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Eads DA, Biggins DE, Ramakrishnan S, Goldberg AR, Eads SL, Rocke TE. Prairie dog responses to vector control and vaccination during an initial Yersinia pestis invasion. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2024; 23:100893. [PMID: 38179235 PMCID: PMC10762380 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2023.12.001] [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: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
We evaluated the invasion of plague bacteria Yersinia pestis into a population of black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus; BTPDs) in South Dakota. We aimed to ascertain if Y. pestis invaded slowly or rapidly, and to determine if vector (flea) control or vaccination of BTPDs assisted in increasing survival rates. We sampled BTPDs in 2007 (before Y. pestis documentation), 2008 (year of confirmed invasion), and 2009 (after invasion). We estimated annual BTPD re-encounter rates on three 9-ha plots treated annually with deltamethrin dust for flea control and three 9-ha plots lacking dust. In 2007 and 2008, approximately half the adult BTPDs live-trapped were injected subcutaneously with either an experimental plague vaccine (F1-V fusion protein) or placebo formulation; the remaining individuals were not inoculated. From 2007 to 2009, we sampled 1559 BTPDs on 2542 occasions. During 2007-2008, the prevalence and intensity of fleas on BTPDs were 69-97% lower on the dusted vs. no dust plots. From 2007 to 2008, the annual re-encounter rate of non-inoculated BTPDs was 150% higher on the dusted vs. no dust plots. During the same interval on the dusted plots, the re-encounter rate was 55% higher for vaccinated adult female BTPDs vs. nonvaccinated adult females, but the annual re-encounter rate was 19% lower for vaccinated adult males. By late August 2008, BTPDs were nearly extirpated from the no dust plots. During 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 on the dusted plots, which persisted, the BTPD re-encounter rate was 41% higher for vaccinated vs. non-vaccinated adult females but 35% lower for vaccinated adult males. Yersinia pestis erupted with vigor as it invaded. Flea control enhanced BTPD survival but did not offer full protection. Flea control and F1-V vaccination seemed to have additive, positive effects on adult females. Annual re-encounter rates were reduced for vaccinated adult males; additional experimentation is needed to further evaluate this trend.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A. Eads
- U. S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, 2150 Centre Avenue, Building C, Fort Collins, CO 80526, United States
| | - Dean E. Biggins
- U. S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, 2150 Centre Avenue, Building C, Fort Collins, CO 80526, United States
| | - Shantini Ramakrishnan
- U. S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, 2150 Centre Avenue, Building C, Fort Collins, CO 80526, United States
| | - Amanda R. Goldberg
- U. S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, 2150 Centre Avenue, Building C, Fort Collins, CO 80526, United States
| | - Samantha L. Eads
- U. S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, 2150 Centre Avenue, Building C, Fort Collins, CO 80526, United States
| | - Tonie E. Rocke
- U. S. Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center, 6006 Schroeder Road, Madison, WI 53711, United States
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Eads DA, Livieri TM, Dobesh P, Hughes JP, Fly J, Redmond H, Childers E, Schwarz MS, Biggins DE. Plague mitigation for prairie dog and black-footed ferret conservation: Degree and duration of flea control with 0.005% fipronil grain bait. Curr Res Parasitol Vector Borne Dis 2023; 3:100124. [PMID: 37305434 PMCID: PMC10250916 DOI: 10.1016/j.crpvbd.2023.100124] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Sylvatic plague, a primarily flea-borne zoonosis, is a significant threat to prairie dogs (Cynomys spp., PDs) and their specialized predators, endangered black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes, BFFs). Host-fed fipronil baits have proven effective in controlling fleas on PDs for the purposes of plague mitigation and BFF conservation. Currently, annual treatments are the norm. We tested the long-term efficacy of fipronil bait treatments with black-tailed PDs (C. ludovicianus, BTPDs) and BFFs in South Dakota, USA. During 2018-2020, we provided BTPDs on 21 sites with grain bait formula, laced with 0.005% fipronil (50 mg/kg); 18 non-treated sites functioned as baselines. In 2020-2022, we live-trapped, anesthetized, and combed BTPDs for fleas. Flea control was significant for at least 639-885 days. Flea abundance on the treated sites was < 0.5 fleas/BTPD for ∼750 days. During 2020-2022, we sampled BFFs for fleas on 4 BTPD colonies treated with fipronil grain bait and 8 non-treated colonies. Flea control was significant with BFFs, but flea abundance began to rebound within ∼240 days post-treatment. When feasible, the combination of insecticide treatments, such as fipronil baits, and BFF vaccination against plague provide a "two-pronged" protection approach for these endangered carnivores. If fipronil bait treatments are less effective with predatory BFFs than PDs, as found herein, the "two-pronged" approach might be used to protect BFFs and biennial fipronil bait treatments might be used to protect PDs. If BFF vaccination is not possible, or few BFFs can be vaccinated, annual fipronil bait treatments might be used as a precaution to protect BFFs. Flea densities might be surveyed to determine when/where more frequent treatments seem useful.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A. Eads
- U. S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | | | - Phillip Dobesh
- U. S. Forest Service, Wall Ranger District, Wall, SD, USA
| | - John P. Hughes
- U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Black-footed Ferret Conservation Center, Carr, CO, USA
| | - Jason Fly
- U. S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Holly Redmond
- U. S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Eddie Childers
- National Park Service, Badlands National Park, Interior, SD, USA
| | - Matthew S. Schwarz
- U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, South Dakota Field Office, Pierre, SD, USA
| | - Dean E. Biggins
- U. S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, CO, USA
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3
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Eads DA, Huyvaert KP, Biggins DE. Estimating parasite infrapopulation size given imperfect detection: Proof-of-concept with ectoparasitic fleas on prairie dogs. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2023; 20:117-121. [PMID: 36756090 PMCID: PMC9900500 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2023.01.002] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Parasite infrapopulation size - the population of parasites affecting a single host - is a central metric in parasitology. However, parasites are small and elusive such that imperfect detection is expected. Repeated sampling of parasites during primary sampling occasions (e.g., each host capture) informs the detection process. Here, we estimate flea (Siphonaptera) infrapopulation size on black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus, BTPDs) as a proof-of-concept for estimating parasite infrapopulations given imperfect detection. From Jun-Aug 2011, we live-trapped 299 BTPDs for a total of 573 captures on 20 plots distributed among 13 colonies at the Vermejo Park Ranch, New Mexico, USA. During each capture, an anesthetized BTPD was combed 3 times consecutively, 15 s each, to remove and count fleas. Each flea (n = 4846) was linked to the BTPD from which it was collected and assigned an encounter history ('100', '010', '001'). We analyzed the encounter histories using Huggins closed captures models, setting recapture probabilities to 0, thereby accounting for flea removal from hosts. The probability of detecting an individual flea (p) increased with Julian date; field personnel may have become more efficient at combing fleas as the field season progressed. Combined p across 3 combings equaled 0.99. Estimates of flea infrapopulation size were reasonable and followed the negative binomial distribution. Our general approach may be broadly applicable to estimating infrapopulation sizes for parasites. The utility of this approach increases as p declines but, if p is very low, inference is likely limited.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A. Eads
- U. S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, 2150 Centre Avenue, Building C, Fort Collins, CO, 80526, USA,Corresponding author. U. S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, 2150 Centre Avenue, Building C, Fort Collins, CO, 80526, USA.
