Review
Parasitology
Jenny Kim, Araceli Lucio-Forster, Jennifer K. Ketzis
Summary: The prevalence of Ancylostoma in dogs in the Caribbean is not well known. This study reviewed published and gray literature to obtain a better understanding of the prevalence and found that Ancylostoma infection rates ranged from 10 to 91%. The study highlights the need for further research and control programs to protect both canine and human health.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2022)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Maria-Ignacia Meza Cerda, Rachael Gray, Peter C. Thomson, Loreena Butcher, Kelly Simpson, Abby Cameron, Alan D. Marcus, Damien P. Higgins
Summary: This study examines the immune phenotypes of Australian sea lion pups infected with the endemic hookworm using traditional serological and novel molecular tools. The results show changing immunophenotypes throughout the infection period, and indicate that hookworm infection can modulate the host immune response.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Samuel C. Uzoechi, Bruce A. Rosa, Kumar Sachin Singh, Young-Jun Choi, Bethany K. Bracken, Paul J. Brindley, R. Reid Townsend, Robert Sprung, Bin Zhan, Maria-Elena Bottazzi, John M. Hawdon, Yide Wong, Alex Loukas, Sergej Djuranovic, Makedonka Mitreva
Summary: We used mass spectrometry to analyze and compare the excretory/secretory products (ESPs) of male and female Ancylostoma ceylanicum, a zoonotic hookworm. We identified 795 ESPs with common and sex-specific functions, providing insights into parasite-host interactions and potential targets for drug development.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Scott A. Lindsay, Mariel Fulham, Charles G. B. Caraguel, Rachael Gray
Summary: The Australian sea lion experiences high pup mortality due to hookworm infection. A treatment trial showed that eliminating hookworms can improve growth and health outcomes in all age cohorts. Immediate improvements were observed in hematological measures of health.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
Erin Easland, Stefan Biendl, Jennifer Keiser
Summary: In this study, the researchers investigated the effects of anthelminthic drugs on the egg stage of hookworms and found that benzimidazole anthelminthics, particularly albendazole and thiabendazole, had potent inhibitory effects. The results of this study contribute to the development of parasitic drugs and highlight the importance of evaluating drug activity against all life stages of parasites.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Alvaro Oleaga, Cristina Blanco Vazquez, Luis Jose Royo, Thiago Doria Barral, Debby Bonnaire, Jose Angel Armenteros, Benjamin Rabanal, Christian Gortazar, Ana Balseiro
Summary: The emergence and re-emergence of the canine distemper virus (CDV) in the Asturias region of Atlantic Spain has led to mortality in multiple carnivore species, with a high prevalence of CDV antibodies in badgers indicating long-term but unstable viral circulation in the multi-host community. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed that the CDV strain belonged to the European lineage, raising concerns for carnivore management and conservation.
TRANSBOUNDARY AND EMERGING DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Parasitology
Antoinette E. Marsh, Jeffrey Lakritz
Summary: Reports of anthelmintic resistance in Ancylostoma caninum are increasing in the USA. Recent studies have shown multiple anthelmintic drug resistance (MADR) in individual isolates. In 2021, the American Association of Veterinary Parasitologists established a task force to address this issue.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-DRUGS AND DRUG RESISTANCE
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
Jenna D. Balk, Nathan D. Mitchell, Jake Hughes, Priscila Soto Nauto, Joseph Rossi, Roger Ramirez-Barrios
Summary: Ancylostoma caninum is a common gastrointestinal nematode in US dogs. This study evaluated the efficacy of three commercial anthelmintic products in treating dogs with persistent A. caninum infections. The results showed that this population of A. caninum is resistant to multiple anthelmintics.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-DRUGS AND DRUG RESISTANCE
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
Daniel E. Snyder, Scott Wiseman, Elizabeth Crawley, Kim Wallace, Dwight D. Bowman, Craig R. Reinemeyer
Summary: The study demonstrated that orally administered Credelio Plus combination tablet was highly effective in treating immature stages of A. caninum in experimentally infected dogs, with efficacy exceeding 97.3% against L4 larval stage and over 98.7% against immature adult (L5) stage.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2021)
Review
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Iniobong Chukwuebuka Ikenna Ugochukwu, Iasmina Luca, Nuhu Abdulazeez Sani, Jacinta Ngozi Omeke, Madubuike Umunna Anyanwu, Amienwanlen Eugene Odigie, Remigius Ibe Onoja, Ohiemi Benjamin Ocheja, Miracle Oluchukwu Ugochukwu, Olabisi Aminah Makanju, Chioma Inyang Aneke
Summary: Conservation of wildlife species is a global goal due to declining populations. Fungal diseases in animals are prevalent and understanding their characteristics and appropriate laboratory methods for diagnosis is crucial. This article continues a comprehensive review of the main fungal diseases in wild animals, focusing on dermatophytosis, coccidioidomycosis, blastomycosis, and sporotrichosis. The increase in wildlife mycotic diseases poses a threat to the ecosystem and human health, making it important to study these diseases and their potential for zoonotic transmission.
