Isolation of Digital Dermatitis Treponemes from Hoof Lesions in Wild North American Elk (Cervus elaphus) in Washington State, USA

Since 2008, a large increase in the numbers of cases of lameness have been seen in wild North American elk (Cervus elaphus) from Washington State, USA. The most recent cases manifested as foot lesions similar both clinically and pathologically to those seen in digital dermatitis (DD) in cattle and sheep, a disease with a bacterial etiopathogenesis. To determine whether the same bacteria considered responsible for DD are associated with elk lameness, lesion samples were subjected to bacterial isolation studies and PCR assays for three phylogroups of relevant DD treponemes. The DD treponemes were isolated from lesional tissues but not from control feet or other areas of the diseased foot (including the coronary band or interdigital space), suggesting that the bacteria are strongly associated with DD lesions and may therefore be causal. In addition, PCR analysis revealed that all three unique DD treponeme phylotypes were found in elk hoof disease, and in 23% of samples, all 3 DD-associated treponemes were present in lesions. Sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA gene showed that the elk lesion treponemes were phylogenetically almost identical to those isolated from cattle and sheep DD lesions. The isolates were particularly similar to two of the three culturable DD treponeme phylotypes: specifically, theTreponema medium/Treponema vincentii-like andTreponema phagedenis-like DD spirochetes. The third treponeme culturable phylogroup (Treponema pedis), although detected by PCR, was not isolated. This is the first report describing isolation of DD treponemes from a wildlife host, suggesting that the disease may be evolving to include a wider spectrum of cloven-hoofed animals.

Download Full-text

Reproductive senescence in free-ranging North American elk Cervus elaphus Cervidae

Mammalia ◽

10.1515/mammalia-2018-0076 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 83 (6) ◽

pp. 593-600 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Louis C. Bender ◽

Jessica R. Piasecke

Keyword(s):

Age Structure ◽

Cervus Elaphus ◽

North American ◽

Reproductive Senescence ◽

Female Age ◽

North American Elk ◽

Age Related ◽

Consistent Manner ◽

Multiple Species ◽

Free Ranging

Abstract Successful production of calves is necessary for growth of North American elk (Cervus elaphus Linnaeus 1758) populations, but few studies have evaluated age-related effects on both the conception and survival of a calf to weaning in multiple free-ranging populations. Conception and survival of calves to weaning were both affected by maternal age, with old (age 9 and older) females showing reproductive senescence as compared to prime-aged (ages 2–8) females despite achieving similar or greater size and condition. Reproductive senescence in our free-ranging populations ultimately resulted in old females weaning fewer calves (0.42 calves/female) than did prime-aged females (0.64 calves/female). Other factors, especially maternal size, also influenced conception and survival to weaning, and these interacted with age in a consistent manner, i.e. larger females or females in better condition were more likely to conceive and successfully wean calves within each age class. Female age structure receives less consideration in ungulate management than does male age structure, despite demonstrated impacts on population productivity of multiple species because of reproductive senescence. Because of the large proportion of individuals in senesced age classes in elk populations, low productivity in populations may simply reflect female age structure, rather than other frequently hypothesized factors.

Download Full-text

Reproduction in North American elk Cervus elaphus: paternity of calves sired by males of mixed age classes

Wildlife Biology ◽

10.2981/12-051 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 19 (3) ◽

pp. 302 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

John G. Kie ◽

Bruce K. Johnson ◽

James H. Noyes ◽

Christen L. Williams ◽

Brian L. Dick ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cervus Elaphus ◽

North American ◽

Age Classes ◽

North American Elk ◽

Mixed Age

Download Full-text

Abomasal parasite syndrome in North American elk (Cervus elaphus canadensis)

New Zealand Veterinary Journal ◽

10.1080/00480169.2009.36908 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 57 (4) ◽

pp. 235-240 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

MR Woodbury ◽

NMA Parry

Keyword(s):

Cervus Elaphus ◽

North American ◽

North American Elk

Download Full-text

Changes in Bacterial Diversity Associated with Epithelial Tissue in the Beef Cow Rumen during the Transition to a High-Grain Diet

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.00375-11 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 77 (16) ◽

pp. 5770-5781 ◽

Cited By ~ 56

Author(s):

Yanhong Chen ◽

Gregory B. Penner ◽

Meiju Li ◽

Masahito Oba ◽

Le Luo Guan

Keyword(s):

Bacterial Diversity ◽

Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis ◽

Pcr Analysis ◽

Control Group ◽

Epithelial Tissue ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Content Type ◽

