Journal of Wildlife Diseases最新文献

{"title":"Pathologic Characterization of Raillietiella orientalis Infection and Comorbidities in Free-Ranging Pygmy Rattlesnakes (Sistrurus miliarius) from Central Florida, USA.","authors":"Erin A Graham, Terence M Farrell, Joseph Agugliaro, Heather D S Walden, Craig M Lind, Robert J Ossiboff","doi":"10.7589/JWD-D-25-00197","DOIUrl":"10.7589/JWD-D-25-00197","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Raillietiella orientalis (Ro) is a parasitic pentastome with a rapidly expanding geographic and herpetofaunal host range in the southeastern USA since its introduction, probably with the invasive Burmese python (Python bivittatus). However, little is known about the health impacts of Ro infection in native USA host species. Pygmy rattlesnakes (Sistrurus miliarius), small pit vipers native to the southeastern USA, were among the first documented naïve hosts of Ro in Florida, USA. Between December 2018 and February 2019, 17 free-ranging S. miliarius from central Florida were evaluated for Ro pentastomiasis and comorbidities. Necropsy revealed Ro pentastomiasis in eight (47%) rattlesnakes confirmed by morphologic and molecular methods. Pygmy rattlesnakes harbored more Ro pentastomes (mean) than documented in Burmese pythons in southern Florida; moreover, the mean length of mature female Ro in S. miliarius was greater than in pythons, suggesting altered host-parasite interactions in this naïve host. Microscopically, localized inflammation and parasitic hematin deposition were associated with Ro in respiratory and coelomic tissues. All 17 snakes (100%) had both fungal dermatitis consistent with ophidiomycosis and mixed endoparasitism; other findings included two (12%) snakes with ferlaviral pneumonia and one (6%) with gastric cryptosporidiosis. This study shows that although lesions directly attributable to Ro in S. miliarius were mild, mixed-pathogen coinfections were common, highlighting the need for further study of potential host health and fitness impacts in native Florida snakes.</p>","PeriodicalId":17602,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Wildlife Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"509-517"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146207136","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":"Immobilization of Free-Ranging Steller Sea Lions (Eumetopias jubatus) with Butorphanol-Midazolam-Medetomidine.","authors":"Annette Roug, Kimberlee Beckmen, Justin Jenniges, Martin Haulena, Lori Polasek, Sarah Rauchenstein, Michael Rehberg","doi":"10.7589/JWD-D-25-00123","DOIUrl":"10.7589/JWD-D-25-00123","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The western population segment of the Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) has experienced significant population declines. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is studying the ecology and health of the population. We describe the use of butorphanol-midazolam-medetomidine (BMM) in the capture of free-ranging Steller sea lions. This combination is advantageous as the animals retain their breathing reflex and float at the surface if entering water after darting, and it is fully reversible. Sea lions were darted when resting on haulouts. The majority (45/55) of the adult female sea lions received 75 mg butorphanol, 75 mg midazolam, and 20 mg medetomidine (n=44) or 18 mg medetomidine (n=1), whereas 10/55 were immobilized with lower doses: 30-62.5 mg butorphanol, 45-62.5 mg midazolam, and 9-18 mg medetomidine. Time from dart to approach was a mean of 19.7 min (range 9-45 min). The mean mass of the 29/55 sea lions where weights were obtained was 292.3 (range 205.5-380.5), and the mean drug dose administered in the dart to these was 0.23 mg/kg (range 0.13-0.36 mg/kg) butorphanol, 0.25 mg/kg (range 0.18-0.36 mg/kg) midazolam, and 0.07 mg/kg (range 0.04-0.10 mg/kg) medetomidine. No mortalities were noted. Twenty of the 55 sea lions were administered an additional 30-100 mg butorphanol, 37-75 mg midazolam, and 3-13 mg medetomidine after approach to achieve adequate sedation for handling. Forty-two of 55 sea lions were intubated and maintained on isoflurane and oxygen, whereas 13 were maintained on injected drugs alone. Of these 13 animals, five received supplementary oxygen. Early in the immobilization, heart rates, and blood oxygenation (SpO2) were significantly lower in the sea lions that received supplementary drugs (P<0.05), and sea lions not receiving supplementary oxygen were hypoxemic. The immobilization was reversed with atipamezole, naltrexone, and flumazenil intramuscularly. The mean time from reversal to ambulatory was 11 min (range 2-42 min). In conclusion, BMM was efficacious for immobilization of free ranging Steller sea lions.