| | - Kathryn P. Huyvaert
- Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA
| | - Dean E. Biggins
- U. S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, 2150 Centre Avenue, Building C, Fort Collins, CO, 80526, USA
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Goldberg AR, Eads DA, Biggins DE. Plague circulation in small mammals elevates extinction risk for the endangered Peñasco least chipmunk. Glob Ecol Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022] Open
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Miarinjara A, Eads DA, Bland DM, Matchett MR, Biggins DE, Hinnebusch BJ. Reevaluation of the Role of Blocked Oropsylla hirsuta Prairie Dog Fleas (Siphonaptera: Ceratophyllidae) in Yersinia pestis (Enterobacterales: Enterobacteriaceae) Transmission. J Med Entomol 2022; 59:1053-1059. [PMID: 35380675 PMCID: PMC9113170 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjac021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Prairie dogs in the western United States experience periodic epizootics of plague, caused by the flea-borne bacterial pathogen Yersinia pestis. An early study indicated that Oropsylla hirsuta (Baker), often the most abundant prairie dog flea vector of plague, seldom transmits Y. pestis by the classic blocked flea mechanism. More recently, an alternative early-phase mode of transmission has been proposed as the driving force behind prairie dog epizootics. In this study, using the same flea infection protocol used previously to evaluate early-phase transmission, we assessed the vector competence of O. hirsuta for both modes of transmission. Proventricular blockage was evident during the first two weeks after infection and transmission during this time was at least as efficient as early-phase transmission 2 d after infection. Thus, both modes of transmission likely contribute to plague epizootics in prairie dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adélaïde Miarinjara
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Hamilton, MT, USA
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - David A Eads
- U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - David M Bland
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Hamilton, MT, USA
| | | | - Dean E Biggins
- U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - B Joseph Hinnebusch
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Hamilton, MT, USA
- Corresponding author, e-mail:
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Goldberg AR, Biggins DE, Ramakrishnan S, Bowser JW, Conway CJ, Eads DA, Wimsatt J. Deltamethrin reduces survival of non-target small mammals. Wildl Res 2022. [DOI: 10.1071/wr21153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Matchett MR, Stanley TR, Mccollister MF, Eads DA, Boulerice JT, Biggins DE. Oral Sylvatic Plague Vaccine Does Not Adequately Protect Prairie Dogs ( Cynomys spp.) for Endangered Black-Footed Ferret ( Mustela nigripes) Conservation. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2021; 21:921-940. [PMID: 34757815 PMCID: PMC8742283 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2021.0049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [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] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The plague bacterium Yersinia pestis is lethal to endangered black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes, BFF) and the prairie dogs (Cynomys spp., PD) on which they depend for habitat and prey. We assessed the effectiveness of an oral sylvatic plague vaccine delivered in baits to black-tailed PD (Cynomys ludovicianus, BTPD) from 2013 to 2017 on the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge (CMR) in northcentral Montana. We permanently marked BTPD on four paired vaccine (N = 1,349 individuals) and placebo plots (N = 926; 7,027 total captures). We analyzed capture–recapture data under a Cormack–Jolly–Seber model to estimate annual apparent survival. Overall, survival averaged 0.05 lower on vaccine plots than on paired placebo plots. Immediately before noticeable die-offs and detecting plague on pairs CMR1 and CMR2, 89% of BTPD sampled on vaccine plots had consumed at least one bait and the immune systems of 40% were likely boosted by consuming baits over multiple years. Survival to the following year was 0.16 and 0.05 on the vaccine plots and 0.19 and 0.06 on the placebo plots for pairs CMR1 and CMR2, respectively. These rates were markedly lower than 0.63, the overall average estimate on those same plots during the previous 3 years. PD populations subjected to such large die-offs would not be expected to sustain a BFF population. An overriding limitation to achieving sufficient protection rests with vaccine delivery constraints. Late summer/fall bait distribution results in the highest bait uptake rates. However, the PD birth pulse each spring can double the size of populations in most years, greatly reducing the proportion of vaccinates in populations and diminishing potential herd immunity benefits. In addition to nonvaccinated juveniles and PD that do not consume bait, incomplete vaccine protection and time required for immunity to develop leaves a large majority of PD populations vulnerable to plague for 6–7 months or more each year.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc R Matchett
- Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Lewistown, Montana, USA
| | - Thomas R Stanley
- Fort Collins Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Matthew F Mccollister
- Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Lewistown, Montana, USA
| | - David A Eads
- Fort Collins Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | | | - Dean E Biggins
- Fort Collins Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
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Eads DA, Biggins DE. Utah prairie dog population dynamics on the Awapa Plateau: precipitation, elevation, and plague. J Mammal 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyab103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Utah prairie dogs (UPDs, Cynomys parvidens) are colonial, herbivorous rodents listed under the Endangered Species Act as threatened. Little is known about UPD population dynamics at higher elevations in the species’ range. From 2013 through 2016, we studied UPDs on five colonies at 2,645 to 2,873 m elevation on the Awapa Plateau, Utah, USA. Primary production increases with precipitation and precipitation increases with elevation on the plateau. We hypothesized that UPD body condition, reproduction, survival, and population growth all would vary directly with precipitation and elevation. Each year, we live-trapped UPDs from late-Jun through Aug, weighing each UPD, aging it as adult or pup, measuring its right hind foot, marking it for unique identification, and releasing it at point of capture. Fleas from live-trapped UPDs and opportunistically collected rodent carcasses, and rodent carcasses themselves, were tested for the agent of sylvatic plague (Yersinia pestis), a lethal invasive pathogen. Adult UPD body condition (mass:foot) increased with elevation. In addition, UPD reproduction (pups:adults) and population growth (λ) increased with precipitation. Annual survival declined from 0.49 in 2013–2014 to 0.24 in 2015–2016. We captured 421 UPDs in 2013 but only 149 in 2016. Sylvatic plague may have contributed to population declines. Notwithstanding, plague detection (yes/no by colony and year) had no statistical effect on population growth or annual survival, raising suspicion about the predictive value of binary plague detection variables. Generally speaking, efforts to conserve UPDs may benefit from the restoration and preservation of large colonies at mesic sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Eads
