Vertical transmission of chronic wasting disease in free-ranging white-tailed deer populations.

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease affecting cervids across North America, Northern Europe, and Asia. Disease transmission among cervids has historically been attributed to direct animal-to-animal contact with 'secreta' (saliva, blood, urine, and feces) containing the infectious agent, and indirect contact with the agent shed to the environment in these bodily components. Mounting evidence provides another mechanism of CWD transmission, that from mother-to-offspring, including during pregnancy (vertical transmission).

The Efficacy of Surrogate Virus Neutralization Test ELISA Varies in the Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies with Different Postmortem White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) Biological Samples.

The susceptibility of white-tailed deer (WTD; Odocoileus virginianus) to SARS-CoV-2 has resulted in WTD being one of the most studied wildlife species during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, WTD specimen collections for SARS-CoV-2 research and surveillance have largely been opportunistic. Our objective was to evaluate the detection of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) in WTD serum, plus two additional WTD biological sample types, using a blocking ELISA previously used for WTD serum.

Fatal toxoplasmosis in a wild snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) and eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) from the eastern United States.

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease that exemplifies the One Health interface due to its global distribution and diversity of hosts in which it can infect and potentially cause disease. While T. gondii, the causative agent of toxoplasmosis, has been well-described in many wildlife taxa, including wild and domestic birds and mammals, there is limited published research on clinical disease in wild lagomorphs and rodents.

Vertical transmission of chronic wasting disease in free-ranging white-tailed deer populations.

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease affecting cervids across North America, Northern Europe, and Asia. Disease transmission among cervids has historically been attributed to direct animal-to-animal contact with 'secreta' (saliva, blood, urine, and feces) containing the infectious agent, and indirect contact with the agent shed to the environment in these bodily components. Mounting evidence provides another mechanism of CWD transmission, that from mother-to-offspring, including during pregnancy (vertical transmission).

An Enigmatic Wild Passerine Mortality Event in the Eastern United States.

The ability to rapidly respond to wildlife health events is essential. However, such events are often unpredictable, especially with anthropogenic disturbances and climate-related environmental changes driving unforeseen threats. Many events also are short-lived and go undocumented, making it difficult to draw on lessons learned from past investigations.

Molecular Characterization of Ostertagia mossi and Ostertagia dikmansi from White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) Confirms they are the Same Species.

To examine whether Ostertagia mossi and Ostertagia dikmansi from white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are separate species, we obtained DNA sequences for the cytochrome C oxidase subunit I and internal transcribed spacer 2 gene targets for phylogenetic analyses. Neither target revealed separation between morphotypes, confirming they are the same species and providing new data on Ostertagia morphotypes.

Demographic Risk Factors Vary in the Invasion Front of Chronic Wasting Disease in West Virginia, USA.

After detecting chronic wasting disease (CWD) in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in Hampshire County, West Virginia, USA, in 2005, we investigated the change of CWD apparent prevalence and potential factors influencing infection risk during the invasion front. Over eight sampling years (2006-2012 and 2017) during a 12-yr period within a 101-km2-area monitoring zone, we sampled and tested a total of 853 deer for CWD by ELISA and immunohistochemistry. Bayesian logistic regression of risk factors included collection year, age class, sex, and adjusted body weight (weight after accounting for sex, age, kidney fat index, and number of fetuses).