipalpis, C. haematopotus, C. insignis and C. stellifer than ground traps in 2017. Greater numbers of blood-engorged midges were collected in the canopy compared with ground traps during both study years, and 98.6% and 98.7% of blood meals from canopy collected midges were taken from ground-dwelling mammals in 2016 and 2017, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Culicoides species in Florida, including species implicated as vectors of hemorrhagic disease viruses, are found in great abundance in the forest canopy. Many midges are feeding on host species that are known reservoirs of hemorrhagic disease and then moving into the forest canopy, which has implications for the calculation of vectorial capacity. These data contribute valuable ecological information on Culicoides species found in Florida and provide a framework for developing effective vector control strategies to target these species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bethany L McGregor
- Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, University of Florida, 200 9th St. SE, Vero Beach, FL, USA.
| | - Alfred E Runkel
- Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, University of Florida, 200 9th St. SE, Vero Beach, FL, USA
| | - Samantha M Wisely
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, 110 Newins-Ziegler Hall, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Nathan D Burkett-Cadena
- Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, University of Florida, 200 9th St. SE, Vero Beach, FL, USA
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Merrill MM, Boughton RK, Lord CC, Sayler KA, Wight B, Anderson WM, Wisely SM. Wild pigs as sentinels for hard ticks: A case study from south-central Florida. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2018; 7:161-170. [PMID: 29988828 PMCID: PMC6032497 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2018.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2018] [Revised: 04/23/2018] [Accepted: 04/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
As a result of shifts in the habitable range of ticks due to climate change and the ongoing threat of exotic tick species introductions, efficient surveillance tools for these pests and disease vectors are needed. Wild pigs are habitat generalists, distributed throughout most of the United States, and often hunted recreationally or removed as part of management programs, making them potentially useful sentinel hosts for ticks. We compared ticks collected from captured wild pigs and standard tick dragging methods on a south-central Florida cattle ranch from May 2015-August 2017. Three hundred and sixteen wild pigs were surveyed, and 84 km spanning three habitat types (seminative pasture, improved pasture, and hammock) were dragged. In total, 1023 adults of four species (Amblyomma auricularium, Amblyomma maculatum, Dermacentor variabilis, and Ixodes scapularis) were collected from wild pigs, while 39 adults of three species (A. auricularium, A. maculatum, and I. scapularis) were collected from drags. Only one immature specimen, a nymph, was collected from a pig, while dragging collected 2808 larvae and 150 nymphs. Amblyomma maculatum comprised 96% of adults collected from pigs, while A. maculatum, I. scapularis, and A. auricularium comprised 38%, 33%, and 28% of adults collected from drags, respectively. Adults of all tick species found on drags were found on pigs, and wild pig surveillance detected adults of an additional species not found on drags. Dragging was far superior for collection of immatures but not for adults of most species found in this study. These findings suggest wild pigs could be used as a sentinel for the detection of tick species. When combined with ongoing wild pig research, hunting, or management, wild pig surveillance can provide an effective method to survey for adult tick presence of some species of interest and may assist in tracking the range expansion of some tick species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary M Merrill
- Department of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, PO Box 100188, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Raoul K Boughton
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, 110 Newins-Ziegler Hall, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Cynthia C Lord
- Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, 200 9th St SE, Vero Beach, FL 32962, USA
| | - Katherine A Sayler
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, 110 Newins-Ziegler Hall, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Bethany Wight
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, 110 Newins-Ziegler Hall, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Wesley M Anderson
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, 110 Newins-Ziegler Hall, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Samantha M Wisely
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, 110 Newins-Ziegler Hall, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
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Robeson MS, Khanipov K, Golovko G, Wisely SM, White MD, Bodenchuck M, Smyser TJ, Fofanov Y, Fierer N, Piaggio AJ. Assessing the utility of metabarcoding for diet analyses of the omnivorous wild pig ( Sus scrofa). Ecol Evol 2017; 8:185-196. [PMID: 29321862 PMCID: PMC5756863 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2017] [Revised: 10/11/2017] [Accepted: 10/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) are an invasive species descended from both domestic swine and Eurasian wild boar that was introduced to North America during the early 1500s. Wild pigs have since become the most abundant free‐ranging exotic ungulate in the United States. Large and ever‐increasing populations of wild pigs negatively impact agriculture, sport hunting, and native ecosystems with costs estimated to exceed $1.5 billion/year within the United States. Wild pigs