Journal of Wildlife Diseases最新文献

{"title":"Bovine Coronavirus and SARS-CoV-2 in Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) in Southern Bavaria, Germany: Genomic Evidence in Individual Cases.","authors":"Lorena Herrmann, Katharina Schneider, Angela Hafner-Marx, Natali Paravinja, Isabella Dzijan, Gabriela Knubben-Schweizer, Antonie Neubauer-Juric","doi":"10.7589/JWD-D-24-00189","DOIUrl":"10.7589/JWD-D-24-00189","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Coronaviruses are known for their potential to cross species barriers, based on high mutation rates and interstrain recombinations. The emergence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) as a bidirectional zoonotic pathogen in 2019 is only one of many examples. Given the detection of SARS-CoV-2 with a high prevalence in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in 2020 in North America, the importance of monitoring for SARS-CoV-2 infections in a broad spectrum of animal species, including additional cervids, grew considerably. Therefore, we analyzed samples from red deer (Cervus elaphus), collected in southern Bavaria between May 2021 and February 2023, for genomic evidence of SARS-CoV-2 and bovine coronavirus (BCoV). The latter has been previously shown to infect wild mammals, including deer species. In 727 colon tissue samples and 807 upper respiratory tract swabs respective genomes were detected rarely and in low genome copy numbers only. Bovine coronavirus sequences were detected in six upper respiratory tract swabs (0.74%) and 10 colon tissue samples (1.38%). Additionally, SARS-CoV-2 sequences were detected in one colon tissue sample from an adult female individual. It appears that red deer in Bavarian alpine regions rarely carry viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 and BCoV. Furthermore, none of the samples showed any indication of a coinfection with both viruses, which putatively could trigger recombination and in consequence the emergence of new viruses.</p>","PeriodicalId":17602,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Wildlife Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"760-766"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144120018","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":"Assessing the Impact of Toxoplasma gondii in Endangered Eastern Barred Bandicoots (Perameles gunnii) on Phillip and French Islands, Australia.","authors":"Michael Lynch, K L D Tharaka D Liyanage, Andrew Stent, Duncan R Sutherland, Amy Coetsee, Katherine Adriaanse, Abdul Jabbar, Jasmin Hufschmid","doi":"10.7589/JWD-D-24-00152","DOIUrl":"10.7589/JWD-D-24-00152","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Some Australian marsupial species are believed to have a high likelihood of death following infection with the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. The impacts of T. gondii on free-ranging marsupial populations have not, however, been well demonstrated, with most studies only reporting seroprevalence. This parameter alone does not allow assessment of the impact of infection and may underestimate the incidence of exposure in species highly susceptible to fatal disease. We used multiple diagnostic methods on two free-ranging eastern barred bandicoots (Perameles gunni) populations and one long-nosed potoroo (Potorous tridactylus) population to assess the impacts of T. gondii. Animals had their serological status to T. gondii determined using the modified agglutination test (MAT). Three MAT-positive results were returned from 212 bandicoot blood samples collected from 159 individuals, whereas 16.7% (7/42) potoroos were MAT positive. Animals available for necropsy underwent histopathologic examination and had tissues tested for T. gondii by quantitative PCR (qPCR). Toxoplasmosis was diagnosed by histopathology in 13.1% (18/137) of bandicoots, and more than half of these animals had severe disease. Positive qPCR results were returned in 19.2% (37/193) of bandicoots and 12.5% 7/56) of potoroos. The high prevalence of T. gondii infection demonstrated by qPCR and the observation that >50% of histopathology-positive bandicoots had severe toxoplasmosis demonstrates that infection is an issue of population importance. This result, coupled with the low number of MAT-positive bandicoots detected, suggests that eastern barred bandicoots are highly likely to die within weeks of exposure to T. gondii, before immunoglobulin G antibodies are formed. This contrasts with sympatric potoroos, assumed to be exposed to T. gondii with comparable frequency to bandicoots. The potoroos showed a T. gondii antibody prevalence similar to their qPCR antigen prevalence, suggesting survival after infection.