International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife最新文献

{"title":"Inactivated Toxoplasma gondii nanovaccine boosts T-cell memory response in a seropositive yellow-footed rock wallaby (Petrogale xanthopus) – A case report from Copenhagen Zoo","authors":"Daniela Ogonczyk-Makowska ,&nbsp;François Fasquelle ,&nbsp;Anaïs-Camille Vreulx ,&nbsp;Angelo Scuotto ,&nbsp;Amélie Degraeve ,&nbsp;Bryan Thiroux ,&nbsp;Louise Françoise Martin ,&nbsp;Stamatios Alan Tahas ,&nbsp;Jeanne Toft Jakobsen ,&nbsp;Gregers Jungersen ,&nbsp;Didier Betbeder","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.101017","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.101017","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Toxoplasma gondii</em> is a ubiquitous parasite causing significant mortality in captive wildlife, especially marsupials. Historically, treatment has been unrewarding and no vaccine was available. An intranasal vaccine based on purified inactivated <em>T. gondii</em> was developed for toxoplasmosis prevention. A vaccination campaign started in early 2017 and was successful in preventing toxoplasma-related mortality in marsupials in many European and South American zoos. Amongst the vaccinated wallabies, about 30% were T. gondii seropositive before the vaccination, and no toxoplasma-related deaths were observed since the administration of the vaccine. The objective of this case study was to assess the potential effect of the vaccination on a seropositive wallaby. It is important to note that this vaccine doesn't induce any humoral response in sheep, and squirrel monkeys but induces a strong T-cell response. A <em>T. gondii</em> seropositive Yellow-footed rock wallaby (<em>Petrogale xanthopus</em>) from Copenhagen Zoo received two doses of the aforementioned intranasal vaccine. Blood samples were collected before each vaccination and used for peripheral blood mononuclear cell isolation. The impact of the vaccination on the lymphocyte phenotype was characterized by flow cytometry. Cell size, represented by forward scatter, and granularity, represented by side scatter parameters were analyzed. Two doses of the vaccine induced a respective 30.1 and 25.6% increase in cell size and granularity in lymphocytes stimulated with <em>T. gondii</em> antigens, as assessed by flow cytometry. These changes were likely correlated with T-cell activation, which indicates that two doses of the vaccine might have boosted the already-existing T-cell memory response against <em>T. gondii</em> in a seropositive animal. No morphological changes were observed in lymphocytes from an unvaccinated seronegative wallaby. This is the first documented case of boosting an already-existing cellular immune response against toxoplasmosis by the vaccine in a seropositive Yellow-footed rock wallaby.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"25 ","pages":"Article 101017"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142655750","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of individual characteristics and seasonality and their interaction on ectoparasite load of Daurian ground squirrels in Inner Mongolia, China","authors":"Xiaoxu Wang ,&nbsp;Meng Shang ,&nbsp;Zihao Wang ,&nbsp;Haoqiang Ji ,&nbsp;Zhenxu Wang ,&nbsp;Guangju Mo ,&nbsp;Qiyong Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.101014","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.101014","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Understanding the drivers of parasite distribution is vital for ecosystem health, disease management, and vector monitoring. While studies note the impact of host sex, size, behavior, and season on parasite load, concurrent assessments of these factors and their interactions are limited. During the spring, summer and autumn seasons from 2021 to 2023, we trapped Daurian ground squirrel (<em>Spermophilus dauricus</em>), a small rodent species that inhabits eastern Asian grasslands in Inner Mongolia and collected their ectoparasites. Using machine learning Lasso regression, we pinpointed factors affecting tick and flea abundance on <em>S. dauricus</em>. We then analyzed these factors and their seasonal interactions with a mixed negative binomial generalized linear model. Our study revealed significant but inconsistent seasonal effects on the load of ectoparasites. The tick load was significantly higher in spring and summer compared to autumn, while the flea load was higher in summer and autumn but lacked statistical significance. Furthermore, individual factors that influence the flea and tick load were moderated by seasonal effects, with a male bias in flea parasitism observed in spring. Significant interactions were also found among seasonality, sex, and body weight. The load of male squirrel fleas was positively correlated with body weight, with the highest increase observed in spring. On the contrary, the flea load of female squirrels showed a negative correlation with body weight, significantly decreasing in the autumn with increasing weight. Significant interactions were observed between season and survival status, with hosts exhibiting higher tick load during autumn survival. Our