- U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, 2150 Centre Avenue, Building C, Fort Collins, CO 80526, USA
| | - Dean E Biggins
- U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, 2150 Centre Avenue, Building C, Fort Collins, CO 80526, USA
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Eads DA, Matchett MR, Poje JE, Biggins DE. Comparison of Flea Sampling Methods and Yersinia pestis Detection on Prairie Dog Colonies. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2021; 21:753-761. [PMID: 34388354 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2021.0025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Scientists collect fleas (Siphonaptera) to survey for Yersinia pestis, the bacterial agent of plague. When studying fleas parasitizing prairie dogs (Cynomys spp.), two primary methods are used: (1) combing fleas from live-trapped prairie dogs and (2) swabbing fleas from burrows with cloth swabs attached to metal cables. Ideally, burrow swabbing, the cheaper and easier method, would explain flea burdens on prairie dogs and provide reliable information on plague prevalence. In a linear regression analysis of data from 1-month intervals (June-August 2010-2011) on 13 colonies of black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus, BTPDs) in New Mexico, flea abundance on swabs explained 0-26% of variation in BTPD flea burdens. In an analysis of data (May-August 2016) from six colonies of BTPDs in Montana, flea abundance on swabs explained 2% of variation in BTPD flea burdens. In an analysis of data from a short-term interval (July 23-27, 2019) on four colonies of BTPDs in Montana, flea abundance on swabs explained 0.1% of variation in BTPD flea burdens. In an analysis of data from 1-week intervals (August-October 2000) on four colonies of white-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys leucurus, WTPD) in Utah, swabbing data explained 0.1% of variation in WTPD flea burdens. Pools of fleas from two WTPD colonies were tested for Y. pestis by mouse inoculation and isolation; 65% from WTPDs tested positive, whereas 4% from burrows tested positive. Data herein also show that results from burrow swabbing can misrepresent flea species composition and phenology on prairie dogs. Burrow swabbing is useful for some purposes, but limitations should be acknowledged, and accumulated data should be interpreted with caution.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Eads
- U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Marc R Matchett
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge, Lewistown, Montana, USA
| | - Julia E Poje
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Dean E Biggins
- U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
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Goldberg AR, Conway CJ, Biggins DE. Effects of experimental flea removal and plague vaccine treatments on survival of northern Idaho ground squirrels and two coexisting sciurids. Glob Ecol Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
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Biggins DE, Ramakrishnan S, Rocke TE, Williamson JL, Wimsatt J. Enzootic plague reduces survival of Mexican woodrats (
Neotoma mexicana
) in Colorado. Ecosphere 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Dean E. Biggins
- Fort Collins Science Center U.S. Geological Survey 2150 Centre Avenue, Building C Fort Collins Colorado80526USA
| | - Shantini Ramakrishnan
- Denver Zoological Foundation, Rio Mora National Wildlife Refuge P.O. Box 27 Watrous New Mexico87753USA
| | - Tonie E. Rocke
- National Wildlife Health Center U.S. Geological Survey 6006 Schroeder Road Madison Wisconsin53711USA
| | - Judy L. Williamson
- National Wildlife Health Center U.S. Geological Survey 6006 Schroeder Road Madison Wisconsin53711USA
| | - Jeffrey Wimsatt
- Department of Medicine West Virginia University Morgantown West Virginia26506USA
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Abstract
The plague bacterium, Yersinia pestis, is a generalist pathogen of flea (Siphonaptera) vectors and mammalian hosts. In colonies of prairie dogs (PDs, Cynomys spp.), Y. pestis causes occasional epizootics, killing ≥90% of PDs within weeks to several months. We evaluated the effectiveness of deltamethrin, a pyrethroid insecticide, as a tool for preventing plague epizootics among three PD species. Specifically, we studied PD population growth on paired plots treated with deltamethrin for flea control or left untreated as baselines. We also evaluated PD population growth relative to flea abundance and PD density. All epizootics occurred on nontreated plots. Epizootics occurred on plots with very low PD densities as well as high densities. Mean population change, assessed by comparing visual counts of PDs in years before and during epizootics, was +88% for treated plots and -97% for nontreated plots. For comparison, an experimental oral vaccine against plague had an average change in population index or estimate during epizootics of -69% on vaccine plots compared with -83% for associated nontreated (placebo) plots. In our study and on plots not treated with deltamethrin, PD population growth was negatively correlated with flea abundance in the year before the epizootic, lending support to the hypothesis that flea abundance plays a critical role in plague transmission under natural conditions. Generally speaking, deltamethrin is a highly effective tool for plague management on PD colonies. That said, continued study is needed to refine deltamethrin treatments and to develop a more integrated strategy for plague management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dean E Biggins
- Fort Collins Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Jerry L Godbey
- Fort Collins Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - David A Eads
- Fort Collins Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
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Dierenfeld ES, Whitehouse‐Tedd K, Dermauw V, Hanebury LR, Biggins DE. Environmental and prey‐based factors underpinning variability in prairie dogs eaten by black‐footed ferrets. Ecosphere 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ellen S. Dierenfeld
- Department of Wildlife Nutrition New York Zoological Society (now Wildlife Conservation Society) Bronx New York10460USA
- School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences Nottingham Trent University Southwell NottinghamshireNG25 0QFUK
| | - Katherine Whitehouse‐Tedd
- School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences Nottingham Trent University Southwell NottinghamshireNG25 0QFUK
| | - Veronique Dermauw
- Department of Biomedical Sciences Institute of Tropical Medicine Nationalestraat 155 Antwerp2000Belgium
| | - Louis R. Hanebury
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Ecology Research Center 1300 Blue Spruce Drive Fort Collins Colorado80524USA
| | - Dean E. Biggins
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Ecology Research Center 1300 Blue Spruce Drive Fort Collins Colorado80524USA
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Abstract
