Digital Commons Network^™

Transmission Of Antibiotic Resistance At The Wildlife-Livestock Interface, Shinyoung Lee, Peixin Fan, Ting Liu, Anni Yang, Raoul K. Boughton, Kim M. Pepin, Ryan S. Miller, Kwangcheol Casey Jeong

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Antibiotic-resistant microorganisms (ARMs) are widespread in natural environments, animals (wildlife and livestock), and humans, which has reduced our capacity to control life threatening infectious disease. Yet, little is known about their transmission pathways, especially at the wildlife-livestock interface. This study investigated the potential transmission of ARMs and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) between cattle and wildlife by comparing gut microbiota and ARG profiles of feral swine (Sus scrofa), coyotes (Canis latrans), cattle (Bos taurus), and environmental microbiota. Unexpectedly, wild animals harbored more abundant ARMs and ARGs compared to grazing cattle. Gut microbiota of cattle was …

Dammed Water Quality—Longitudinal Stream Responses Below Beaver Ponds In The Umpqua River Basin, Oregon, John R. Stevenson, Jason B. Dunham, Steven M. Wondzell, Jimmy Taylor

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Beaver-related restoration (BRR) has gained popularity as a means of improving stream ecosystems, but the effects are not fully understood. Studies of dissolved oxygen (DO) and water temperature, key water quality metrics for salmonids, have demonstrated improved conditions in some cases, but warming and decreased DO have been more commonly reported in meta-analyses. These results point to the contingencies that can influence outcomes from BRR. We examined water quality related to beaver ponds in a diverse coastal watershed (Umpqua River Basin, OR, USA). We monitored water temperature 0–400m above and below beaver ponds and at pond surfaces and bottoms across …

Economic Damages Of Wild Pigs In Non-Traditional Areas: From The Fairway To The After Life, Sophie Mckee, Julie Elser, Maryfrances Miller, Lirong Liu, Ryan Miller, Steven S. Shwiff, Stephanie A. Shwiff

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Invasive wild pigs are widely known to cause damage to agricultural properties and commodities, but less has been reported about damages to other types of property. A survey was distributed to golf courses and cemeteries across Texas to explore the extent of damage these properties experience. While both property types reported significant damages, golf courses were found to experience more damage than cemeteries. Using average reported costs and predicted county-level damage, total costs for all golf courses and cemeteries across the state were estimated to exceed $1.6 million USD per year.

Sars-Cov-2 In Wildlife: Q & A With Alan B. Franklin, Alan B. Franklin

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Welcome Dr Franklin and thank you for joining us to help social workers increase their knowledge about the interconnectedness of humans, other mammals, and the environment. Let's begin with zoonosis.

Viruses can be transferred from wild and domestic animals to humans in a process called zoonosis.

Strength In Numbers: Avian Influenza A Virus Transmission To Poultry From A Flocking Passerine, J. Jeffrey Root, Jeremy W. Ellis, Susan A. Shriner

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The effects of flock size of European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) was experimentally manipulated to assess the potential of influenza A virus (IAV; H4N6) transmission from a flocking passerine to bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) through shared food and water resources to mimic starling intrusions into free-range and backyard poultry operations. Of the three starling flock sizes tested (n = 30, n = 20 and n = 10), all successfully transmitted the virus to all or most of the quail in each animal room (6/6, 6/6 and 5/6) by the end of the experimental period, as determined by seroconversion and/or viral RNAshedding. …

Social Learning Of Avoidance Behaviors: Trap Aversion In Captive Coyotes, Julie Young, Jeffrey T. Schultz, Buck Jolley, Nekol Basili, John P. Draper

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Social learning can help animals gain knowledge rapidly and may enhance survival. In species that are subjected to capture in foothold traps and then lethally removed, such as the coyote (Canis latrans), learning to avoid traps is critical to survival. Here, we tested social learning of trap avoidance behavior in three experimental scenarios with captive coyotes. In the first experiment, coyotes observed an unfamiliar coyote get captured in a foothold trap (i.e., demonstrator) or did not observe a demonstrator and were therefore naïve to traps. The coyotes that observed a demonstrator showed similar latencies to approach the trap …

Predicting Consistent Foraging Ecologies Of Migrating Waterbirds: Using Stable Isotope And Parasite Measurements As Indicators Of Landscape Use, Kate L. Sheehan, Brian S. Dorr, Stephen A. Clements, Terrel W. Christie, Katie Hanson-Dorr, Scott A. Rush, J. Brian Davis

