Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Emma Cartuyvels, Tim Adriaens, Kristof Baert, Frank Huysentruyt, Koen van den Berge
Summary: Fox tapeworms require two hosts to complete their life cycle, with muskrats acting as intermediate hosts for the tapeworm. A study conducted in Belgium from 2009 to 2017 found a stable prevalence of infection in muskrats with the tapeworm, suggesting the importance of muskrats as sentinels for understanding the spread of this zoonotic parasite. The presence of muskrats as an invasive alien species can have negative impacts on the environment due to the increase in potential hosts for the pathogen.
Article
Parasitology
Carlo Vittorio Citterio, Federica Obber, Karin Trevisiol, Debora Dellamaria, Roberto Celva, Marco Bregoli, Silvia Ormelli, Sofia Sgubin, Paola Bonato, Graziana Da Rold, Patrizia Danesi, Silvia Ravagnan, Stefano Vendrami, Davide Righetti, Andreas Agreiter, Daniele Asson, Andrea Cadamuro, Marco Ianniello, Gioia Capelli
Summary: A study conducted on 2872 foxes in Italy found a 7.55% prevalence of cestode eggs in fecal samples, with Echinococcus multilocularis, Taenia crassiceps, and Taenia polyacantha being the most common species. The study also revealed an increasing trend of E. multilocularis prevalence in recent years.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Janna M. Schurer, Polly Tsybina, Karen M. Gesy, Temitope U. Kolapo, Stuart Skinner, Janet E. Hill, Emily J. Jenkins
Summary: The analysis confirmed AE and showed that the sequences matched infected Saskatchewan coyotes and European E3/E4 haplotypes. The patient had no travel history outside North America, suggesting autochthonous transmission of a European-type strain.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Parasitology
Carina Schneider, Wolfgang Kratzer, Andreas Binzberger, Patrycja Schlingeloff, Sven Baumann, Thomas Romig, Julian Schmidberger
Summary: There is a discrepancy between the spatial distribution of human cases of alveolar echinococcosis and the distribution of Echinococcus multilocularis in its main definitive host, the red fox, in a highly endemic focus in southern Germany. The small-scale distribution of E. multilocularis in foxes does not reflect the uneven distribution of human cases.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
Poleta Luga, Arben Gjata, Ilir Akshija, Ledina Mino, Valbona Gjoni, Arben Pilaca, Michael Zobi, Gabriela Equihua Martinez, Joachim Richter
Summary: Echinococcosis is a neglected zoonotic disease with a high risk to human health. In Albania, cystic echinococcosis (CE) is prevalent, but there is a lack of data to confirm this. A total of 771 CE cases were documented through systematic literature search and reviewing hospital records. Surgery was the main treatment approach. Mandatory notification should be strengthened to establish a realistic estimate of CE prevalence and incidence in Albania.
PARASITOLOGY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Erica Marchiori, Federica Obber, Roberto Celva, Federica Marcer, Patrizia Danesi, Anna Maurizio, Lucia Cenni, Alessandro Massolo, Carlo Vittorio Citterio, Rudi Cassini
Summary: This study evaluated the performance of two copromicroscopic techniques in detecting and estimating the prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths in red foxes. The results showed that the sensitivity of fecal flotation technique was low, while multiplex PCR identification method performed better. The study also found that copromicroscopic tests tend to underestimate the prevalence of helminthic infections.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Xibao Wang, Yongquan Shang, Qinguo Wei, Xiaoyang Wu, Huashan Dou, Huanxin Zhang, Shengyang Zhou, Weilai Sha, Guolei Sun, Shengchao Ma, Honghai Zhang
Summary: The gut microbiome of red and corsac foxes exhibit species-specific compositions and functions that may contribute to their ability to adapt to different ecological niches and habitats. The red fox showed abundant Bacteroides which may aid in wider niche adaptation, while the corsac fox had high percentages of Blautia which could help in surviving in harsh environments.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Jonathon D. Kotwa, Tyler Greer, Claire M. Jardine, J. Scott Weese, Mats Isaksson, David L. Pearl, Olaf Berke, Nicola Mercer, Andrew S. Peregrine
Summary: Prior to 2012, Echinococcus multilocularis was not known to occur in any host in Ontario, Canada. Since then, cases have been diagnosed in dogs and wild canids in the region. A study on 479 dogs revealed no presence of E. multilocularis DNA in fecal samples from the high-risk infection cluster.