Plague originated in Asia as a flea-borne zoonosis of mammalian hosts. Today, the disease is distributed nearly worldwide. In western United States of America, plague is maintained, transmitted, and amplified in diverse communities of rodents and fleas. We examined flea diversity on three species of prairie dogs (Cynomys spp., PDs) and six species of sympatric small rodents in Montana and Utah, United States of America. Among 2896 fleas, 19 species were identified; 13 were found on PDs and 9 were found on small rodents. In Montana, three flea species were found on PDs; the three species parasitize PDs and mice. In Utah, 12 flea species were found on PDs; the 12 species parasitize PDs, mice, voles, chipmunks, ground squirrels, rock squirrels, and marmots. Diverse flea communities and their willingness to parasitize many types of hosts, across multiple seasons and habitats, may favor plague maintenance and transmission. Flea parasitism on Peromyscus deer mice varied directly with elevation. Fleas are prone to desiccation, and might prosper at higher, mesic elevations; in addition, Peromyscus nest characteristics may vary with elevation. Effective management of plague is critical. Plague management is probably most effective when encompassing communities of rodents and fleas. Treatment of PD burrows with 0.05% deltamethrin dust, which suppressed fleas on PDs for >365 days, suppressed fleas on small rodents for at least 58 days. At one site, deltamethrin suppressed fleas on small rodents for at least 383 days. By simultaneously suppressing fleas on PDs and small rodents, deltamethrin should promote ecosystem resilience and One Health objectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Eads
- United States Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Dean E Biggins
- United States Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Kenneth L Gage
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
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Eads DA, Yashin AC, Noble LE, Vasquez MC, Huang MHJ, Livieri TM, Dobesh P, Childers E, Biggins DE. Managing plague on prairie dog colonies: insecticides as ectoparasiticides. J Vector Ecol 2020; 45:82-88. [PMID: 32492281 DOI: 10.1111/jvec.12375] [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: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Human health practitioners and wildlife biologists use insecticides to manage plague by suppressing fleas (Siphonaptera), but insecticides can also kill other ectoparasites. We investigated effects of deltamethrin and fipronil on ectoparasites from black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus, BTPDs). In late July, 2018, we treated three sites with 0.05% deltamethrin dust and 5 sites with host-fed 0.005% fipronil grain. Three non-treated sites functioned as experimental baselines. We collected ectoparasites before treatments (June-July, 2018) and after treatments (August-October, 2018, June-July, 2019). Both deltamethrin and fipronil suppressed fleas for at least 12 months. Deltamethrin had no detectable effect on mites (Arachnida). Fipronil suppressed mites for at least 12 months. Lice (Phthiraptera) were scarce on non-treated sites throughout the study, complicating interpretation. Concentrating on eight sites where all three ectoparasites where found in June-July, 2018 (before treatments), flea intensity was greatest on BTPDs carrying many lice and mites. These three ectoparasites co-occurred at high numbers, which might facilitate plague transmission in some cases. Lethal effects of insecticides on ectoparasite communities are potentially advantageous in the context of plague management.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Eads
- U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, CO, 80526, U.S.A
| | - Alexis C Yashin
- U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, CO, 80526, U.S.A
| | - Lauren E Noble
- U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, CO, 80526, U.S.A
| | - Michele C Vasquez
- U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, CO, 80526, U.S.A
| | - Miranda H J Huang
- U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, CO, 80526, U.S.A
| | | | - Phillip Dobesh
- U.S. Forest Service, Wall Ranger District, Wall, SD, 57790, U.S.A
| | - Eddie Childers
- National Park Service, Badlands National Park, Interior, SD, 57750, U.S.A
| | - Dean E Biggins
- U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, CO, 80526, U.S.A
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Goldberg AR, Conway CJ, Biggins DE. Flea sharing among sympatric rodent hosts: implications for potential plague effects on a threatened sciurid. Ecosphere 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Amanda R. Goldberg
- Department of Fish & Wildlife Sciences Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit University of Idaho 875 Perimeter Drive, MS 1141 Moscow Idaho 83844 USA
| | - Courtney J. Conway
- U.S. Geological Survey Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit University of Idaho 875 Perimeter Drive, MS 1141 Moscow Idaho 83844 USA
| | - Dean E. Biggins
- U.S. Geological Survey Fort Collins Science Center 2150 Centre Avenue Building C Fort Collins Colorado 80526 USA
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Eads DA, Biggins DE, Bowser J, Broerman K, Livieri TM, Childers E, Dobesh P, Griebel RL. Evaluation of Five Pulicides to Suppress Fleas on Black-Tailed Prairie Dogs: Encouraging Long-Term Results with Systemic 0.005% Fipronil. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2019; 19:400-406. [DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2018.2339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- David A. Eads
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Dean E. Biggins
- U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Jonathan Bowser
- U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Kristina Broerman
- U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | | | - Eddie Childers
- National Park Service, Badlands National Park, Interior, South Dakota
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Eads DA, Biggins DE. Plague management of prairie dog colonies: degree and duration of deltamethrin flea control. J Vector Ecol 2019; 44:40-47. [PMID: 31124240 DOI: 10.1111/jvec.12327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [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: 09/07/2018] [Accepted: 12/12/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Plague is a flea-borne disease of mammalian hosts. On the grasslands of western North America, plague stifles populations of Cynomys spp. prairie dogs (PDs). To manage plague, PD burrows are treated with 0.05% deltamethrin dust that can suppress flea numbers and plague transmission. Here, we evaluate the degree and duration of deltamethrin flea control with three PD species at six sites across four U.S. states. Data were simultaneously collected at paired plots. Burrows from one randomly assigned member of each pair were treated with deltamethrin; non-treated plots served as experimental baselines. Flea control was strong ≤two months after treatment, remained moderate one year later, and was statistically detectable for up to two years at some sites. Flea abundance was lower in plots with higher rates of deltamethrin application. After burrow treatments, flea abundance increased over time, reaching >one per PD within 255 to 352 days. Nevertheless, annual treatments of burrows with deltamethrin provided PDs with substantial protection against plague. Even so, deltamethrin should be further evaluated and combined with other tools under an integrated approach to plague management. Integrated plague management should help to conserve PDs and species that associate with them, including the endangered black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes).
