scholarly journals Comprehensive health assessment and blood analyte reference intervals of gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus) in southeastern FL, USA

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Annie Page-Karjian ◽  
Kathleen Rafferty ◽  
Clerson Xavier ◽  
Nicole I Stacy ◽  
Jon A Moore ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Protein ◽  
Health Assessment ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Keystone Species ◽  
Reference Intervals ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
Gopher Tortoise ◽  
Gopherus Polyphemus ◽  
Baseline Information ◽  
Mycoplasma Spp

Abstract The gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus), a keystone species, is declining throughout its geographic range. Lack of knowledge with respect to the potential infectious diseases present within wild populations creates a dilemma for wildlife biologists, conservationists and public policy makers. The objective of this study was to conduct a health assessment of two previously unstudied gopher tortoise aggregations located at two sites in southeastern FL. Samples were collected from 91 tortoises (48 adults, 35 juveniles, 8 hatchlings) captured at Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, in Fort Pierce, FL, USA in 2019, and Loggerhead Park in Juno Beach, FL, USA, during 2018–2019. Samples of blood, nasal swabs and oral/cloacal swabs were analyzed for hematology, plasma protein electrophoretic profiles and infectious disease testing including Mycoplasma spp. serology and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays for Ranavirus, Herpesvirus and Anaplasma spp. Hematological and plasma protein electrophoresis reference intervals are presented for adult and juvenile tortoises from both sites combined. Clinical signs consistent with upper respiratory tract disease (URTD) were observed in 18/91 (20%) tortoises, and antibodies to Mycoplasma agassizii were detected in 33/77 (42.9%) tortoises. Adult tortoises were significantly more likely than juveniles to have URTD clinical signs, and statistically significant, positive relationships were observed between the presence of antibodies to Mycoplasma spp. and carapace length, packed cell volume and plasma globulin concentrations. Anaplasma spp. inclusions were observed in 8/82 (10%) tortoises, but PCR detected Anaplasma sp. in 21/83 (25%) tortoises. Herpesvirus and Ranavirus were not detected in any blood or swab samples. This work contributes important baseline information on the health of gopher tortoises toward the southern end of the species’ range.

scholarly journals Upper Respiratory Tract Disease in the Gopher Tortoise Is Caused by Mycoplasma agassizii †

1999 ◽  
Vol 37 (7) ◽  
pp. 2262-2269 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. B. Brown ◽  
G. S. McLaughlin ◽  
P. A. Klein ◽  
B. C. Crenshaw ◽  
I. M. Schumacher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Tract ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Etiologic Agent ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
Respiratory Tract Disease ◽  
Gopher Tortoise ◽  
Mycoplasma Agassizii ◽  
Time Points ◽  
Upper Respiratory ◽  
Tract Disease

Upper respiratory tract disease (URTD) has been observed in a number of tortoise species, including the desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) and the gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus). Clinical signs of URTD in gopher tortoises are similar to those in desert tortoises and include serous, mucoid, or purulent discharge from the nares, excessive tearing to purulent ocular discharge, conjunctivitis, and edema of the eyelids and ocular glands. The objectives of the present study were to determine ifMycoplasma agassizii was an etiologic agent of URTD in the gopher tortoise and to determine the clinical course of the experimental infection in a dose-response infection study. Tortoises were inoculated intranasally with 0.5 ml (0.25 ml/nostril) of either sterile SP4 broth (control group; n = 10) or 108 color-changing units (CCU) (total dose) of M. agassizii 723 (experimental infection group;n = 9). M. agassizii caused clinical signs compatible with those observed in tortoises with natural infections. Clinical signs of URTD were evident in seven of nine experimentally infected tortoises by 4 weeks postinfection (p.i.) and in eight of nine experimentally infected tortoises by 8 weeks p.i. In the dose-response experiments, tortoises were inoculated intranasally with a low (101 CCU;n = 6), medium (103 CCU;n = 6), or high (105 CCU;n = 5) dose of M. agassizii 723 or with sterile SP4 broth (n = 10). At all time points p.i. in both experiments, M. agassizii could be isolated from the nares of at least 50% of the tortoises. All of the experimentally infected tortoises seroconverted, and levels of antibody were statistically higher in infected animals than in control animals for all time points of >4 weeks p.i. (P < 0.0001). Control tortoises in both experiments did not show clinical signs, did not seroconvert, and did not have detectableM. agassizii by either culture or PCR at any point in the study. Histological lesions were compatible with those observed in tortoises with natural infections. The numbers of M. agassizii 723 did not influence the clinical expression of URTD or the antibody response, suggesting that the strain chosen for these studies was highly virulent. On the basis of the results of the transmission studies, we conclude that M. agassizii is an etiologic agent of URTD in the gopher tortoise.

scholarly journals Mycoplasma hyorhinis as a possible cause of fibrinopurulent meningitis in pigs? - a case series