ZOONOSES AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Parasitology
Joe Prullage, Dwight Bowman, Michael Ulrich, Eric Tielemans
Summary: NexGard((R)) Combo, a novel topical endectoparasiticide formulation for cats combining esafoxolaner, eprinomectin and praziquantel, showed 100% efficacy in treating cats infected with Echinococcus multilocularis in experimental studies.
Article
Parasitology
Louis Bohard, Severine Lallemand, Romain Borne, Sandra Courquet, Solange Bresson-Hadni, Carine Richou, Laurence Millon, Anne-Pauline Bellanger, Jenny Knapp
Summary: This study developed a new method for genotyping Echinococcus multilocularis based on whole mitochondrial genome sequencing and compared it with current methods. The results showed that the whole mitochondrial genome typing method had higher haplotype and nucleotide diversity. The genotyping data and EmsB gene analysis data did not overlap, possibly due to the use of different genomes. The high Fst value between individuals living inside and outside the endemic area supports the hypothesis of expansion from historical endemic areas to peripheral regions.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Louis B. Polish, Bobbi Pritt, Thomas F. E. Barth, Bruno Gottstein, Elise M. O'Connell, Pamela C. Gibson
Summary: This study identified the first case of a European haplotype of Echinococcus multilocularis in the United States, suggesting an emerging infectious disease in North America.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Nosheen Basharat, Jadoon Khan, Irfan Ullah, Aamer Ali Shah, Ijaz Ali
Summary: In this study, the molecular characterization of human echinococcosis in the southern Punjab region of Pakistan was conducted. The majority of human infections were caused by E. granulosus s.s., followed by E. multilocularis and E. canadensis. Genotypic characterization among both human and livestock populations is needed to explore the genetic diversity of echinococcosis.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Letter
Medicine, General & Internal
Louis B. Polish, Elise M. O'Connell, Roger Ramirez-Barrios
Summary: This report describes the identification of a more virulent European haplotype of Echinococcus multilocularis in both humans and animals (foxes) in the United States, suggesting the zoonotic spread of this parasite.
NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Parasitology
Qian Wang, Bo Zhong, Wenjie Yu, Guangjia Zhang, Christine M. Budke, Sha Liao, Wei He, Fan Chen, Kejun Xu, Fei Xie, Danbazeli, Qi Wang, Liu Yang, Yan Huang, Ruirui Li, Renxing Yao, Patrick Giraudoux, Philip S. Craig
Summary: Assessment of a control programme in Gansu province showed that deworming owned dogs can significantly reduce E. multilocularis infection in owned dogs and human AE prevalence, but did not have a significant impact on infection in wildlife intermediate hosts.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kensuke Mori, Melanie Rock, Gavin McCormack, Stefano Liccioli, Dimitri Giunchi, Danielle Marceau, Emmanuel Stefanakis, Alessandro Massolo
Summary: Contamination of public parks by dog feces can cause conflicts among park users and pose health risks. Our study analyzed the distribution of dog feces in urban parks and found off-leash parks to be more contaminated. We estimated that 127.23 g/ha of dog feces are left unpicked in city parks every week.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
Qian Wang, Bo Zhong, Wenjie Yu, Guangjia Zhang, Christine M. Budke, Sha Liao, Wei He, Fan Chen, Kejun Xu, Fei Xie, Danbazeli, Qi Wang, Liu Yang, Yan Huang, Ruirui Li, Renxing Yao, Patrick Giraudoux, Philip S. Craig
Summary: Assessment of a control programme in Gansu province showed that deworming owned dogs can significantly reduce E. multilocularis infection in owned dogs and human AE prevalence, but did not have a significant impact on infection in wildlife intermediate hosts.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shinji Ozaki, Clementine Fritsch, Frederic Mora, Thierry Cornier, Renaud Scheifler, Francis Raoul
Summary: This study found that under trace metal contamination, vegetation has a more significant impact on invertebrate communities than the direct effects of trace metals.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Zoology
Andrew J. Bengsen, David M. Forsyth, Dave S. L. Ramsey, Matt Amos, Michael Brennan, Anthony R. Pople, Sebastien Comte, Troy Crittle
Summary: This study evaluated the feasibility of using camera trap survey data and spatial mark-resight (SMR) models to estimate deer density in different situations. The results showed that this approach provided a powerful and flexible method for populations where many detections were not individually identifiable.
JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY
(2022)
Review
Ecology
David M. Forsyth, Sebastien Comte, Naomi E. Davis, Andrew J. Bengsen, Steeve D. Cote, David G. Hewitt, Nicolas Morellet, Atle Mysterud
Summary: Deer are critical components of many ecosystems, and accurately estimating deer abundance and density is crucial for understanding their roles. This study systematically reviewed journal articles published from 2004 to 2018 to evaluate trends in study objectives, methodologies, and abundance and density estimates, as well as their variations with biophysical and anthropogenic attributes. The findings highlight the need for reporting methodological details, robustly assessing bias, reporting precision, using methods that increase detection probability, and staying up to date on new methods to improve the usefulness of deer abundance and density estimates.
JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Monica E. Riojas-Lopez, Eric Mellink, Patrick Giraudoux
Summary: This study investigates the factors influencing bird and rodent assemblages in semi-arid rangelands in the southern Mexican Plateau. The results show that the condition of the rangelands and the seasons have different effects on the abundance and distribution of bird and rodent species. Shrub and nopal habitats are important components influencing the abundance of birds and rodents. Bird species turnover is higher than rodent species turnover, suggesting that birds have greater mobility to explore different patches of rangelands.
RANGELAND ECOLOGY & MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Barry Rosenbaum, Andrey D. D. Poyarkov, Bariushaa Munkhtsog, Ochirjav Munkhtogtokh, Jose Antonio Hernandez-Blanco, Dmitry Y. Y. Alexandrov, Buyanaa Chimeddorj, Bayandonoi Galtulga, Dalannast Munkhnast, Munkhtsog Bayaraa, Viatcheslav V. V. Rozhnov, Sebastien Comte
Summary: This study analyzed data collected from 5 snow leopards in the Altai Mountains of Mongolia and found a large variation in home ranges between different monitoring sites. Male snow leopards had larger monthly home ranges compared to females, and female home ranges decreased in summer while male home range use remained stable throughout the year. Additionally, the study revealed different habitat preferences between the sexes in summer.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Christopher Marston, Clare Rowland, Aneurin O'Neil, Seth Irish, Francis Wat'senga, Pilar Martin-Gallego, Paul Aplin, Patrick Giraudoux, Clare Strode
Summary: Methods were developed to identify the biogeographical variables driving the abundance and distribution of three malaria vectors in the Democratic Republic of the Congo using Earth Observation (EO) data, mosquito monitoring captures, and Google Earth Engine. The results showed the importance of rainfall and land surface temperature in relation to mosquito abundance, as well as the coverage of forest and grassland. The developed method can provide a crucial tool for designing control programs and improving disease control activities to reduce malaria transmission.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Maximilian R. Stammnitz, Kevin Gori, Young Mi Kwon, Edward Harry, Fergal J. Martin, Konstantinos Billis, Yuanyuan Cheng, Adrian Baez-Ortega, William Chow, Sebastien Comte, Hannes Eggertsson, Samantha Fox, Rodrigo Hamede, Menna Jones, Billie Lazenby, Sarah Peck, Ruth Pye, Michael A. Quail, Kate Swift, Jinhong Wang, Jonathan Wood, Kerstin Howe, Michael R. Stratton, Zemin Ning, Elizabeth P. Murchison
Summary: Tasmanian devils have two transmissible cancer lineages, DFT1 and DFT2, with DFT1 first emerging in 1986 and DFT2 in 2011. DFT2 has faster mutation rates and a hypermutated lineage with defective DNA mismatch repair. Some loci show evidence of positive selection in either DFT1 or DFT2, but not in both cancers. This study reveals the parallel long-term evolution of these two transmissible cancers in Tasmanian devils.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Christopher Marston, Francis Raoul, Clare Rowland, Jean-Pierre Quere, Xiaohui Feng, Renyong Lin, Patrick Giraudoux
Summary: Small mammal species play a crucial role in various ecological processes and can have significant impacts on agricultural sectors and disease transmission. This study utilizes Earth observation data and on-site surveys to develop species distribution models for nine small mammal species in China and Kyrgyzstan. The models identify the key landscape variables driving species abundance and distributions, highlighting the optimal conditions for each species. The results improve our understanding of small mammal distributions and abundances, bridging the gap between human-defined and species-defined perspectives of optimal habitat.