are recognized as generalist feeders, able to exploit a broad array of locally available food resources, yet their feeding behaviors remain poorly understood as partially digested material is often unidentifiable through traditional stomach content analyses. To overcome the limitation of stomach content analyses, we developed a DNA sequencing‐based protocol to describe the plant and animal diet composition of wild pigs. Additionally, we developed and evaluated blocking primers to reduce the amplification and sequencing of host DNA, thus providing greater returns of sequences from diet items. We demonstrate that the use of blocking primers produces significantly more sequencing reads per sample from diet items, which increases the robustness of ascertaining animal diet composition with molecular tools. Further, we show that the overall plant and animal diet composition is significantly different between the three areas sampled, demonstrating this approach is suitable for describing differences in diet composition among the locations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael S Robeson
- Fish and Wildlife Conservation Biology Colorado State University Fort Collins CO USA.,USDA, Wildlife Services National Wildlife Research Center Wildlife Genetics Lab Fort Collins CO USA.,Present address: Department of Biomedical Informatics College of Medicine University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Little Rock AR USA
| | - Kamil Khanipov
- Department of Pharmacology The University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston TX USA
| | - George Golovko
- Department of Pharmacology The University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston TX USA
| | - Samantha M Wisely
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation USA 5 USDA, Wildlife Services University of Florida Gainesville FL USA
| | | | | | - Timothy J Smyser
- USDA, Wildlife Services National Wildlife Research Center Wildlife Genetics Lab Fort Collins CO USA
| | - Yuriy Fofanov
- Department of Pharmacology The University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston TX USA
| | - Noah Fierer
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences University of Colorado Boulder CO USA
| | - Antoinette J Piaggio
- USDA, Wildlife Services National Wildlife Research Center Wildlife Genetics Lab Fort Collins CO USA
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Kay SL, Fischer JW, Monaghan AJ, Beasley JC, Boughton R, Campbell TA, Cooper SM, Ditchkoff SS, Hartley SB, Kilgo JC, Wisely SM, Wyckoff AC, VerCauteren KC, Pepin KM. Quantifying drivers of wild pig movement across multiple spatial and temporal scales. Mov Ecol 2017; 5:14. [PMID: 28630712 PMCID: PMC5471724 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-017-0105-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2016] [Accepted: 05/02/2017] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The movement behavior of an animal is determined by extrinsic and intrinsic factors that operate at multiple spatio-temporal scales, yet much of our knowledge of animal movement comes from studies that examine only one or two scales concurrently. Understanding the drivers of animal movement across multiple scales is crucial for understanding the fundamentals of movement ecology, predicting changes in distribution, describing disease dynamics, and identifying efficient methods of wildlife conservation and management. METHODS We obtained over 400,000 GPS locations of wild pigs from 13 different studies spanning six states in southern U.S.A., and quantified movement rates and home range size within a single analytical framework. We used a generalized additive mixed model framework to quantify the effects of five broad predictor categories on movement: individual-level attributes, geographic factors, landscape attributes, meteorological conditions, and temporal variables. We examined effects of predictors across three temporal scales: daily, monthly, and using all data during the study period. We considered both local environmental factors such as daily weather data and distance to various resources on the landscape, as well as factors acting at a broader spatial scale such as ecoregion and season. RESULTS We found meteorological variables (temperature and pressure), landscape features (distance to water sources), a broad-scale geographic factor (ecoregion), and individual-level characteristics (sex-age class), drove wild pig movement across all scales, but both the magnitude and shape of covariate relationships to movement differed across temporal scales. CONCLUSIONS The analytical framework we present can be used to assess movement patterns arising from multiple data sources for a range of species while accounting for spatio-temporal correlations. Our analyses show the magnitude by which reaction norms can change based on the temporal scale of response data, illustrating the importance of appropriately defining temporal scales of both the movement response and covariates depending on the intended implications of research (e.g., predicting effects of movement due to climate change versus planning local-scale management). We argue that consideration of multiple spatial scales within the same framework (rather than comparing across separate studies post-hoc) gives a more accurate quantification of cross-scale spatial effects by appropriately accounting for error correlation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon L. Kay
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, 4101 LaPorte Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80521-2154 USA
| | - Justin W. Fischer
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, 4101 LaPorte Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80521-2154 USA
| | - Andrew J. Monaghan
- Research Applications Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO 80305 USA
| | - James C. Beasley
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Aiken, SC 29802 USA