</p>","PeriodicalId":17602,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Wildlife Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"654-662"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144102165","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":"Mass Mortality in Migrating American Robins (Turdus migratorius) in Virginia, USA: Data Beyond a Diagnosis.","authors":"Karen E Powers, E Haley Olsen-Hodges, Sara O'Brien, Stephen A Smith, Jamie K Lau, Liliana G Dailey, Bianca A Plowman, Tessa K Harmon, Robert R Sheehy, Matthew T Close, Katie E Wheeler","doi":"10.7589/JWD-D-24-00148","DOIUrl":"10.7589/JWD-D-24-00148","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>While investigating an American Robin (Turdus migratorius) mass mortality event in February-March 2022 in southwestern Virginia (USA), we collected parasites, investigated gizzard contents, and described flock demographics. We recovered ectoparasites (ticks, mites, lice) from 32/83 (38.7%) individuals. Ten of 83 (12.0%) American Robins presented with scaly mites (Knemidocoptes) and varying levels of disfiguring keratin growth on their legs. We report that 57.1% of individuals harbored endoparasites and 90% of intact ventriculi contained seeds, pulp, or husks from American holly (Ilex opaca) berries. Although we were unable to test the berries directly, these findings lend credence to the conclusion that these birds died from consuming fermented holly berries. This mortality event provided an unusually large sample no longer collected systematically and provided baseline natural history data for a common migratory species. These data are valuable to researchers exploring changes in flock dynamics and parasite load due to contemporary stressors such as habitat and microhabitat modifications caused by anthropogenic impacts like climate change.</p>","PeriodicalId":17602,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Wildlife Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"619-627"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144029737","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":"Diversity of Tick Species and Tick-borne Pathogens Hosted by Urban and Suburban European Hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) in France.","authors":"Isabelle Defosseux, Clotilde Rouxel, Clémence Galon, Valérie Poux, Pascal Arné, Cécile Le Barzic, Anne-Claire Lagrée, Nadia Haddad, Pierre Deshuillers, Sara Moutailler, Maud Marsot","doi":"10.7589/JWD-D-24-00178","DOIUrl":"10.7589/JWD-D-24-00178","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Ticks transmit a variety of pathogens that affect both animal and human health, underscoring the importance of understanding diversity and transmission dynamics. The European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) serves as a host for ticks such as Ixodes hexagonus and Ixodes ricinus, potentially playing a role in the enzootic cycle of tick-borne diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the use of hedgehogs as sentinels for monitoring tick-borne pathogens in urban and suburban areas. A total of 251 hedgehogs were involved in the study, conducted between 2019 and 2021, with 144 examined for ticks and 110 undergoing ear biopsies. Using real-time PCR, multiple pathogens were identified among the hedgehogs, including Borrelia afzelii, Rickettsia asembonensis, and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Most (96%) ticks collected were I. hexagonus, primarily nymphs and adult females, confirming this species as the main infester of hedgehogs. Carcasses obtained from a wildlife animal hospital provided an accessible source of biological material for this study. The results indicated that hedgehogs could serve as sentinel hosts for the surveillance of Borrelia burgdorferi complex, Rickettsia spp., and A. phagocytophilum in urban and suburban environments. Further research is needed to explore the relationship among hedgehog population densities, tick infestation levels, and the prevalence of tick-borne pathogens. Such studies are essential to determine the contribution of hedgehogs to the enzootic transmission cycle of these pathogens and to evaluate the resultant risks to human health.</p>","PeriodicalId":17602,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Wildlife Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"743-748"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144021170","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":"Functional Affinity of Eleven Commercial Conjugates for Use in Serologic Assays for Wild Rodents and Shrews.","authors":"Miriam Maas, Ankje de Vries, Hein Sprong","doi":"10.7589/JWD-D-24-00119","DOIUrl":"10.7589/JWD-D-24-00119","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Serologic assays are important tools for detecting the presence of antibodies that are indicative of past and ongoing infections. For wildlife, species-specific conjugates, which are used as detection antibodies in primary binding assays, are not available for most species. In these cases, conjugates for closely related species or immunoglobulin-binding proteins are frequently used. These are often not validated and their low functional affinity may result in false-negative results. We tested 11 commercial conjugates, including protein G and