Article
Ecology
Erin Hill, Nicholas Murphy, Scarlett Li-Williams, Christopher Davies, David Forsyth, Sebastien Comte, Lee Ann Rollins, Fiona Hogan, Faye Wedrowicz, Troy Crittle, Elaine Thomas, Luke Woodford, Carlo Pacioni
Summary: Introduced sambar and rusa deer populations in south-eastern Australia are subject to local control efforts. It is important to understand dispersal capability, population structure, and hybridisation rates for effective management. Genetic analysis reveals distinct management units and limited dispersal.
Article
Ecology
Scarlett Li-Williams, Katarina C. Stuart, Sebastien Comte, David M. Forsyth, Michelle Dawson, William B. Sherwin, Lee A. Rollins
Summary: The aim of this study was to investigate the population structure of rusa deer in the Illawarra region of New South Wales and determine the effects of landscape features on gene flow. The results showed that genetic diversity was highest near the original introduction site, and a railway line restricted gene flow. Surprisingly, the Illawarra escarpment did not limit gene flow, and there was no evidence of sex-biased dispersal.
Article
Ecology
Sebastien Comte, Elaine Thomas, Andrew J. J. Bengsen, Ami Bennett, Naomi E. E. Davis, Daniel Brown, David M. M. Forsyth
Summary: Introduced sambar deer in south-eastern Australia are being controlled using volunteer and contract ground-based shooters, but little is known about their effectiveness and costs. This study evaluated the effectiveness and costs of both shooter types in controlling sambar deer in and around alpine peatlands in Alpine National Park, Victoria. The catch per unit effort of contract shooters was four times greater than that of volunteer shooters, but the cost per deer killed was slightly higher for contract shooters.
Article
Ecology
Jordan O. Hampton, Andrew J. Bengsen, Sebastien Comte, Jason S. Flesch, Simon D. Toop, Christopher Davies, David M. Forsyth
Summary: This study aims to characterize hound hunting of sambar deer in Victoria, Australia. The results showed that most hunting teams were successful in harvesting deer, with highly variable pursuit times and distances. Deer were more likely to be killed on steeper slopes and closer to roads. Summary ends.
Article
Ecology
Gerald Umhang, Christophe Duchamp, Jean-Marc Boucher, Christophe Caillot, Leo Legras, Jean-Michel Demerson, Jeremie Lucas, Dominique Gauthier, Franck Boue
Summary: This study evaluated the presence of parasites, including those of public health importance, in French wolves. The results showed that the parasite species and prevalence in French wolves were similar to those of other European wolf populations. Infections by E. granulosus sensu stricto were found in areas where wolf packs overlap with sheep breeding units, but the wolf does not seem to play a significant role in the life cycle of this parasite. Furthermore, the opportunistic fecal sampling of wolves in southeastern France can be used as a surveillance tool for the southward expansion of E. multilocularis.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Sebastien Comte, Elaine Thomas, Andrew J. Bengsen, Ami Bennett, Naomi E. Davis, Sean Freney, Stephen M. Jackson, Matt White, David M. Forsyth, Daniel Brown
Summary: This study reveals the activity patterns and behavior of sambar deer in high-elevation peatlands, as well as the impact of ground-based shooting on their activity. Sambar deer prefer to activity in areas with dense vegetation close to roads, and their activity decreases with increasing snow depth in winter. Ground-based shooting can reduce the activity of sambar deer in high-elevation peatlands and their surrounding areas.