Review
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Iniobong Chukwuebuka Ikenna Ugochukwu, Chioma Inyang Aneke, Nuhu Abdulazeez Sani, Jacinta Ngozi Omeke, Madubuike Umunna Anyanwu, Amienwanlen Eugene Odigie, Remigius Ibe Onoja, Ohiemi Benjamin Ocheja, Miracle Oluchukwu Ugochukwu, Iasmina Luca, Olabisi Aminah Makanju
Summary: The number of wild animals is declining globally, emphasizing the need for early diagnosis and treatment of emerging diseases. Fungal diseases, including aspergillosis, candidiasis, histoplasmosis, cryptococcosis, and penicilliosis, are common and have high zoonotic potential. This article provides an overview of the laboratory methods used in the diagnosis and the clinical details of these mycoses. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in fungal diseases in wildlife, leading to alarming rates of extinction. Many of these mycotic diseases are zoonotic and should be given attention alongside viral and bacterial zoonotic diseases. Diagnostic techniques such as fungal isolation, pathology, and molecular methods have been invaluable in diagnosing wildlife mycoses with zoonotic potential.
Article
Microbiology
Xin Ding, Yougui Yang, Yingshu Zhang, Qiang Zhang, Fanzhen Mao, Yang Dai
Summary: This study established and evaluated a novel nucleic acid detection method based on recombinase-aided isothermal amplification (RAA) for the detection and species identification of hookworm infections. Results showed that the RAA method had high sensitivity and specificity, and was faster and simpler than traditional microscopic techniques.
Article
Parasitology
Andrea Langeland, Emilia Grill, Amol C. Shetty, Damien M. O'Halloran, John M. Hawdon
Summary: Soil-transmitted nematodes (STNs) infect at least 1.5 billion people globally, causing significant health and economic burdens. The pathogen burden is higher in children and pregnant women, leading to anemia and developmental delays. Understanding the molecular determinants of host specificity in these parasites is essential for intervention.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Kiran K. Motwani, Jana G. Hashash, Francis A. Farraye, Michael D. Kappelman, Kimberly N. Weaver, Xian Zhang, Millie D. Long, Raymond K. Cross
Summary: Continuing immunosuppressive therapy in patients with inflammatory bowel disease during mRNA COVID-19 vaccination does not affect antibody response or breakthrough infection rate.
JOURNAL OF CROHNS & COLITIS
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
Luis Fernando Viana Furtado, Rodrigo Rodrigues Cambraia de Miranda, Jacob Adam Tennessen, Michael Scott Blouin, Elida Mara Leite Rabelo
Summary: This study analyzed the Aca-asp-2 gene of Ancylostoma caninum in Brazil, revealing irregular nucleotide distributions and polymorphisms in the coding region, resulting in the identification of 27 alleles. These data contribute to expanding the understanding of population genetic studies of hookworms.
