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.
{"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":"https://doi.org/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":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-28","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}
Ectoparasite loads of birds may be governed, in part, by the climatic characteristics of their environment. We surveyed live-trapped American Kestrels (Falco sparverius caribaearum) for lice and other ectoparasites on the humid subtropical island of Puerto Rico during March-May 2024. The main goal was to compare the prevalence and abundance of lice on kestrels in Puerto Rico to recently published data on the lice of kestrels 1000 km away in the Bahamas, and to the lice of kestrels in an arid region of the western US (Utah). A brief general inspection of the plumage of 39 captured birds was followed by careful examination of the underside of wing primary feathers under a dissecting microscope. Two species of lice were collected, Colpocephalum subzerafae and Degeeriella carruthi, neither previously recorded from kestrels in Puerto Rico. The same two species are present on kestrels in the Bahamas. The prevalence and abundance of lice on kestrels in Puerto Rico and the Bahamas were similar, while being much greater than the prevalence and abundance of lice on kestrels in arid Utah, US. We also collected two species of hippoboscid flies (Diptera: Hippoboscidae): Microlynchia pusilla, not previously recorded on the American Kestrel, and Ornithoctona erythrocephala. These flies, as well as the lice, might affect the health of kestrels both directly, e.g., causing anemia by feeding on blood, and indirectly by vectoring endoparasites.
{"title":"High Ectoparasite Loads of Tropical Birds: Chewing Lice on Puerto Rican American Kestrels (Falco sparverius caribaearum).","authors":"Martín G Frixione, Sarah E Bush, Dale H Clayton","doi":"10.7589/JWD-D-24-00100","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7589/JWD-D-24-00100","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Ectoparasite loads of birds may be governed, in part, by the climatic characteristics of their environment. We surveyed live-trapped American Kestrels (Falco sparverius caribaearum) for lice and other ectoparasites on the humid subtropical island of Puerto Rico during March-May 2024. The main goal was to compare the prevalence and abundance of lice on kestrels in Puerto Rico to recently published data on the lice of kestrels 1000 km away in the Bahamas, and to the lice of kestrels in an arid region of the western US (Utah). A brief general inspection of the plumage of 39 captured birds was followed by careful examination of the underside of wing primary feathers under a dissecting microscope. Two species of lice were collected, Colpocephalum subzerafae and Degeeriella carruthi, neither previously recorded from kestrels in Puerto Rico. The same two species are present on kestrels in the Bahamas. The prevalence and abundance of lice on kestrels in Puerto Rico and the Bahamas were similar, while being much greater than the prevalence and abundance of lice on kestrels in arid Utah, US. We also collected two species of hippoboscid flies (Diptera: Hippoboscidae): Microlynchia pusilla, not previously recorded on the American Kestrel, and Ornithoctona erythrocephala. These flies, as well as the lice, might affect the health of kestrels both directly, e.g., causing anemia by feeding on blood, and indirectly by vectoring endoparasites.</p>","PeriodicalId":17602,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Wildlife Diseases","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142503015","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}
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
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.
{"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":"https://doi.org/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":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-22","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}
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.
{"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":"https://doi.org/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":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-15","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}
Rob Williams, Erin Ashe, Kimberly A Nielsen, Hendrik H Nollens, Stephanie Reiss, Katherine Wold, Joseph K Gaydos
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.
{"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":"https://doi.org/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":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-11","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}
Kelcie Fredrickson, Laura Adamovicz, Karen Terio, Alexis Davidson, Maura Ryan, Michelle Waligora, Kayla Schroder, Samantha Bradley, Carley Lionetto, Kirsten Andersson, Aubrey Engel, William Graser, Chris Anchor, Gary Glowacki, Matthew C Allender
The order Onygenales contains multiple fungal pathogens that affect free-ranging and zoo-housed reptilian species. Emydomyces testavorans, an onygenalean fungus associated with skin and shell disease, has been sporadically detected in aquatic chelonians. Because of the recent discovery of this organism, little is known about its prevalence in free-ranging chelonians. The objective of this study was to perform surveillance for E. testavorans in six free-ranging aquatic and terrestrial chelonian species in Illinois, USA: Blanding's turtles (n=437; Emydoidea blandingii), painted turtles (n=199; Chrysemys picta), common snapping turtles (n=35; Chelydra serpentina), red-eared sliders (n=62; RES; Trachemys scripta elegans), eastern box turtles (n=73; Terrapene carolina carolina) and ornate box turtles (n=29; Terrapene ornata). Combined cloacal-oral swabs (COSs) or shell (carapace and plastron surfaces) swabs were collected from 2019 to 2021 and tested for E. testavorans using quantitative PCR. The PCR detected E. testavorans in COSs of an adult male, subadult female, and juvenile male Blanding's turtle (0.6%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.2-1.9%) and a shell swab from an adult female RES (1.6%; 95% CI, 0-8.7%). Shell lesions consistent with E. testavorans infection were present in two of the positive Blanding's turtles. These results document the rarity of this pathogen on the landscape in Illinois. Additional studies should determine this pathogen's impact on individuals and clarify its significance for conservation efforts of Blanding's turtle, in which E. testavorans has not been reported previously.
