Associating sex-biased and seasonal behaviour with contact patterns and transmission risk in Gopherus agassizii

Behaviour ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 155 (7-9) ◽  
pp. 585-619 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.M. Aiello ◽  
T.C. Esque ◽  
K.E. Nussear ◽  
P.G. Emblidge ◽  
P.J. Hudson
Keyword(s):  
Transmission Efficiency ◽  
Transmission Risk ◽  
Gopherus Agassizii ◽  
Limited Data ◽  
Use Patterns ◽  
Contact Patterns ◽  
Captive Populations ◽  
Contact Behaviour ◽  
Male Mate ◽  
Burrow Use

Abstract Interactions between wildlife hosts act as transmission routes for directly transmitted pathogens and vary in ways that affect transmission efficiency. Identifying drivers of contact variation can allow both contact inference and estimation of transmission dynamics despite limited data. In desert tortoises, mating strategy, burrow use and seasonal change influence numerous behaviours and likely shape contact patterns. In this study, we ask to what extent tortoise contact behaviour varies between sexes and seasons, and whether space or burrow-use data can be used to infer contact characteristics consistent with those recorded by proximity loggers. We identified sex and season-biased contact behaviour in both wild and captive populations indicative of female-female avoidance and seasonal male mate-seeking behaviour. Space and burrow-use patterns were informative, but did not always predict the extent of sex or seasonal biases on contact. We discuss the implications these findings have for transmission patterns and disease mitigation in tortoise populations.

scholarly journals Case report: Control of intestinal nematodes in captive Chlorocebus sabaeus

2021 ◽  
Vol 88 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katalina Cruz ◽  
Tatiana M. Corey ◽  
Michel Vandenplas ◽  
María Trelis ◽  
Antonio Osuna ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Case Report ◽  
Treatment Regimen ◽  
Adult Male ◽  
Trichuris Trichiura ◽  
Limited Data ◽  
Captive Populations ◽  
Faecal Egg Count ◽  
Feral Population ◽  
Green Monkeys

There are limited data on the efficacy of antiparasitic treatments and husbandry methods to control nematode infections in captive populations of African green monkeys (AGMs), Chlorocebus sabaeus. In faecal egg count (FEC) tests, 10 of the 11 (91%) adult male AGMs captured from the large feral population on the island of St Kitts had evidence of nematode infections, mostly Capillaria (8/11, 73%), Trichuris trichiura (7/11, 64%) and strongylid species (7/11, 64%) specifically (hookworm and Trichostrongylus, 50/50), but also Strongyloides fuelleborni (1/11, 9%). When kept in individual cages with cleaning and feeding regimens to prevent reinfections and treated concurrently with ivermectin (300 µg/kg, given subcutaneously) and albendazole (10 mg/kg, given orally) daily for 3 days, 60% (6/10) of the AGMs were negative at a follow-up FEC at 3 months and by FEC and necropsy at the end of the study 5–8 months later. One monkey appeared to have been reinfected with T. trichiura after being negative by FEC at 3 months post-treatment. Four AGMs were positive for T. trichiura at the 3 month FEC follow-up but were negative at the end of the study after one further treatment regimen. Although initially being cleared of Capillaria following treatment, three AGMs were found to be infected at the end of the study. The ivermectin and albendazole treatment regimen coupled with good husbandry practices to prevent reinfections effectively controlled nematode infections in captive AGMs.

Species-specific patterns of the use of burrows of Upogebia Leach, 1814 (Decapoda: Gebiidea: Upogebiidae) by the symbiotic alpheid shrimps Stenalpheops anacanthus Miya, 1997 and Athanas japonicus Kubo, 1936 (Decapoda: Caridea: Alpheidae) as revealed by laboratory quantification

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yumi Henmi ◽  
Gyo Itani
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionary Biology ◽  
Evolutionary History ◽  
The Body ◽  
Symbiotic Relationship ◽  
Use Patterns ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
Burrow Use ◽  
First Time ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Observation Period

Abstract Many alpheid shrimps live symbiotically on the body surface or inside the bodies of other invertebrates, while others use burrows made by other animals. The burrow symbiosis of alpheid shrimps is poorly studied in the context of ecology, probably because the cryptic infaunal nature of the relationship is hard to observe. The limited knowledge of the pattern of burrow use by alpheid shrimps leaves a gap in our understanding of their evolutionary history. We described and compared the behavior of Stenalpheops anacanthus  Miya, 1997 and Athanas japonicus  Kubo, 1936, two alpheid species living symbiotically in the burrows of the same host, Upogebia yokoyai  Makarov, 1938. We found that both alpheid species used U. yokoyai burrows in aquaria, but their burrow use patterns were quite different. The average time taken for S. anacanthus to enter the burrow for the first time was much shorter (1 min) than that of A. japonicus (13 min). Subsequently, S. anacanthus made longer use of the burrow (80% of the observation period) than A. japonicus (49%). The tail-first exit frequency, which may indicate a sudden expulsion from the burrow by the host, was more frequent in A. japonicus (25%) than in S. anacanthus (7%). Such differences could be attributed to the nature of the symbiotic relationship, obligate in S. anacanthus but facultative in A. japonicus. Because of the diversity of symbiotic lifestyles, there is considerable potential to study the ecology and evolutionary biology of burrow-symbiotic alpheids further.