findings underscore the importance of considering seasonal variation in parasitism and the interactions between seasonal dynamics and host biological traits in shaping parasite distributions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"25 ","pages":"Article 101014"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142587265","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Survey for Babesia spp. in wildlife in the eastern United States","authors":"Eliza Baker ,&nbsp;Michelle Dennis ,&nbsp;Alex Jensen ,&nbsp;Kayla Buck Garrett ,&nbsp;Christopher A. Cleveland ,&nbsp;Michael J. Yabsley ,&nbsp;Justin D. Brown ,&nbsp;Kyle Van Why ,&nbsp;Richard Gerhold","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.101015","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.101015","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Babesia</em> is a diverse genus of piroplasms that parasitize the red blood cells of a wide variety of mammals and avian species, including humans. There is a lack of knowledge on the <em>Babesia</em> species of carnivores and mesomammals in the eastern United States and the potential impacts of these species on the health of humans and domestic animals. We surveyed 786 wild mammals in the eastern United States by testing blood, spleen, and heart samples with PCR targeting the 18S rRNA region of apicomplexan parasites. We also performed PCR targeting the cytochrome <em>c</em> oxidase subunit 1 (<em>cox1)</em> region of each unique clade identified with 18S rRNA sequencing. We found a high positivity of <em>Babesia</em> spp. infection in raccoons (<em>Procyon lotor</em>), foxes (<em>Vulpes vulpes</em> and <em>Urocyon cinereoargenteus</em>), and striped skunks (<em>Mephitis mephitis</em>), and low positivity in Virginia opossums (<em>Didelphis virginiana</em>). No <em>Babesia</em> infections were detected in coyotes (<em>Canis latrans</em>), black bears (<em>Ursus americanus</em>), groundhogs (<em>Marmota monax</em>), muskrats (<em>Ondatra zibethicus</em>), or mink (<em>Neovison vison</em>). Skunks carried a diverse number of strains including a potential novel species of <em>Babesia</em> related to <em>B. gibsoni,</em> a strain closely related to a <em>B. microti-</em>like species known to cause disease in river otters, as well as a separate <em>B. microti</em>-like strain. Raccoons primarily carried <em>B. microti</em>-like strains, though there was a high diversity of sequences including <em>Babesia lotori, Babesia</em> sensu stricto MA230, and <em>Babesia</em> sp. ‘Coco.’ Foxes exclusively carried <em>B. vulpes.</em> In addition to <em>Babesia</em> spp., a high positivity of <em>Hepatozoon</em> spp. infection was found in mink, while low positivity was found in raccoons and muskrats. Wildlife in the eastern United States carry a diverse range of <em>Babesia</em> species including several novel strains of unknown clinical significance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"25 ","pages":"Article 101015"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142571812","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prevalence and local transmission of haemosporidian (Haemosporida) parasites in nestlings of birds of prey (Aves, Accipitriformes) in the temperate forests in Lithuania","authors":"Dovilė Bukauskaitė,&nbsp;Carolina Romeiro Fernandes Chagas,&nbsp;Mélanie Duc,&nbsp;Margarita Kazak,&nbsp;Rimgaudas Treinys","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.101013","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.101013","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Wild birds of prey (Accipitriformes) are infected with haemosporidian (Haemosporida) parasites worldwide, and it is known that these parasites can negatively affect their health. These birds are less studied due to their low densities in ecosystems, conservation status, and difficulty of accessing them in the wild. Therefore, in this study, we focused on nestlings of birds of prey that are accessible in their nests during late breeding stages in temperate forests in Lithuania. Investigating haemosporidian parasites in nestlings is crucial for understanding local parasite transmission. To identify the haemosporidian parasite species transmitted in Lithuania, we sampled nestlings of the white-tailed eagles (<em>Haliaeetus albicilla</em>), lesser spotted eagles (<em>Clanga pomarina</em>), and common buzzards (<em>Buteo buteo</em>) in 2019–2022. Blood samples were collected from the nestlings, and molecular methods were employed to sequence a fragment of the parasite's cytochrome <em>b</em> (cyt <em>b</em>) gene using specific primers (Plas1F/HaemNR3 and 3760F/HaemJR4). In addition to molecular techniques, microscopy was used to examine blood smears for the presence of parasites. Our results revealed that nestlings of birds of prey were infected only with <em>Leucocytozoon</em> spp., with an overall prevalence of 30.5%. The prevalence was similar between years, but it was significantly species-dependent. The common buzzard nestlings had the highest prevalence (80%), followed by the lesser spotted eagle (29.2%) and the white-tailed eagle (13.2%). A total of nine genetic lineages were identified, with five of them being novel. Our study demonstrates that <em>Leucocytozoon</em> parasites are actively transmitted to nestlings of birds of prey in Lithuania, with a high prevalence.