真菌纲包含多种真菌病原体,会影响自由放养和动物园饲养的爬行动物物种。在水生螯虾中零星发现了一种与皮肤和外壳疾病相关的真菌--Emydomyces testavorans。由于这种真菌是最近才被发现的,因此人们对其在自由活动的螯虾中的流行情况知之甚少。本研究的目的是在六种自由放养的螯虾中监测 E.testavorans:这些物种包括:布兰丁龟(437 只;Emydoidea blandingii)、彩龟(199 只;Chrysemys picta)、普通鳄龟(35 只;Chelydra serpentina)、红耳滑龟(62 只;RES;Trachemys scripta elegans)、东部箱龟(73 只;Terrapene carolina carolina)和华丽箱龟(29 只;Terrapene carolina ornata)。在 2019 年至 2021 年期间收集了泄殖腔-口腔拭子(COS)或壳(甲壳和底盘表面)拭子,并使用定量 PCR 检测了 E. testavorans。PCR 在一只成年雄性、亚成年雌性和幼年雄性布兰丁龟的 COS(0.6%;95% 置信区间 [CI],0.2-1.9%)和一只成年雌性 RES 的甲壳拭子(1.6%;95% CI,0-8.7%)中检测到 E. testavorans。两只阳性的布兰丁龟出现了与 E. testavorans 感染一致的龟壳病变。这些结果证明了这种病原体在伊利诺伊州十分罕见。更多的研究应能确定这种病原体对个体的影响,并明确其对保护布兰登海龟的意义,因为此前还没有关于 E. testavorans 感染布兰登海龟的报道。
{"title":"Emydomyces testavorans Surveillance in Multiple Free-Ranging Terrestrial and Aquatic Chelonian Species in Illinois, USA.","authors":"Kelcie Fredrickson, Laura Adamovicz, Karen Terio, Alexis Davidson, Maura Ryan, Michelle Waligora, Kayla Schroder, Samantha Bradley, Carley Lionetto, Kirsten Andersson, Aubrey Engel, William Graser, Chris Anchor, Gary Glowacki, Matthew C Allender","doi":"10.7589/JWD-D-23-00164","DOIUrl":"10.7589/JWD-D-23-00164","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The order Onygenales contains multiple fungal pathogens that affect free-ranging and zoo-housed reptilian species. Emydomyces testavorans, an onygenalean fungus associated with skin and shell disease, has been sporadically detected in aquatic chelonians. Because of the recent discovery of this organism, little is known about its prevalence in free-ranging chelonians. The objective of this study was to perform surveillance for E. testavorans in six free-ranging aquatic and terrestrial chelonian species in Illinois, USA: Blanding's turtles (n=437; Emydoidea blandingii), painted turtles (n=199; Chrysemys picta), common snapping turtles (n=35; Chelydra serpentina), red-eared sliders (n=62; RES; Trachemys scripta elegans), eastern box turtles (n=73; Terrapene carolina carolina) and ornate box turtles (n=29; Terrapene ornata). Combined cloacal-oral swabs (COSs) or shell (carapace and plastron surfaces) swabs were collected from 2019 to 2021 and tested for E. testavorans using quantitative PCR. The PCR detected E. testavorans in COSs of an adult male, subadult female, and juvenile male Blanding's turtle (0.6%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.2-1.9%) and a shell swab from an adult female RES (1.6%; 95% CI, 0-8.7%). Shell lesions consistent with E. testavorans infection were present in two of the positive Blanding's turtles. These results document the rarity of this pathogen on the landscape in Illinois. Additional studies should determine this pathogen's impact on individuals and clarify its significance for conservation efforts of Blanding's turtle, in which E. testavorans has not been reported previously.</p>","PeriodicalId":17602,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Wildlife Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"850-859"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141751991","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}
Carter J Littlefair, Andrew E Derocher, Paul F Frame, Mark A Edwards, Delaney D Frame, Owen M Slater, Corey A Smereka
Capturing and handling wildlife is a common practice for both management and research. As telemetry use has become common, the need to capture and chemically immobilize wildlife has increased. Understanding how long the effects of immobilizing agents last after releasing the animal is often poorly understood but needed to ensure that analyses use data that reflect natural behavior. Between 2016 and 2021, 60 cougars (Puma concolor) were chemically immobilized with medetomidine, zolazepam, and tiletamine (MZT) and collared across west-central Alberta, Canada, 27 of which were individuals being recollared. We examined the distance an individual traveled per day and compared equivalent periods before and after the recollaring event to determine whether postcapture movement rates were significantly different from precapture rates. Within 1 d of the recollaring, daily movement rates had returned to precapture rates (t20=2.09, P=0.18). Our results provide insight on how MZT used in cougars affects their postcapture movement and thus may be helpful in interpreting movement data after release.