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The emergence of novel human pathogens is frequently linked with zoonotic events and human-wildlife interactions that promote disease transmission. Consequently, surveillance of wildlife populations for candidate diseases that could spread to humans is beneficial, but requires widespread collections of numerous samples. A legitimate means to acquire large sample sizes of waterfowl is through cooperation between researchers and hunters, who also work in concert with natural resource managers, landowners, and agricultural entities -e.g., aquaculture facilities. In addition to understanding the occurrence and spread of parasites and pathogens by birds, these samples can be used to answer questions about the ecology of …

Summer Habitat Use And Movements Of Invasive Wild Pigs (Sus Scrofa) In Canadian Agro-Ecosystems, Corey J. Kramer, Melanie R. Boudreau, Ryan S. Miller, Ryan Powers, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Ryan K. Brook

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Resource selection informs understanding of a species’ ecology and is especially pertinent for invasive species. Since introduced to Canada, wild pigs (Sus scrofa Linnaeus, 1978) remain understudied despite recognized negative impacts on native and agricultural systems globally. Elsewhere in North America, pigs typically use forests and forage in agricultural crops. We hypothesized Canadian wild pigs would behave similarly, and using GPS locations from 15 individuals, we examined diel and seasonal resource selection and movement in the Canadian prairie region. Forests were predominately selected during the day, while corn (Zea mays L.), oilseeds, and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) …

Ontario’S Double-Crested Cormorant Hunting Season May Be Ineffective But That Doesn’T Mean There Are No Conflict Issues, Brian S. Dorr, David G. Fielder, James R. Jackson, James F. Farquhar, Douglas W. Schultz, Randall M. Claramunt

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

No abstract provided.

Managing Roof Rats In Citrus Orchards: Initial Efforts Toward Building An Integrated Pest Management Program, Roger A. Baldwin, Justine A. Smith, Ryan Meinerz, Aaron B. Shiels

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Roof rats cause extensive damage in orchards throughout the world. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) systems are the best option for managing rodents, yet few management systems have been developed and tested to control roof rats in agricultural settings. We initiated a study in 2020 to provide the foundation for an IPM program to manage roof rats in California citrus orchards. Our initial efforts centered on developing effective monitoring strategies for roof rats to determine when management actions are needed, assessing rat movement patterns to determine proper placement of management tools, and conducting initial tests of Goodnature A24 self-resetting traps and …

Development Of A Novel Vertebrate Pesticide For The Invasive Small Indian Mongoose, Carmen Antaky, Steven C. Hess, Israel Leinbach, Robert T. T. Sugihara, Emily W. Ruell, Shane Siers

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Small Indian mongooses are detrimental introduced predators in the United States, where they depredate native species, serve as vector of disease, and threaten public safety. Due to the risk of accidental introduction to mongoose-free islands, high cost and limitations to trapping, and no national (Section 3) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered toxicants for mongoose control, there is a need for an efficacious toxic bait for mongooses for use in conservation areas and at points of entry in the United States. Over the last five years, the National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) worked to develop a toxic bait for mongooses for registration …

Abert’S Squirrel Management In Support Of Endangered Mount Graham Red Squirrel Recovery In Arizona, Aaron R. Morehead, Christopher Carillo, Holly Hicks, Wade Sanders, David L. Bergman

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Recovery of the endangered Mount Graham red squirrel (MGRS) will likely be long and challenging. Its limited habitat, isolation to Pinaleño Mountain range, and demographic characteristics restrict its ability to rebound quickly from threats that impact both the squirrel and its habitat. Currently, threats to the MGRS include habitat degradation and loss through high-severity wildfire, fire suppression activities, insect outbreaks, climate change, and human development, and predation, as well as competition with Abert’s squirrels. The most recent wildfire in 2017 impacted over 48,000 acres of already reduced habitat. A critical first step is to protect and manage the remaining population …

Migratory Movements And Home Ranges Of Geographically Distinct Wintering Populations Of A Soaring Bird, Ryo Ogawa, J. Brian Davis, D. Tommy King, L. Wes Burger, Bronson K. Strickland, Marsha A. Sovada, Guiming Wang, Fred L. Cunningham

