Genomic sequence of a Bohle iridovirus strain isolated from a diseased boreal toad (Anaxyrus boreas boreas) in a North American aquarium

The first confirmed outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus infections in North America was caused by A/turkey/Ontario/7732/1966 (H5N9); however, the phylogeny of this virus is largely unknown. This study performed genomic sequence analysis of 11 avian influenza isolates from 1956 to 1979 for comparison with A/turkey/Ontario/7732/1966 (H5N9). Phylogenetic and genetic analyses included these viruses in combination with all known full-genome sequences of avian viruses isolated before 1981. It was shown that a low-pathogenic avian influenza virus, A/turkey/Ontario/6213/1966 (H5N1), that had been isolated 3 months previously, was the closest known genetic relative with six genome segments of common lineage encoding the polymerase subunits PB2, PB1 and PA, nucleoprotein (NP), haemagglutinin (HA) and non-structural (NS) proteins. The lineages of these genome segments included reassortment with other North American turkey viruses that were all rooted in North American wild waterfowl with the HA gene originating from the H5N2 serotype. The phylogenies demonstrated adaptation from North American wild birds to turkeys with the possible involvement of domestic waterfowl. The turkey isolate, A/turkey/Wisconsin/1968 (H5N9), was the second most closely related poultry isolate to A/turkey/Ontario/7732/1966 (H5N9), possessing five common lineage genome segments (PB2, PB1, PA, HA and neuraminidase). The A/turkey/Ontario/6213/1966 (H5N1) virus was more virulent than A/turkey/Wisconsin/68 (H5N9) for chicken embryos and mice, indicating a greater biological similarity to A/turkey/Ontario/7732/1966 (H5N9). Thus, A/turkey/Ontario/6213/1966 (H5N1) was identified as the closest known ancestral relative of HPAI A/turkey/Ontario/7732/1966 (H5N9), which will serve as a useful reference virus for characterizing the early genetic and biological properties associated with the emergence of pathogenic avian influenza strains.

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Scale and landscape perception: the case of refuge use by Boreal Toads (Anaxyrus boreas boreas)

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z2012-069 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 90 (8) ◽

pp. 1015-1022 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Z.L. Long ◽

E.E. Prepas

Keyword(s):

Woody Debris ◽

Physical Structure ◽

Home Ranges ◽

Movement Behaviour ◽

Refuge Use ◽

Landscape Perception ◽

Critical Resource ◽

Anaxyrus Boreas Boreas ◽

Boreal Toads ◽

Anaxyrus Boreas

Refugia likely represent a critical resource necessary for the persistence of populations of Boreal Toads ( Anaxyrus boreas boreas (Baird and Girard, 1852)) in a given area. However, the features that define suitable refuge microsites and the extent to which the habitat surrounding refugia is exploited remains unclear. We sought to describe refuge characteristics in the context of their surroundings and to determine whether local-scale movement behaviour associated with refuge use might provide a novel perspective of landscape-level habitat selection. A pilot study suggested that refugia were selected primarily for physical structure in the form of coarse woody debris, but this was not the case. Instead, refugia provided favourable microclimates with elevated relative humidity compared with the surrounding habitat. Boreal Toads tended to forage at night within 15 m from refugia. This distance was used to calculate activity centres across toad summer home ranges. Activity centres prioritized the importance of treeless habitat overall and wetland habitat for females when compared with 50% core home ranges. This approach could be used to pinpoint critical habitat at the landscape scale, which may be of particular importance for conserving populations currently in decline.

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Characterization of Emerging European-Like Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus Isolates in the United States

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.78.7.3684-3703.2004 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 78 (7) ◽

pp. 3684-3703 ◽

Cited By ~ 124

Author(s):

Susan L. Ropp ◽

Carrie E. Mahlum Wees ◽

Ying Fang ◽

Eric A. Nelson ◽

Kurt D. Rossow ◽

...