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Eads
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, U.S.A
| | - Dean E Biggins
- U. S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, CO 80526, U.S.A
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Abstract
Plague (caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis) is a deadly flea-borne disease that remains a threat to public health nearly worldwide and is particularly disruptive ecologically where it has been introduced. We review hypotheses regarding maintenance and transmission of Y. pestis, emphasizing recent data from North America supporting maintenance by persistent transmission that results in sustained non-epizootic (but variable) rates of mortality in hosts. This maintenance mechanism may facilitate periodic epizootic eruptions "in place" because the need for repeated reinvasion from disjunct sources is eliminated. Resulting explosive outbreaks that spread rapidly in time and space are likely enhanced by synergistic positive feedback (PFB) cycles involving flea vectors, hosts, and the plague bacterium itself. Although PFB has been implied in plague literature for at least 50 years, we propose this mechanism, particularly with regard to flea responses, as central to epizootic plague rather than a phenomenon worthy of just peripheral mention. We also present new data on increases in flea:host ratios resulting from recreational shooting and poisoning as possible triggers for the transition from enzootic maintenance to PFB cycles and epizootic explosions. Although plague outbreaks have received much historic attention, PFB cycles that result in decimation of host populations lead to speculation that epizootic eruptions might not be part of the adaptive evolutionary strategy of Y. pestis but might instead be a tolerated intermittent cost of its modus operandi. We also speculate that there may be mammal communities where epizootics, as we define them, are rare or absent. Absence of plague epizootics might translate into reduced public health risk but does not necessarily equate to inconsequential ecologic impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dean E. Biggins
- United States Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - David A. Eads
- United States Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, CO, United States
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
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Eads DA, Biggins DE, Bowser J, McAllister JC, Griebel RL, Childers E, Livieri TM, Painter C, Krank LS, Bly K. RESISTANCE TO DELTAMETHRIN IN PRAIRIE DOG ( CYNOMYS LUDOVICIANUS) FLEAS IN THE FIELD AND IN THE LABORATORY. J Wildl Dis 2018; 54:745-754. [PMID: 29723100 PMCID: PMC6710209 DOI: 10.7589/2017-10-250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [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] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Sylvatic plague poses a substantial risk to black-tailed prairie dogs ( Cynomys ludovicianus) and their obligate predator, the black-footed ferret ( Mustela nigripes). The effects of plague on prairie dogs and ferrets are mitigated using a deltamethrin pulicide dust that reduces the spread of plague by killing fleas, the vector for the plague bacterium. In portions of Conata Basin, Buffalo Gap National Grassland, and Badlands National Park, South Dakota, US, 0.05% deltamethrin has been infused into prairie dog burrows on an annual basis since 2005. We aimed to determine if fleas ( Oropsylla hirsuta) in portions of the Conata Basin and Badlands National Park have evolved resistance to deltamethrin. We assessed flea prevalence, obtained by combing prairie dogs for fleas, as an indirect measure of resistance. Dusting was ineffective in two colonies treated with deltamethrin for >8 yr; flea prevalence rebounded within 1 mo of dusting. We used a bioassay that exposed fleas to deltamethrin to directly evaluate resistance. Fleas from colonies with >8 yr of exposure to deltamethrin exhibited survival rates that were 15% to 83% higher than fleas from sites that had never been dusted. All fleas were paralyzed or dead after 55 min. After removal from deltamethrin, 30% of fleas from the dusted colonies recovered, compared with 1% of fleas from the not-dusted sites. Thus, deltamethrin paralyzed fleas from colonies with long-term exposure to deltamethrin, but a substantial number of those fleas was resistant and recovered. Flea collections from live-trapped prairie dogs in Thunder Basin National Grassland, Wyoming, US, suggest that, in some cases, fleas might begin to develop a moderate level of resistance to deltamethrin after 5-6 yr of annual treatments. Restoration of black-footed ferrets and prairie dogs will rely on an adaptive, integrative approach to plague management, for instance involving the use of vaccines and rotating applications of insecticidal products with different active ingredients.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A. Eads
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Campus Delivery 1878, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, USA
- Corresponding author ()
| | - Dean E. Biggins
- US Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, 2150 Centre Avenue Building C, Fort Collins, Colorado 80526, USA
| | - Jonathan Bowser
- US Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, 2150 Centre Avenue Building C, Fort Collins, Colorado 80526, USA
| | - Janet C. McAllister
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado 80521, USA
| | - Randall L. Griebel
- US Forest Service, Wall Ranger District, 710 Main Street, Wall, South Dakota 57790, USA
| | - Eddie Childers
- National Park Service, Badlands National Park, 25216 Ben Reifel Road, Interior, South Dakota 57750, USA
| | - Travis M. Livieri