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Migratory soaring birds exhibit spatiotemporal variation in their circannual movements. Nevertheless, it remains uncertain how different winter environments affect the circannual movement patterns of migratory soaring birds. Here, we investigated annual movement strategies of American white pelicans Pelecanus erythrorhynchos (hereafter, pelican) from two geographically distinct wintering grounds in the Southern and Northern Gulf of Mexico (GOM).We hypothesized that hourly movement distance and home range size of a soaring bird would differ between different geographic regions because of different thermals and wind conditions and resource availability. We calculated average and maximum hourly movement distances and seasonal home ranges of GPS-tracking pelicans. …

Invasive Rodent Responses To Experimental And Natural Hurricanes With Implications For Global Climate Change, Aaron B. Shiels, Gabriela E. Ramírez De Arellano, Laura Shiels

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Hurricanes cause dramatic changes to forests by opening the canopy and depositing debris onto the forest floor. How invasive rodent populations respond to hurricanes is not well understood, but shifts in rodent abundance and foraging may result from scarce fruit and seed resources that follow hurricanes. We conducted studies in a wet tropical forest in Puerto Rico to better understand how experimental (canopy trimming experiment) and natural (Hurricane Maria) hurricane effects alter populations of invasive rodents (Rattus rattus [rats] and Mus musculus [mice]) and their foraging behaviors. To monitor rodent populations, we used tracking tunnels (inked and baited cards …

Improving Efficiency Of Prairie Dog Surveys By Using A Small Copter Drone, Aaron B. Shiels, J. W. Fischer, Danika Spock, Meagan Allira

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Prairie dogs are an accessible and enjoyed wildlife species in Colorado that require occasional surveys because populations can change abruptly due to plague outbreaks or human-induced control. We evaluated the use of small copter drones at four prairie dog colonies on Open Space and Mountain Parks lands, City of Boulder, to determine if this methodology improves efficiency over ground-based survey methods. We counted prairie dogs and burrows using two types of drones (DJI Matric 210 and Autel Evo II) at altitudes 100', 150', and 400' (burrows only). We recorded video and merged still images into orthomosaics prior to having USDA …

Susceptibility Of Wild Canids To Sars-Cov-2, Stephanie M. Porter, Aim E. Hartwig, Helle Bielefeldt-Ohmann, Angela M. Bosco-Lauth, J. Jeffrey Root

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

We assessed 2 wild canid species, red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and coyotes (Canis latrans), for susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2. After experimental inoculation, red foxes became infected and shed infectious virus. Conversely, experimentally challenged coyotes did not become infected; therefore, coyotes are unlikely to be competent hosts for SARS-CoV-2.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, multiple instances of natural infections with SARS-CoV-2 have been reported in pet dogs, likely after exposure to an infected human (1–3). Domestic dogs appear to be minimally susceptible to SARS-CoV-2, as indicated by experimental inoculations resulting in reverse transcription PCR–positive samples and low titer antibody responses but no clinical …

Exploring The Value Of A Global Gene Drive Project Registry, Riley I. Taitingfong, Antoinette J. Piaggio, Cinnamon S. Bloss, Et Al.

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Recent calls to establish a global project registry before releasing any gene-drive-modified organisms (GDOs) have suggested a registry could be valuable to coordinate research, collect data to monitor and evaluate potential ecological impacts, and facilitate transparent communication with community stakeholders and the general public. Here, we report the results of a multidisciplinary expert workshop on GDO registries convened on 8–9 December 2020 involving 70 participants from 14 countries. Participants had expertise in gene drive design, conservation and population modeling, social science, stakeholder engagement, governance and regulation, international policy, and vector control; they represented 45 organizations, spanning national and local governmental …

Fertility Control Options For Management Of Free-Roaming Horse Populations, Ursula S. Bechert, John W. Turner Jr., Dan L. Baker, Douglas C. Eckery, Jason E. Bruemmer, Candace C. Lyman, Tulio M. Prado, Sarah R. B. King, Mark A. Fraker

Human–Wildlife Interactions

The management of free-roaming horses (Equus ferus) and burros (E. asinus) in the United States has been referred to as a “wicked problem” because, although there are population control options, societal values will ultimately determine what is acceptable and what is not. In the United States, free-roaming equids are managed by different types of organizations and agencies, and the landscapes that these animals inhabit vary widely in terms of access, size, topography, climate, natural resources, flora, and fauna. This landscape diversity, coupled with contemporary socioeconomic and political environments, means that adaptive management practices are needed to …

Effects Of Vitamin D Administration At The Beginning Of Lactation In Dairy Cows Oninflammatory Response And Liver Metabolism, Feyyaz Kaya, Hasan Batmaz