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, Athens, GA 30602 USA
| | - Raoul Boughton
- Range Cattle Research and Education Center, 3401 Experiment Station, Ona, FL 33865 USA
| | - Tyler A. Campbell
- East Foundation, 200 Concord Plaza Drive, Suite 410, San Antonio, TX 78216 USA
| | - Susan M. Cooper
- Texas AgriLife Research, Texas A&M University System, 1619 Garner Field Road, Uvalde, TX 78801 USA
| | - Stephen S. Ditchkoff
- School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, Auburn University, 3301 Forestry and Wildlife Sciences Building, Auburn, AL 36849 USA
| | - Steve B. Hartley
- United States Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, 700 Cajundome Blvd, Lafayette, LA 70506 USA
| | - John C. Kilgo
- United State Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station, P.O. Box 700, New Ellenton, SC 29809 USA
| | - Samantha M. Wisely
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-0430 USA
| | - A. Christy Wyckoff
- Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Kingsville, Kingsville, TX 78363 USA
- Santa Lucia Conservancy, 26700 Rancho San Carlos Rd, Carmel, CA 93923 USA
| | - Kurt C. VerCauteren
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, 4101 LaPorte Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80521-2154 USA
| | - Kim M. Pepin
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, 4101 LaPorte Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80521-2154 USA
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Sayler KA, Bigelow T, Koster LG, Swenson S, Bounds C, Hernández F, Wisely SM. Development of a rapid, simple, and specific real-time PCR assay for detection of pseudorabies viral DNA in domestic swine herds. J Vet Diagn Invest 2017; 29:522-528. [DOI: 10.1177/1040638717706593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite successful eradication of pseudorabies virus (PRV) from the commercial pig industry in the United States in 2004, large populations of feral swine in certain regions act as wildlife reservoirs for the virus. Given the threat of reintroduction of the virus into domestic herds, a rapid, reliable, easily implemented assay is needed for detection of PRV. Although a real-time PCR (rtPCR) assay exists, improvements in rtPCR technology and a greater understanding of the diversity of PRV strains worldwide require an assay that would be easier to implement, more cost effective, and more specific. We developed a single-tube, rapid rtPCR that is capable of detecting 10 copies of PRV glycoprotein B ( gB) DNA per 20-µL total volume reaction. The assay did not produce a false-positive in samples known to be negative for the virus. The assay was negative for genetically similar herpesviruses and other porcine viruses. Our assay is a highly specific and sensitive assay that is also highly repeatable and reproducible. The assay should be a useful tool for early detection of PRV in pigs in the case of a suspected introduction or outbreak situation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine A. Sayler
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL (Sayler, Bounds, Hernández, Wisely)
- National Veterinary Services Laboratories (Koster, Swenson), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Ames, IA
- National Center for Animal Health Programs (Bigelow), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Ames, IA
| | - Troy Bigelow
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL (Sayler, Bounds, Hernández, Wisely)
- National Veterinary Services Laboratories (Koster, Swenson), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Ames, IA
- National Center for Animal Health Programs (Bigelow), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Ames, IA
| | - Leo G. Koster
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL (Sayler, Bounds, Hernández, Wisely)
- National Veterinary Services Laboratories (Koster, Swenson), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Ames, IA
- National Center for Animal Health Programs (Bigelow), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Ames, IA
| | - Sabrina Swenson
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL (Sayler, Bounds, Hernández, Wisely)
- National Veterinary Services Laboratories (Koster, Swenson), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Ames, IA
- National Center for Animal Health Programs (Bigelow), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Ames, IA
| | - Courtney Bounds
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL (Sayler, Bounds, Hernández, Wisely)
- National Veterinary Services Laboratories (Koster, Swenson), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Ames, IA
- National Center for Animal Health Programs (Bigelow), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Ames, IA
| | - Felipe Hernández
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL (Sayler, Bounds, Hernández, Wisely)
- National Veterinary Services Laboratories (Koster, Swenson), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Ames, IA
- National Center for Animal Health Programs (Bigelow), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Ames, IA
| | - Samantha M. Wisely
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL (Sayler, Bounds, Hernández, Wisely)
- National Veterinary Services Laboratories (Koster, Swenson), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Ames, IA
- National Center for Animal Health Programs (Bigelow), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Ames, IA