- Prairie Wildlife Research, PO Box 308, Wellington, Colorado 80549, USA
| | - Cristi Painter
- US Forest Service, Thunder Basin National Grassland, 2250 E Richards Street, Douglas, Wyoming 82633, USA
| | - Lindsey Sterling Krank
- The Humane Society of the United States, Prairie Dog Coalition, 2525 Arapahoe #E4-527, Boulder, Colorado 80302, USA
| | - Kristy Bly
- World Wildlife Fund, Northern Great Plains Program, 458 Saddle Ridge Road, Hamilton, Montana 59840, USA
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Abbott RC, Russell RE, Richgels KLD, Tripp DW, Matchett MR, Biggins DE, Rocke TE. Factors Influencing Uptake of Sylvatic Plague Vaccine Baits by Prairie Dogs. Ecohealth 2018; 15:12-22. [PMID: 29159477 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-017-1294-1] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2017] [Revised: 08/29/2017] [Accepted: 10/03/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Sylvatic plague vaccine (SPV) is a virally vectored bait-delivered vaccine expressing Yersinia pestis antigens that can protect prairie dogs (Cynomys spp.) from plague and has potential utility as a management tool. In a large-scale 3-year field trial, SPV-laden baits containing the biomarker rhodamine B (used to determine bait consumption) were distributed annually at a rate of approximately 100-125 baits/hectare along transects at 58 plots encompassing the geographic ranges of four species of prairie dogs. We assessed site- and individual-level factors related to bait uptake in prairie dogs to determine which were associated with bait uptake rates. Overall bait uptake for 7820 prairie dogs sampled was 70% (95% C.I. 69.9-72.0). Factors influencing bait uptake rates by prairie dogs varied by species, however, in general, heavier animals had greater bait uptake rates. Vegetation quality and day of baiting influenced this relationship for black-tailed, Gunnison's, and Utah prairie dogs. For these species, baiting later in the season, when normalized difference vegetation indices (a measure of green vegetation density) are lower, improves bait uptake by smaller animals. Consideration of these factors can aid in the development of species-specific SPV baiting strategies that maximize bait uptake and subsequent immunization of prairie dogs against plague.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel C Abbott
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center, 6006 Schroeder Rd., Madison, WI, 53711, USA
| | - Robin E Russell
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center, 6006 Schroeder Rd., Madison, WI, 53711, USA
| | - Katherine L D Richgels
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center, 6006 Schroeder Rd., Madison, WI, 53711, USA
| | - Daniel W Tripp
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Wildlife Health Program, 4330 Laporte Avenue, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Marc R Matchett
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge, Lewistown, MT, USA
| | - Dean E Biggins
- Fort Collins Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Tonie E Rocke
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center, 6006 Schroeder Rd., Madison, WI, 53711, USA.
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Eads DA, Biggins DE, Eads SL. Grooming behaviors of black‐tailed prairie dogs are influenced by flea parasitism, conspecifics, and proximity to refuge. Ethology 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- David A. Eads
- U. S. Geological Survey Fort Collins Science Center Fort Collins CO USA
| | - Dean E. Biggins
- U. S. Geological Survey Fort Collins Science Center Fort Collins CO USA
| | - Samantha L. Eads
- U. S. Geological Survey Fort Collins Science Center Fort Collins CO USA
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Rocke TE, Tripp DW, Russell RE, Abbott RC, Richgels KLD, Matchett MR, Biggins DE, Griebel R, Schroeder G, Grassel SM, Pipkin DR, Cordova J, Kavalunas A, Maxfield B, Boulerice J, Miller MW. Sylvatic Plague Vaccine Partially Protects Prairie Dogs (Cynomys spp.) in Field Trials. Ecohealth 2017; 14. [PMID: 28643091 PMCID: PMC5662665 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-017-1253-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Sylvatic plague, caused by Yersinia pestis, frequently afflicts prairie dogs (Cynomys spp.), causing population declines and local extirpations. We tested the effectiveness of bait-delivered sylvatic plague vaccine (SPV) in prairie dog colonies on 29 paired placebo and treatment plots (1-59 ha in size; average 16.9 ha) in 7 western states from 2013 to 2015. We compared relative abundance (using catch per unit effort (CPUE) as an index) and apparent survival of prairie dogs on 26 of the 29 paired plots, 12 with confirmed or suspected plague (Y. pestis positive carcasses or fleas). Even though plague mortality occurred in prairie dogs on vaccine plots, SPV treatment had an overall positive effect on CPUE in all three years, regardless of plague status. Odds of capturing a unique animal were 1.10 (95% confidence interval [C.I.] 1.02-1.19) times higher per trap day on vaccine-treated plots than placebo plots in 2013, 1.47 (95% C.I. 1.41-1.52) times higher in 2014 and 1.19 (95% C.I. 1.13-1.25) times higher in 2015. On pairs where plague occurred, odds of apparent survival were 1.76 (95% Bayesian credible interval [B.C.I.] 1.28-2.43) times higher on vaccine plots than placebo plots for adults and 2.41 (95% B.C.I. 1.72-3.38) times higher for juveniles. Our results provide evidence that consumption of vaccine-laden baits can protect prairie dogs against plague; however, further evaluation and refinement are needed to optimize SPV use as a management tool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tonie E Rocke
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center, 6006 Schroeder Rd., Madison, WI, 53711, USA.
