Journal of Wildlife Diseases最新文献

{"title":"Monitoring Seroprevalence of Infectious Diseases in the Florida Panther (Puma concolor coryi).","authors":"Desiree Walton, Marie Gilbertson, Mark Cunningham, Dave Onorato, Joshua Ringer, Meggan Craft","doi":"10.7589/JWD-D-24-00057","DOIUrl":"10.7589/JWD-D-24-00057","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Infectious diseases can have detrimental effects on wildlife populations, particularly those that persist at small sizes, have low genetic diversity, and are affected by fragmented habitat. One such example is the endangered Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi), which has been intensively managed since the early 1980s, with the current population ranging between 120 and 230 individuals. For more than three decades, panthers have been captured, demographics recorded, and blood samples collected to monitor for multiple infectious diseases; however, an updated comprehensive study of many of these pathogens has not occurred since 1991. Our goal was to identify temporal patterns and spatial clustering in seroprevalence; determine if the pathogens of interest tend to co-occur; and describe relationships between an individual's genetic assignment (admixed or canonical) and seropositivity. We analyzed serology data for eight pathogens representing different modes of transmission (direct, indirect, vector borne) and infection duration (acute, chronic) from 232 panthers collected between 1992 and 2017. Panthers held consistently high seropositivity for feline calicivirus (62.3%) and panleukopenia virus (79.7%) throughout the study, whereas feline herpesvirus and feline leukemia virus were at lower prevalence (3.1% and 2.4%, respectively), although neither had been noted prior to 1992. Panthers were frequently seropositive for canine distemper virus and feline immunodeficiency virus, and seroprevalence fluctuated through time. West Nile virus seropositivity increased over the study period following its introduction in North America in 1999. Panthers were consistently negative for feline coronavirus, which causes feline infectious peritonitis. Genetics and demographics (sex and age) had little influence on serostatus, and coexposure among pathogens did not tend to occur. Both feline immunodeficiency virus and feline leukemia virus appeared to have spatial clusters of seropositive individuals. Our findings enhance the understanding of pathogen exposure in panthers, informing and supporting ongoing surveillance efforts for timely detection and management of potential disease threats in vulnerable populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":17602,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Wildlife Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"88-99"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142682092","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Respiratory Intervals and Swimming Speed as Remotely Sensed Health Metrics in Free-Ranging Killer Whales (Orcinus orca ).","authors":"Rob Williams, Erin Ashe, Kimberly A Nielsen, Hendrik H Nollens, Stephanie Reiss, Katherine Wold, Joseph K Gaydos","doi":"10.7589/JWD-D-23-00186","DOIUrl":"10.7589/JWD-D-23-00186","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Respiratory rate (mean number of breaths per minute) and respiratory interval (mean time between breaths) can offer insight into a diving mammal's activity state, metabolic rate, behavior, and synchronization due to social cohesion. Also, respiratory rate can reflect an individual animal's health and has the potential to be an informative remotely assessed health metric for monitoring individual animal health in endangered whale species and populations such as southern resident killer whales (Orcinus orca). Using data collected from noninvasive, land-based theodolite tracking, we analyzed swimming speed and surfacing intervals (i.e., mean dive time or mean time between breaths) from 20,613 surfacings of 98 individuals from two populations of the fish-eating, resident killer whale ecotype, namely, one growing (northern resident) and one declining and endangered (southern resident) population. Focal animal sampling was used to measure behavior of individuals of known age and sex in various activity states. Our objective was to evaluate variability and generate normal ranges for respiratory intervals and swimming speeds for killer whales of the Northeast Pacific Ocean resident, fish-eating ecotype to identify baseline respiratory intervals. We found that median respiratory intervals for fish-eating killer whales were between 26 and 29 s for all activity states and that swimming speeds varied by activity state. Median swimming speeds were similar for foraging and traveling (1.6 and 1.7 m/s, respectively), but were significantly slower during resting (1.1 m/s) and social activity (1.3 m/s) states. Three southern resident killer whales in poor body condition (had body condition scores in the lowest 20th percentile of the population) swam at reduced speeds and had shorter median respiratory intervals than outwardly healthy whales of similar age and sex. Respiratory rates, respiratory intervals, and swimming speeds are valuable remotely sensed metrics of health for free-swimming killer whales, especially when combined with other metrics as is the standard in veterinary examinations.