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Moritz Bünger ◽  
Rene Brunthaler ◽  
Christine Unterweger ◽  
Igor Loncaric ◽  
Maximiliane Dippel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cerebrospinal Fluid ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
Mycoplasma Hyorhinis ◽  
Case Presentation ◽  
Systemic Spread ◽  
In Situ Detection ◽  
On Farm

Abstract Background Mycoplasma hyorhinis is an invader of the upper respiratory tract in swine that is considered to have ubiquitous distribution. It is mainly known for causing polyserositis and polyarthritis in weaned piglets, even though the mechanisms of systemic spread are not fully understood. Mycoplasma hyorhinis has also been associated with other diseases in pigs such as pneumonia or otitis media, but so far has not been known to cause central nervous disorders. This case series reports the isolation of Mycoplasma hyorhinis from cerebrospinal fluid and/ or meningeal swabs from piglets originating from four different piglet producing farms in Austria. Case presentation On farm 1, coughing, stiff movement and central nervous signs occurred in nursery piglets. Mycoplasma hyorhinis was the only pathogen isolated from meningeal swabs from two piglets showing central nervous signs. Fibrinopurulent leptomeningitis was only observed in one piglet. Only one of two nursery piglets from farm 2 showed mild central nervous signs but no histologic lesions; Mycoplasma hyorhinis was isolated from cerebrospinal fluid of the piglet with neurologic signs. Mycoplasma hyorhinis was isolated from cerebrospinal fluid of all three investigated piglets from farm 3, all of which showed central nervous signs and purulent leptomeningitis. Further, Streptococcus suis was isolated from the cerebrospinal fluid of one piglet. Fibrinopurulent leptomeningitis was detected in two piglets from farm 4 that had died overnight without showing any clinical signs and Mycoplasma hyorhinis was isolated from meningeal swabs from both piglets. Conclusion While causality has yet to be proven by experimental infection and in situ detection of the pathogen in histologic sections, the findings of this study and the absence of other pathogens suggest Mycoplasma hyorhinis as a potential causative agent of meningitis in swine.

scholarly journals Replication and Transmission of the Novel Bovine Influenza D Virus in a Guinea Pig Model

2015 ◽  
Vol 89 (23) ◽  
pp. 11990-12001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chithra Sreenivasan ◽  
Milton Thomas ◽  
Zizhang Sheng ◽  
Ben M. Hause ◽  
Emily A. Collin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Virus ◽  
Respiratory Tract ◽  
Guinea Pigs ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Suitable Model ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Primary Host ◽  
Transmission Potential ◽  
Sentinel Animals

ABSTRACTInfluenza D virus (FLUDV) is a novel influenza virus that infects cattle and swine. The goal of this study was to investigate the replication and transmission of bovine FLUDV in guinea pigs. Following direct intranasal inoculation of animals, the virus was detected in nasal washes of infected animals during the first 7 days postinfection. High viral titers were obtained from nasal turbinates and lung tissues of directly inoculated animals. Further, bovine FLUDV was able to transmit from the infected guinea pigs to sentinel animals by means of contact and not by aerosol dissemination under the experimental conditions tested in this study. Despite exhibiting no clinical signs, infected guinea pigs developed seroconversion and the viral antigen was detected in lungs of animals by immunohistochemistry. The observation that bovine FLUDV replicated in the respiratory tract of guinea pigs was similar to observations described previously in studies of gnotobiotic calves and pigs experimentally infected with bovine FLUDV but different from those described previously in experimental infections in ferrets and swine with a swine FLUDV, which supported virus replication only in the upper respiratory tract and not in the lower respiratory tract, including lung. Our study established that guinea pigs could be used as an animal model for studying this newly emerging influenza virus.IMPORTANCEInfluenza D virus (FLUDV) is a novel emerging pathogen with bovine as its primary host. The epidemiology and pathogenicity of the virus are not yet known. FLUDV also spreads to swine, and the presence of FLUDV-specific antibodies in humans could indicate that there is a potential for zoonosis. Our results showed that bovine FLUDV replicated in the nasal turbinate and lungs of guinea pigs at high titers and was also able to transmit from an infected animal to sentinel animals by contact. The fact that bovine FLUDV replicated productively in both the upper and lower respiratory tracts of guinea pigs, similarly to virus infection in its native host, demonstrates that guinea pigs would be a suitable model host to study the replication and transmission potential of bovine FLUDV.

scholarly journals Silent Mastoiditis Associated with Pneumococcal Meningitis

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Ashikin Mohd Nordin ◽  
Jean Jun Ong ◽  
Juriza Ismail ◽  
Norazlin Kamal Nor ◽  
Sau Wei Wong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brain Imaging ◽  
Pneumococcal Meningitis ◽  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Invasive Disease ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
Slow Recovery ◽  
Acute Mastoiditis ◽  
Focus Of Infection ◽  
Upper Respiratory

