Echinococcus multilocularis and Echinococcus canadensis in wolves from western Canada

Parasitology ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 141 (2) ◽  
pp. 159-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
JANNA M. SCHURER ◽  
KAREN M. GESY ◽  
BRETT T. ELKIN ◽  
EMILY J. JENKINS
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Echinococcus Multilocularis ◽  
Wildlife Conservation ◽  
Parasite Species ◽  
Mixed Infections ◽  
Western Canada ◽  
Echinococcus Canadensis ◽  
Sampling Locations ◽  
Multiple Species ◽  
Canadian Wildlife

SUMMARYEchinococcus species are important parasites of wildlife, domestic animals and people worldwide; however, little is known about the prevalence, intensity and genetic diversity of Echinococcus tapeworms in Canadian wildlife. Echinococcus tapeworms were harvested from the intestines of 42% of 93 wolves (Canis lupus) from five sampling regions in the Northwest Territories, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and visually identified to genus level by microscopic examination. Genetic characterization was successful for tapeworms from 30 wolves, and identified both Echinococcus canadensis and Echinococcus multilocularis in all sampling locations. Mixed infections of E. canadensis/E. multilocularis, as well as the G8/G10 genotypes of E. canadensis were observed. These findings suggest that wolves may be an important definitive host for both parasite species in western Canada. This represents the first report of wolves naturally infected with E. multilocularis in North America, and of wolves harbouring mixed infections with multiple species and genotypes of Echinococcus. These observations provide important information regarding the distribution and diversity of zoonotic species of Echinococcus in western North America, and may be of interest from public health and wildlife conservation perspectives.

scholarly journals Deep amplicon sequencing highlights low intra-host genetic variability of Echinococcus multilocularis and high prevalence of the European-type haplotypes in coyotes and red foxes in Alberta, Canada

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. e0009428
Author(s):  
Maria A. Santa ◽  
Andrew M. Rezansoff ◽  
Rebecca Chen ◽  
John S. Gilleard ◽  
Marco Musiani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Echinococcus Multilocularis ◽  
Population Expansion ◽  
Amplicon Sequencing ◽  
Intraspecific Diversity ◽  
Mixed Infections ◽  
Western Canada ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
The North

Echinococcus multilocularis (Em) is a zoonotic parasite considered a global emergent pathogen. Recent findings indicate that the parasite is expanding its range in North America and that European-type haplotypes are circulating in western Canada. However, genetic analyses are usually conducted only on a few parasites out of thousands of individuals within each definitive host, likely underestimating the prevalence of less common haplotypes. Moreover, mixed infections with several mtDNA haplotypes in the same host have been reported, but their relative abundance within the host was never estimated. We aimed to 1) estimate the frequency of co-infections of different Em haplotypes in coyotes (Canis latrans) and red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from western Canada and their relative abundance within the definitive hosts, 2) detect less prevalent haplotypes by sampling a larger proportion of the parasite subpopulation per host, and 3) investigate differences in the distribution of Em haplotypes in these main definitive hosts; foxes and coyotes. We extracted DNA from ~10% of the worm subpopulation per host (20 foxes and 47 coyotes) and used deep amplicon sequencing (NGS technology) on four loci, targeting the most polymorphic regions from the mitochondrial genes cox1 (814 bp), nad1 (344 bp), and cob (387 bp). We detected the presence of mixed infections with multiple Em haplotypes and with different Echinococcus species including Em and E. granulosus s.l. genotypes G8/G10, low intraspecific diversity of Em, and a higher abundance of the European-type haplotypes in both hosts. Our results suggest a population expansion of the European over the North American strain in Alberta and a limited distribution of some European-type haplotypes. Our findings indicate that deep amplicon sequencing represents a valuable tool to characterize Em in multiple hosts, to assess the current distribution and possible origins of the European strain in North America. The potential use of next-generation sequencing technologies is particularly important to understand the patterns of geographic expansion of this parasite.

