Letter
Immunology
Luke B. Harrison, Michael D. Libman, Chelsea Caya, Momar Ndao, Cedric P. Yansouni
Summary: Prolonged eosinophilia is a characteristic of trichinellosis. Through a study on trichinellosis cases, we determined the threshold of eosinophil counts and recommend testing when the count is ≥ 0.8 x 10(9) cells/L.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Parasitology
Olga Rudneva, Oleg N. Andreyanov, Eugenia A. Sidor
Summary: The study focuses on the metabolism of Trichinella spp., which primarily relies on glycogen as an energy source. Under low temperature conditions, the glycogen concentration and invasive activity of T. nativa were monitored. The results showed a decrease in glycogen concentration and reduced invasive capability of preserved Trichinella larvae in winter.
VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Dimitris Dimzas, Taxiarchis Chassalevris, Zanda Ozolina, Chrysostomos Dovas, Anastasia Diakou
Summary: This study conducted the first investigation on the presence of parasites in wild boar meat in Greece, and it was found that none of the samples tested positive for Trichinella spp. or Alaria spp. A novel molecular method for detecting Alaria spp. was developed, which could be a useful complementary diagnostic tool in surveillance for this parasite.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Age Karssin, Liidia Hakkinen, Annika Vilem, Pikka Jokelainen, Brian Lassen
Summary: This study summarizes the findings of Trichinella parasites in selected host species in Estonia over an 8-year period. The results indicate a high infection pressure in wild animals, highlighting the continuous risk of transmission to domestic cycles and humans.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Carolina S. Silva, Talita O. Mendonca, Dalia M. R. Machado, Carmen A. Arias-Pacheco, Wilson J. Oliveira, Patricia P. Perin, Karin Werther, Paulo E. Carraro, Iara M. Trevisol, Beatris Kramer, Virginia S. Silva, Luis A. Mathias, Karina P. Buerger, Estevam G. Lux Hoppe
Summary: Trichinellosis is an important zoonotic disease with two types of cycles, domestic and wild, worldwide. While Brazil is considered free of the domestic cycle of Trichinella, serological evidence suggests a potential wild cycle related to wild boars in the country. Further analyses are needed to confirm the presence of the parasite.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Nian-Zhang Zhang, Wen-Hui Li, Hai-Jie Yu, Yin-Ju Liu, Hong-Tao Qin, Wan-Zhong Jia, Bao-Quan Fu
Summary: Minks and rats in China were found to be infected with Trichinella, and minks are vulnerable to infection through exposure to rats, which could pose potential zoonotic risks to domestic animals.
ZOONOSES AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Parasitology
Vladislav A. Lobanov, Kelly A. Konecsni, Randy W. Purves, W. Brad Scandrett
Summary: This study developed a recombinant protein of Trichinella spiralis serpin using recombinant technology and applied it in indirect ELISA for detecting exposure to Trichinella in pigs. The Serpin ELISA showed high specificity and sensitivity in commercial pig herds, but lower sensitivity for detecting antibodies induced by experimental infections of pigs with sylvatic Trichinella species.
VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hatice Hale Tatli, Abdullah Altunisik, Kenan Gedik
Summary: Frogs are facing extinction due to various stressors, including plastic pollution. This study found that 82.4% of frog samples from Turkey contained microplastics, with varying abundance. These findings can serve as a baseline to assess the ecological risks of microplastics and guide future research.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Chunyue Hao, Wei Wang, Bin Zhan, Zixia Wang, Jingjing Huang, Ximeng Sun, Xinping Zhu
Summary: The study demonstrates that the Trichinella-derived protein rTsPmy can ameliorate disease progression and reduce inflammatory responses in experimental colitis, by specifically promoting the expansion and differentiation of regulatory T cells in the inflamed colon. These findings provide insights into the immunological mechanisms involved in the therapeutic effect of helminth-derived proteins in inflammatory bowel diseases.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Stephanie R. Penk, Korryn Bodner, Juan S. Vargas Soto, Emily S. Chenery, Alexander Nascou, Peter K. Molnar
Summary: Parasites exhibit diverse life history strategies, with transmission to a host being a key component of their lifecycle. This study developed a modeling framework to evaluate transmission pathways of the parasitic nematode Trichinella nativa in polar bear populations, finding that transmission mainly occurs through infected marine prey, with other pathways playing minimal roles.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Endrias Zewdu Gebremedhin, Edilu Jorga Sarba, Getachew Kebebew Tola, Solomon Shiferaw Endalew, Lencho Megersa Marami, Asaminew Tesfaye Melkamsew, Vincenzo Di Marco Lo Presti, Maria Vitale
Summary: A study in three towns in Ethiopia found high seroprevalence of T. gondii and Leishmania spp. in dogs, with 82.58% of the dogs testing positive for both parasites. Adult dogs had a significantly higher risk of T. gondii infection compared to juvenile dogs.
BMC VETERINARY RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Jose Villegas-Perez, Francisco Javier Navas-Gonzalez, Salud Serrano, Fernando Garcia-Viejo, Leandro Buffoni
Summary: Trichinellosis is a foodborne disease transmitted through ingestion of raw or undercooked meat containing the first larval stage of the nematode. Meat inspection for Trichinella larvae is mandatory in EU regulations to ensure food safety. Implementing quality assurance practices in laboratories responsible for Trichinella detection is crucial in protecting public health. This study analyzed the outcomes of implementing Quality Management Systems in slaughterhouses and game handling establishments involved in Trichinella testing in southern Spain.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Niamh Caffrey, Agnes Agunos, Sheryl Gow, Karen Liljebjelke, Chunu Mainali, Sylvia L. Checkley
Summary: The study utilized data from the Canadian Integrated Program for Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance (CIPARS) to compare the prevalence of Salmonella serovars between broiler chicken and turkey flocks in Canada, and to understand the prevalence of resistance to antimicrobials important for human health.
ZOONOSES AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Muriel Guyard-Nicodeme, Nagham Anis, Doaa Naguib, Eric Viscogliosi, Marianne Chemaly
Summary: Poultry and poultry meat are important sources of human campylobacteriosis and salmonellosis. However, data on the occurrence of Campylobacter and Salmonella along with Blastocystis sp. in poultry are scarce. This study found that Campylobacter spp., Salmonella spp., and Blastocystis sp. were present in fecal samples from chickens in Egypt, highlighting their active circulation. The study also revealed associations between Blastocystis sp. and both Campylobacter spp. and Salmonella spp., emphasizing the need for further studies on bacterial and eukaryotic interactions in the poultry gut microbiota.
Article
Ecology
Atzahara Diaz, M. Teresa Tejedor, Arnau Padrosa, Joaquin Quilez
Summary: A study in the province of Girona in northeastern Spain found Trichinella infection in wild boars, primarily Trichinella spiralis. Although there was an increasing trend in infection rate annually, it was influenced by hunting yield, with lower rates in spring due to lower captures.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Stephanie C. Osinchuk, Shayna Levitt, Lynne Sheila Sandmeyer, Sarah E. Parker
Summary: This study describes the complications of conjunctival graft surgery in dogs and evaluates the factors that contribute to the occurrence of complications. The study found that Streptococcus species played a role in conjunctival graft complications and the use of intraoperative cefazolin may be associated with a lower complication rate.