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Hernández F, Oldenkamp RE, Webster S, Beasley JC, Farina LL, Wisely SM. Raccoons (Procyon lotor) as Sentinels of Trace Element Contamination and Physiological Effects of Exposure to Coal Fly Ash. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 2017; 72:235-246. [PMID: 27933359 PMCID: PMC5281671 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-016-0340-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2016] [Accepted: 11/25/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic pollutants disrupt global biodiversity, and terrestrial sentinels of pollution can provide a warning system for ecosystem-wide contamination. This study sought to assess whether raccoons (Procyon lotor) are sentinels of local exposure to trace element contaminants at a coal fly ash site and whether exposure resulted in health impairment or changes in the intestinal helminth communities. We compared trace element accumulation and the impact on health responses and intestinal helminth communities of raccoons inhabiting contaminated and reference sites of the U.S. Department of Energy's Savannah River Site (South Carolina, USA). Data on morphometry, hematology, histopathology, helminth community and abundance, and liver trace element burdens were collected from 15 raccoons captured adjacent to a coal fly ash basin and 11 raccoons from a comparable uncontaminated site nearby. Of eight trace elements analyzed, Cu, As, Se, and Pb were elevated in raccoons from the contaminated site. Raccoons from the contaminated site harbored higher helminth abundance than animals from the reference site and that abundance was positively associated with increased Cu concentrations. While we found changes in hematology associated with increased Se exposure, we did not find physiological or histological changes associated with higher levels of contaminants. Our results suggest that raccoons and their intestinal helminths act as sentinels of trace elements in the environment associated with coal fly ash contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe Hernández
- School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Florida, 103 Black Hall, PO Box 116455, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, 110 Newins-Ziegler Hall, PO Box 110430, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Ricki E Oldenkamp
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, PO Drawer E, Aiken, SC, 29802, USA
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, 180 E Green Street, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Sarah Webster
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, PO Drawer E, Aiken, SC, 29802, USA
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, 180 E Green Street, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - James C Beasley
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, PO Drawer E, Aiken, SC, 29802, USA
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, 180 E Green Street, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Lisa L Farina
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, 2015 SW 16th Avenue, Gainesville, FL, 32608, USA
| | - Samantha M Wisely
- School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Florida, 103 Black Hall, PO Box 116455, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA.
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, 110 Newins-Ziegler Hall, PO Box 110430, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA.
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Ganser C, Gregory AJ, McNew LB, Hunt LA, Sandercock BK, Wisely SM. Fine-scale distribution modeling of avian malaria vectors in north-central Kansas. J Vector Ecol 2016; 41:114-122. [PMID: 27232133 DOI: 10.1111/jvec.12202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2015] [Accepted: 01/29/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Infectious diseases increasingly play a role in the decline of wildlife populations. Vector-borne diseases, in particular, have been implicated in mass mortality events and localized population declines are threatening some species with extinction. Transmission patterns for vector-borne diseases are influenced by the spatial distribution of vectors and are therefore not uniform across the landscape. Avian malaria is a globally distributed vector-borne disease that has been shown to affect endemic bird populations of North America. We evaluated shared habitat use between avian malaria vectors, mosquitoes in the genus Culex and a native grassland bird, the Greater Prairie-Chicken (Tympanuchus cupido), by (1) modeling the distribution of Culex spp. occurrence across the Smoky Hills of north-central Kansas using detection data and habitat variables, (2) assessing the occurrence of these vectors at nests of female Greater Prairie-Chickens, and (3) evaluating if shared habitat use between vectors and hosts is correlated with malarial infection status of the Greater Prairie-Chicken. Our results indicate that Culex occurrence increased at nest locations compared to other available but unoccupied grassland habitats; however the shared habitat use between vectors and hosts did not result in an increased prevalence of malarial parasites in Greater Prairie-Chickens that occupied habitats with high vector occurrence. We developed a predictive map to illustrate the associations between Culex occurrence and infection status with malarial parasites in an obligate grassland bird that may be used to guide management decisions to limit the spread of vector-borne diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Ganser
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 60506, U.S.A
- Department of Wildlife Ecology Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, U.S.A
| | - Andrew J Gregory
- School of Earth, the Environment, Society, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403, U.S.A
| | - Lance B McNew
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 60506, U.S.A
- Department of Animal Range Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, U.S.A
| | - Lyla A Hunt
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 60506, U.S.A
| | - Brett K Sandercock
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 60506, U.S.A
| | - Samantha M Wisely
- Department of Wildlife Ecology Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, U.S.A..