Prior residency does not always pay off – co-infections inDaphnia

Parasitology ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 137 (10) ◽  
pp. 1493-1500 ◽  
Author(s):  
JENNIFER N. LOHR ◽  
MINGBO YIN ◽  
JUSTYNA WOLINSKA
Keyword(s):  
Parasite Species ◽  
Mixed Effects ◽  
Spore Production ◽  
Daphnia Galeata ◽  
Intestinal Protozoan ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Single Genotype ◽  
Host Life ◽  
Multiple Species ◽  
Prior Residency

SUMMARYThe epidemiological and ecological processes which govern the success of multiple-species co-infections are as yet unresolved. Here we investigated prior versus late residency within hosts, meaning which parasite contacts the host first, to determine if the outcomes of intra-host competition are altered. We infected a single genotype of the waterfleaDaphnia galeatawith both the intestinal protozoanCaullerya mesniliand the haemolymph fungusMetschnikowiasp. (single genotype of each parasite species), as single infections, simultaneous co-infections and as sequential co-infections, with each parasite given 4 days prior residency. Simultaneous co-infections were significantly more virulent than both single infections and sequential co-infections, as measured by a decreased host life span and fecundity. Further, in addition to theDaphniahost, the parasites also suffered fitness decreases in simultaneous co-infections, as measured by spore production. The sequential co-infections, however, had mixed effects:C. mesnilibenefited from prior residency, whereasMetschnikowiasp. experienced a decline in fitness. Our results show that multiple-species co-infections ofDaphniamay be more virulent than single infections, and that prior residency does not always provide a competitive advantage.

The Caragana Aphid, Acyrthosiphon caraganae (Cholod.) in Western Canada, and its Separation from the Pea Aphid

1962 ◽  
Vol 94 (10) ◽  
pp. 1075-1077 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. G. Robinson ◽  
G. A. Bradley
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
North America ◽  
Chemical Control ◽  
Pea Aphid ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Western Canada ◽  
Forest Insect ◽  
Disease Survey ◽  
Caragana Arborescens

Except for occasional references in the Annual Reports of the Forest Insect and Disease Survey of infestations of an aphid on caragana (Caragana arborescens Lam.) in Western Canada and a note on chemical control (Bradley, 1952), there is no published record known to the authors of the occurrence of the caragana aphid, Acyrthosiphon caraganae (Cholod.), in North America. MacNay (1953) summarized reports that severe infesrations of aphids, “probably mainly the caragana aphid”, occurred on caragana in 1952 in the East Kootenays of British Columbia, and at several places in Alberta and Saskatchewan. At some localities 100 per cent defoliation was reported.

scholarly journals One Health, emerging infectious diseases and wildlife: two decades of progress?

2017 ◽  
Vol 372 (1725) ◽  
pp. 20160167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew A. Cunningham ◽  
Peter Daszak ◽  
James L. N. Wood
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Wildlife Conservation ◽  
One Health ◽  
Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Wildlife Habitat ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
Underlying Causes ◽  
Wide Scale ◽  
Multiple Species

Infectious diseases affect people, domestic animals and wildlife alike, with many pathogens being able to infect multiple species. Fifty years ago, following the wide-scale manufacture and use of antibiotics and vaccines, it seemed that the battle against infections was being won for the human population. Since then, however, and in addition to increasing antimicrobial resistance among bacterial pathogens, there has been an increase in the emergence of, mostly viral, zoonotic diseases from wildlife, sometimes causing fatal outbreaks of epidemic proportions. Concurrently, infectious disease has been identified as an increasing threat to wildlife conservation. A synthesis published in 2000 showed common anthropogenic drivers of disease threats to biodiversity and human health, including encroachment and destruction of wildlife habitat and the human-assisted spread of pathogens. Almost two decades later, the situation has not changed and, despite improved knowledge of the underlying causes, little has been done at the policy level to address these threats. For the sake of public health and wellbeing, human-kind needs to work better to conserve nature and preserve the ecosystem services, including disease regulation, that biodiversity provides while also understanding and mitigating activities which lead to disease emergence. We consider that holistic, One Health approaches to the management and mitigation of the risks of emerging infectious diseases have the greatest chance of success. This article is part of the themed issue ‘One Health for a changing world: zoonoses, ecosystems and human well-being’.