VETERINARY OPHTHALMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Joanie L. Kennah, Michael J. L. Peers, Eric Vander Wal, Yasmine N. Majchrzak, Allyson K. Menzies, Emily K. Studd, Rudy Boonstra, Murray M. Humphries, Thomas S. Jung, Alice J. Kenney, Charles J. Krebs, Stan Boutin
Summary: Climate warming causes asynchronies between animal phenology and environments, and mismatched traits may decrease survival. However, coat color change can provide advantages other than camouflage. In this study, we found that mismatched snowshoe hares in Yukon had a significantly reduced autumn mortality risk, possibly due to the increased coat insulation and lower metabolic rates of winter-acclimatized hares. Mismatched hares also foraged less and had lower predation risk, leading to higher survival rates. However, mismatch did not affect spring mortality risk, suggesting a potential temperature limit where the costs of conspicuousness outweigh energetic benefits.
Article
Zoology
Thomas S. Jung
Summary: Variation in coat colour within mammal species is of interest, and the coat colour of the Canada lynx is usually stable, with occasional rare colourmorphs. A melanistic Canada lynx was observed and photographed during summer, exhibiting a black coat with grayish guard hairs and whitish gray hairs in specific regions. The adaptive significance of melanism in lynx is still unknown, but it may be maladaptive in terms of camouflage during winter hunting.
Editorial Material
Ecology
Tommaso Illarietti, Pelayo Acevedo, Paulo Alves, Thomas S. Jung, Horst Kierdorf, Gilliard Lach, Jorge Lopez-Olvera, Rory Putman, Massimo Scandura, Marcelo Vallinoto, Christian Gortazar
Summary: Expanding from Zeitschrift fur Jagdwissenschaft in 1955, European Journal of Wildlife Research (EJWR) publishes original research and reviews on wildlife science worldwide. After 18 years, we reflect on the journal and its audience, which includes researchers, wildlife biologists, and practitioners interested in wildlife science. With ecosystems under immense pressure due to global crisis, EJWR plays a vital role in sharing relevant research with the scientific community.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Kayla Buhler, Emilie Bouchard, Stacey Elmore, Gustaf Samelius, Jessica Jackson, Matilde Tomaselli, Heather Fenton, Ray Alisauskas, Emily Jenkins
Summary: Tularemia is a zoonotic disease that may expand its range with warming temperatures. In the Canadian Arctic, arctic foxes serve as sentinels for the disease, with seroprevalence varying with climate and rodent populations. High seroprevalence was observed in 2018, following a peak in vole abundance in 2017, and antibodies were detected in fox pups born in subsequent years. Climate factors such as high summer precipitation, increased snow cover, and higher vole abundance were associated with increased seroprevalence in live-captured foxes.
Article
Zoology
Edward H. Miller, Thomas S. Jung, Piia M. Kukka, John J. Reynolds, Robert A. Grove, Garry B. Stenson, Robert P. W. Rogers
Summary: Allometric analyses of sexually selected structures have revealed important patterns and adaptations in weapons, ornaments, and genitalia. In this study, we investigated the allometry of the baculum in three large mustelids, finding that baculum size is possibly adapted to the average size of the female reproductive tract. Additionally, bacular shape and size varied greatly among species, suggesting functional differences in intromission.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Biological
Thomas S. Jung, Caeley Thacker, Christopher J. Lewis
Summary: The epidermis of wild mammals occasionally gets lacerated or punctured, and wound care behaviors have evolved to maintain their health. Communal wound licking can help promote healing, relieve stress, and strengthen social bonds among individuals. This study reports observations of communal wound licking in free-ranging bison, indicating its occurrence in social ungulates and suggesting potential social benefits. Further research is needed to better understand the frequency, costs, and benefits of communal wound licking.