Beef Cow ◽

Dietary Transition ◽

Gradient Gel Electrophoresis

ABSTRACTOur understanding of the ruminal epithelial tissue-associated bacterial (defined as epimural bacteria in this study) community is limited. In this study, we aimed to determine whether diet influences the diversity of the epimural bacterial community in the bovine rumen. Twenty-four beef heifers were randomly assigned to either a rapid grain adaptation (RGA) treatment (n= 18) in which the heifers were allowed to adapt from a diet containing 97% hay to a diet containing 8% hay over 29 days or to the control group (n= 6), which was fed 97% hay. Rumen papillae were collected when the heifers were fed 97%, 25%, and 8% hay diets. PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and quantitative real-time PCR analysis were used to characterize rumen epimural bacterial diversity and to estimate the total epimural bacterial population (copy numbers of the 16S rRNA gene). The epimural bacterial diversity from RGA heifers changed (P= 0.01) in response to the rapid dietary transition, whereas it was not affected in control heifers. A total of 88 PCR-DGGE bands were detected, and 44 were identified from phyla includingFirmicutes,Bacteroidetes, andProteobacteria. The bacteriaTreponemasp.,Ruminobactersp., andLachnospiraceaesp. were detected only when heifers were fed 25% and 8% hay diets, suggesting the presence of these bacteria is the result of adaptation to the high-grain diets. In addition, the total estimated population of rumen epimural bacteria was positively correlated with molar proportions of acetate, isobutyrate, and isovalerate, suggesting that they may play a role in volatile fatty acid metabolism in the rumen.

Download Full-text

Microbiota Analysis of an Environmental Slurry and Its Potential Role as a Reservoir of Bovine Digital Dermatitis Pathogens

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.00244-17 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 83 (11) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Kirstine Klitgaard ◽

Mikael L. Strube ◽

Anastasia Isbrand ◽

Tim K. Jensen ◽

Martin W. Nielsen

Keyword(s):

Dairy Herd ◽

Amplicon Sequencing ◽

Dairy Herds ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Digital Dermatitis ◽

Bacterial Populations ◽

Associated Bacteria ◽

Content Type ◽

Next Generation Sequencing Technology ◽

Route Of Transmission

ABSTRACT At present, very little information exists regarding what role the environmental slurry may play as an infection reservoir and/or route of transmission for bovine digital dermatitis (DD), a disease which is a global problem in dairy herds. To investigate whether DD-related bacteria belong to the indigenous microbiota of the dairy herd environment, we used deep amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene in 135 slurry samples collected from different sites in 22 dairy farms, with and without DD-infected cows. Both the general bacterial populations and digital dermatitis-associated Treponema were targeted in this study. The results revealed significant differences in the bacterial communities between the herds, with only 12 bacterial taxa shared across at least 80% of all the individual samples. These differences in the herd microbiota appeared to reflect mainly between-herd variation. Not surprisingly, the slurry was dominated by ubiquitous gastrointestinal bacteria, such as Ruminococcaceae and Lachnospiraceae. Despite the low relative abundance of spirochetes, which ranged from 0 to 0.6%, we were able to detect small amounts of bacterial DNA from DD-associated treponemes in the slurry. However, the DD-associated Treponema spp. were detected only in samples from herds with reported DD problems. These data indicate that treponemes involved in the pathogenesis of DD are not part of the normal environmental microflora in dairy herds without clinical DD and, consequently, that slurry is not a primary reservoir of infection. IMPORTANCE Bovine digital dermatitis (DD), a dermal disease which causes lameness in dairy cattle, is a serious problem worldwide. To control this disease, the infection reservoirs and transmission routes of DD pathogens need to be clarified. The dairy herd slurry may be a pathogen reservoir of DD-associated bacteria. The rationale for the present study was, therefore, to examine whether DD-associated bacteria are always present in slurry or if they are found only in DD-afflicted herds. The results strongly indicated that DD Treponema spp. are not part of the indigenous slurry and, therefore, do not comprise an infection reservoir in healthy herds. This study applied next-generation sequencing technology to decipher the microbial compositions of environmental slurry of dairy herds with and without digital dermatitis.