| | - Daniel W Tripp
- Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife, Wildlife Health Program, 4330 Laporte Avenue, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Robin E Russell
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center, 6006 Schroeder Rd., Madison, WI, 53711, USA
| | - Rachel C Abbott
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center, 6006 Schroeder Rd., Madison, WI, 53711, USA
| | - Katherine L D Richgels
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center, 6006 Schroeder Rd., Madison, WI, 53711, USA
| | - Marc R Matchett
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge, Lewistown, MT, USA
| | - Dean E Biggins
- U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, 2150 Centre Ave, #C, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | | | - Greg Schroeder
- U.S. National Park Service, Wind Cave National Park, 26611 Highway 385, Hot Springs, SD, USA
| | - Shaun M Grassel
- Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, Department of Wildlife, Fish and Recreation, P.O. Box 246, Lower Brule, SD, USA
| | - David R Pipkin
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, APHIS, Wildlife Services, WTAMU, P.O. Box 60277, Canyon, TX, USA
| | - Jennifer Cordova
- Arizona Game and Fish Department, P.O. Box 397, Seligman, AZ, USA
| | - Adam Kavalunas
- Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, 1470 North Airport Rd., Cedar City, UT, USA
| | - Brian Maxfield
- Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, 318 North Vernal Ave., Vernal, UT, USA
| | - Jesse Boulerice
- Wyoming Game and Fish Department, 528 South Adams Street, Laramie, WY, USA
| | - Michael W Miller
- Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife, Wildlife Health Program, 4330 Laporte Avenue, Fort Collins, CO, USA
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Affiliation(s)
- David A. Eads
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University; U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center; 2150 Centre Avenue, Building C Fort Collins CO 80526 USA
| | - Dean E. Biggins
- U.S. Geological Survey; Fort Collins Science Center; 2150 Centre Avenue, Building C Fort Collins CO 80526 USA
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Eads DA, Biggins DE, Xu L, Liu Q. Plague cycles in two rodent species from China: dry years might provide context for epizootics in wet years. Ecosphere 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- David A. Eads
- U. S. Geological Survey Fort Collins Science Center Fort Collins Colorado 80526 USA
- Department of Biology Colorado State University Fort Collins Colorado 80523 USA
| | - Dean E. Biggins
- U. S. Geological Survey Fort Collins Science Center Fort Collins Colorado 80526 USA
- Department of Biology Colorado State University Fort Collins Colorado 80523 USA
| | - Lei Xu
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention Changping Beijing 102206 China
| | - Qiyong Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention Changping Beijing 102206 China
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Eads DA, Biggins DE, Long DH, Gage KL, Antolin MF. Droughts may increase susceptibility of prairie dogs to fleas: incongruity with hypothesized mechanisms of plague cycles in rodents. J Mammal 2016. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyw035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Plague is a reemerging, rodent-associated zoonosis caused by the flea-borne bacterium Yersinia pestis. As a vector-borne disease, rates of plague transmission may increase when fleas are abundant. Fleas are highly susceptible to desiccation under hot-dry conditions; we posited that their densities decline during droughts. We evaluated this hypothesis with black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) in New Mexico, June–August 2010–2012. Precipitation was relatively plentiful during 2010 and 2012 but scarce during 2011, the driest spring–summer on record for the northeastern grasslands of New Mexico. Unexpectedly, fleas were 200% more abundant in 2011 than in 2010 and 2012. Prairie dogs were in 27% better condition during 2010 and 2012, and they devoted 287% more time to grooming in 2012 than in 2011. During 2012, prairie dogs provided with supplemental food and water were in 23% better condition and carried 40% fewer fleas. Collectively, these results suggest that during dry years, prairie dogs are limited by food and water, and they exhibit weakened defenses against fleas. Long-term data are needed to evaluate the generality of whether droughts increase flea densities and how changes in flea abundance during sequences of dry and wet years might affect plague cycles in mammalian hosts.
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Eads DA, Biggins DE. Plague bacterium as a transformer species in prairie dogs and the grasslands of western North America. Conserv Biol 2015; 29:1086-1093. [PMID: 25817984 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.12498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [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: 04/28/2014] [Accepted: 12/30/2014] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Invasive transformer species change the character, condition, form, or nature of ecosystems and deserve considerable attention from conservation scientists. We applied the transformer species concept to the plague bacterium Yersinia pestis in western North America, where the pathogen was introduced around 1900. Y. pestis transforms grassland ecosystems by severely depleting the abundance of prairie dogs (Cynomys spp.) and thereby causing declines in native species abundance and diversity, including threatened and endangered species; altering food web connections; altering the import and export of nutrients; causing a loss of ecosystem resilience to encroaching invasive plants; and modifying prairie dog burrows. Y. pestis poses an important challenge to conservation biologists because it causes trophic-level perturbations that affect the stability of ecosystems. Unfortunately, understanding of the effects of Y. pestis on ecosystems is rudimentary, highlighting an acute need for continued research.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Eads
- Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, U.S.A
- U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, 2150 Centre Avenue, Building C, Fort Collins, CO, 80526, U.S.A
| | - Dean E Biggins
- U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, 2150 Centre Avenue, Building C, Fort Collins, CO, 80526, U.S.A
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Eads DA, Biggins DE, Livieri TM, Millspaugh JJ. Space use, Resource Selection and Territoriality of Black-Footed Ferrets: Implications for Reserve Design. Wildlife Biology 2014. [DOI: 10.2981/wlb.13070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
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Eads DA, Biggins DE, Livieri TM, Millspaugh JJ. American badgers selectively excavate burrows in areas used by black-footed ferrets: implications for predator avoidance. J Mammal 2013. [DOI: 10.1644/12-mamm-a-298.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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Eads DA, Biggins DE, Doherty PF, Gage KL, Huyvaert KP, Long DH, Antolin MF. Using occupancy models to investigate the prevalence of ectoparasitic vectors on hosts: An example with fleas on prairie dogs. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2013; 2:246-56. [PMID: 24533343 PMCID: PMC3862499 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2013.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [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: 06/04/2013] [Revised: 08/21/2013] [Accepted: 09/03/2013] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
A new field method was developed to study ectoparasite prevalence on hosts. We describe the approach using a study of fleas on prairie dogs. Data were analyzed with occupancy models to account for imperfect detection. There was a 99.3% probability of detecting a flea on a flea-occupied host. Flea occupancy varied among months, sites, sampling plots, and hosts. The field method can be used in the future to study ectoparasite communities.
Ectoparasites are often difficult to detect in the field. We developed a method that can be used with occupancy models to estimate the prevalence of ectoparasites on hosts, and to investigate factors that influence rates of ectoparasite occupancy while accounting for imperfect detection. We describe the approach using a study of fleas (Siphonaptera) on black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus). During each primary occasion (monthly trapping events), we combed a prairie dog three consecutive times to detect fleas (15 s/combing). We used robust design occupancy modeling to evaluate hypotheses for factors that might correlate with the occurrence of fleas on prairie dogs, and factors that might influence the rate at which prairie dogs are colonized by fleas. Our combing method was highly effective; dislodged fleas fell into a tub of water and could not escape, and there was an estimated 99.3% probability of detecting a flea on an occupied host when using three combings. While overall detection was high, the probability of detection was always <1.00 during each primary combing occasion, highlighting the importance of considering imperfect detection. The combing method (removal of fleas) caused a decline in detection during primary occasions, and we accounted for that decline to avoid inflated estimates of occupancy. Regarding prairie dogs, flea occupancy was heightened in old/natural colonies of prairie dogs, and on hosts that were in poor condition. Occupancy was initially low in plots with high densities of prairie dogs, but, as the study progressed, the rate of flea colonization increased in plots with high densities of prairie dogs in particular. Our methodology can be used to improve studies of ectoparasites, especially when the probability of detection is low. Moreover, the method can be modified to investigate the co-occurrence of ectoparasite species, and community level factors such as species richness and interspecific interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A. Eads
- Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Colorado State University, CO 80523, USA
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
- Corresponding author at: Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Department of Biology, Colorado State University, CO 80523, USA. Tel.: +1 317 966 3124; fax: +1 970 491 0649.