</p>","PeriodicalId":17602,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Wildlife Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"17-29"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142400647","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Presence of Raccoon Roundworm (Baylisascaris procyonis) in Habitat Associated with Allegheny Woodrats (Neotoma magister) in Western Virginia, USA, 2022-24.","authors":"Karen E Powers, Meghan H Cavanagh, Lorien G Walker, Samuel D Elsen, A Theoden Struthers, L Kristen Page","doi":"10.7589/JWD-D-24-00086","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7589/JWD-D-24-00086","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Baylisascaris procyonis is a roundworm that does not affect its definitive host, raccoons (Procyon lotor), but may have a devastating effect when ingested by paratenic hosts such as Allegheny woodrats (Neotoma magister). Despite being considered a major factor in woodrat population extirpation and decline in states northward, there have been no large-scale surveys for raccoon roundworm in Virginia, US. From 2022 to 2024, we visited 60 karst or nonkarst rocky habitats known (current or historical) or suspected to be Allegheny woodrat locations in western Virginia. We opportunistically collected raccoon feces as individual piles or subsampled from visible latrines. We used fecal flotation to determine the presence and prevalence of raccoon roundworm eggs in samples collected from 44 sites across 15 counties and 1 independent city. We found evidence of this roundworm at eight (18.2%) sites in six counties. Because woodrats are especially vulnerable to fatal larval infections with B. procyonis, the presence of the parasite at multiple sites suggests conservation measures should be implemented to protect these populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":17602,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Wildlife Diseases","volume":"61 1","pages":"229-233"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143059550","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Reinterpreting Chronic Wasting Disease Emergence in the USA in Light of Historical Surveillance Limitations.","authors":"Mark G Ruder, John R Fischer, Michael W Miller","doi":"10.7589/JWD-D-24-00077","DOIUrl":"10.7589/JWD-D-24-00077","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>We estimated the probabilities of detecting one or more chronic wasting disease (CWD) cases (Pdet) in free-ranging cervids in the continental US during 1997 - 2001. Based on sample sizes reported by respective state authorities at the time and a target for detectable apparent prevalence (i.e., a design prevalence) of 0.001 (one positive per 1,000 animals statewide), estimated Pdet were <50% for 39/46 states where CWD had not been detected in the wild prior to 1997 and were <5% in 20/26 states located east of the Mississippi River. The survey designs and sample sizes reported by most states prior to 2002 would have yielded exceedingly small detection probabilities for focal CWD outbreaks. Although most CWD foci in the US were first detected in 2002 or after, the data presented here and elsewhere suggest it is plausible that an unknown number of these-some established perhaps decades earlier-were already present but had simply eluded detection. These data highlight uncertainty regarding timelines for CWD emergence in the US. Accepting-and to the extent possible quantifying-uncertainty in the historical distribution of CWD throughout the US seems a necessary foundation for better understanding its emergence, its drivers and patterns of spread, and its response to various interventions-past, present, and future.