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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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Cunningham MW, Wolf DP, Sayler KA, Milleson M, Bankovich B, Schueller P, Haley BS, Stura S, Yabsley MJ. Distribution of Baylisascaris procyonis in Raccoons (Procyon lotor) in Florida, USA. J Wildl Dis 2023:492378. [PMID: 37074793 DOI: 10.7589/jwd-d-22-00115] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/20/2023]
Abstract
Baylisascaris procyonis, or raccoon roundworm, is an intestinal nematode parasite of raccoons (Procyon lotor) that is important to public and wildlife health. Historically, the parasite was uncommon in the southeastern US; however, the range of B. procyonis has expanded to include Florida, US. From 2010 to 2016, we opportunistically sampled 1,030 raccoons statewide. The overall prevalence was 3.7% (95% confidence interval = 2.5-4.8%) of sampled individuals, and infection intensity ranged from 1 from 48 (mean ±standard deviation 9.9±4.0). We found raccoon roundworm in 9/56 (16%) counties sampled, and the percent positive ranged from 1.1% to 13.3% of specimens collected per county. Including previously published data, B. procyonis was detected in 11 Florida counties. We used logistic regression to estimate the contribution of raccoon demographic variables and the presence of the endoparasite Macracanthorhynchus ingens to B. procyonis detection in Florida. Following model selection process we found housing density, M. ingens presence, and urbanicity to be predictive of raccoon roundworm presence. We also found substantial among-county variation. Raccoon sex and age were not useful predictors. Public health officials, wildlife rehabilitators, wildlife managers, and others should consider any Florida raccoon to be potentially infected with B. procyonis, particularly in areas where housing density is high.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark W Cunningham
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Wildlife Research Laboratory, 1105 SW Williston Rd, Gainesville, Florida 32601, USA
| | - Daniel P Wolf
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Wildlife Research Laboratory, 1105 SW Williston Rd, Gainesville, Florida 32601, USA
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
| | - Katherine A Sayler
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Wildlife Research Laboratory, 1105 SW Williston Rd, Gainesville, Florida 32601, USA
| | - Michael Milleson
- United States Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services, 2820 E University Ave, Gainesville, Florida 32641, USA
| | - Brittany Bankovich
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Wildlife Research Laboratory, 1105 SW Williston Rd, Gainesville, Florida 32601, USA
| | - Paul Schueller
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Wildlife Research Laboratory, 1105 SW Williston Rd, Gainesville, Florida 32601, USA
| | - Betsy S Haley
- United States Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services, 2820 E University Ave, Gainesville, Florida 32641, USA
| | - Savannah Stura
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Wildlife Research Laboratory, 1105 SW Williston Rd, Gainesville, Florida 32601, USA
| | - Michael J Yabsley
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, 589 D. W. Brooks Dr, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
- United States Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services, National Rabies Management Program, 1482 Tobe Wells Rd, Elberton, Georgia 30635, USA
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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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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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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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Kessler WH, Blackburn JK, Sayler KA, Glass GE. Estimating the Geographic Distribution of Host-Seeking Adult Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae) in Florida. J Med Entomol 2019; 56:55-64. [PMID: 30169746 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjy147] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum, is the most commonly reported human-biting tick in the southeastern United States and is a vector for several human and livestock pathogens. Although it is endemic to Florida, little is known about the ecological preferences and current spatial distribution within the state. Using occurrence records of adult A. americanum collected between August 2015 and September 2016, a logistic regression model was used to estimate environmental associations, as well as to predict the distribution of the tick at a one hectare resolution. Occurrence of adult lone star ticks was associated with land cover and bioclimatic variables, namely the presence of forested areas and precipitation seasonality. The estimated spatial distribution indicated that central and northern regions show greater suitability than the southern half of the state. Furthermore, areas predicted to be suitable for the species decreases from north to south with very little area deemed suitable in the far southern reaches of the state. High heterogeneity in the distribution of suitable habitat has implications for the distribution of tick-borne disease cases in the state. The subcounty resolution of the estimated distribution is an improvement over distributions currently published and may better inform the public and state or federal agencies of potential risk of exposure to A. americanum and its associated pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- William H Kessler
- Department of Geography, University of Florida, Turlington Hall, Gainesville, FL
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, owry Road, Gainesville, FL
| | - Jason K Blackburn
- Department of Geography, University of Florida, Turlington Hall, Gainesville, FL
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, owry Road, Gainesville, FL
| | - Katherine A Sayler
- Department of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation, University of Florida, Newins-Ziegler Hall, Gainesville, FL
| | - Gregory E Glass
