PREVALENCE OF DIROFILARIA MICROFILARIA IN AMERICAN BLACK BEARS (URSUS AMERICANUS) IN PENNSYLVANIA, 2018-2020.

Dirofilaria ursi is a filarial nematode of American black bears (Ursus americanus) transmitted by black flies (Simuliidae). Overt clinical disease associated with D. ursi infection of bears has not been reported; however, adult or larval (i.

Multi-season survey of ixodid tick species collected from domestic dogs in Chad, Africa.

Ticks are medically important vectors of pathogens, many of which are zoonotic or impact domestic animal and/or wildlife health. Climate change, landuse modifications, and increasing interactions between domestic animals, wildlife, and humans have resulted in changes in tick-host dynamics and the emergence of novel pathogens worldwide. Therefore, describing the host and geographic ranges of vector species is essential in assessing disease risk, especially in understudied areas, and should be conducted in a One Health context.

Surveillance of tick-borne pathogens in domestic dogs from Chad, Africa.

Background: Tick-borne pathogens are understudied among domestic animals in sub-Saharan Africa but represent significant threats to the health of domestic animals and humans. Specifically, additional data are needed on tick-borne pathogens in Chad, Africa. Surveillance was conducted among domestic dogs in Chad for selected tick-borne pathogens to measure (1) the prevalence of antibodies against Anaplasma spp.

Surveillance of Feral Swine (Sus scrofa) in the Western USA for Antibodies to Vesicular Stomatitis Virus, 2013-21.

Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) outbreaks periodically occur in livestock in the western US and are thought to originate from outside this country. Feral swine (Sus scrofa) have been identified as an amplifying host for vesicular stomatitis New Jersey virus (VSNJV) and have been used to better understand the epidemiology of this virus through serosurveillance. This study aimed to determine if antibodies to vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus (VSIV) and VSNJV were present in feral swine in the western US and to determine if seropositive animals were associated with areas of previously detected VSV in livestock.

Otterly diverse - A high diversity of species (Spirurida: Dracunculoidea) in North American river otters ().

The genus contains numerous species of subcutaneous parasites of mammals and reptiles. In North America, there are at least three mammal-infecting species of . Reports of infections have been reported from river otters () since the early 1900s; however, little is known about the species infecting otters or their ecology.

COMPARING THE EFFECTS OF LITHIUM HEPARIN AND DIPOTASSIUM ETHYLENEDIAMINETETRAACETIC ACID ON HEMATOLOGIC VALUES IN PRAIRIE RATTLESNAKES () AND LAKE ERIE WATER SNAKES ().

Anticoagulants prevent clotting of blood samples and preserve cellular morphology for hematologic evaluations, but studies comparing anticoagulants are limited in snakes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of lithium heparin (LH) and dipotassium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) on hematologic values in prairie rattlesnakes (PR; , n = 16) and Lake Erie water snakes (LEWS; , n = 21). Venipuncture was performed and blood samples were immediately aliquoted into LH and EDTA microtainers.

CONTROLLED CLINICAL TRIAL USING TERBINAFINE NEBULIZATION TO TREAT WILD LAKE ERIE WATERSNAKES () WITH OPHIDIOMYCOSIS.

Ophidiomycosis (snake fungal disease) is an important infectious disease caused by the fungus . To mitigate the disease's impact on individual snakes, a controlled clinical trial was conducted using terbinafine nebulization to treat snakes with ophidiomycosis. Fifty-three wild-caught Lake Erie watersnakes () with apparent ophidiomycosis (skin lesions present, qPCR positive for ) were divided into treatment and control groups: treatment snakes were nebulized with a 2 mg/ml terbinafine solution for 30 min daily for 30 d; control snakes received nebulization with 0.

Distribution and prevalence of antibodies to Trichinella spp. and Toxoplasma gondii in wild pigs (Sus scrofa) in the United States.

Invasive wild pigs (Sus scrofa) are a reservoir for over 100 viral, bacterial, and parasitic pathogens that are transmissible to humans, livestock, domestic animals, and wildlife in North America. Numerous historical local surveys and results from a nation-wide survey (2006-2010) indicated that wild pigs in the United States act as reservoirs for Trichinella spp. and Toxoplasma gondii, two zoonotic pathogens of importance for human and animal health.

Genetic mechanisms and biological processes underlying host response to ophidiomycosis (snake fungal disease) inferred from tissue-specific transcriptome analyses.

Emerging infectious diseases in wildlife species caused by pathogenic fungi are of growing concern, yet crucial knowledge gaps remain for diseases with potentially large impacts. For example, there is detailed knowledge about host pathology and mechanisms underlying response for chytridiomycosis in amphibians and white-nose syndrome in bats, but such information is lacking for other more recently described fungal infections. One such disease is ophidiomycosis, caused by the fungus Ophidiomyces ophidiicola, which has been identified in many species of snakes, yet the biological mechanisms and molecular changes occurring during infection are unknown.

Development and application of a qPCR-based genotyping assay for Ophidiomyces ophidiicola to investigate the epidemiology of ophidiomycosis.

Ophidiomycosis (snake fungal disease) is an infectious disease caused by the fungus Ophidiomyces ophidiicola to which all snake species appear to be susceptible. Significant variation has been observed in clinical presentation, progression of disease, and response to treatment, which may be due to genetic variation in the causative agent. Recent phylogenetic analysis based on whole-genome sequencing identified that O.