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"25 ","pages":"Article 101013"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142572301","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Gastrointestinal parasite prevalence, diversity and association in free-ranging Chacma baboon troops in a semi-arid savanna ecosystem of Zimbabwe","authors":"Annabel Banda ,&nbsp;Doreen Z. Moyo ,&nbsp;Nokubonga Ncube ,&nbsp;Edmore Utete ,&nbsp;James Machingura ,&nbsp;Tapiwa Gumbo ,&nbsp;Edson Gandiwa","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.101012","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.101012","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Free-ranging Chacma baboon species are known to harbour a wide range of zoonotic parasites, and their frequent close interactions with humans pose a risk of transmission of zoonotic parasites between the two species. This research study focused on understanding parasite dynamics in free-ranging baboon populations that inhabit human-wildlife interface areas, a case of Gwanda State University's Epoch Mine campus in Filabusi at Insiza district. A descriptive and analytical cross-sectional design was used to investigate the prevalence, diversity and association of gastrointestinal parasites among three baboon troops found at the Epoch Mine campus. One hundred and twenty (120) fresh faecal samples were collected from the three troops between February and September 2023. The centrifugal floatation technique was used to process and analyse faecal samples, and parasite ova and cysts were identified using morphological features like shape and size. The prevalence of the parasite taxa and a chi-squared multiple comparison test was computed. Results showed significant differences among most parasite taxa except <em>Coccidia</em> spp and <em>Entamoeba</em> spp among the three troops. The Shannon–Wiener (H′) index was used to calculate diversity and graphs were utilized to present the association. The Kruskal-Wallis tests showed no significant difference in parasite diversity among the three troops. Although troop-parasite association showed different parasite species for each troop, helminths <em>Strongylid</em> spp. and <em>Schistosoma</em> spp. were highly common across all three troops. Troop 1 and 3 were associated with four parasite taxa, whereas Troop 2 had only three. The study reveals the presence of gastro-intestinal parasites of public health concern, as they are capable of causing diseases in humans and domestic animals. The study, therefore, underscores the importance of understanding parasite-host dynamics in mitigating zoonotic disease transmission and suggests the need to generate baseline data for mitigating zoonotic diseases and maintaining a healthy ecosystem.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"25 ","pages":"Article 101012"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142554970","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Endoparasite survey in Amazonian manatees (Trichechus inunguis) under rehabilitation in the Peruvian Amazon","authors":"Philipp Sziderics ,&nbsp;Alessandra R. Medrano Zavala ,&nbsp;Edmundo Guadalupe Parada Lopez ,&nbsp;E. Leonardo Davila Panduro ,&nbsp;Juan J.E. Sanchez Babilonia ,&nbsp;Maria S. Unterköfler ,&nbsp;David Ebmer ,&nbsp;Emmanouil A. Koumantakis ,&nbsp;Jim W. Ruiz Pezo ,&nbsp;Franco I. Macedo Tafur ,&nbsp;Luis A. Gomez-Puerta ,&nbsp;Hans-Peter Fuehrer","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.101011","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.101011","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Manatee populations are declining worldwide, and all currently existing species are considered vulnerable by the IUCN. The most common problems during nurturing young Amazonian manatees, <em>Trichechus inunguis,</em> in rescue centres are of gastrointestinal nature leading to inappetence, diarrhoea, cachexia and even death. Endoparasites play an important role in the well-being of wildlife in captivity as well as in the wild, though information about relevant protozoan and metazoan endoparasites in Amazonian manatees is still scarce. Therefore, this study aimed to find endoparasites in <em>T. inunguis</em> by analyzing faecal samples from 23 Amazonian manatees which were kept in rescue centres in the Peruvian Amazon. The samples were screened for protozoan and metazoan parasites using coproscopical analysis and molecular tools. Out of twenty juvenile animals eleven were positive for at least one Eimeriidae. Two morphologically different, not yet genetically described <em>Eimeria</em> species were identified. One of them seems to be <em>Eimeria trichechi</em> which has only been described once in 1984 in Amazonian manatees from Brazil. It was not found to lead to clinical symptoms of coccidiosis in this study. The second, <em>Eimeria</em> sp. Type B was associated with clinical coccidiosis in a young Amazonian manatee, which showed gastrointestinal symptoms including diarrhoea, inappetence and cachexia. No other protozoan or metazoan parasite were detected in any of the samples. The present study is the first to investigate endoparasites in Amazonian manatees using molecular tools and is the first to identify an Eimeria species that could be associated with clinical symptoms in <em>T. inunguis</em>. With information from our study rescue centres can improve monitoring of parasites more effectively to reduce morbidity and mortality rates among rehabilitated manatees as well as improve the health status and fitness of animals for a successful release back into the wild.