species- or family-specific secondary conjugated antibodies, on eight rodent and two insectivore species (shrews). Using direct ELISAs, between-species and within-species differences in the functional affinity of the conjugates were assessed. Large differences in antibody binding of the conjugates were observed. Some conjugates were species-specific, binding only to antibodies from one species, whereas others were able to bind across a broad range of species. The strength of the antibody-conjugate interaction varied between species and sometimes within species. In general, stronger antibody-conjugate interactions were observed for rodent species than for shrews. Our study underlines the importance of confirming species-specific functional affinity of a conjugate, even if the conjugate is known to bind to antibodies of a closely related species.</p>","PeriodicalId":17602,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Wildlife Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"694-699"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143780283","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":"Streptococcus phocae-Associated Pyothorax Secondary to Verminous Perforative Esophagitis in a Juvenile Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina) in the UK.","authors":"Imogen L Payne, Jesús S Hernández Orts, Susan M Thornton, Andrew F Rich","doi":"10.7589/JWD-D-24-00171","DOIUrl":"10.7589/JWD-D-24-00171","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A stranded juvenile harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) was necropsied following acute dyspnea and death. Necropsy revealed an esophageal perforation caused by fourth-stage Contracaecum osculatum larvae with Streptococcus phocae-associated pyothorax and aspiration pneumonia. Pyothorax is uncommon in seals, and S. phocae is considered a novel etiology, secondary to verminous esophageal perforation.</p>","PeriodicalId":17602,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Wildlife Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"787-791"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144033391","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":"Chemical Immobilization of Red Serows (Capricornis rubidus) with Ketamine and Medetomidine.","authors":"Sanath Krishna Muliya, Lallianpuii Kawlni, John Lalhnuna, Vishnupriya Kolipakam, Akangshya Gogoi, Qamar Qureshi","doi":"10.7589/JWD-D-23-00014","DOIUrl":"10.7589/JWD-D-23-00014","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The red serow (Capricornis rubidus) is a solitary, cryptic, forest-dwelling goat-antelope species from Asia, with very limited veterinary and health information. We report on the chemical immobilization of three red serows by using medetomidine (0.03 mg/kg) and ketamine (3 mg/kg). This combination may be useful for chemical capture and field anaesthesia of these animals.</p>","PeriodicalId":17602,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Wildlife Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"782-786"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144111142","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":"Detection of Bufonid Herpesvirus 1 and Ranid Herpesvirus 3 in Native Amphibians in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, 2022-23.","authors":"Christoph Leineweber, Lotte C Striewe, Simon Rohner, Arne Drews, Christian Winkler, Patrick Pohlmann, Rene Seifert, Jennifer Scherzer, Ursula Siebert, Rachel E Marschang","doi":"10.7589/JWD-D-24-00194","DOIUrl":"10.7589/JWD-D-24-00194","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Amphibians worldwide are increasingly threatened, with some populations experiencing significant declines. Infectious diseases play a major role in many of these scenarios. Bufonid herpesvirus 1 (BfHV1) and ranid herpesvirus 3 (RaHV3) are both relatively recently discovered pathogens of European amphibians, and their distribution and host species spectrums are not yet fully understood. In the present study, native amphibians were sampled at four locations in Schleswig-Holstein, northern Germany, during the spawning seasons from March to June 2022 and 2023. In total, 611 skin swabs from nine amphibian species were analyzed for BfHV1 and RaHV3 by using PCR. The overall prevalence was 10.64% for BfHV1 and 4.91% for RaHV3. Prevalence varied significantly (P <0.05) between the species tested and the locations: BfHV1 was found in common toads (Bufo bufo, 62.82%), common frogs (Rana temporaria, 12.28%), moor frogs (Rana arvalis, 7.55%), natterjack toads (Epidalea calamita, 4.17%), water frogs (Pelophylax sp., 1.54%), northern crested newts (Triturus cristatus, 1.27%), and smooth newts (Lissotriton vulgaris, 0.68%), whereas RaHV3 was found in common frogs (43.86%), northern crested newts (3.80%), and smooth newts (1.36%). No macroscopic pathogen-specific skin lesions were noted in any of the animals during sample collection. The role of these herpesviruses in health and disease of native amphibians, as well as the role of various species in their epidemiology, requires further study.