Heterogeneities in water contact patterns and the epidemiology of schistosoma haematobium

Parasitology ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 103 (3) ◽  
pp. 363-370 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. K. Chandiwana ◽  
M. E. J. Woolhouse
Keyword(s):  
Time Of Day ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Water Contact ◽  
Contact Rates ◽  
Contact Patterns ◽  
Contact Behaviour ◽  
Control Programmes ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Individual Contact ◽  
Age And Sex

Variations in the amount of water contact made by individuals and in the amount of water contact made at different sites may have significant impacts on patterns of human schistosome infection. Previous studies have reported variations in the rate of water contact and differences in the sites used between age/sex classes, but there is limited information on variations in individual water contact behaviour. In this paper we report and analyse observations of essentially all water contacts made over a two week period by all individuals in a rural community in eastern Zimbabwe. The mean rate of water contact was 0.43 contacts/person/day. These data were over-dispersed, ranging from zero to 3.3 contacts/person/day; 90% of contacts were made by only 37% of the population. Contact rates were related to age (highest in 8 to 10-year-olds) but not sex, with substantial variation unaccounted for by these variables. Age and sex classes differed in types of water-related activities and the time of day of contact. A greater diversity of sites was used by children than by adults and by males than by females. Individual contact rates were correlated with intensities of infection, although the risk of infection per contact was estimated to be highest in 2 to 4-year-old children and higher for males than females. Five contact sites were used during the study period, with more than 50% of contacts occurring at just 2 sites. Different age and sex classes used different sites and there were additional site-related differences in types of activity and the time of day of use. The implications of these water contact patterns for schistosome epidemiology are discussed. In particular the results provide strong quantitative support for control programmes aimed at heavily used sites (e.g. focal mollusciciding) or at the minority of individuals making most water contacts (e.g. targeted chemotherapy).

scholarly journals Micro-geographic variation in burrow use of Agassiz’s desert tortoises in the Sonoran Desert of California

2020 ◽  
pp. 177-188
Author(s):  
Kristy Cummings
Keyword(s):  
Geographic Variation ◽  
Sonoran Desert ◽  
Radio Telemetry ◽  
Gopherus Agassizii ◽  
General Aspect ◽  
Annual Cycles ◽  
Local Geology ◽  
Burrow Use

Little has been published regarding the burrowing habits of Agassiz’s desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii) in the Sonoran Desert of California. We monitored the interactions of tortoises with their burrows, and other tortoises, via radio-telemetry at two nearby sites between the Cottonwood and Orocopia Mountains, from 2015-2018. We examined how annual cycles of drought and non-drought years, behaviourally affected how tortoises use their burrows (i.e., burrow fidelity, cohabitation, and location), including the timing of the tortoise brumation period. Burrow locations were strongly dependent on local geology and topography, with a tendency to orientate in conformance with the general aspect of the landscape. The timing of brumation was similar to records for G. agassizii throughout their range (with a few exceptions). There was no difference in the estimated number of burrows used per 30 days between the active seasons (2017 and 2018) at the Orocopia site, despite the occurrence of drought in 2018.

Cancer and non-cancer pain opioid utilization in Medicare and Medicaid populations.

2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (7_suppl) ◽  
pp. 139-139
Author(s):  
Catherine J. Datto ◽  
Yiqun Hu ◽  
Eric Wittbrodt ◽  
Perry G. Fine
Keyword(s):  
Index Date ◽  
Limited Data ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Sex Distribution ◽  
Medical Claim ◽  
Opioid Dose ◽  
Use Patterns ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Medicare Patients ◽  
Utilization Patterns

139 Background: Limited data exist comparing opioid use patterns in Medicare and Medicaid patients with cancer-related (CP) and non-cancer-related pain (NCP). Methods: A retrospective analysis of Medicare and Medicaid claims data (MarketScan Research Databases) investigated opioid use patterns in patients with CP and NCP. Adults (age ≥18 yr) with ≥1 pharmacy claim for an opioid (index date), continuous plan eligibility for 6 months pre- and 12 months post-index date, and duration of opioid use of ≥4 weeks were identified. CP patients were identified by medical claim for a cancer diagnosis within 30 days before index date. Results: A total of 4,009 Medicare and 551 Medicaid patients with CP and 98,631 Medicare and 25,163 Medicaid patients with NCP were analyzed. The most common cancer diagnoses were breast, lung, prostate, and colorectal. Medicare patients with CP and NCP had similar mean age; in the Medicaid cohort, patients with CP were older than those with NCP. In the Medicare cohort, NCP patients were more likely to be women; sex distribution was similar among Medicaid patients. Higher rates of comorbidity in the CP cohorts were observed in both datasets. Median index and post-index opioid doses were consistent between the CP and NCP cohorts. The post-index pattern of change in opioid dose was consistent between CP and NCP in both Medicare and Medicaid patients. The most common pattern observed was up to a doubling of index dose. Conclusions: Similar opioid utilization patterns in Medicare and Medicaid populations, including dose escalation, were observed regardless of pain etiology (cancer or non-cancer). [Table: see text]