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"25 ","pages":"Article 101011"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142554969","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Estimating the impact of sarcoptic mange epidemic on the population size of wild raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) from wildlife rescue data","authors":"Ryota Matsuyama ,&nbsp;Nobuhide Kido ,&nbsp;Ryosuke Omori","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.101010","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.101010","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The impact of infectious diseases on host populations is often not quantified because it is difficult to observe the host population and infectious disease dynamics. To address this problem, we developed a state-space model to simultaneously estimate host population and disease dynamics using wildlife rescue data. Using this model, we aimed to quantify the impact of sarcoptic mange on a Japanese raccoon dog population by estimating the change in their relative population size. We classified the status of rescued raccoon dogs into four categories: i) rescued due to infection with mange, ii) rescued due to traffic accidents without mange, iii) rescued due to traffic accidents with mange, and iv) rescued due to causes other than traffic accidents or mange. We modelled the observation process for each category and fitted the model to the reported number of raccoon dogs rescued between 1990 and 2010 at three wildlife rescue facilities in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. The mortality rate induced by mange was estimated to be 1.09 (95% credible interval (CI): 0.47–1.72) per year. The estimated prevalence of sarcoptic mange ranged between 4 and 80% in the study period. When a substantial prevalence of mange was observed (1995–2002), the host population size decreased by 91.2% (95% credible intervals: 86.3–94.7). We show that the impact of infectious disease outbreak on the wildlife population can be estimated from the time-series data of wildlife rescue events due to multiple causes. Our estimates suggest that sarcoptic mange triggered a substantial decrease in the Japanese wild raccoon dog populations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"25 ","pages":"Article 101010"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142560734","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring animal enclosures and parasite interactions in Germany","authors":"Christopher Sander ,&nbsp;Niko Balkenhol ,&nbsp;Stephan Neumann","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.101009","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.101009","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In order to gain an initial impression of the current parasite situation in wildlife enclosures across Germany, 17 enclosures of six animal species were examined for parasites in soil and fecal samples in seven facilities. Of particular interest in this context are helminths and protists. Despite the potential risks, however, there are only a few studies on parasites in animal enclosures due to the taboo subject. The study examined 661 fecal samples from fallow deer (<em>Dama dama,</em> N = 247), wild boar (<em>Sus scrofa</em>, N = 207), red deer (<em>Cervus elaphus,</em> N = 111), mouflon (<em>Ovis orientalis musimon</em> N = 76), roe deer (<em>Capreolus capreolus</em>, N = 12) and bison (<em>Bison bonasus</em>, N = 8) as well as 136 soil samples from 12 single-species enclosures and 5 mixed-species enclosures. Three hundred and sixty fecal samples (54.46 %) tested positive for parasites using flotation and sedimentation methods. In addition, parasites were detected in 62.5 % (N = 85) of the soil samples. Examination of the faecal samples revealed that the most common parasite species were <em>Strongyloides</em> sp., <em>Trichostrongylus</em> sp. and <em>Trichuris</em> sp. With the help of a Geographic Information System (GIS), the findings could be displayed on an enclosure map and initial hypotheses on environmental relationships could be made. Particularly high parasite samples were mostly located near feeding and resting areas. The results underline the need for more regular monitoring and targeted parasite management to protect the health of the animals. GIS can be used as an additional tool to help identify hotspots and to specifically incorporate the environment into management in order to take animal-friendly measures. This