scholarly journals Prevalence of amphistomes in Black Bengal goats in Mymensingh district

1970 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 103-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
MZ Uddin ◽  
T Farjana ◽  
N Begum ◽  
MMH Mondal
Keyword(s):  
Key Words ◽  
Summer Season ◽  
Mixed Infections ◽  
Lower Prevalence ◽  
Gastrothylax Crumenifer ◽  
Control Procedures ◽  
Multiple Species ◽  
Paramphistomum Cervi ◽  
Very High

To investigate the prevalence of amphistome parasites in Black Bengal goats slaughtered at different slaughterhouses of Mymensingh district, a total of 144 gastro-intestinal tracts were examined during the period of July 1998 to June 1999 in the Department of Parasitology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh. Out of 144 Black Bengal goats, 105 (72.92%) were infected with a single or multiple species of amphistomes.  In present investigation, three species of amphistomes viz Paramphistomum cervi, Cotylophoron cotylophorum and Gastrothylax crumenifer were identified. The highest infection was observed with Paramphistomum cervi (65.28%) and lowest infection with Cotylophoron cotylophorum (36.11%). Mixed infections with two or more species of amphistomes were found in 60.42%. Age had a significant (p < 0.01) influence on the prevalence of amphistomes in goat. A higher prevalence (89.58%) was observed in older animals followed by young animals (78.57%), whereas a lower prevalence (45.0%) in growing animals. However, the prevalence increased with the increase of age. The females (75.0%) were found more (1.44 times) susceptible to amphistomes infection than the males (67.5%). The prevalence of amphistomes was very high all the year round and the rate of infection was 83.64%, 69.23% and 64.0% during monsoon, winter and summer season respectively. The present study concluded that Black Bengal goats are susceptible to amphistome infection irrespective of age, sex and season of the year. So, control of these parasites is essential and the further investigation is needed, focusing on control procedures of amphistomes infection in goats. Key Words: Amphistomes, prevalence, Black Bengal goats DOI = 10.3329/bjvm.v4i2.1292 Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2006). 4 (2): 103-106

Variation in Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence: effects of site, sex, species and behaviour between insular and mainland macropods

2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (8) ◽  
pp. 540 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick L. Taggart ◽  
Bronwyn A. Fancourt ◽  
David Peacock ◽  
Charles G. B. Caraguel ◽  
Milton M. McAllister
Keyword(s):  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Wildlife Conservation ◽  
Road Mortality ◽  
High Seroprevalence ◽  
Feral Cats ◽  
Macropus Eugenii ◽  
Modified Agglutination Test ◽  
Latent Disease ◽  
Multiple Species ◽  
Indirect Impacts

Context Feral cats threaten wildlife conservation through a range of direct and indirect effects. However, most studies that have evaluated the impacts of feral cats on species of conservation significance have focussed on direct impacts such as predation; few studies have considered the indirect impacts of cat-borne disease. Toxoplasma gondii, a cat-borne parasite, causes both acute and latent disease in a range of wildlife species, and macropods are particularly susceptible. Kangaroo Island is Australia’s third largest island and supports a high density of feral cats and high seroprevalence of T. gondii in multiple species, relative to the mainland. This suggests that Kangaroo Island has a high environmental contamination with the parasite and a high risk of infection for other species. Aims We aimed to describe T. gondii seroprevalence in culled and road-killed macropods, so as to assess the effects of island versus mainland location, sex, species and behaviour. Methods Macropod sera were tested for T. gondii IgG antibodies using a commercially available modified agglutination test. Key results The seroprevalence of T. gondii in culled western grey kangaroos (Macropus fuliginosus) was significantly higher on the island (20%, 11/54 positive) than on the mainland (0%, 0/61 positive). There was no difference in T. gondii seroprevalence between culled and road-killed (21%, 21/102 positive) kangaroos from the island. The seroprevalence of T. gondii was significantly higher in female (32%, 12/38 positive) than in male (13%, 8/60 positive) kangaroos, but we observed no sex effect in tammar wallabies (Macropus eugenii), and no effect of species. Conclusions The higher T. gondii seroprevalence in insular macropods supports previous reports of higher T. gondii exposure in other Kangaroo Island fauna. The lack of difference in T. gondii seroprevalence between culled and road-killed kangaroos suggests that T. gondii-positive animals are not more vulnerable to road mortality, in contrast to that suggested previously. Implications Our findings suggest greater potential adverse conservation impacts owing to toxoplasmosis on the island than on the mainland. In light of a recent study demonstrating higher cat abundance on the island than on the mainland, the higher observed T. gondii seroprevalence in insular macropods is likely to be a consequence of higher cat density.