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Pepin KM, Davis AJ, Beasley J, Boughton R, Campbell T, Cooper SM, Gaston W, Hartley S, Kilgo JC, Wisely SM, Wyckoff C, VerCauteren KC. Contact heterogeneities in feral swine: implications for disease management and future research. Ecosphere 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kim M. Pepin
- National Wildlife Research Center United States Department of Agriculture 4101 Laporte Avenue Fort Collins Colorado 80526 USA
| | - Amy J. Davis
- National Wildlife Research Center United States Department of Agriculture 4101 Laporte Avenue Fort Collins Colorado 80526 USA
| | - James Beasley
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources University of Georgia PO Drawer E Aiken South Carolina 29802 USA
| | - Raoul Boughton
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Range Cattle Research and Education Center University of Florida 3401 Experiment Station Ona Florida 33865 USA
| | - Tyler Campbell
- East Foundation 200 Concord Plaza Drive, Suite 410 San Antonio Texas 78216 USA
| | - Susan M. Cooper
- Texas A&M AgriLife Research 1619 Garner Field Road Uvalde Texas 78801 USA
| | - Wes Gaston
- USDA/APHIS/Wildlife Services 602 Duncan Drive Auburn Alabama 36849 USA
| | - Steve Hartley
- United States Geological Survey National Wetlands Research Center 700 Cajundome Boulevard Lafayette Louisiana 70506 USA
| | - John C. Kilgo
- Southern Research Station USDA Forest Service P.O. Box 700 New Ellenton South Carolina 29809 USA
| | - Samantha M. Wisely
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation University of Florida Gainesville Florida 32611 USA
| | - Christy Wyckoff
- Santa Lucia Conservancy 26700 Rancho San Carlos Road Carmel California 93923 USA
- Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute Texas A&M University‐Kingsville 955 University Boulevard, Kingsville Texas 78363 USA
| | - Kurt C. VerCauteren
- National Wildlife Research Center United States Department of Agriculture 4101 Laporte Avenue Fort Collins Colorado 80526 USA
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Wisely SM, Ryder OA, Santymire RM, Engelhardt JF, Novak BJ. A Road Map for 21st Century Genetic Restoration: Gene Pool Enrichment of the Black-Footed Ferret. J Hered 2015; 106:581-92. [PMID: 26304983 PMCID: PMC4567841 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esv041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2015] [Accepted: 06/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Interspecies somatic cell nuclear transfer (iSCNT) could benefit recovery programs of critically endangered species but must be weighed with the risks of failure. To weigh the risks and benefits, a decision-making process that evaluates progress is needed. Experiments that evaluate the efficiency and efficacy of blastocyst, fetal, and post-parturition development are necessary to determine the success or failure or species-specific iSCNT programs. Here, we use the black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) as a case study for evaluating this emerging biomedical technology as a tool for genetic restoration. The black-footed ferret has depleted genetic variation yet genome resource banks contain genetic material of individuals not currently represented in the extant lineage. Thus, genetic restoration of the species is in theory possible and could help reduce the persistent erosion of genetic diversity from drift. Extensive genetic, genomic, and reproductive science tools have previously been developed in black-footed ferrets and would aid in the process of developing an iSCNT protocol for this species. Nonetheless, developing reproductive cloning will require years of experiments and a coordinated effort among recovery partners. The information gained from a well-planned research effort with the goal of genetic restoration via reproductive cloning could establish a 21st century model for evaluating and implementing conservation breeding that would be applicable to other genetically impoverished species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha M Wisely
- From the Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, 110 Newins-Ziegler Hall, Gainesville, Florida, 32611 USA (Wisely); San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research, 15600 San Pasqual Valley Road, San Diego Zoo Global, Escondido, California, 92027 USA (Ryder); Davee Center for Epidemiology and Endocrinology, 2001 North Clark Street, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, Illinois, 60614 USA (Santymire); Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, 51 Newton Road, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, 52242 USA (Engelhardt); and Revive & Restore, The Long Now Foundation, 2 Marina Boulevard Building A, San Francisco, California, 94123 USA (Novak).