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

North American ◽

Reference Strain ◽

Genomic Sequence ◽

Nonstructural Protein ◽

The United States ◽

Amino Acid Identity ◽

Nucleotide Identity ◽

Respiratory Syndrome Virus ◽

The North

ABSTRACT European-like field isolates of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) have recently emerged in North America. The full-length genomic sequence of an index isolate characterized in 1999, strain EuroPRRSV, served as the reference strain for further studies of the evolution and epidemiology of European-like isolates (type 1) in the United States. Strain EuroPRRSV shared 90.1 to 100% amino acid identity with the prototype European strain, Lelystad, within the structural and nonstructural open reading frames (ORFs) and 95.3% overall nucleotide identity. The 5′ untranslated region and two nonstructural regions within ORF 1 were closely examined due to significant divergence from strain Lelystad. A 51-bp deletion in a region within ORF 1a, coding for nonstructural protein 2 (NSP2), was observed. Sequence analysis of the structural ORFs 2 to 7 of additional European-like isolates indicated that these isolates share 93% nucleotide identity with one another and 95 to 96% identity with the Lelystad strain but only 70% identity with the North American reference strain VR-2332. Phylogenetic analysis with published PRRSV ORF 3, 5, and 7 nucleotide sequences indicated that these newly emerging isolates form a clade with the Lelystad and United Kingdom PRRSV isolates. Detailed analysis of four of these isolates with a panel of 60 monoclonal antibodies directed against the structural proteins confirmed a recognition pattern that was more consistent with strain Lelystad than with other North American isolates.

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Unpalatable, yet unprotected: trout reduce survival and development rate of rare toad tadpoles despite chemical defense

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences ◽

10.1139/cjfas-2016-0231 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 74 (4) ◽

pp. 494-502 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Wendy E. Lanier ◽

Kevin R. Bestgen ◽

W. Chris Funk ◽

Larissa L. Bailey

Keyword(s):

Captive Breeding ◽

Cutthroat Trout ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Oncorhynchus Clarkii ◽

Predator Prey ◽

Survival And Development ◽

Negative Impacts ◽

Oncorhynchus Clarkii Stomias ◽

Anaxyrus Boreas Boreas ◽

Anaxyrus Boreas

Unpalatable prey species often have toxins that protect from direct consumption. However, negative effects of prey manipulation by predators are rarely considered and may understate impacts to unpalatable species. When both prey and predator are species of concern, stronger understanding of the predator–prey relationship is warranted. We explored direct and indirect effects of greenback cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii stomias) on boreal toad (Anaxyrus boreas boreas) tadpole survival, growth, and development, as well as postmetamorphosis survival and growth. We found exposure to O. clarkii stomias delayed metamorphosis by 1–2.5 days and reduced tadpole survival by up to 25%, even though only a single tadpole was consumed. Tadpoles from captive-bred eggs had lower survival, growth, and greater loss in body condition after metamorphosis compared with tadpoles from wild eggs. We found that O. clarkii stomias do not innately avoid A. boreas boreas but instead strike tadpoles to determine prey palatability and repeated gustation likely reduced survival. Our results shed light on unresolved issues with A. boreas boreas captive breeding and demonstrate the nonconsumptive negative impacts of predators.

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Complete Genome Sequence of Porcine Parvovirus 2 Recovered from Swine Sera

Genome Announcements ◽

10.1128/genomea.01627-15 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

F. S. Campos ◽

M. Kluge ◽

A. C. Franco ◽

A. Giongo ◽

F. P. Valdez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Genome Sequence ◽

North American ◽

Complete Genome Sequence ◽

Complete Genome ◽

Genomic Sequence ◽

Porcine Parvovirus ◽

Complete Genomic Sequence ◽

Metagenome Analysis ◽

Complete Genomic

A complete genomic sequence of porcine parvovirus 2 (PPV-2) was detected by viral metagenome analysis on swine sera. A phylogenetic analysis of this genome reveals that it is highly similar to previously reported North American PPV-2 genomes. The complete PPV-2 sequence is 5,426 nucleotides long.

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