scholarly journals Pathology Associated With an Outbreak of Entamoebiasis in Wild Cane Toads (Rhinella marina) in Tropical Australia

2019 ◽  
Vol 56 (6) ◽  
pp. 921-931 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine M. Shilton ◽  
Jan Šlapeta ◽  
Richard Shine ◽  
Gregory P. Brown
Keyword(s):  
Novel Species ◽  
Clinical Pathology ◽  
Intestinal Wall ◽  
Gastric Lesions ◽  
Tropical Australia ◽  
Clinical Illness ◽  
Serious Disease ◽  
Entamoeba Invadens ◽  
Free Ranging ◽  
Superficial Lamina

Infection due to Entamoeba spp. is known to cause serious disease in primates ( Entamoeba histolytica) and snakes ( Entamoeba invadens), but there are no detailed descriptions of the pathology associated with Entamoeba spp. infection in amphibians. In 2014, an outbreak of entamoebiasis associated with a novel species of Entamoeba induced clinical illness and poor body condition in free-ranging cane toads in Australia’s Northern Territory. Here, we describe the gross pathology, histology, and clinical pathology linked to the outbreak. The study compared 25 toads with invasive entamoebiasis, defined as histologically visible amoebas within tissue, and 12 toads without invasive entamoebiasis. Grossly, affected toads had mild to marked congestion of colonic serosal vasculature, with variable thickening of the intestinal wall and serosanguineous to hemorrhagic colonic content. Histologically, invasive entamoebiasis manifested primarily as moderate to severe, variably hyperplastic to ulcerative colitis. The small intestine was affected in 10 of 25 toads, and 5 of 25 toads also had gastric lesions. Amoebas consistent in morphology with Entamoeba sp. were commonly intermingled with mucosal epithelium, frequently along the basement membrane, with deeper invasion into the superficial lamina propria in only 5 toads. Toads with invasive entamoebiasis had neutrophilia, monocytosis, and lymphopenia, and thus elevated neutrophil to lymphocyte ratios, suggestive of an inflammatory and/or stress leukogram.

scholarly journals Fatal pulmonary parafilaroidiasis in a free-ranging subantarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus tropicalis) coinfected with two gammaherpesviruses and Sarcocystis sp.

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 499-503 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Reisfeld ◽  
Carlos Sacristán ◽  
Angélica María Sánchez-Sarmiento ◽  
Samira Costa-Silva ◽  
Josué Díaz-Delgado ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Novel Species ◽  
Tissue Response ◽  
Mesenteric Lymph Nodes ◽  
Pathogenic Role ◽  
Mesenteric Lymph ◽  
Verminous Pneumonia ◽  
Fur Seal ◽  
Free Ranging ◽  
Arctocephalus Tropicalis

Abstract A juvenile subantarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus tropicalis) found dead in Santa Catarina state, southern Brazil, presented with disseminated verminous pneumonia due to Parafilaroides sp. A concomitant infection with two different gammaherpesviruses was identified by PCR in different tissues; one of them possibly a novel species (tentatively named Otariid herpesvirus 7). Sarcocystis sp. DNA was identified molecularly in skeletal muscle samples with intrasarcoplasmic bradyzoites and no apparent tissue response. All analyzed samples (mandibular, laryngeal, tracheal, and mesenteric lymph nodes, and lung) were PCR-negative for Brucella spp. The most likely cause of death was severe pulmonary parafilaroidiasis. The pathogenic role of the gammaherpesviruses in several of the tissues was not evident. This study describes the pathogenicity of Parafilaroides sp. in a subantarctic fur seal, widens the host range of herpesvirus in pinnipeds, and reports the first molecular identification of Sarcocystis sp. in this species.

scholarly journals A pilot study of common health problems in smallholder pigs in Angónia and Boane districts, Mozambique

2011 ◽  
Vol 82 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Matos ◽  
C. Sitoe ◽  
S. Afonso ◽  
J. Banze ◽  
J. Baptista ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Risks ◽  
Taenia Solium ◽  
African Swine Fever ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Gastrointestinal Parasites ◽  
Pilot Survey ◽  
Porcine Cysticercosis ◽  
Important Health ◽  
Serious Disease ◽  
Free Ranging