scholarly journals Stimulant Use Patterns and HIV Transmission Risk Among HIV-Serodiscordant Male Couples

2015 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 147-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristi E. Gamarel ◽  
Sarah E. Woolf-King ◽  
Adam W. Carrico ◽  
Torsten B. Neilands ◽  
Mallory O. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Transmission ◽  
Transmission Risk ◽  
Male Couples ◽  
Stimulant Use ◽  
Use Patterns ◽  
Hiv Transmission Risk

Social contact patterns of school-age children in Taiwan: comparison of the term time and holiday periods

2014 ◽  
Vol 143 (6) ◽  
pp. 1139-1147 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.-C. CHEN ◽  
Z.-S. YOU
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Pandemic ◽  
Social Contact ◽  
School Closure ◽  
School Age Children ◽  
Individual Student ◽  
School Age ◽  
Skin Contact ◽  
Contact Patterns ◽  
Contact Behaviour ◽  
Contact Frequency

SUMMARYSchool closure is one of the most common interventions in the early weeks of an influenza pandemic. Few studies have investigated social contact patterns and compared individual student contact characteristics during the school term and holiday periods in Taiwan. Here, we conducted a well-used questionnaire survey in a junior high school (grades 7–8) in June 2013. All 150 diary-based effective questionnaires covering conversation and skin-to-skin contact behaviour were surveyed. Two questionnaires for each participant were designed to investigate the individual-level difference of contact numbers per day during the two periods. The questionnaire response rate was 44%. The average number of contacts during term time (20·0 contacts per day) and holiday periods (12·6 contacts per day) were significantly different (P < 0·05). The dominant contact frequencies and duration were everyday contact (89·10%) and contacts lasting less than 5 minutes (37·09%). The greatest differences occurred within the 13–19 years age groups. The result presented in this study provide an indication of the likely reduction in daily contact frequency that might occur if a school closure policy was adopted in the event of an influenza pandemic in Taiwan. Comparing contact patterns during term time and holiday periods, the number of contacts decreased by 40%. This study is the first research to investigate the contact numbers and contact characteristics for school-age children during the school term and a holiday period in Taiwan. With regard to public health, this study could provide the basic contact information and database for modelling influenza epidemics for minimizing the spread of influenza that depends on personal contacts for transmission.

scholarly journals Characterizing symptoms of e-cigarette dependence: a qualitative study of young adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelsey A. Simpson ◽  
Afton Kechter ◽  
Sara J. Schiff ◽  
Jessica L. Braymiller ◽  
Naosuke Yamaguchi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Nicotine Dependence ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Cigarette Use ◽  
Limited Data ◽  
Use Patterns ◽  
Quit Attempts ◽  
Nicotine Consumption ◽  
Cigarette Dependence

Abstract Background While rates of e-cigarette use (‘vaping’) continue to potentiate concern, there is limited data on common symptoms of e-cigarette dependence among young adults who vape. This study sought to critically explore how young adults experience, manifest, and conceptualize vaping dependence symptoms in their everyday lives. Methods Between June 2018 and 2019, in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with 62 young adults who use e-cigarettes (aged 18–25) and live in Southern California. We explored participants’ product preferences, daily e-cigarette use patterns, vaping history, withdrawal experiences, and quit attempts or periods of cessation. We used a thematic analysis approach to interpret the transcripts. Results Young adults discussed nine dimensions of vaping dependence that were organized into two categories: 1) general nicotine dependence symptoms, and 2) unique dependence symptoms related to vaping. Nicotine dependence symptoms included cravings and urgency to use, increased use to achieve desired effects, and unsuccessful quit attempts and withdrawal. Symptoms unique to vaping dependence included greater nicotine consumption due to accessibility and lack of restrictions, habitual vaping, inability to track vaping frequency, immediate gratification and comfort, social acceptability and norms, and awareness of vaping dependency. Conclusions In addition to nicotine dependence symptoms that have been characterized for other tobacco products, young adult e-cigarette users described unique symptoms of vaping dependence that necessitate the need for more refined measures. All dimensions of vaping dependence should be considered in discussions of policies as well as treatment and education efforts intended to protect young people from e-cigarette dependence.

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