scholarly journals Temporal and spatial distribution of anthrax outbreaks among Kenyan wildlife, 1999–2017

2019 ◽  
Vol 147 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Gachohi ◽  
F. Gakuya ◽  
I. Lekolool ◽  
E. Osoro ◽  
L. Nderitu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Wildlife Conservation ◽  
Conservation Areas ◽  
Temporal And Spatial Distribution ◽  
Ecological Zones ◽  
Herbivore Species ◽  
Multiple Species

Abstract The burden of anthrax in wildlife is demonstrated through high numbers of sudden mortalities among herbivore species, including endangered animal species. East Africa is home of multiple species of faunal wildlife numbering in the millions but there are limited disease surveillance programmes, resulting in a paucity of information on the role of anthrax and other infectious diseases on declining wildlife populations in the region. We reviewed historical data on anthrax outbreaks from Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) spanning from 1999 to 2017 in Kenya to determine the burden, characteristics and spatial distribution of anthrax outbreaks. A total of 51 anthrax outbreaks associated with 1014 animal deaths were reported across 20 of 60 wildlife conservation areas located in six of the seven agro-ecological zones. Overall, 67% of the outbreaks were reported during the dry seasons, affecting 24 different wildlife species. Over 90% (22 of 24) of the affected species were herbivore, including 12 grazers, five browsers and five mixed grazers and browsers. Buffaloes (23.5%), black rhinos (21.6%) and elephants (17.6%) were the most frequently affected species. Our findings demonstrate the extensive geographic distribution of wildlife anthrax in the country, making it one of the important infectious diseases that threaten wildlife conservation.

Bioclimatic assessment of abiotic factors affecting relative abundance and distribution of wheat stem sawfly (Hymenoptera: Cephidae) in western Canada

2018 ◽  
Vol 151 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-33
Author(s):  
Owen Olfert ◽  
Ross M. Weiss ◽  
Haley Catton ◽  
Héctor Cárcamo ◽  
Scott Meers
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Geographic Distribution ◽  
Relative Abundance ◽  
General Circulation ◽  
General Circulation Models ◽  
Simulation Software ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Western Canada ◽  
Wheat Stem Sawfly ◽  
Ecoclimatic Index

AbstractWheat stem sawfly, Cephus cinctus Norton (Hymenoptera: Cephidae), indigenous to North America, quickly adapted from host native grasses to wheat crops (Triticum Linnaeus (Poaceae)) with expansion of agriculture on the Great Plains of North America. Bioclimatic simulation tools, such as Climex, predict the potential geographic distribution and establishment of insects in ecosystems, based on climate. The ecoclimatic index, a measure of ecological suitability, integrates potential population growth with stresses to produce estimates of relative abundance. This simulation software was used to develop a bioclimate model for C. cinctus in western Canada. Results fostered a better understanding of how C. cinctus responded to selected climate variables. Two general circulation models were then applied to assess the response of C. cinctus populations to future climate. Relative to current climate, predicted changes in C. cinctus distribution and relative abundance were greatest for 2030, with a small further increase for 2070. Across the Prairies and Boreal Plains Ecozones, changes in ecoclimatic index were greater than in geographic distribution. Both general circulation models indicated most of this area would be categorised as very favourable. This suggests that the potential for pest populations could expand into areas that do not currently experience economic losses associated with C. cinctus.

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