EXPERIMENTAL PARASITOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Vanessa O. Ezenwa, Sarah A. Budischak, Peter Buss, Mauricio Seguel, Gordon Luikart, Anna E. Jolles, Kaori Sakamoto
Summary: Pathogen interactions during coinfection may worsen disease severity, as host immune responses shaped by historical evolutionary interactions can affect defenses against different pathogens. In a study on wild mammals, natural resistance to worms independently influenced bovine tuberculosis (BTB) severity, with resistant individuals more likely to die from BTB and experiencing quicker disease progression. Anthelmintic treatment moderated, but did not eliminate, this effect, suggesting different mechanisms at play for resistance and active worm infection in impacting BTB progression.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Chystrie A. Rigg, Milixa Perea, Kadir Gonzalez, Azael Saldana, Jose E. Calzada, Yan Gao, Nicole L. Gottdenker, Luis Fernando Chaves
Summary: The study shows that the diversity and composition of sand fly species can change in response to seasonal weather and land use changes in rural areas of Western Panama. Seasonality appears to be a more important factor than land use in driving the diversity of sand fly species observed in the study sites.
Article
Pathology
Jennifer A. Landolfi, Patricia M. Gaffney, Rita McManamon, Nicole L. Gottdenker, Angela E. Ellis, Raquel R. Rech, Sushan Han, Linda J. Lowenstine, Dalen Agnew, Michael M. Garner, Denise McAloose, Charlotte Hollinger, Judy St. Leger, Scott P. Terrell, Mary Duncan, Allan P. Pessier
Summary: Recent studies have shown that reproductive tract neoplasms, especially uterine tumors, are common in female Asian elephants and can impact fecundity, posing obstacles to conservation efforts in managed care facilities. Neoplasms were found in 80% of cases, with myometrial leiomyomas being the most common, followed by uterine adenocarcinoma. Metastases were documented in several cases, highlighting the need for further research and conservation strategies in managing these neoplasms in captive elephant populations.
VETERINARY PATHOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Felipe Montalva, Hector Paves, Diego Perez-Venegas, Karin G. E. Barrientos, Carola Valencia, Diego Miranda-Urbina, Mauricio Seguel
Summary: This study assessed the behavioral agonistic interactions between South American fur seals (SAFSs) and South American sea lions (SASLs) and found that these interactions almost always had negative impacts on the social structure or reproductive success of the SAFS colony. The study also identified lower marine productivity as the most important factor predicting more frequent agonistic interactions between the two species.
Article
Biology
Marie C. Russell, Catherine M. Herzog, Zachary Gajewski, Chloe Ramsay, Fadoua El Moustaid, Michelle Evans, Trishna Desai, Nicole L. Gottdenker, Sara L. Hermann, Alison G. Power, Andrew C. McCall
Summary: Mosquitoes, carriers of dangerous diseases like malaria and West Nile virus, are more likely to avoid laying their eggs in places with predators, which may explain the higher frequency of disease outbreaks. Previous studies have shown that predators can effectively reduce mosquito populations and disease transmission.
Article
Pathology
Mauricio Seguel, Rita McManamon, Drury Reavill, Fern Van Sant, Sayed M. Hassan, Branson W. Ritchie, Elizabeth W. Howerth
Summary: In this study, we reported the neuropathology of 14 feral conures with bromethalin toxicosis. These conures showed motor disorders and cellular damage with myelin loss in certain areas of the brain.