</p>","PeriodicalId":17602,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Wildlife Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"360-369"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145863359","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":"Novel Herpesvirus in a Wilson's Plover (Charadrius wilsonia: Charadriidae, Charadriiformes) in Piauí State, Northeastern Brazil.","authors":"Lilian S Catenacci, Rafael B da Silva, Maria Isabel S Cunha, Osmaikon L Lobato, Carlos Sacristán, Sharon L Deem, Tayná da S Nogueira, Silvia de A F Baêta, Silvana M M de S Silva, Alex S da Rocha, Arícia D Benvenuto, Ana Carolina Ewbank, Roberta R Zamana, Eric C Waquim, Anderson Guzzi, José L Catão-Dias","doi":"10.7589/JWD-D-25-00087","DOIUrl":"10.7589/JWD-D-25-00087","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Molecular investigation of the occurrence of herpesviruses in 228 wild birds in Piauí, northeastern Brazil, identified a herpesvirus in a migratory Wilson's Plover (Charadrius wilsonia). Genetic analysis supported its classification as a new strain, tentatively named Charadrius alphaherpesvirus 1, within the genus Mardivirus, broadening the herpesvirus host range in Charadriiformes.</p>","PeriodicalId":17602,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Wildlife Diseases","volume":"62 2","pages":"518-521"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147654455","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":"Helminths in Magellanic Penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) Nest Soil in One of the Southernmost Breeding Colonies at Martillo Island, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina.","authors":"Milena Montangero, Sabrina Harris, Analía San Martín","doi":"10.7589/JWD-D-25-00135","DOIUrl":"10.7589/JWD-D-25-00135","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study provides the first record of helminth prevalence associated with Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) at the southernmost limit of their distribution, in the Beagle Channel, Argentina. Using a non-invasive and indirect nest soil sampling approach, we detected multiple helminth morphotypes, including nematodes, cestodes, trematodes, and acanthocephalans. Nematodes were the most frequently encountered group. Helminth load was greater during chick rearing than in the post-breeding period, likely due to increased fecal deposition and favorable environmental conditions. Parasite occurrence also varied across colony erosion zones shaped by penguin activity and natural processes, suggesting that microhabitat characteristics influence helminth persistence. These findings underscore the utility of soil sampling for monitoring temporal patterns of parasite exposure, particularly in remote wildlife populations, highlighting the need for continued surveillance of penguin health. Future research integrating direct parasitological and molecular techniques will improve taxonomic resolution and advance the understanding of parasite transmission dynamics.</p>","PeriodicalId":17602,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Wildlife Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"476-481"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146119357","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 Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase-Producing Bacteria and CMY-2 Genes in Coypu (Myocastor coypus) in Catalan Wetlands, Northeast Spain.","authors":"Chiara Seminati, Mercedes Fernandez, Rafael A Molina-López, Laila Darwich","doi":"10.7589/JWD-D-25-00163","DOIUrl":"10.7589/JWD-D-25-00163","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The indiscriminate use of antibiotics during the past 50 yr in human and veterinary medicine and agriculture has enhanced the selection of antimicrobial resistant bacteria (AMRB) and genes (ARG), representing a serious threat to public health worldwide. Wildlife can act as reservoirs of antimicrobial resistant (AMR) environmental pollution, contributing to the dissemination of AMRB and ARG, especially in aquatic environments impacted by anthropogenic activities. The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of the coypu (Myocastor coypus), an invasive semiaquatic species, as an ecologic sentinel of AMR in the wetlands of Catalonia, Spain. A total of 116 free-living coypu were analyzed to detect the presence of AMRB and determine their antimicrobial susceptibility profile, and to detect the carriage of extended-spectrum β-lactamase and colistin resistance genes by conventional PCR. Resistant bacteria were detected in 16.3% of the samples (n=19), belonging to Aeromonas spp. (31.5%), Pseudomonas spp. (26.3%), and Enterobacterales (42.1%), with Escherichia coli (26.3%) as the principal enterobacterium. Most isolates showed AMR to aminopenicillins, lincosamides, and third-generation cephalosporins. Conversely, all isolates were sensitive to carbapenems. Analysis of ARG revealed 32% (6/19) of strains were positive for the blaCMY-2 gene (three isolates of E. coli, two of Pseudomonas spp., and one of Aeromonas hydrophila). These findings reinforce the value of testing invasive species such as coypus as bioindicators of AMR in environmental surveillance programs.