- Department of Geography, University of Florida, Turlington Hall, Gainesville, FL
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, owry Road, Gainesville, FL
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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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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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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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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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12
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Mccown ME, Alleman A, Sayler KA, Chandrashekar R, Thatcher B, Tyrrell P, Stillman B, Beall M, Barbet AF. Point prevalence survey for tick-borne pathogens in military working dogs, shelter animals, and pet populations in northern Colombia. J Spec Oper Med 2016; 14:81-85. [PMID: 25399372 DOI: 10.55460/1vbk-jxc7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/01/2014] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Based on the high tick-borne pathogen results from a 2011 surveillance study in three Colombian cities, an in-depth point prevalence survey was conducted to determine the seroprevalence of tick-borne pathogens at a specific point in time in 70 working dogs, 101 shelter dogs, and 47 client-owned dogs in Barranquilla, Colombia. RESULTS Of the 218 serum samples, 163 (74%) were positive for Ehrlichia canis and 116 (53%) for Anaplasma platys. Exposure to tick-borne pathogens was highest in shelter and working dogs where more than 90% of the samples were seropositive or positive on polymerase chain reaction for one or more organisms as compared to 51% in client-owned animals. CONCLUSION Surveillance for exposure to tick-borne pathogens provides vital information necessary to protect and conserve the health of local humans and animals, deployed military service members, and working dogs in various parts of the world. This study and resultant data demonstrate the value of following a broad-based surveillance study with a more specific, focused analysis in an area of concern. This area?s high levels of exposure warrant emphasis by medical planners and advisors on precautionary measures for military dogs, Special Operations Forces personnel, and the local public.
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Sayler KA, Loftis AD, Beatty SK, Boyce CL, Garrison E, Clemons B, Cunningham M, Alleman AR, Barbet AF. Prevalence of Tick-Borne Pathogens in Host-Seeking Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae) and Odocoileus virginianus (Artiodactyla: Cervidae) in Florida. J Med Entomol 2016; 53:949-956. [PMID: 27117680 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjw054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [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: 01/07/2016] [Accepted: 03/27/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Amblyomma americanum (L.), the lone star tick, is an aggressive tick that is expanding its geographic range within the United States. This tick is the vector for the human and veterinary pathogens Ehrlichia chaffeensis and Ehrlichia ewingii and is associated with other microbes of unspecified pathogenicity including Rickettsia amblyommii, Panola Mountain Ehrlichia, and Borrelia lonestari In Florida, there has been sparse contemporary data on the prevalence of these organisms in host-seeking lone star ticks. To determine the prevalence of this tick and associated microbes in North Central Florida state parks, ∼1,500 lone star tick specimens were collected between 2010 and 2012 analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) sequencing. Additionally, 393 white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus (Zimmerman), samples were analyzed for pathogen prevalence using molecular methods and serology. In lone star ticks, 14.6, 15.6, and 57.1% were positive for E. chaffeensis, E. ewingii, and Rickettsia spp. DNA, respectively. Panola Mountain Ehrlichia or B. lonestari DNA were each detected in nearly 2% of tick specimens. In white-tailed deer, 7.3% were PCR positive for E. chaffeensis, 6.0% for E. ewingii, and 3.2% for rickettsial species. Approximately 45% of white-tailed deer specimens had antibodies to Ehrlichia spp., and <1% had antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi In summary, E. chaffeensis, E. ewingii, and spotted fever group rickettsia are highly prevalent in host-seeking lone star ticks and in white-tailed deer in Florida. The molecular and serological evidence of these microbes underscore their zoonotic potential in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine A Sayler
- Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, 2015 SW 16th Ave., Gainesville, FL 32608 (; ; ; ),
- Department of Infectious Disease and Pathology, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, 2015 SW 16th Ave., Gainesville, FL 32608
| | - Amanda D Loftis
- Department of Microbiology, Midwestern University Glendale, 19555 N 59th Ave., Glendale, AZ 85308 , and
| | - Sarah K Beatty
- Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, 2015 SW 16th Ave., Gainesville, FL 32608 (; ; ; )
| | - Carisa L Boyce
- Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, 2015 SW 16th Ave., Gainesville, FL 32608 (; ; ; )
| | - Elina Garrison
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish & Wildlife Research Institute, 1105 SW Williston Rd., Gainesville, FL 32601 (; ; )
| | - Bambi Clemons
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish & Wildlife Research Institute, 1105 SW Williston Rd., Gainesville, FL 32601 (; ; )
| | - Mark Cunningham
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish & Wildlife Research Institute, 1105 SW Williston Rd., Gainesville, FL 32601 (; ; )
| | - Arthur R Alleman
- Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, 2015 SW 16th Ave., Gainesville, FL 32608 (; ; ; )
| | - Anthony F Barbet
- Department of Infectious Disease and Pathology, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, 2015 SW 16th Ave., Gainesville, FL 32608