| | - Dean E. Biggins
- U. S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, CO 80526, USA
| | - Paul F. Doherty
- Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Colorado State University, CO 80523, USA
- Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Kenneth L. Gage
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Kathryn P. Huyvaert
- Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Colorado State University, CO 80523, USA
- Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Dustin H. Long
- Turner Endangered Species Fund, PO Box 131, Cimarron, NM 87714, USA
| | - Michael F. Antolin
- Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Colorado State University, CO 80523, USA
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
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Eads DA, Jachowski DS, Biggins DE, Livieri TM, Matchett MR, Millspaugh JJ. Resource Selection Models are Useful in Predicting Fine-Scale Distributions of Black-Footed Ferrets in Prairie Dog Colonies. WEST N AM NATURALIST 2012. [DOI: 10.3398/064.072.0210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Biggins DE, Ramakrishnan S, Goldberg AR, Eads DA. Black-Footed Ferrets and Recreational Shooting Influence the Attributes of Black-Tailed Prairie Dog Burrows. WEST N AM NATURALIST 2012. [DOI: 10.3398/064.072.0205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Eads DA, Jachowski DS, Millspaugh JJ, Biggins DE. Importance of Lunar and Temporal Conditions for Spotlight Surveys of Adult Black-Footed Ferrets. WEST N AM NATURALIST 2012. [DOI: 10.3398/064.072.0207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Eads DA, Biggins DE. Patterns of Surface Burrow Plugging in a Colony of Black-Tailed Prairie Dogs Occupied by Black-Footed Ferrets. WEST N AM NATURALIST 2012. [DOI: 10.3398/064.072.0206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Biggins DE, Hanebury LR, Fagerstone KA. Digging Behaviors of Radio-Tagged Black-Footed Ferrets Near Meeteetse, Wyoming, 1981–1984. WEST N AM NATURALIST 2012. [DOI: 10.3398/064.072.0204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Chipault JG, Biggins DE, Detling JK, Long DH, Reich RM. Fine-Scale Habitat Use of Reintroduced Black-Footed Ferrets on Prairie Dog Colonies in New Mexico. WEST N AM NATURALIST 2012. [DOI: 10.3398/064.072.0211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Biggins DE, Miller BJ, Hanebury LR, Powell RA. Mortality of Siberian polecats and black-footed ferrets released onto prairie dog colonies. J Mammal 2011. [DOI: 10.1644/10-mamm-s-115.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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Eads DA, Millspaugh JJ, Biggins DE, Livieri TM, Jachowski DS. Postbreeding resource selection by adult black-footed ferrets in the Conata Basin, South Dakota. J Mammal 2011. [DOI: 10.1644/10-mamm-s-139.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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Biggins DE, Godbey JL, Horton BM, Livieri TM. Movements and survival of black-footed ferrets associated with an experimental translocation in South Dakota. J Mammal 2011. [DOI: 10.1644/10-mamm-s-152.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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Biggins DE, Hanebury LR, Miller BJ, Powell RA. Black-footed ferrets and Siberian polecats as ecological surrogates and ecological equivalents. J Mammal 2011. [DOI: 10.1644/10-mamm-s-110.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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Poessel SA, Breck SW, Biggins DE, Livieri TM, Crooks KR, Angeloni L. Landscape features influence postrelease predation on endangered black-footed ferrets. J Mammal 2011. [DOI: 10.1644/10-mamm-s-061.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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Poessel SA, Biggins DE, Santymire RM, Livieri TM, Crooks KR, Angeloni L. Environmental enrichment affects adrenocortical stress responses in the endangered black-footed ferret. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2011; 172:526-33. [PMID: 21549121 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2011.04.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2010] [Revised: 03/21/2011] [Accepted: 04/21/2011] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Potential stressors of wildlife living in captivity, such as artificial living conditions and frequent human contact, may lead to a higher occurrence of disease and reduced reproductive function. One successful method used by wildlife managers to improve general well-being is the provision of environmental enrichment, which is the practice of providing animals under managed care with environmental stimuli. The black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) is a highly-endangered carnivore species that was rescued from extinction by removal of the last remaining individuals from the wild to begin an ex situ breeding program. Our goal was to examine the effect of environmental enrichment on adrenocortical activity in ferrets by monitoring fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGM). Results demonstrated that enrichment lowered FGM in juvenile male ferrets, while increasing it in adult females; enrichment had no effect on FGM in juvenile females and adult males. These results correspond with our findings that juvenile males interacted more with the enrichment items than did adult females. However, we did not detect an impact of FGM on the incidence of disease or on the ability of ferrets to become reproductive during the following breeding season. We conclude that an environmental enrichment program could benefit captive juvenile male ferrets by reducing adrenocortical activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon A Poessel
- Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
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Eads DA, Chipault JG, Biggins DE, Livieri TM, Millspaugh JJ. Nighttime Aboveground Movements by Prairie Dogs on Colonies Inhabited by Black-Footed Ferrets. WEST N AM NATURALIST 2010. [DOI: 10.3398/064.070.0218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Jachowski DS, Millspaugh JJ, Biggins DE, Livieri TM, Matchett MR. Home-range size and spatial organization of black-footed ferrets Mustela nigripes in South Dakota, USA. Wildlife Biology 2010. [DOI: 10.2981/09-034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
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Biggins DE, Godbey JL, Gage KL, Carter LG, Montenieri JA. Vector Control Improves Survival of Three Species of Prairie Dogs (Cynomys) in Areas Considered Enzootic for Plague. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2010; 10:17-26. [DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2009.0049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Dean E. Biggins
- U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Jerry L. Godbey
- U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Kenneth L. Gage
- Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Leon G. Carter
- Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - John A. Montenieri
- Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado
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