</p>","PeriodicalId":17602,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Wildlife Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"219-224"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142468906","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluating the Efficacy of Disinfectant Methods against Emydomyces testavorans, a Fungus Associated with Shell Disease in Freshwater Aquatic Turtles.","authors":"Nicholas C Liszka, Laura Adamovicz, Kaitlin A Moorhead, Maris J Daleo, Kamila Grochowski, Matthew C Allender","doi":"10.7589/JWD-D-24-00094","DOIUrl":"10.7589/JWD-D-24-00094","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Emydomyces testavorans is an onygenalean fungus associated with shell and skin lesions in chelonians and is increasingly linked to morbidity and mortality. Effective disinfection methods are a critical component of biosecurity protocols to prevent and manage emydomycosis; however, disinfectant efficacy against E. testavorans is unknown. This study determined the in vitro efficacy of 13 disinfectants across a range of concentrations and exposure times used in veterinary, wildlife, and environmental settings against E. testavorans. Pure E. testavorans culture material was exposed to each disinfectant at manufacturer-recommended concentration and exposure times in triplicate. Disinfectant was removed via centrifugation and cultures were inoculated onto inhibitory media plates, maintained at room temperature (20-22 C), and examined weekly for fungal growth. After 6 wk of incubation, ethanol, Virkon S (active ingredient potassium peroxymonosulfate 21.41%), benzalkonium chloride, and desiccation proved ineffective at completely inhibiting fungal growth. All other agents, including bleach, chlorhexidine, and accelerated hydrogen peroxides, effectively inhibited fungal growth. These data suggest that several effective disinfection options are available for use against E. testavorans. These findings can be used in managed care and field settings to reduce transmission of E. testavorans between turtles through contaminated surfaces and equipment.</p>","PeriodicalId":17602,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Wildlife Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"234-240"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142647522","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prevalence and Diversity of Piroplasms in Free-Ranging Ruminants in Nevada, USA.","authors":"Kayla B Garrett, Lance Murray, Peregrine L Wolff, Nate LaHue, Michael J Yabsley","doi":"10.7589/JWD-D-24-00042","DOIUrl":"10.7589/JWD-D-24-00042","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Wildlife may be infected with a high diversity of piroplasms and may serve as hosts or reservoirs for piroplasms of importance for domestic animals and public health. In the US, some piroplasms (e.g., Babesia spp. and Theileira cervi) have been associated with disease in native and exotic ungulates. Blood from 447 ruminants in Nevada were PCR tested for piroplasms, with 115 individuals from five species or subspecies found positive: 28/46 California bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis californiana), 1/16 desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis nelson), 70/255 mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), 14/53 elk (Cervis canadensis nelsoni), and 2/55 pronghorn (Antilocapra americana). Six mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus) and four moose (Alces alces) were negative. Four piroplasm species were detected-Babesia duncani, Babesia sp. RD63, Babesia odocoilei, and Theileria cervi-like spp.-but three B. duncani strains were detected, giving seven unique species or strains. Babesia duncani, the most common piroplasm detected (83%), occurred in California and desert bighorn sheep, elk, and mule deer. Bighorn sheep were only infected with B. duncani, whereas mule deer and elk were each infected with three piroplasm species or strains. The single Theileria sp. and B. odocoilei detections were in pronghorn. Free-ranging ruminants in Nevada are infected with a high diversity of piroplasms, several of which are zoonotic or reported to cause disease in both wild and domestic ruminants.</p>","PeriodicalId":17602,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Wildlife Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"186-191"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142647525","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prion Gene Sequencing in Florida Panthers (Puma concolor coryi) Suggests No Differential Susceptibility to Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy.","authors":"Elizabeth Sharkey, David P Onorato, Melody E Roelke-Parker, Alexander Ochoa, Melanie Culver, Robert R Fitak","doi":"10.7589/JWD-D-24-00058","DOIUrl":"10.7589/JWD-D-24-00058","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Transmissible spongiform encephalopathy, or prion disease, poses a serious threat to wildlife; however, the susceptibility of apex predators is still being assessed. We investigated variation in the prion protein gene in Florida panthers (Puma concolor coryi) and found that admixture from Central American pumas probably introduced a novel, albeit benign, prion allele.