Streptococcus pneumoniae (S pneumoniae) can cause a wide spectrum of diseases which includes upper respiratory tract infection as well as more severe invasive disease such as meningitis. Meningitis may be caused by invasion of the organism through the blood brain barrier, either via haematological spread or from an adjacent focus of infection such as the ears. We describe two infants with pneumococcal meningitis and silent mastoiditis. They both presented with a classical history to suggest meningitis with no apparent focus of infection. A brain imaging was done in the first infant to look for the underlying cause of his focal seizure and in the second infant, to assess for complications of meningitis, as he had a slow recovery. While they did not have any clinical signs to point towards the diagnosis, they were both diagnosed to have acute mastoiditis from brain imaging. We would like to highlight the importance of brain imaging in excluding silent mastoiditis in infants with meningitis, particularly in those whose clinical course appears atypical.

scholarly journals An outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 with high mortality in mink (Neovison vison) on multiple Utah farms

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chrissy Eckstrand ◽  
Tom Baldwin ◽  
Mia Kim Torchetti ◽  
Mary Lea Killian ◽  
Kerry A Rood ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Tract ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Viral Transmission ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
Tracheobronchial Lymph Node ◽  
Multiple Organs ◽  
Upper Respiratory ◽  
Polymerase Chain

The breadth of animal hosts that are susceptible to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and may serve as reservoirs for continued viral transmission are not known entirely. In August 2020, an outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 occurred in multiple mink farms in Utah and was associated with high mink mortality and rapid viral transmission between animals. The outbreak's epidemiology, pathology, molecular characterization, and tissue distribution of virus within infected mink is provided. Infection of mink was likely by reverse zoonosis. Once established, infection spread rapidly between independently housed animals and farms, and caused severe respiratory disease and death. Clinical signs were most notably sudden death, anorexia, and increased respiratory effort. Gross pathology examination revealed severe pulmonary congestion and edema. Microscopically there was pulmonary edema with moderate vasculitis, perivasculitis, and fibrinous interstitial pneumonia. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of tissues collected at necropsy demonstrated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA in multiple organs including nasal turbinates, lung, tracheobronchial lymph node, epithelial surfaces, and others. Whole genome sequencing from multiple mink was consistent with published SARS-CoV-2 genomes with few polymorphisms. The Utah mink SARS-CoV-2 strain fell into Clade GH, which is unique among mink and other animal strains sequenced to date and did not share other spike RBD mutations Y453F and F486L found in mink. Localization of viral RNA by in situ hybridization revealed a more localized infection, particularly of the upper respiratory tract. Mink in the outbreak reported herein had high levels of virus in the upper respiratory tract associated with mink-to-mink transmission in a confined housing environment and were particularly susceptible to disease and death due to SARS-CoV-2 infection.

scholarly journals Stopped Dead in Their Tracks: The Impact of Railways on Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) Movement and Behavior

Copeia ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 106 (1) ◽  
pp. 135-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rhett M. Rautsaw ◽  
Scott A. Martin ◽  
Bridget A. Vincent ◽  
Katelyn Lanctot ◽  
M. Rebecca Bolt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gopher Tortoise ◽  
Gopherus Polyphemus ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals Antibiotic resistance in bacteria associated with equine respiratory disease in the United Kingdom

2020 ◽  
Vol 187 (5) ◽  
pp. 189-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joana D Fonseca ◽  
Daphne E Mavrides ◽  
Alice L Morgan ◽  
Jea G Na ◽  
Peter A Graham ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Tract ◽  
Respiratory Disease ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Multiple Drug Resistance ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Multiple Drug ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
Sensitivity Testing ◽  
Commercial Laboratory ◽  
First Choice

IntroductionRespiratory diseases account for the highest number of clinical problems in horses compared with other body systems. While microbiological culture and sensitivity testing is essential for certain cases, knowledge of the most likely bacterial agents and their susceptibilities is necessary to inform empirical antibiotic choices.MethodsA retrospective study of microbiological and cytological results from upper and lower respiratory samples (n=615) processed in a commercial laboratory between 2002 and 2012 was carried out. A further study of lower respiratory samples from horses with clinical signs of lower respiratory disease from May to June 2012 was undertaken.ResultsBoth studies revealed Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pasteurella species, Escherichia coli and Bordetella bronchiseptica as the most frequently isolated species. S equi subspecies zooepidemicus and subspecies equi were susceptible to ceftiofur (100 per cent) and erythromycin (99 per cent). Resistance to penicillin (12.5 per cent of S equi subspecies equi from upper respiratory tract samples) and tetracycline (62.7 per cent) was also detected. Gram-negative isolates showed resistance to gentamicin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and tetracycline but susceptibility to enrofloxacin (except Pseudomonas species, where 46.2 per cent were resistant). Multiple drug resistance was detected in 1 per cent of isolates.ConclusionResistance to first-choice antibiotics in common equine respiratory tract bacteria was noted and warrants continued monitoring of their susceptibility profiles. This can provide information to clinicians about the best empirical antimicrobial choices against certain pathogenic bacteria and help guide antibiotic stewardship efforts to converse their efficacy.

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