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Sayler KA, Loftis AD, Mahan SM, Barbet AF. Development of a Quantitative PCR Assay for Differentiating the Agent of Heartwater Disease, Ehrlichia ruminantium, from the Panola Mountain Ehrlichia. Transbound Emerg Dis 2015; 63:e260-e269. [PMID: 25807955 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.12339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Panola Mountain Ehrlichia (PME) is an emerging Ehrlichia sp. reported in ten US states. Based on the sequence homology of all known genes, PME is closely related to Ehrlichia ruminantium (ER), the causative agent of heartwater. Heartwater is an economically important tick-borne disease of cattle, sheep and goats responsible for stock losses in sub-Saharan Africa. Unfortunately, ER was imported to the Caribbean islands in the 19th century, and the presence of this foreign animal disease in the Caribbean poses a threat to the US mainland. If introduced, a heartwater outbreak would cause massive losses of naïve livestock. The serologic assay of choice to diagnose heartwater is cross-reactive with Ehrlichia spp., including PME, as we demonstrate here, which would confound disease surveillance in the event of a heartwater outbreak. The purpose of this study was to develop a diagnostic assay capable of rapidly distinguishing between these pathogens. Using synthetic MAP-1B peptides for ER and PME, we tested the cross-reactivity of this assay using sera from infected livestock. The MAP-1B ELISA cannot distinguish between animals infected with PME and ER. Therefore, a dual-plex Taqman™ qPCR assay targeting the groEL gene of PME and ER was developed and validated. Primers were designed that are conserved among all known strains of ER, allowing for the amplification of strains from the Caribbean and Africa. The assay is highly sensitive (10 copies of DNA) and specific. This assay distinguishes between infection with PME and ER and will be a valuable tool in the event of heartwater outbreak on the US mainland, or for epidemiological studies involving either disease-causing organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- K A Sayler
- Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA. .,Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
| | - A D Loftis
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ, USA
| | - S M Mahan
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.,Zoetis, Kalamazoo, MI, USA
| | - A F Barbet
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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Sayler KA, Barbet AF, Chamberlain C, Clapp WL, Alleman R, Loeb JC, Lednicky JA. Isolation of Tacaribe virus, a Caribbean arenavirus, from host-seeking Amblyomma americanum ticks in Florida. PLoS One 2014; 9:e115769. [PMID: 25536075 PMCID: PMC4275251 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0115769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [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: 08/19/2014] [Accepted: 11/26/2014] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Arenaviridae are a family of single stranded RNA viruses of mammals and boid snakes. Twenty-nine distinct mammalian arenaviruses have been identified, many of which cause severe hemorrhagic disease in humans, particularly in parts of sub-Saharan Africa, and in Central and South America. Humans typically become infected with an arenavirus through contact with excreta from infected rodents. Tacaribe virus (TCRV) is an arenavirus that was first isolated from bats and mosquitoes during a rabies surveillance survey conducted in Trinidad from 1956 to 1958. Tacaribe virus is unusual because it has never been associated with a rodent host and since that one time isolation, the virus has not been isolated from any vertebrate or invertebrate hosts. We report the re-isolation of the virus from a pool of 100 host-seeking Amblyomma americanum (lone star ticks) collected in a Florida state park in 2012. TCRV was isolated in two cell lines and its complete genome was sequenced. The tick-derived isolate is nearly identical to the only remaining isolate from Trinidad (TRVL-11573), with 99.6% nucleotide identity across the genome. A quantitative RT-PCR assay was developed to test for viral RNA in host-seeking ticks collected from 3 Florida state parks. Virus RNA was detected in 56/500 (11.2%) of surveyed ticks. As this virus was isolated from ticks that parasitize humans, the ability of the tick to transmit the virus to people should be evaluated. Furthermore, reservoir hosts for the virus need to be identified in order to develop risk assessment models of human infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine A. Sayler
- Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
- Department of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Anthony F. Barbet
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Casey Chamberlain
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - William L. Clapp
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Rick Alleman
- Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Julia C. Loeb
- Department of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - John A. Lednicky
- Department of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, 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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16
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Sayler KA, Wamsley HL, Pate M, Barbet AF, Alleman AR. Cultivation of Rickettsia amblyommii in tick cells, prevalence in Florida lone star ticks (Amblyomma americanum). Parasit Vectors 2014; 7:270. [PMID: 24927809 PMCID: PMC4077227 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-7-270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2014] [Accepted: 05/27/2014] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Rickettsia amblyommii is a bacterium in the spotted fever group of organisms associated with the lone star tick (LST), Amblyomma americanum. The LST is the most commonly reported tick to parasitize humans in the southeastern US. Within this geographic region, there have been suspected cases of Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) where the causative agent, R. rickettsii, was not identified in the local tick population. In these areas, patients with clinical