Article
Ecology
Thomas S. Jung, Nicholas C. Larter, Christopher J. Lewis, Caeley Thacker, Shawn D. Taylor
Summary: While it is known that wolves prey on bison in certain populations, their ecological interactions with reintroduced small populations in the boreal forest are not well understood. This study provides verified observations of wolves hunting or scavenging bison from three reintroduced populations in northwestern Canada. The observations show that the reintroduced bison populations are integrating into local food webs and are under selective pressure from wolves, indicating ecological restoration.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Zoology
Thomas S. Jung, Sarah M. Arnold, Alexandra L. Heathcote, Piia M. Kukka, Caitlin N. Willier, Alice M. McCulley, Shannon A. Stotyn, Kirsten A. Wilcox
Summary: Hoary marmots dig burrows as refuge from predators, and we found that they continue to use burrows even after they have been excavated by grizzly bears. The extent of their utility is unknown and further research is needed to understand why marmots use excavated burrows.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ines Peraza, John Chetelat, Murray Richardson, Thomas S. Jung, Malik Awan, Steve Baryluk, Ashu Dastoor, William Harrower, Piia M. Kukka, Christine McClelland, Garth Mowat, Nicolas Pelletier, Christine Rodford, Andrei Ryjkov
Summary: Limited information exists on mercury concentrations and environmental drivers of mercury bioaccumulation in high latitude terrestrial carnivores. In this study, wolverines in Arctic and boreal biomes of western Canada were analyzed for mercury concentrations and its environmental drivers. The results showed that diet was the strongest explanatory variable of mercury concentrations, followed by landscape variables and distance to the Arctic Ocean coast.
Article
Biology
Shotaro Shiratsuru, Emily K. Studd, Stan Boutin, Michael J. L. Peers, Yasmine N. Majchrzak, Allyson K. Menzies, Rachael Derbyshire, Thomas S. Jung, Charles J. Krebs, Rudy Boonstra, Dennis L. Murray
Summary: The study found that the activity patterns of snowshoe hares and Canada lynx are not necessarily related to predation risk, and lynx can still prey on hares during the daytime when hares are inactive. This suggests that the overlap of predator-prey activity may not always be a reliable proxy for predation risk, highlighting the need to examine the spatio-temporal behavior of predator and prey to improve our understanding of predation risk.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biology
Madan K. Oli, Alice J. Kenney, Rudy Boonstra, Stan Boutin, Dennis L. Murray, Michael J. L. Peers, B. Scott Gilbert, Thomas S. Jung, Vratika Chaudhary, James E. Hines, Charles J. Krebs
Summary: Some mammal species in high-latitude habitats have evolved a seasonal molt pattern to improve camouflage. However, reduced snow cover in high-latitude and high-altitude areas could disrupt this camouflage and decrease the survival rate of species that rely on it. A study on snowshoe hares found that the whiteness of their coat in autumn influenced winter survival, while the whiteness in spring did not affect summer survival. The timing of coat color change in autumn may negatively impact snowshoe hare population dynamics as climate change continues.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Thomas S. Jung, Michael J. L. Peers, Ryan Drummond, Shawn D. Taylor
Summary: This observation documents the interactions between a wolverine and a Canada lynx scavenging on a bison carcass, shedding light on their behavioral interactions at a rich food source. The study found that intraguild interactions between these species involve both tolerance and interference competition, with the wolverine being the dominant species. This observation contributes new information on interactions between mesocarnivores.
Article
Ecology
Charles J. Krebs, Stan Boutin, Rudy Boonstra, Dennis L. Murray, Thomas S. Jung, Mark O'Donoghue, B. Scott Gilbert, Piia M. Kukka, Shawn D. Taylor, T. Morgan, Ryan Drummond, Anthony R. E. Sinclair, Alice J. Kenney
Summary: The boreal forest, the world's largest terrestrial biome, is undergoing dramatic changes due to climate change and other human activities. To monitor these changes, a comprehensive monitoring program was conducted in five sites in the Yukon, Canada. The results showed significant variability in population dynamics of various ecosystem constituents, but keystone species such as snowshoe hares and Canada lynx exhibited similar population trends across the region.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Thomas S. Jung, Michael J. L. Peers, Ryan Drummond, Shawn D. Taylor
Summary: This study captured interactions between a Canada lynx and a wolverine scavenging on a bison carcass using a remote camera. The observations suggest that intraguild interactions between these two species may involve tolerance and interference competition, with the wolverine being dominant.