| | - Oliver A Ryder
- From the Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, 110 Newins-Ziegler Hall, Gainesville, Florida, 32611 USA (Wisely); San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research, 15600 San Pasqual Valley Road, San Diego Zoo Global, Escondido, California, 92027 USA (Ryder); Davee Center for Epidemiology and Endocrinology, 2001 North Clark Street, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, Illinois, 60614 USA (Santymire); Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, 51 Newton Road, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, 52242 USA (Engelhardt); and Revive & Restore, The Long Now Foundation, 2 Marina Boulevard Building A, San Francisco, California, 94123 USA (Novak)
| | - Rachel M Santymire
- From the Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, 110 Newins-Ziegler Hall, Gainesville, Florida, 32611 USA (Wisely); San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research, 15600 San Pasqual Valley Road, San Diego Zoo Global, Escondido, California, 92027 USA (Ryder); Davee Center for Epidemiology and Endocrinology, 2001 North Clark Street, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, Illinois, 60614 USA (Santymire); Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, 51 Newton Road, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, 52242 USA (Engelhardt); and Revive & Restore, The Long Now Foundation, 2 Marina Boulevard Building A, San Francisco, California, 94123 USA (Novak)
| | - John F Engelhardt
- From the Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, 110 Newins-Ziegler Hall, Gainesville, Florida, 32611 USA (Wisely); San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research, 15600 San Pasqual Valley Road, San Diego Zoo Global, Escondido, California, 92027 USA (Ryder); Davee Center for Epidemiology and Endocrinology, 2001 North Clark Street, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, Illinois, 60614 USA (Santymire); Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, 51 Newton Road, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, 52242 USA (Engelhardt); and Revive & Restore, The Long Now Foundation, 2 Marina Boulevard Building A, San Francisco, California, 94123 USA (Novak)
| | - Ben J Novak
- From the Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, 110 Newins-Ziegler Hall, Gainesville, Florida, 32611 USA (Wisely); San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research, 15600 San Pasqual Valley Road, San Diego Zoo Global, Escondido, California, 92027 USA (Ryder); Davee Center for Epidemiology and Endocrinology, 2001 North Clark Street, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, Illinois, 60614 USA (Santymire); Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, 51 Newton Road, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, 52242 USA (Engelhardt); and Revive & Restore, The Long Now Foundation, 2 Marina Boulevard Building A, San Francisco, California, 94123 USA (Novak)
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McNew LB, Hunt LM, Gregory AJ, Wisely SM, Sandercock BK. Effects of wind energy development on nesting ecology of greater prairie-chickens in fragmented grasslands. Conserv Biol 2014; 28:1089-99. [PMID: 24628394 PMCID: PMC4315899 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.12258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2013] [Accepted: 11/06/2013] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Wind energy is targeted to meet 20% of U.S. energy needs by 2030, but new sites for development of renewable energy may overlap with important habitats of declining populations of grassland birds. Greater Prairie-Chickens (Tympanuchus cupido) are an obligate grassland bird species predicted to respond negatively to energy development. We used a modified before-after control-impact design to test for impacts of a wind energy development on the reproductive ecology of prairie-chickens in a 5-year study. We located 59 and 185 nests before and after development, respectively, of a 201 MW wind energy facility in Greater Prairie-Chicken nesting habitat and assessed nest site selection and nest survival relative to proximity to wind energy infrastructure and habitat conditions. Proximity to turbines did not negatively affect nest site selection (β = 0.03, 95% CI = -1.2-1.3) or nest survival (β = -0.3, 95% CI = -0.6-0.1). Instead, nest site selection and survival were strongly related to vegetative cover and other local conditions determined by management for cattle production. Integration of our project results with previous reports of behavioral avoidance of oil and gas facilities by other species of prairie grouse suggests new avenues for research to mitigate impacts of energy development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lance B McNew
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, U.S.A..