</p>","PeriodicalId":17602,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Wildlife Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"262-266"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142676014","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Physiologic Outcomes after Thiafentanil and Xylazine Immobilization in Free-Ranging Moose (Alces alces).","authors":"Lauren Ienello, Seth Moore, E J Isaac, Rachel Thompson, Alonso G P Guedes, Tiffany M Wolf","doi":"10.7589/JWD-D-24-00114","DOIUrl":"10.7589/JWD-D-24-00114","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Effects on physiology were evaluated in 49 free-ranging moose (Alces alces), 11 adult males, 36 females, two of unknown sex) in Minnesota, USA, immobilized by helicopter darting with thiafentanil (10 mg) and xylazine (30 mg) in February 2020 and March 2021. Pursuit time (PT), induction time (IT), recumbency time (RT), recovery time (RC), temperature (T), and body position were recorded. For 14 females, respiratory rate (RR), pulse rate (PR), and pulse oximetry (SpO2) were obtained before and at 1, 5, and 10 min after 4 L/min nasal oxygen supplementation was started; pH, lactate (Lac), arterial oxygen (PaO2), and carbon dioxide (PaCO2) tensions were obtained pre-treatment and 5 min post-treatment. Immobilizations were reversed with naltrexone (200 mg) and tolazoline (800 mg) intramuscularly. Median PT and IT were 4 min; a longer dart needle significantly reduced IT (P=0.0274). Most (98%) remained sternal; 77% held their head upright. Median RC was 3 min. Temperature remained ≤41.2 C. Median RR, PR, and SpO2 were RR=20 breaths/min, PR=70 beats/min, SpO2=91% pre-treatment and RR=30 breaths/min, PR=72 beats/min, SpO2=97% 5-min post-treatment. Median blood gas values were pH=7.45, Lac=5.62 mmol/L, PaCO2=44 mmHg, and PaO2=65 mmHg pre-treatment and pH=7.48, Lac=4.99 mmol/L, PaCO2=41.1 mmHg, and PaO2=78 mmHg 5-min post-treatment. Physiologic improvement from oxygen supplementation was clinically relevant but not statistically significant. All moose survived immobilization. Thiafentanil and xylazine combination provided safe and effective immobilization in free-ranging moose.</p>","PeriodicalId":17602,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Wildlife Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"247-252"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142687194","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of Dexmedetomidine with Tiletamine-Zolazepam for Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia) Immobilization.","authors":"Hao Shi, Zhurui Shao, Xin Xiong, Yuhang Gao, Shunfu He, Xiaofei Wang, Zichen Liu, Yipeng Jin","doi":"10.7589/JWD-D-24-00012","DOIUrl":"10.7589/JWD-D-24-00012","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study describes two different doses of dexmedetomidine combined with tiletamine-zolazepam (TZ) for anesthesia in snow leopards (Panthera uncia). A total of 11 adult snow leopards were anesthetized in Xining City, Qinghai Province, China from November 2019 to June 2023. We recorded the onset time, anesthesia duration, head-up time, and walking time. Vital signs were recorded every 5 min during anesthesia. Arterial blood gas analysis was performed approximately 20 min after the onset of anesthesia by collecting blood from the femoral artery. All results were presented as mean±SD. There were no significant differences in onset time, anesthesia duration, head-up time, and walking time between the two anesthesia protocols. Heart rate, respiratory rate, body temperature, and blood pressure had a gradual decreasing trend, and blood oxygen saturation gradually increased. Our results suggest that using dexmedetomidine at doses of 21.25±1.38 μg/kg to 30.95±1.13 μg/kg combined with TZ at 2.07±0.08 mg/kg to 2.13±0.15 mg/kg can provide safe and effective anesthesia for snow leopards.</p>","PeriodicalId":17602,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Wildlife Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"122-130"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142503014","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Molecular Identification of Mycoplasma agassizii in Confiscated Tortoises in Madagascar.","authors":"Kathleen Apakupakul, Ainoa Nieto-Claudin, Tsanta F Rakotonanahary, Lilian S Catenacci, Fidisoa Rasambainarivo, Santatriniaina Randrianarisoa, Carlos Sacristán, Encarnación Madueño, Bonnie L Raphael, Sharon L Deem","doi":"10.7589/JWD-D-24-00040","DOIUrl":"10.7589/JWD-D-24-00040","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Mycoplasmosis is of concern for chelonian conservation. We detected a Mycoplasma sp. in confiscated radiated tortoises (Astrochelys radiata) and spider tortoises (Pyxis arachnoides). Sequence analysis of the 16S-23S ribosomal RNA intergenic spacer region was consistent with Mycoplasma agassizii. Mycoplasma spp. have not been previously reported in native tortoises in Madagascar.</p>","PeriodicalId":17602,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Wildlife Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"258-261"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142468905","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}