Download Full-text

Aeromonas hydrophila and Aeromonas veronii Predominate among Potentially Pathogenic Ciprofloxacin- and Tetracycline-Resistant Aeromonas Isolates from Lake Erie

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.03645-13 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 80 (3) ◽

pp. 841-848 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

Troy Skwor ◽

Jasmine Shinko ◽

Alexander Augustyniak ◽

Christopher Gee ◽

Greg Andraso

Keyword(s):

Antibiotic Resistance ◽

Aeromonas Hydrophila ◽

Lake Erie ◽

Health Concern ◽

Pcr Analysis ◽

Genetic Profile ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Culturable Bacteria ◽

Potential Health ◽

Content Type

ABSTRACTMembers of the genusAeromonasare ubiquitous in nature and have increasingly been implicated in numerous diseases of humans and other animal taxa. Although some species of aeromonads are human pathogens, their presence, density, and relative abundance are rarely considered in assessing water quality. The objectives of this study were to identifyAeromonasspecies within Lake Erie, determine their antibiotic resistance patterns, and assess their potential pathogenicity.Aeromonasstrains were isolated from Lake Erie water by use ofAeromonasselective agar with and without tetracycline and ciprofloxacin. All isolates were analyzed for hemolytic ability and cytotoxicity against human epithelial cells and were identified to the species level by using 16S rRNA gene restriction fragment length polymorphisms and phylogenetic analysis based ongyrBgene sequences. A molecular virulence profile was identified for each isolate, using multiplex PCR analysis of six virulence genes. We demonstrated thatAeromonascomprised 16% of all culturable bacteria from Lake Erie. Among 119Aeromonasisolates, six species were identified, though only two species (Aeromonas hydrophilaandA. veronii) predominated among tetracycline- and ciprofloxacin-resistant isolates. Additionally, both of these species demonstrated pathogenic phenotypesin vitro. Virulence gene profiles demonstrated a high prevalence of aerolysin and serine protease genes amongA. hydrophilaandA. veroniiisolates, a genetic profile which corresponded with pathogenic phenotypes. Together, our findings demonstrate increased antibiotic resistance among potentially pathogenic strains of aeromonads, illustrating an emerging potential health concern.

Download Full-text

Landscape-level movements of North American elk (Cervus elaphus): effects of habitat patch structure and topography

Landscape Ecology ◽

10.1007/s10980-005-3165-3 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 20 (3) ◽

pp. 289-300 ◽

Cited By ~ 43

Author(s):

John G. Kie ◽

Alan A. Ager ◽

R. Terry Bowyer

Keyword(s):

Cervus Elaphus ◽

North American ◽

Habitat Patch ◽

Patch Structure ◽

North American Elk ◽

Landscape Level

Download Full-text

Relations between nutritional condition and survival of North American elk Cervus elaphus

Wildlife Biology ◽

10.2981/0909-6396(2008)14[70:rbncas]2.0.co;2 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 70-80 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Louis C. Bender ◽

John G. Cook ◽

Rachel C. Cook ◽

P. Briggs Hall

Keyword(s):

Cervus Elaphus ◽

North American ◽

Nutritional Condition ◽

North American Elk

Download Full-text

Assessing prehistoric genetic structure and diversity of North American elk (Cervus elaphus) populations in Alberta, Canada

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/cjz-2013-0253 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 92 (4) ◽

pp. 285-298 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

C.F. Speller ◽

B. Kooyman ◽

A.T. Rodrigues ◽

E.G. Langemann ◽

R.M. Jobin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Gene Flow ◽

National Parks ◽

Cervus Elaphus ◽

North American ◽

Rocky Mountain ◽

Population Declines ◽

Natural Ecosystems ◽

North American Elk ◽

Common Era

North American elk (Cervus elaphus L., 1758) are an important component of Canada’s natural ecosystems. Overhunting and habitat decline in the 19th century led to the near eradication of Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni Bailey, 1935) and Manitoban elk (Cervus elaphus manitobensis Millais, 1915) within Alberta. Though elk populations have been restored within provincial and national parks, it is unknown to what degree historic population declines affected overall genetic diversity and population structuring of the two subspecies. This study targeted 551 bp of mitochondrial D-loop DNA from 50 elk remains recovered from 16 archaeological sites (2260 BCE (before common era) to 1920 CE (common era)) to examine the former genetic diversity and population structure of Alberta’s historic elk populations. Comparisons of ancient and modern haplotype and nucleotide diversity suggest that historic population declines reduced the mitochondrial diversity of Manitoban elk, while translocation of animals from Yellowstone National Park in the early 20th century served to maintain the diversity of Rocky Mountain populations. Gene flow between the two subspecies was significantly higher in the past than today, suggesting that the two subspecies previously formed a continuous population. These data on precontact genetic diversity and gene flow in Alberta elk provide essential baseline data integral for elk management and conservation in the province.

Download Full-text