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Lounsberry ZT, Almeida JB, Lanctot RB, Liebezeit JR, Sandercock BK, Strum KM, Zack S, Wisely SM. Museum collections reveal that Buff-breasted Sandpipers (Calidris subruficollis) maintained mtDNA variability despite large population declines during the past 135 years. CONSERV GENET 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-014-0611-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Winder VL, McNew LB, Gregory AJ, Hunt LM, Wisely SM, Sandercock BK. Effects of wind energy development on survival of female greater prairie‐chickens. J Appl Ecol 2013. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.12184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Lance B. McNew
- United States Geological Survey Alaska Science Center Anchorage AK 99508 USA
| | - Andrew J. Gregory
- School of Forestry Northern Arizona University Flagstaff AZ 86002 USA
| | - Lyla M. Hunt
- Division of Biology Kansas State University Manhattan KS 66506 USA
| | - Samantha M. Wisely
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation University of Florida Gainesville FL 32611 USA
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Ganser C, Wisely SM. Patterns of spatio-temporal distribution, abundance, and diversity in a mosquito community from the eastern Smoky Hills of Kansas. J Vector Ecol 2013; 38:229-236. [PMID: 24581350 DOI: 10.1111/j.1948-7134.2013.12035.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2013] [Accepted: 04/08/2013] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Nearly 30% of emerging infectious disease events are caused by vector-borne pathogens with wildlife origins. Their transmission involves a complex interplay among pathogens, arthropod vectors, the environment and host species, and they pose a risk for public health, livestock and wildlife species. Examining habitat associations of vector species known to transmit infectious diseases, and quantifying spatio-temporal dynamics of mosquito vector communities is one aspect of the holistic One Health approach that is necessary to develop effective control measures. A survey was conducted from May to August, 2010 of the abundance and diversity of mosquito species occurring in the mixed-grass prairie habitat of the Smoky Hills of Kansas. This region is an important breeding ground for North America's grassland nesting birds and, as such, it could represent an important habitat for the enzootic amplification cycle of avian malaria and infectious encephalitides, as well as spill-over events to humans and livestock. A total of 11 species, belonging to the three genera Aedes, Anopheles, and Culex, was collected during this study. Aedes nigromaculis, Ae. sollicitans, Ae. taeniorhynchus, Culex salinarius, and Cx. tarsalis accounted for 98% of the collected species. Multiple linear regression models suggested that mosquito abundances in the grasslands of the central Great Plains were explained by meteorological and environmental variables. Temporal dynamics in mosquito abundances were well supported by models that included maximum and minimum temperature indices (adjusted R(2) = 0.73). Spatial dynamics of mosquito abundances were best explained by a model containing the following environmental variables (adjusted R(2) =0.37): ground curvature, topographic wetness index, distance to woodland, and distance to road. The mosquito species we detected are known vectors for infectious encephalitides, including West Nile virus. Understanding the microhabitat characteristics of these mosquito species in a grassland ecosystem will aid in the control and management of these disease vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Ganser
- Department of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66505, U.S.A
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Tucker JM, Schwartz MK, Truex RL, Wisely SM, Allendorf FW. Sampling affects the detection of genetic subdivision and conservation implications for fisher in the Sierra Nevada. CONSERV GENET 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-013-0525-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Dragoo JW, Coan KE, Moore KA, Henke SE, Fleischer RC, Wisely SM. Polymorphic microsatellite markers for the striped skunk, Mephitis mephitis, and other mephitids. Mol Ecol Resour 2013; 9:383-5. [PMID: 21564657 DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-0998.2008.02463.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
We report 10 polymorphic microsatellite loci primers developed for striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis), a widespread mesocarnivore in North America. Numbers of alleles in these loci ranged from seven to 14 and the observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.76 to 1.0. These primers will be useful for studying population dynamics of skunks where rabies is endemic and will be useful to estimate genetic relatedness among females sharing winter dens. Most of these primers amplify across species within the Mephitidae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerry W Dragoo
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, 87131 NM, USA School of Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, 87131 NM, USA Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, 87131 NM, USA Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A & M University - Kingsville, Kingsville, TX 78363, USA Genetics Program, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20008, USA Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
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McNew LB, Gregory AJ, Wisely SM, Sandercock BK. Demography of greater prairie-chickens: Regional variation in vital rates, sensitivity values, and population dynamics. J Wildl Manage 2012. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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