scholarly journals Overview of chytrid emergence and impacts on amphibians

2016 ◽  
Vol 371 (1709) ◽  
pp. 20150465 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen R. Lips
Keyword(s):  
Physical Environment ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Design Management ◽  
Health Food ◽  
Amphibian Species ◽  
Robust Estimates ◽  
Conservation Actions ◽  
History Of ◽  
Population Numbers

Chytridiomycosis is an emerging infectious disease of amphibians that affects over 700 species on all continents where amphibians occur. The amphibian–chytridiomycosis system is complex, and the response of any amphibian species to chytrid depends on many aspects of the ecology and evolutionary history of the amphibian, the genotype and phenotype of the fungus, and how the biological and physical environment can mediate that interaction. Impacts of chytridiomycosis on amphibians are varied; some species have been driven extinct, populations of others have declined severely, whereas still others have not obviously declined. Understanding patterns and mechanisms of amphibian responses to chytrids is critical for conservation and management. Robust estimates of population numbers are needed to identify species at risk, prioritize taxa for conservation actions, design management strategies for managing populations and species, and to develop effective measures to reduce impacts of chytrids on amphibians. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Tackling emerging fungal threats to animal health, food security and ecosystem resilience’.

scholarly journals Clinical implications of globally emerging azole resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus

2016 ◽  
Vol 371 (1709) ◽  
pp. 20150460 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacques F. Meis ◽  
Anuradha Chowdhary ◽  
Johanna L. Rhodes ◽  
Matthew C. Fisher ◽  
Paul E. Verweij
Keyword(s):  
De Novo ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Previous History ◽  
Resistance Mechanisms ◽  
Antifungal Drugs ◽  
Cross Resistance ◽  
Azole Resistance ◽  
Health Food ◽  
History Of

Aspergillus fungi are the cause of an array of diseases affecting humans, animals and plants. The triazole antifungal agents itraconazole, voriconazole, isavuconazole and posaconazole are treatment options against diseases caused by Aspergillus . However, resistance to azoles has recently emerged as a new therapeutic challenge in six continents. Although de novo azole resistance occurs occasionally in patients during azole therapy, the main burden is the aquisition of resistance through the environment. In this setting, the evolution of resistance is attributed to the widespread use of azole-based fungicides. Although ubiquitously distributed, A. fumigatus is not a phytopathogen. However, agricultural fungicides deployed against plant pathogenic moulds such as Fusarium , Mycospaerella and A. flavus also show activity against A. fumigatus in the environment and exposure of non-target fungi is inevitable. Further, similarity in molecule structure between azole fungicides and antifungal drugs results in cross-resistance of A. fumigatus to medical azoles. Clinical studies have shown that two-thirds of patients with azole-resistant infections had no previous history of azole therapy and high mortality rates between 50% and 100% are reported in azole-resistant invasive aspergillosis. The resistance phenotype is associated with key mutations in the cyp51A gene, including TR 34 /L98H, TR 53 and TR 46 /Y121F/T289A resistance mechanisms. Early detection of resistance is of paramount importance and if demonstrated, either with susceptibility testing or through molecular analysis, azole monotherapy should be avoided. Liposomal amphotericin B or a combination of voriconazole and an echinocandin are recomended for azole-resistant aspergillosis. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Tackling emerging fungal threats to animal health, food security and ecosystem resilience’.

scholarly journals Cold-blooded indifference: a case study of the worsening status of threatened reptiles from Victoria, Australia

2015 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nick Clemann
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Loss ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Terrestrial Vertebrate ◽  
Australian State ◽  
The World ◽  
Conservation Actions ◽  
History Of

For the first time in the history of life, a biodiversity extinction crisis is being driven by a single species – humans. Humans also have unprecedented control over both the threats and conservation actions that influence this crisis. When prioritising conservation actions, innate human bias often favours endothermic vertebrates over other fauna. Reptiles are the least popular terrestrial vertebrate class, and consequently are particularly disadvantaged in terms of being listed as threatened and receiving conservation management. Despite 30 years of formally evaluating and listing threatened vertebrates in the Australian State of Victoria, there is a strong worsening trend in the conservation status of all faunal groups. The deteriorating status of Victorian reptiles mirrors worrying documented trends in reptile conservation status around the world. I review the history of listing threatened reptiles in Victoria, detail worsening trends in their conservation status, and suggest that, as in other parts of the world, the threats common to most listed taxa are climate change, habitat loss and degradation, and elevated rates of predation by exotic predators. I also identify poor advice and planning as a considerable threat to Victorian reptiles; this threat is rarely reported, but may be more pervasive than currently recognised. I argue that what is needed for most reptiles to have the greatest chance of persisting in the long term is prevention of habitat loss and degradation, research to underpin listing and management, improved policy so that unproven management strategies are not sanctioned, and vetting of consultant’s reports so that unproven ‘mitigation’ strategies and inadequate preimpact surveys do not mask the true cost of loss and degradation of habitat.

scholarly journals Thymoma in an aged backyard Leghorn chicken, with reviews of a database and literature

2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 336-339
Author(s):  
Julia Blakey ◽  
Carmen Jerry ◽  
Ana da Silva ◽  
Simone Stoute
Keyword(s):  
Soft Tissue Mass ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Postmortem Examination ◽  
Cervical Region ◽  
Laboratory System ◽  
Unexpected Death ◽  
Tissue Mass ◽  
Microscopic Features ◽  
History Of ◽  
Backyard Chickens

A 7-y-old backyard Leghorn chicken ( Gallus domesticus) was submitted to the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System (CAHFS)–Turlock branch for postmortem examination, with a history of unexpected death. At postmortem examination, a hemorrhagic soft tissue mass was observed in the cervical region. Microscopically, a densely cellular neoplasm of polygonal epithelial cells and small lymphocytes was observed. The microscopic features of the neoplasm in combination with positive immunohistochemistry for pancytokeratin and CD3 were used to classify the lesion as a thymoma. Thymoma was diagnosed in only 5 birds submitted to CAHFS from 1990 to 2019. Thymoma has been described only rarely in birds, and is an unusual diagnosis in backyard chickens.