Apilot survey was conducted in 2 districts in Mozambique to determine the most important health problems facing smallholder pig producers. While African swine fever is the most serious disease that affects pigs at all levels of production in Mozambique, it is likely that productivity is reduced by the presence of mange and gastrointestinal parasites, while in traditional systems the conditions are favourable for the development of porcine cysticercosis caused by the pork tapeworm Taenia solium, which poses a health risk to communities. Results of the pilot survey confirmed that, with the exception of African swine fever, ecto- and endoparasites are probably the most important health risks for producers. Porcine cysticercosis is more prevalent among pigs in traditional, free-ranging systems, while mange becomes a serious factor when pigs are permanently confined.

A review of mucormycosis in the platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)

2009 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanne H. Connolly
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Features ◽  
Infectious Agents ◽  
Disease Entity ◽  
Significant Morbidity ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Ornithorhynchus Anatinus ◽  
Disease Agent ◽  
Tree Frogs ◽  
Serious Disease ◽  
Free Ranging

Many infectious agents and parasites have been reported from the platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus), but most do not cause serious disease. The fungus, Mucor amphibiorum, is the only disease agent known to cause significant morbidity and mortality in the free-living platypus in Tasmania. Infection has also been reported in free-ranging cane toads and green tree frogs from mainland Australia, but not confirmed in platypuses from the mainland. This paper reviews mucormycosis in the platypus and includes the epidemiology, clinical features, mycology, pathology as well as possible surveillance, treatment and/or control modalities. The emergence and geographical spread of mucormycosis as a disease entity in Tasmanian platypuses from 1982 till 2005 are discussed. The host, agent and environment factors of the traditional epidemiological paradigm are discussed as they contribute to the conditions that lead to the selection or emergence of Mucor amphibiorum as a pathogen in a population of platypuses.

Gastric Lesions in Free-Ranging Black Caimans (Melanosuchus niger) Associated WithBrevimulticaecumSpecies

2012 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 582-584 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. M. C. Cardoso ◽  
A. J. S. de Souza ◽  
R. C. Menezes ◽  
W. L. A. Pereira ◽  
R. Tortelly
Keyword(s):  
Gastric Lesions ◽  
Free Ranging

scholarly journals Increased rates of dispersal of free-ranging cane toads (Rhinella marina) during their global invasion

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Shine ◽  
Ross A. Alford ◽  
Ryan Blennerhasset ◽  
Gregory P. Brown ◽  
Jayna L. DeVore ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
French Guiana ◽  
Native Range ◽  
Rhinella Marina ◽  
Range Edge ◽  
Population Spread ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Tropical Australia ◽  
Free Ranging ◽  
Global Invasion ◽  
Daily Changes

AbstractInvasions often accelerate through time, as dispersal-enhancing traits accumulate at the expanding range edge. How does the dispersal behaviour of individual organisms shift to increase rates of population spread? We collate data from 44 radio-tracking studies (in total, of 650 animals) of cane toads (Rhinella marina) to quantify distances moved per day, and the frequency of displacement in their native range (French Guiana) and two invaded areas (Hawai’i and Australia). We show that toads in their native-range, Hawai’i and eastern Australia are relatively sedentary, while toads dispersing across tropical Australia increased their daily distances travelled from 20 to 200 m per day. That increase reflects an increasing propensity to change diurnal retreat sites every day, as well as to move further during each nocturnal displacement. Daily changes in retreat site evolved earlier than did changes in distances moved per night, indicating a breakdown in philopatry before other movement behaviours were optimised to maximise dispersal.

scholarly journals The effects of weather conditions on dispersal behaviour of free-ranging lizards (Tiliqua, Scincidae) in tropical Australia

2013 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 440-449 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samantha J. Price-Rees ◽  
Tom Lindström ◽  
Gregory P. Brown ◽  
Richard Shine
Keyword(s):  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Dispersal Behaviour ◽  
Tropical Australia ◽  
Free Ranging

scholarly journals Ticks on snakes: The ecological correlates of ectoparasite infection in free-ranging snakes in tropical Australia

2018 ◽  
Vol 43 (5) ◽  
pp. 534-546
Author(s):  
Daniel J. D. Natusch ◽  
Jessica A. Lyons ◽  
Sylvain Dubey ◽  
Richard Shine
Keyword(s):  
Ecological Correlates ◽  
Tropical Australia ◽  
Free Ranging

scholarly journals Microsporidian Species Known To Infect Humans Are Present in Aquatic Birds: Implications for Transmission via Water?