VETERINARY PATHOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Vanessa J. Pineda, Kadir A. Gonzalez, Milixa Perea, Chystrie Rigg, Jose E. Calzada, Luis F. Chaves, Vanessa Vasquez, Franklyn Samudio, Nicole Gottdenker, Azael Saldana
Summary: Didelphis marsupialis, a competent reservoir for trypanosomatid parasites, showed high rates of T. cruzi infection in Chagas disease endemic regions of Panama. The study provided important information for improved surveillance and management of Chagas disease in the area.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Mauricio Seguel, Blanca E. Molina-Burgos, Diego J. Perez-Venegas, Gustavo Chiang, Chris Harrod, Eugene DeRango, Hector Paves
Summary: This study examines the impact of maternal foraging strategies during pregnancy on neonatal health and survival in South American fur seals. The results show that mothers who shift towards a benthic-nearshore foraging strategy during late pregnancy give birth to pups with greater body mass, higher glucose levels, and lower blood urea nitrogen levels. These pups are more likely to survive compared to those born to mothers using a pelagic-offshore foraging strategy. The findings suggest that maternal foraging strategies during late pregnancy can influence neonatal survival through the transfer of glucose to the fetus.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
John E. E. Vinson, Nicole L. L. Gottdenker, Luis Fernando Chaves, RajReni B. B. Kaul, Andrew M. M. Kramer, John M. M. Drake, Richard J. J. Hall
Summary: Deforestation alters wildlife communities and increases zoonotic spillover potential. The species composition differences between primary and regenerating forests can influence the trajectory of spillover risk. Factors such as forest regeneration rate and the relative spillover risk of regenerating forests determine landscape-level spillover risk.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Omayma Amin, Christina A. Rostad, Mark Gonzalez, Bradley S. Rostad, Shelley Caltharp, Elizabeth Quincer, Briana A. Betke, Nicole L. Gottdenker, Jonathan J. Wilson, Andi L. Shane, Mohnd Elmontser, Andres Camacho-Gonzalez, Tal Senior, Oliver Smith, Evan J. Anderson, Inci Yildirim
Summary: This retrospective study analyzed 304 children with cat scratch disease and identified distinguishing features such as subacute regional lymphadenopathy in school-aged children during late summer, most of whom had been exposed to cats. Atypical clinical manifestations of cat scratch disease were also commonly observed.
OPEN FORUM INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Mauricio Seguel, Sarah A. Budischak, Anna E. Jolles, Vanessa O. Ezenwa
Summary: Host phenotypes can change in response to parasite infection and these changes can impact parasite interactions. In this study, the authors tracked changes in host immune and morphological phenotypes during co-infection of African buffalo with helminths and coccidia. They found that the clearance of different helminth species induced specific immune responses and affected coccidia shedding. Higher coccidia shedding had negative effects on host fitness. These findings highlight the complexity of parasite interactions and the importance of studying host phenotypes in understanding these interactions.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Christina P. Varian, Azael Saldana, Jose E. Calzada, Fernando Abad-Franch, Troy J. Kieran, Anchal Padukone, Jennifer K. Peterson, Nicole L. Gottdenker
Summary: This study investigates the factors influencing the abundance of Rhodnius vectors and their infection with Trypanosoma cruzi. The results show that factors such as geographic location, land-use type, palm crown animal community composition, and microhabitat conditions all play a role in vector abundance and infection.
Editorial Material
Veterinary Sciences
Abigail English, Chloe C. Goodwin, Nicole L. Gottdenker
JAVMA-JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
(2023)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Sonia M. Hernandez, Shannon E. Curry, Maureen H. Murray, Lisa A. Hoopes, Roger Nilsen, Christopher Gregory, Branson Ritchie, Katelyn Adkins, R. Ethan Cooper, Taylor J. Ellison, Henry C. Adams, Michael J. Yabsley, Elizabeth Howerth, Nicole L. Gottdenker
Summary: The infection of Macrorhabdus ornithogaster was discovered for the first time in American white ibis in Florida, and the infection was found to be potentially associated with clinical disease and mortality. Further studies on this pathogen in free-living birds are needed.
JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Pathology
Maria E. Orbay-Cerrato, Roger Alan Nilsen, Nicole Gottdenker, Rita McManamon, Jessica A. Elbert, Justin M. Stilwell, Mary B. Ard, Branson W. Ritchie, Brittany McHale
Summary: This study describes the pathological, histological, ultrastructural, and molecular characteristics of Skunk Adenovirus 1 (SkAdV-1) in three ferrets. The ferrets exhibited respiratory disease and mortality. Histological analysis revealed suppurative bronchopneumonia in Case 1 and subacute multifocal histiocytic and lymphoplasmacytic interstitial pneumonia in Cases 2 and 3. SkAdV-1 was identified in lung tissue through viral isolation, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and DNA sequencing. In situ hybridization confirmed the presence of adenovirus within lung lesions, and adenovirus particles were observed under an electron microscope. This is the seventh species in which SkAdV-1 has been detected, highlighting the importance of cross-species transmission events in wildlife management and multispecies facilities.
VETERINARY PATHOLOGY
(2023)