will play a greater role in the future in the context of anthelmintic resistance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"25 ","pages":"Article 101009"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142539166","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) population response to anthelminthic treatment in the Rolling Plains ecoregion of Texas, 2014–2016","authors":"Cassandra Henry,&nbsp;Matthew Z. Brym,&nbsp;Jeremiah Leach,&nbsp;Ronald J. Kendall","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.101006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.101006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Northern bobwhite quail (<em>Colinus virginianus</em>) are an economically significant gamebird that has experienced continued general decline in the Rolling Plains ecoregion of Texas. Habitat loss and changing environmental conditions have been cited as major contributors to this decline, with factors such as parasites being considered inconsequential. To better assess the impacts of parasite infections on bobwhite populations in the Rolling Plains, bobwhite abundance was monitored in response to anthelminthic treatment. With the prevalence of <em>Oxyspirura petrowi</em> and <em>Aulonocephalus pennula</em> infections in quail from Mitchell County, Texas confirmed by previous studies, the anthelminthic agent Fenbendazole was introduced as a means of parasite control in 2014–2015. Bobwhite abundance was determined through a series of call counts which provided an index of bobwhite populations and were conducted throughout the course of the study. In 2016, call counts revealed a significant increase of bobwhite in the area subject to Fenbendazole treatment, while untreated areas showed no changes in abundance. Fall populations of bobwhite in the treated zone approached 300% of those in untreated areas, these findings suggest that parasites may have a more significant impact on quail populations in the Rolling Plains than previously suspected. With the importance of bobwhite as a game bird in the Rolling Plains, the potential impacts of parasites must be taken into consideration as a factor contributing to bobwhite declines. Further research into the long-term effects these parasites have on quail populations in the ecoregion may aid landowners in developing affordable and effective conservation strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"25 ","pages":"Article 101006"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142539165","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Patterns of feather mite (Acariformes: Astigmata) prevalence and load in a promiscuous bird during the breeding season","authors":"Joanna Wołoszkiewicz ,&nbsp;Jacek Dabert ,&nbsp;Sandra Kaźmierczak ,&nbsp;Janusz Kloskowski","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.101008","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.101008","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The effects of ectosymbiotic feather mites on avian host fitness and factors driving the variation in mite infestation levels, such as host mating and brood care system, are poorly understood. We investigated patterns of feather mite prevalence and abundance, and relationships between infestation and body condition in breeding Aquatic Warblers <em>Acrocephalus paludicola</em>, a promiscuous songbird with female-only parental care. In plumage, the dominant mite species was <em>Trouessartia bifurcata,</em> whose prevalence more than doubled during the breeding season, to reach 95% (95% confidence limits 71–99) during the second-brood period. Approximately 5% of birds were co-infested with <em>Proctophyllodes</em> cf. <em>clavatus</em>. While mite prevalence did not differ between sexes, mite abundance was significantly greater in Aquatic Warbler females than in males, and it increased between the first- and the second-brood period irrespective of sex. No significant relationship was found between mite prevalence or abundance and host condition expressed as mass scaled to size. However, in breeding females, this relationship could be confounded by the effects of nest-dwelling ectoparasites present in some nests but only sporadically if at all detected on adult birds; 2% of adult birds were heavily infested with the hematophagous mite <em>Dermanyssus hirundinis</em> (Mesostigmata). Our findings indicate that the mating system may affect symbiont variability between and within host species. The high prevalence of feather mites on adult birds at the late stage of the breeding season supports the hypothesis that promiscuous species have high infestation levels. Greater mite loads on Aquatic Warbler females than males reveal a different pattern from previously studied birds. However, we did not identify any consequences of mite infestation for the female body condition or current breeding success; hence, the apparently commensal relationship does not imply costs of female promiscuity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"25 ","pages":"Article 101008"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142539164","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}