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

This study aimed to investigate the effect of vitamin D administered 24 h after calving of dairy cows on calcium-phosphorus metabolism, carbohydrate, lipid and liver metabolism, and inflammatory response. Twenty multiparous Holstein cows were randomly assigned to the experimental (EG) and control group (CG). The EG received 5,000,000 IU vitamin D3 (5 mL) 24 h after parturition intramuscularly, whereas the CG group received 5 mL of 0.9% NaCl. Blood samples were taken 24 h after parturition before treatments and at the 3rd, 7th, 14th, and 28th days of lactation. Serum NEFA, BHBA, haptoglobin, serum amyloid A (SAA), ceruloplasmin, calcium, phosphorus, …

The Effect Of Dystocia On Oxidative Stress, Colostral Antibody/Passive Immune Status, Andblood Gases In Damascus Goats And Their Kids, Tuğra Akkuş, Ömer Korkmaz, Bi̇rten Emre, Abuzer Kafar Zonturlu, Peli̇n Fatoş Polat Di̇nçer, Ömer Yaprakci

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of dystocia on oxidative stress, venous blood gases, and colostrum and serum immunoglobulins G (IgG) in Damascus goats and their kids, respectively. The study sample comprised a total of 40 Damascus goats with of their own 40 kids separated into 2 groups according to the type of birth. Group 1 consisted of goats with eutocia (n = 20) and their kids (n = 20), and Group 2 consisted of goats with dystocia (n = 20) and their kids (n = 20). Blood samples were taken from the goats and their kids …

A Comparative Study Of Blood And Milk Chemiluminescence In Healthy Cows And Withsubclinical And Clinical Mastitis, Radoslaw Skorzewski, Wieslaw Krumrych, Hanna Markiewicz, Elzbieta Sandurska

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The aim of the study was to evaluate the luminol-dependent spontaneous and stimulated chemiluminescence (CL) of whole blood and milk in cows with subclinical and clinical mastitis. The research was carried out on 108 Holstein-Friesian dairy cows aged 3-5 years. Based on the assessment of somatic cell count (SCC) in quarter milk, the animals were divided into 3 groups: I - clinically healthy cows (n = 35), II - animals with subclinical mastitis (n = 30) and III - cows with clinical mastitis (n = 43). The material for the research was whole blood and quarter milk. The samples were …

Investigations On Some Aerobic Bacterial Agents Isolated From Heifers At The Beginning Ofthe First Lactation, Tuncay Çökülgen, Uçkun Sai̇t Uçan

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

In this study, it was aimed to identify the predominant coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) species in subclinical, clinical, and persistent infections in Konya province, to determine various virulence and resistance mechanisms of CNS species within the agelactation level. The research has been carried out in a dairy herd that is free from brucellosis and tuberculosis and uses an automated herd management system. Thirty-two heifers at the beginning of lactation with milk yields of more than 20 liters have been observed in terms of udder infections during the first 1-4 months of lactation. The prevalence of intramammary infections (IMI) and of CNS-caused …

The Molecular Prevalence Of Borrelia Burgdorferi, Babesia Spp., And Anaplasma Spp. Inshelter Dogs Of The Thrace Region In Turkey, Nuri̇ Altuğ, Mustafa Necati̇ Muz, Di̇lek Muz, Fulya Altinok Yi̇pel

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The study aimed to update the molecular prevalence of some tick-borne pathogens (Borrelia burgdorferi, Babesia spp., and Anaplasma spp.) in the shelter dogs of the Thrace Region, Turkey. The study was carried out on 450 dogs from 7 pet shelters. The individual data of the dogs were recorded, and blood samples were collected in tubes with anticoagulants (EDTA). Then, individual PCR protocols were applied to all samples for the three infective agents. PCR test results recorded for B. burgdorferi is 38.22% (n = 172), 24.22% (n = 109) for Babesia spp., and 21.6% (n = 97) for Anaplasma spp. The …

The In Vitro Effect Of Hypochlorous Acid-Metal Nanoparticles Combination On Salmonellaunder Different Temperature Conditions, Serkan Kemal Büyükünal, Karlo Muratoğlu, Ahmet Koluman

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Hypochlorous acid (HClO) is an excellent surface disinfectant and classified as nonhazardous but maintaining a steady HClO solution is extremely difficult. This study aimed to mix HClO with various metal nanoparticles (NPs) to improve stability. The efficiency of the prepared solutions against Salmonella Typhimurium, Salmonella Enteritidis, Salmonella Dublin, and Salmonella Infantis was assessed using the culture method in five distinct experimental groups at varying temperatures (4 °C, 10 °C, 25 °C, 40 °C, and 50 °C). The type of metal NPs, HClO, and application temperatures utilized in the combined solutions for bacterial decontamination did not result in a significant difference …