{"title":"Chemical Immobilization Effects on Cougar (Felis concolor) Movement.","authors":"Carter J Littlefair, Andrew E Derocher, Paul F Frame, Mark A Edwards, Delaney D Frame, Owen M Slater, Corey A Smereka","doi":"10.7589/JWD-D-23-00191","DOIUrl":"10.7589/JWD-D-23-00191","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Capturing and handling wildlife is a common practice for both management and research. As telemetry use has become common, the need to capture and chemically immobilize wildlife has increased. Understanding how long the effects of immobilizing agents last after releasing the animal is often poorly understood but needed to ensure that analyses use data that reflect natural behavior. Between 2016 and 2021, 60 cougars (Puma concolor) were chemically immobilized with medetomidine, zolazepam, and tiletamine (MZT) and collared across west-central Alberta, Canada, 27 of which were individuals being recollared. We examined the distance an individual traveled per day and compared equivalent periods before and after the recollaring event to determine whether postcapture movement rates were significantly different from precapture rates. Within 1 d of the recollaring, daily movement rates had returned to precapture rates (t20=2.09, P=0.18). Our results provide insight on how MZT used in cougars affects their postcapture movement and thus may be helpful in interpreting movement data after release.</p>","PeriodicalId":17602,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Wildlife Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"985-990"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141878991","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}
Alexander A Levitskiy, Manigandan Lejeune, Elizabeth L Buckles, Andrea J Patterson, Sara E Childs-Sanford
Great Crested Flycatchers (Myiarchus crinitus), migratory passerines with a breeding range throughout the northeastern, midwestern, and southern US, are banded annually at the Braddock Bay Bird Observatory located on the southern shore of Lake Ontario, New York, USA. In 2016, a Great Crested Flycatcher was observed with distinct lesions in the gular and ventral neck region, which prompted evaluation for similar lesions in subsequently trapped flycatchers and other passerine species. From 2016 to 2023, 62/102 banded Great Crested Flycatchers had their gular region examined, and seven were found to have lesions (11.3% incidence). Similar lesions were not found in any other species. Lesions were localized to the gular region and included extensive feather loss with thickened, corrugated, pale-yellow skin. Grossly visible 1- to 2-mm-diameter, raised, white-to-yellow foci throughout the affected region corresponded microscopically to feather follicles that were massively dilated with mites. Morphologic analysis of mites obtained from skin scrapes revealed that this mite species belongs to the family Harpirhynchidae. Mites in this family have restricted avian host ranges and cause varying clinical presentations in passerines, though many species remain unidentified. PCR efforts were unsuccessful in yielding a species-level identification. Further monitoring of Great Crested Flycatchers and other avian species is warranted, as the fitness implications of this ectoparasitism at the individual and population levels are not known.
{"title":"Cutaneous Lesions in the Gular Region Caused by Feather Follicle Infestation with Harpirhynchidae sp. Mites in Great Crested Flycatchers (Myiarchus crinitus) in New York, USA, 2016-23.","authors":"Alexander A Levitskiy, Manigandan Lejeune, Elizabeth L Buckles, Andrea J Patterson, Sara E Childs-Sanford","doi":"10.7589/JWD-D-23-00166","DOIUrl":"10.7589/JWD-D-23-00166","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Great Crested Flycatchers (Myiarchus crinitus), migratory passerines with a breeding range throughout the northeastern, midwestern, and southern US, are banded annually at the Braddock Bay Bird Observatory located on the southern shore of Lake Ontario, New York, USA. In 2016, a Great Crested Flycatcher was observed with distinct lesions in the gular and ventral neck region, which prompted evaluation for similar lesions in subsequently trapped flycatchers and other passerine species. From 2016 to 2023, 62/102 banded Great Crested Flycatchers had their gular region examined, and seven were found to have lesions (11.3% incidence). Similar lesions were not found in any other species. Lesions were localized to the gular region and included extensive feather loss with thickened, corrugated, pale-yellow skin. Grossly visible 1- to 2-mm-diameter, raised, white-to-yellow foci throughout the affected region corresponded microscopically to feather follicles that were massively dilated with mites. Morphologic analysis of mites obtained from skin scrapes revealed that this mite species belongs to the family Harpirhynchidae. Mites in this family have restricted avian host ranges and cause varying clinical presentations in passerines, though many species remain unidentified. PCR efforts were unsuccessful in yielding a species-level identification. Further monitoring of Great Crested Flycatchers and other avian species is warranted, as the fitness implications of this ectoparasitism at the individual and population levels are not known.</p>","PeriodicalId":17602,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Wildlife Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"964-969"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141563662","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}
C Robert Stilz, Margaret E Pritchett, Rebecca H Hardman, Nicole M Nemeth
A subadult Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) was found dead near a fishing pier in Florida, USA. Necropsy revealed abundant sand accumulation throughout the intestines. Fibrinous coelomitis with isolation of mixed bacteria, including Enterobacter cloacae complex, suggests secondary intestinal compromise. Sand ingestion might reflect geophagia, environmental hardships, or age-related diving inexperience.