Young Male with Bilateral ICA Dissection: Beyond CADISS Trial

2021 ◽  
pp. 251660852098428
Author(s):  
Vikas Bhatia ◽  
Chirag Jain ◽  
Sucharita Ray ◽  
jay Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Management Strategies ◽  
Young Male ◽  
Acute Onset ◽  
The Body ◽  
Artery Dissection ◽  
Cervical Artery Dissection ◽  
Stroke Study ◽  
History Of

Objective: To report a case of young male with stroke and bilateral internal carotid artery (ICA) dissection. Background: Cervical Artery Dissection in Stroke Study trial has provided some insight on management of patients with ICA dissection. However, there is a need to modify the management strategies as per specific clinical scenario. Design/Methods: Case report and literature review. Results: A 45-year-old male presented with 1 month old history of acute onset numbness of right half of the body with slurring of speech. Computed tomography angiography showed complete occlusion of left cervical ICA just beyond origin with presence of fusiform dilatation and spiral flap in right extracranial cervical ICA. The patient was started on antiplatelets and taken for endovascular procedure using 2-mesh-based carotid stents. Patient was discharged after 3 days on antiplatelet therapy. At 1-year follow-up, there were no fresh symptoms. Conclusion: This case emphasizes the role of successful endovascular management of carotid dissection in a young male. These clinical situations may not be fully represented in trials, and a case-based approach is required.

Understanding the pharmaceutical approach to pain management in canine osteoarthritis

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 73-80
Author(s):  
Hannah Capon
Keyword(s):  
Surveillance System ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Companion Animal ◽  
Multimodal Approach ◽  
Pharmaceutical Management ◽  
Veterinary Surgeons ◽  
Canine Population ◽  
Canine Osteoarthritis

Canine osteoarthritis was recently reclassified as a welfare concern by the Veterinary Companion Animal Surveillance System (VetCompass), an initiative run by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, focused on improving companion animal health. This condition is a common cause for consultation in first opinion practice, with an estimated 35% of the canine population being affected. Chronic pain is complex and a multimodal approach is best for management, which includes pharmaceuticals employed in a methodical manner. This article provides an overview of the types of pain associated with canine osteoarthritis, as well as how to recognise them. Making reference to hypothetical cases, the appropriate pharmaceutical management is described. Further management strategies, as part of a multimodal approach, are summarised to ensure best practice.

Dietary composition of endangered seahorses determined by stable isotope analysis

2017 ◽  
Vol 68 (5) ◽  
pp. 831 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Valladares ◽  
D. X. Soto ◽  
M. Planas
Keyword(s):  
Stable Isotope ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Isotope Analysis ◽  
Primary Source ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Conservation Actions ◽  
Isotope Mixing Models ◽  
North Western

The lack of integrated measures for assessing the feeding ecology of seahorses may restrict the effectiveness of conservation actions on wild populations of worldwide threatened seahorse species. Identifying dietary sources will allow researchers to determine their degree of vulnerability to environmental changes, redefine their conservation status and apply appropriate management strategies. The resource use of the seahorse Hippocampus guttulatus inhabiting coastal waters of Galicia (north-western Iberian Peninsula) was assessed for three populations and 2 years using stable isotope mixing models. The Bayesian mixing model (MixSIAR) estimated the relative contributions of the dietary sources to the seahorse diet and revealed that Caprellidea were the primary source, followed by Gammaridea and Caridea. Mysidae and Annelida represented the less dominant prey. This prey preference can be explained by the foraging behaviour of seahorses. Different contributions of Gammaridea and Caridea to the diet were found among sites, indicating different habitat characteristics and hence different habitat use by seahorses within each site. In addition, differences were encountered among sexes. Caprellidea was the dominant prey for females, whereas Gammaridea was the dominant prey for males. The findings of the present study will contribute to the knowledge of feeding patterns of H. guttulatus, providing relevant data for conservation of this endangered species.

scholarly journals Storytelling through experiencescape: Creating unique stories and extraordinary experiences in farm tourism

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiang Y Mei ◽  
Ann-Margret S Hågensen ◽  
Heidi S Kristiansen
Keyword(s):  
Physical Environment ◽  
Research Method ◽  
Tourism Industry ◽  
Limited Resources ◽  
Explorative Study ◽  
Extraordinary Experiences ◽  
History Of ◽  
Farm Tourism ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Lack Of Knowledge

Creating unique stories through storytelling as a way to stage extraordinary experiences has become increasingly important in the tourism industry, particularly in experience-based activities such as farm tourism. However, limited resources and the lack of knowledge of the experiencescape suggest that many farm tourism operators struggle to integrate the experiencescape as part of storytelling. The research method chosen was an explorative study with the use of semi-structured in-depth interviews with key farm tourism operators in the Inland region in Norway. How stories and concepts are created is dependent on the resources available, the perception of authenticity, the history of the farm as well as the environment. Storytelling can be facilitated through tangible elements in the experiencescape such as the physical environment as well as intangible elements including the interaction and dynamics between the host and guest. The farmer or the person telling the story also need to possess certain skills, engagement, and interest in order to be committed to deliver the story or the concept. Essentially, the farmer becomes a part of the product and the experience.

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