</p>","PeriodicalId":17602,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Wildlife Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"497-502"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146207159","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":"No Need for Raised Temperatures Over \"Beaver Fever\": Low Prevalence of Giardia in Wild Scottish Beavers (Castor fiber).","authors":"Romain Pizzi, Fiona Howie, Daniel Arah, Sheelagh McAllister, Rob Needham, Veselina Alvas, Gary Curran, Róisín Campbell-Palmer","doi":"10.7589/JWD-D-25-00115","DOIUrl":"10.7589/JWD-D-25-00115","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Eurasian beavers (Castor fiber) were reintroduced to Scotland, UK, after more than two centuries of extinction. Giardia spp. are important protozoal parasites causing waterborne gastroenteritis in humans, with the zoonosis known as \"beaver fever\" in North America, raising public health concerns in Scotland. Using a rapid enzyme immunochromatographic assay (SNAP Giardia, IDEXX Laboratories, Inc) for soluble Giardia antigen, we tested 274 live wild beavers trapped for translocation (2019-25) and 26 wild beavers found dead. Prevalence was 1.83% (n=5/274) in live beavers (95% confidence interval, 0.6-4.21), with no clinical illness observed. Beavers that were positive for Giardia antigen on testing were treated and retested as negative before translocation. Prevalence was highest in kits at 3.7% (n=3/81) and lowest in adults at 0.71% (n=1/140), but the difference did not reach statistical significance. One dead adult female tested positive, with no evidence of disease and death was attributed to sepsis from bite wounds. Wild Eurasian beavers in Scotland currently do not appear to pose a notable Giardia infection risk to humans or animals, especially compared with the higher prevalence in local domestic animals.</p>","PeriodicalId":17602,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Wildlife Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"471-475"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146119485","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":"Vavraia Microsporidiosis in a DeKay's Brown Snake (Storeria dekayi) from the Southeastern USA.","authors":"Kalman Baker, Marcelo Pires Nogueira de Carvalho, Nicole Glenn, Matthew Fedler, Sean L McKnight, Myles Domohowski, Robert J Ossiboff","doi":"10.7589/JWD-D-25-00089","DOIUrl":"10.7589/JWD-D-25-00089","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A DeKay's brown snake (Storeria dekayi) from Georgia, USA, was found with subcutaneous nodules. Postmortem examination identified generalized microsporidiosis with concurrent ophidiomycosis. Molecular and phylogenetic characterization of the 18S gene identified the parasite as a member of the genus Vavraia, most closely related to isolates of invertebrate hosts in Japan.</p>","PeriodicalId":17602,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Wildlife Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"522-525"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145800525","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":"A Systematic Review of Historical and Contemporary Rabies Epidemiology and Management in Alabama, USA.","authors":"Rylee D Tomey, Charles E Rupprecht, Ivan V Kuzmin, Dee W Jones, Richard B Chipman, Stephen S Ditchkoff","doi":"10.7589/JWD-D-24-00197","DOIUrl":"10.7589/JWD-D-24-00197","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The history of wildlife pathogens in time and space impacts current understanding, detection, and management of infectious diseases, which may best be appreciated dynamically at a local level. As in the rest of the USA, over the past two centuries the epizootiology, prevention, and control of rabies in Alabama has changed significantly. Canine rabies was reported in Alabama during the USA civil war and predominated until after World War II. Appreciation of wildlife rabies grew only after the control of rabies in dogs. During the 1950s, rabies in gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) spread throughout the southeastern USA but declined unexpectedly in the ensuing decades. By the 21st century, besides multiple variants of rabies virus in bats, the only extant mesocarnivore reservoir was the raccoon (Procyon lotor). Currently, Alabama represents the westernmost extent of the raccoon rabies virus variant in the USA. Historically, rabies case detection evolved from passive reporting dependent on clinical signs towards enhanced, laboratory-based surveillance. Control progressed from host population reduction toward prevention by oral rabies vaccination of wildlife in combination with comprehensive vaccination of companion animals and postexposure prophylaxis in humans. Today, modern disease management is exemplified in Alabama via a One Health context, as reflected in this systematic review.