{"title":"Sand Enteropathy in a Free-Ranging Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) from Florida, USA.","authors":"C Robert Stilz, Margaret E Pritchett, Rebecca H Hardman, Nicole M Nemeth","doi":"10.7589/JWD-D-24-00074","DOIUrl":"10.7589/JWD-D-24-00074","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A subadult Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) was found dead near a fishing pier in Florida, USA. Necropsy revealed abundant sand accumulation throughout the intestines. Fibrinous coelomitis with isolation of mixed bacteria, including Enterobacter cloacae complex, suggests secondary intestinal compromise. Sand ingestion might reflect geophagia, environmental hardships, or age-related diving inexperience.</p>","PeriodicalId":17602,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Wildlife Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"1037-1040"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141748503","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}
Avery M Corondi, Justin D Brown, Jeremiah E Banfield, W David Walter
Chemical immobilization is commonly used to capture and handle free-ranging elk (Cervus canadensis). Butorphanol-azaperone-medetomidine (BAM) and nalbuphine-medetomidine-azaperone (NalMed-A) are compounded drug combinations that are lower-scheduled in the US than drugs historically used for elk immobilizations. We compared BAM and NalMed-A for immobilization of free-ranging elk using free-darting and Clover trapping. From January 2020 to April 2022, 196 female elk were immobilized in Pennsylvania, USA. We report vital rates, induction and recovery times, and the need for supplemental drugs. We built mixed-effects logistic regression models to describe differences between drug choice based on induction and recovery times, capture method, and individual variation. Several models were competing, including our null model, which suggests that BAM and NalMed-A are comparable based on the parameters we evaluated. Supplemental drug administration was more frequently needed in NalMed-A immobilizations (21.2%) than in BAM immobilizations (9.0%). Overall, we found minor differences between BAM and NalMed-A, both of which appear to be effective for immobilizing elk in both free-darting and Clover trapping scenarios when performing moderately invasive, minimally painful procedures on free-ranging elk.
{"title":"Comparison of Butorphanol-Azaperone-Medetomidine and Nalbuphine-Medetomidine-Azaperone in Free-Ranging Elk (Cervus canadensis) in Pennsylvania, USA.","authors":"Avery M Corondi, Justin D Brown, Jeremiah E Banfield, W David Walter","doi":"10.7589/JWD-D-23-00127","DOIUrl":"10.7589/JWD-D-23-00127","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Chemical immobilization is commonly used to capture and handle free-ranging elk (Cervus canadensis). Butorphanol-azaperone-medetomidine (BAM) and nalbuphine-medetomidine-azaperone (NalMed-A) are compounded drug combinations that are lower-scheduled in the US than drugs historically used for elk immobilizations. We compared BAM and NalMed-A for immobilization of free-ranging elk using free-darting and Clover trapping. From January 2020 to April 2022, 196 female elk were immobilized in Pennsylvania, USA. We report vital rates, induction and recovery times, and the need for supplemental drugs. We built mixed-effects logistic regression models to describe differences between drug choice based on induction and recovery times, capture method, and individual variation. Several models were competing, including our null model, which suggests that BAM and NalMed-A are comparable based on the parameters we evaluated. Supplemental drug administration was more frequently needed in NalMed-A immobilizations (21.2%) than in BAM immobilizations (9.0%). Overall, we found minor differences between BAM and NalMed-A, both of which appear to be effective for immobilizing elk in both free-darting and Clover trapping scenarios when performing moderately invasive, minimally painful procedures on free-ranging elk.</p>","PeriodicalId":17602,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Wildlife Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"950-955"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142017908","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}