signs of RMSF had low or no detectable antibodies to R. rickettsii, resulting in an inability to confirm a diagnosis. Methods R. amblyommii was cultivated from host-seeking LSTs trapped in Central Florida and propagated in ISE6 (Ixodes scapularis) and AAE2 (A. americanum) cells. Quantitative PCR targeting the 17-kD gene of Rickettsia spp. identified the genus of the organism in culture. Variable regions of groEL, gtlA and rompA genes were amplified and sequenced to confirm the species. The prevalence of R. amblyommii in LSTs within the geographic region was determined by qPCR followed by conventional PCR and direct sequencing. Results Analyses of amplified sequences from the cultured organism were 100% homologous to R. amblyommii. The overall prevalence of Rickettsia spp. in the local population of LSTs was 57.1% and rompA sequence analysis identified only R. amblyommii in LSTs. Conclusions A Florida strain of R. amblyommii was successfully cultivated in two tick cell lines. Further evaluation of the new strain and comparisons to the other geographic strains is needed. The prevalence of this SFG organism in the tick population warrants further investigation into the organism’s ability to cause clinical disease in mammalian species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine A Sayler
- Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
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Beall MJ, Alleman AR, Breitschwerdt EB, Cohn LA, Couto CG, Dryden MW, Guptill LC, Iazbik C, Kania SA, Lathan P, Little SE, Roy A, Sayler KA, Stillman BA, Welles EG, Wolfson W, Yabsley MJ. Seroprevalence of Ehrlichia canis, Ehrlichia chaffeensis and Ehrlichia ewingii in dogs in North America. Parasit Vectors 2012; 5:29. [PMID: 22316160 PMCID: PMC3298699 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-5-29] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [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: 09/26/2011] [Accepted: 02/08/2012] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study evaluated the exposure of dogs to three different Ehrlichia spp. in the south and central regions of the United States where vector-borne disease prevalence has been previously difficult to ascertain, particularly beyond the metropolitan areas. METHODS Dog blood samples (n = 8,662) were submitted from 14 veterinary colleges, 6 private veterinary practices and 4 diagnostic laboratories across this region. Samples were tested for E. canis, E. chaffeensis and E. ewingii specific antibodies using peptide microtiter ELISAs. RESULTS Overall, E. canis, E. chaffeensis and E. ewingii seroprevalence was 0.8%, 2.8%, and 5.1%, respectively. The highest E. canis seroprevalence (2.3%) was found in a region encompassing Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas. E. chaffeensis seroreactivity was 6.6% in the central region (Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma) and 4.6% in the southeast region (Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia). Seroreactivity to E. ewingii was also highest in the central region (14.6%) followed by the southeast region (5.9%). The geospatial pattern derived from E. chaffeensis and E. ewingii seropositive samples was similar to previous reports based on E. chaffeensis seroreactivity in white-tailed deer and the distribution of human monocytic ehrlichiosis (HME) cases reported by the CDC. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study provide the first large scale regional documentation of exposure to E. canis, E. chaffeensis and E. ewingii in pet dogs, highlighting regional differences in seroprevalence and providing the basis for heightened awareness of these emerging vector-borne pathogens by veterinarians and public health agencies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - A Rick Alleman
- University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Ed B Breitschwerdt
- North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Leah A Cohn
- University of Missouri, College of Veterinary Medicine, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - C Guillermo Couto
- The Ohio State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Michael W Dryden
- Kansas State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | - Lynn C Guptill
- Purdue University, College of Veterinary Medicine, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Cristina Iazbik
- The Ohio State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Stephen A Kania
- University of Tennessee, College of Veterinary Medicine, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Patty Lathan
- Mississippi State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State, MS, USA
| | - Susan E Little
- Oklahoma State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Stillwater, OK, USA
| | - Alma Roy
- Louisiana State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - Katherine A Sayler
- University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | | | | | - Wendy Wolfson
- Louisiana State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - Michael J Yabsley
- University of Georgia, College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, GA, USA
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Abstract
The hematologic evaluation of reptiles is an indispensable diagnostic tool in exotic veterinary practice. The diversity of reptile species, their characteristic physiologic features, and effects of intrinsic and extrinsic factors present unique challenges for accurate interpretation of the hemogram. Combining the clinical presentation with hematologic findings provides valuable information in the diagnosis and monitoring of disease and helps guide the clinician toward therapy and further diagnostic testing. This article outlines the normal and pathologic morphology of blood cells of reptile species. The specific comparative aspects of reptiles are emphasized, and structural and functional abnormalities in the reptilian hemogram are described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole I Stacy
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Aquatic Animal Health, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, Gainesville, 32608, USA.
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