</p>","PeriodicalId":17602,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Wildlife Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"1-25"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145534707","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 Ophidiomyces ophidiicola in Samples from Free-Ranging Snakes in Germany, 2021-22.","authors":"Lisa Schüler, Sigrid Lenz, Daniel Renner, Thomas Lindner, Paul Hien, Hubert Laufer, Matthias Jurczyk, Michael Pees, Karl Rohn, Elisabeth Müller, Rachel E Marschang","doi":"10.7589/JWD-D-25-00027","DOIUrl":"10.7589/JWD-D-25-00027","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Abstract: </strong>Ophidiomyces ophidiicola (Oo) is a fungus primarily affecting the skin of a wide range of snake species. Ophidiomyces ophidiicola has been found in snakes under human care as well as in free-ranging snakes, and the number of documented infections in free-ranging snakes from Europe is increasing. To better understand the distribution of Oo in snakes in Germany, 329 samples were collected from 328 free-ranging snakes from 47 different locations in Germany in 2021-22. Samples included swabs (n=188), shed skins (n=134), and carcasses (n=7) from six different species: 140 dice snakes (Natrix tessellata), 68 European common adders (Vipera berus), 62 Aesculapian snakes (Zamenis longissimus), 29 smooth snakes (Coronella austriaca), 17 whip snakes (Hierophis viridiflavus), and 12 grass snakes (Natrix natrix). Sampled animals were examined for the presence of skin lesions and samples were screened for Oo by real-time PCR (qPCR). Ophidiomyces ophidiicola was detected in 30/328 snakes (9.1%), including dice snakes (23/30, 77%), Aesculapian snakes (5/30, 17%), and grass snakes (2/30, 7%). No differences were found in the likelihood of detection of Oo between individual colubrid species, but colubrid snakes were significantly more likely to be Oo positive than were viperid snakes (Fisher's exact test, P=0.001). Skin lesions were observed in 37/328 snakes (11.3%), of which 8/37 (22%) were Oo positive by qPCR. Significant differences were found in Oo prevalences depending on the presence of skin lesions, and Oo positive snakes were more likely to have skin lesions compared to snakes that were Oo negative (OR=3.37 [95% confidence interval 1.38-8.26%; P<0.05]).</p>","PeriodicalId":17602,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Wildlife Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"37-50"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145723827","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":"Trichomonas spp. Prevalence in Nestling Peregrine Falcons (Falco peregrinus) in Kentucky, USA, 2005-23, and Effects on Survival.","authors":"Kate G Slankard, Michael D Patton, Kathryn E Purple, Rick Gerhold","doi":"10.7589/JWD-D-24-00201","DOIUrl":"10.7589/JWD-D-24-00201","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) is a species of conservation interest throughout much of eastern North America, and management efforts for the species are widespread. Peregrines are at risk for exposure to Trichomonas spp. because of their tendency to take pigeons and doves (Columbiformes) as prey. We investigated the prevalence of Trichomonas spp. in wild nestling Peregrine Falcons banded in nests in Kentucky, USA. We tested throat swabs collected from 266 Peregrine Falcons during 2005-23. A total of 21 birds tested positive for Trichomonas spp.; none of the falcons that tested positive were resighted as adults. We treated a subset of nestlings for Trichomonas spp. infection, including two in the nest (without removal), two nestlings temporarily removed from the nest for treatment, and 10 placed with wildlife rehabilitators for treatment. Rehabilitated nestlings were released at an age of ≥75 d. However, we did not confirm any benefits to survival from treatment. Trichomonosis may hinder Peregrine Falcon nestling survival in certain areas, especially urban locations.</p>","PeriodicalId":17602,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Wildlife Diseases","volume":"62 1","pages":"147-153"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-02-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146157816","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}