A single haplotype is widespread in white ibis () from urban and rural sites in southern Florida.

The American white ibis (), a common bird species in Florida, has become increasingly urban, with many populations relying heavily on urban and suburban habitats, which may alter parasite transmission. Parasites of ibis, especially haemosporidians, are understudied. Avian haemosporidia can have a wide range of impacts on birds, including decreased reproductive success or increased mortality.

APPARENT PREVALENCE, DIVERSITY, AND ASSOCIATED LESIONS OF PERIORBITAL NEMATODES IN A POPULATION OF BARRED OWLS (STRIX VARIA) FROM NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, USA.

Over the last four decades, Barred Owls (Strix varia) have expanded their range to include much of western North America, including California. This expansion is suspected to have contributed to declining populations of a closely related species, the federally threatened Northern Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis caurina). As a result, understanding potential health threats to Barred Owls has implications for Spotted Owl health and recovery.

Survey for Selected Parasites in Alaska Brown Bears (Ursus arctos).

To assess infection with or exposure to endo- and ectoparasites in Alaska brown bears (Ursus arctos), blood and fecal samples were collected during 2013-17 from five locations: Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve; Katmai National Park; Lake Clark National Park and Preserve; Yakutat Forelands; and Kodiak Island. Standard fecal centrifugal flotation was used to screen for gastrointestinal parasites, molecular techniques were used to test blood for the presence of Bartonella and Babesia spp., and an ELISA was used to detect antibodies reactive to Sarcoptes scabiei, a species of mite recently associated with mange in American black bears (Ursus americanus).

Development and validation of a quantitative PCR for the detection of Guinea worm (Dracunculus medinensis).

Dracunculus medinensis (Guinea worm) is a parasitic nematode that can cause the debilitating disease dracunculiasis (Guinea worm disease) in humans. The global Guinea Worm Eradication Program has led intervention and eradication efforts since the 1980s, and Guinea worm infections in people have decreased >99.99%.

INNATE IMMUNE FUNCTION IN LAKE ERIE WATERSNAKES (NERODIA SIPEDON INSULARUM) WITH OPHIDIOMYCOSIS.

Ophidiomycosis, caused by the fungus Ophidiomyces ophidiicola, poses a threat to the health of wild and managed snakes worldwide. Variation in snake innate immunity, the primary defense against infection in reptiles, may explain the observed variation in ophidiomycosis clinical disease severity among snakes. In this study, two components of the innate immune response were examined in snake plasma.

EPIDEMIOLOGY OF OPHIDIOMYCOSIS IN LAKE ERIE WATERSNAKES (NERODIA SIPEDON INSULARUM).

Ophidiomycosis, caused by the fungus Ophidiomyces ophidiicola, is an infectious disease of wild and managed snakes worldwide. Lake Erie watersnakes (LEWS; Nerodia sipedon insularum) were listed as threatened under the US Endangered Species Act from 1999 to 2011 and were first diagnosed with ophidiomycosis in 2009. Our objective was to characterize the epidemiology of ophidiomycosis in LEWS.

Investigating the Impact of Group Holding on the Transfer of Ophidiomyces ophidiicola DNA in Free-Ranging Lake Erie Watersnakes (Nerodia sipedon insularum).

Ophidiomycosis threatens snakes worldwide. We swabbed free-ranging Lake Erie watersnakes (Nerodia sipedon insularum) for quantitative PCR detection of Ophidiomyces ophidiicola before and after group and individual holding in pillowcases. Our results indicate that group, rather than individual, holding does not significantly increase detection of O.

Ultraviolet Fluorescence as a Field-Applicable Screening Tool for Lesions Consistent with Ophidiomycosis in Lake Erie Watersnakes (Nerodia sipedon insularum).

Ophidiomycosis, commonly called snake fungal disease, has been linked to significant morbidity of free-ranging snakes in North America and Europe. Diagnosis of ophidiomycosis currently requires detection of skin lesions via physical exam or characteristic histopathology as well as detection of the causative agent, Ophidiomyces ophidiicola, through quantitative (q)PCR or fungal culture of a skin swab or tissue sample. While reliable, these methods require specialized training, invasive procedures (e.

First Report of Ophidiomycosis in a Free-Ranging California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) in California, USA.

Ophidiomycosis (snake fungal disease) is an emerging threat to snake health worldwide. We report a case of disseminated ophidiomycosis in a California kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) from Plymouth, Amador County, California, US, which is the first report of the disease in this species and in a free-ranging snake in California.

Detection of a novel herpesvirus associated with squamous cell carcinoma in a free-ranging Blanding's turtle.

The spread of both infectious and noninfectious diseases through wildlife populations is of increasing concern. Neoplastic diseases are rarely associated with population-level impacts in wildlife; however, impacts on individual health can be severe and might reflect deteriorating environmental conditions. An adult male free-ranging Blanding's turtle () originally captured in 2005 and deemed healthy, was recaptured in 2018 with a 1 × 1.

Ophidiomycosis, an emerging fungal disease of snakes: Targeted surveillance on military lands and detection in the western US and Puerto Rico.

Wildlife disease surveillance and pathogen detection are fundamental for conservation, population sustainability, and public health. Detection of pathogens in snakes is often overlooked despite their essential roles as both predators and prey within their communities. Ophidiomycosis (formerly referred to as Snake Fungal Disease, SFD), an emergent disease on the North American landscape caused by the fungus Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola, poses a threat to snake population health and stability.