</p>","PeriodicalId":17602,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Wildlife Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"767-772"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144120019","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":"Gray Seal (Halichoerus grypus) Pups Fail to Mount an Inflammatory Cytokine Response to Influenza A Virus.","authors":"Christina M McCosker, Milton Levin, Wendy B Puryear, Jonathan A Runstadler, Kimberly T Murray, Kristina M Cammen","doi":"10.7589/JWD-D-24-00166","DOIUrl":"10.7589/JWD-D-24-00166","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Infectious disease is a naturally occurring phenomenon in healthy ecosystems, but anthropogenic pressures have led to an increase in the spread and intensity of disease outbreaks in recent decades. Ecosystem health and functioning can be monitored through sentinel organisms, such as marine mammals for coastal environments. In the northwest Atlantic Ocean, gray (Halichoerus grypus) and harbor (Phoca vitulina) seals are exposed to influenza A virus (IAV) but exhibit apparent differences in disease severity, as gray seals largely remain asymptomatic while harbor seals experience IAV-associated morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to investigate gray seal response to IAV through cytokines, which are signaling proteins responsible for initiating and regulating an immune response. Swabs (nasal, conjunctival, and rectal) and blood samples were collected from wild gray seal pups (n=116) and used to detect IAV infection and to measure 13 serum cytokines. There was no significant difference in cytokine profiles across IAV infection status, age (as determined by molt stage), or body condition (a proxy of overall health), but individual cytokines were identified as important in differentiating between seals across these categorical variables, and a general trend of lower cytokine detection rates was observed among IAV-infected pups. These results suggest that gray seal pups lack a strong cytokine response during IAV infections. Understanding the immune response of pinnipeds, and mammals more broadly, to viral pathogens is important for predicting how the increased emergence and spread of infectious disease will shape the future of global terrestrial and marine mammal populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":17602,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Wildlife Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"628-641"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144150943","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":"Landscape Variables Associated with Toxoplasma gondii Exposure in American Mink (Neogale vison) and Domestic Cats (Felis catus) in the Valdivian Temperate Rainforest, Chile.","authors":"Carlos Calvo-Mac, Nicole Delgado-Parada, Claudia Muñoz-Zanzi, Gonzalo Medina-Vogel","doi":"10.7589/JWD-D-24-00099","DOIUrl":"10.7589/JWD-D-24-00099","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Abstract: </strong>Toxoplasma gondii, a globally distributed protozoan, poses risks to wildlife and public health, with domestic cats playing a significant role in its dissemination. The Valdivian temperate rainforest in southern Chile, known for its biodiversity and endemism, faces threats from human activities and from invasive species such as domestic cats. We evaluated T. gondii seroprevalence in two sympatric introduced carnivores, an intermediate host, the American mink (Neogale vison), and a definitive host, the domestic cat (Felis catus), and we determined landscape variables linked to exposure for both species and identified high T. gondii exposure using ecological niche modeling. Seroprevalence for T. gondii in 180 American minks and 140 domestic cats exceeded 60% in both species, indicating significant exposure to T. gondii within the study area. Spatial analysis highlighted a relationship between low-altitude areas, characterized by floodable forests and slower river flow, and elevated T. gondii exposure in both species. Areas with agricultural activity and higher human and cattle densities, such as croplands and grasslands, exhibited an increased risk of T. gondii exposure. Parasite exposure was higher in the Tolten and Valdivia River basins compared to the other four basins studied. These findings emphasize the importance of considering landscape factors, including altitude, land use, and human activities, when assessing T. gondii exposure patterns. The identified landscape variables associated with exposure and the mapping of high-risk areas can guide public health and conservation management plans.</p>","PeriodicalId":17602,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Wildlife Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"587-599"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144078660","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}