2006 ◽  
Vol 72 (7) ◽  
pp. 4540-4544 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Slodkowicz-Kowalska ◽  
Thaddeus K. Graczyk ◽  
Leena Tamang ◽  
Szymon Jedrzejewski ◽  
Andrzej Nowosad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surface Waters ◽  
Molecular Techniques ◽  
Avian Host ◽  
Aquatic Birds ◽  
Bird Droppings ◽  
Encephalitozoon Intestinalis ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Unlimited Access ◽  
Serious Disease ◽  
Free Ranging

ABSTRACT Human microsporidiosis, a serious disease of immunocompetent and immunosuppressed people, can be due to zoonotic and environmental transmission of microsporidian spores. A survey utilizing conventional and molecular techniques for examining feces from 570 free-ranging, captive, and livestock birds demonstrated that 21 animals shed microsporidian spores of species known to infect humans, including Encephalitozoon hellem (20 birds; 3.5%) and Encephalitozoon intestinalis (1 bird; 0.2%). Of 11 avian species that shed E. hellem and E. intestinalis, 8 were aquatic birds (i.e., common waterfowl). The prevalence of microsporidian infections in waterfowl (8.6%) was significantly higher than the prevalence of microsporidian infections in other birds (1.1%) (P < 0.03); waterfowl fecal droppings contained significantly more spores (mean, 3.6 × 105 spores/g) than nonaquatic bird droppings contained (mean, 4.4 × 104 spores/g) (P < 0.003); and the presence of microsporidian spores of species known to infect humans in fecal samples was statistically associated with the aquatic status of the avian host (P < 0.001). We demonstrated that a single visit of a waterfowl flock can introduce into the surface water approximately 9.1 × 108 microsporidian spores of species known to infect humans. Our findings demonstrate that waterborne microsporidian spores of species that infect people can originate from common waterfowl, which usually occur in large numbers and have unlimited access to surface waters, including waters used for production of drinking water.

Medicine of Australian Mammals

2008 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Medical Management ◽  
Clinical Pathology ◽  
Physiological Data ◽  
Veterinary Students ◽  
Chemical Restraint ◽  
Rescue Treatment ◽  
Comprehensive Text ◽  
Physical And Chemical ◽  
Free Ranging

In Medicine of Australian Mammals, more than 30 experts present the most current information available on the medical management of all taxa of Australian native mammals. This comprehensive text is divided into two parts. The first includes chapters on general topics relevant to the medical management of captive and free-ranging Australian native mammals such as: veterinary considerations for the rescue, treatment, rehabilitation and release of wildlife; veterinary aspects of hand-rearing orphaned marsupials; marine mammal strandings and the role of the veterinarian; and wildlife health investigation and necropsy of Australian mammals. The second part covers the medicine of specific taxa of Australian native mammals. Detailed information on taxonomy, distribution, biology, anatomy, physiology, reproduction, husbandry, nutrition, physical and chemical restraint, clinical pathology, hand-rearing, diseases, zoonoses, therapeutics, reproductive management and surgery is included. This practical, one-source reference is complemented by detailed photographs and illustrations, as well as tables listing reproductive and physiological data, diets, haematology and biochemistry values, and drug formularies. Appendices include a checklist of the mammals of Australia and its territories and a guide to the identification of common parasites of Australian mammals. Medicine of Australian Mammals is clinically oriented and is a must-have for veterinary clinicians, no matter how experienced. The book will also be of use to veterinary students, researchers, biologists, zoologists, wildlife carers and other wildlife professionals.

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