Changes In Serum Pon1 Activity, Gene Expression And Their Association With Lipid Profile Parameters In Healthy Darehshori Neonatal Foals: A Preliminary Study, Rouzbeh Razavi Dehkordi, Gholam Ali Kojouri, Behnaz Karimi, Ali Mohammad Ahadi

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) contributes to the antioxidant mechanisms that prevent lipoprotein oxidation and act as a negative acute-phase protein. This study aimed to evaluate changes in serum PON1 activity, the leukocyte PON1 gene expression, as well as lipid profile tests (LDL, HDL, triglyceride, and cholesterol) in 16 healthy Darehshori newborn foals up to 60 days of life. Blood samples were collected at 1, 7, 15, 30, and 60 days used for detecting biochemical parameters, PON1 activity, and, and its gene expression, using realtime RT-PCR. Low levels of PON1 activity were observed at birth, which increased significantly with increasing age at …

Phenotypic And Molecular Characterization Of Streptococcus Agalactiae Causing Bovine Mastitis In Central Region Of Thailand, Sirirat Wataradee

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Streptococcus agalactiae is a highly contagious pathogen with a significant economic impact on bovine mastitis. The research aims to achieve three objectives: 1) identifying and characterizing S. agalactiae strains responsible for bovine mastitis based on their phenotypic and genotypic characteristics, 2) determining susceptibility profiles to antimicrobial agents, and 3) applying molecular epidemiological analysis to explore intramammary infections in Thai dairy herds. We analyzed a collection of one hundred S. agalactiae isolates from clinical and subclinical mastitis cases in thirteen dairy herds in central region of Thailand. We used conventional microbiological procedures, the VITEK® 2 system, and molecular detection of the …

Porcine Semen Microbiota Analysis In Relation To Sperm Quality In Semen Extender Coupled With Gentamicin, Cong Bang Ngo

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

The present study was carried out to (i) investigate the association between boar semen microbiota and semen qualities and (ii) determine the relationship between boar bacteria contamination and longevity of boar semen preserved for 3 days in BTS with and without gentamicin. A total of 20 Duroc ejaculates were collected from standard quality boars (n=10) and high-quality ones (n= 10). Besides 3 ml of fresh semen of each ejaculate was subjected to 16S rRNA gene sequencing and bioinformatics including alpha diversity, beta diversity, and taxonomic mapping, each ejaculate was diluted in two conditions of Beltsvile Thawing Solution (BTS) extender: CONTROL: …

Molecular Characterization And Antimicrobial Susceptible Profiles Of Thai Mycoplasma Synoviae And Immune Response Chickens Received Live Mycoplasma Synoviae Vaccine, Kriengwich Limpavithayakul

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Mycoplasma synoviae infection in chickens which has been increasing worldwide is mostly controlled by pathogen-free flocks’ maintenance, medication in infected flocks and vaccination in high-risk flocks. The effective control strategy requires the information of diagnostic assays for detecting and differentiating M. synoviae strains, the understanding of immune response mechanisms in vaccinated chickens, and the reliable drug susceptible evidents for making decision in antimicrobial usage. This study aimed to develop a convenient assay for evaluation of quality or uniformity of vaccination with live MS-H vaccine, to characterize the immune response mechanisms in chickens receiving 3 different vaccination programs immunizing single dose …

The Infection Dynamics, Co-Infection, Multi-Gene Phylogeny, And Molecular Screening Of Plasmodium Caprae Infection In Goats And Mosquito Species, Hoang Lan Anh Nguyen

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Ungulate malaria parasites, including Plasmodium caprae that infects the domestic goats, have received little attention. There are only few studies about the prevalence and mitochondrial genome analyses. This study, therefore, aimed to investigate the natural infection dynamics of P. caprae and its mosquito vectors. Besides, genome analyses based on nuclear genes of P. caprae and other related haemosporidian parasites were also carried out to obtain an in depth understanding about their evolutionary history and origin. A total of 423 goat blood samples were collected during rainy seasons from 2018 to 2021 to assess the malaria infection status. In addition, 1,019 …

In Vitro Inhibitory Effects Of Turmeric Extracts Against Biofilm Formation And Virulence Of Flavobacterium Oreochromis, Sirawich Ngernson

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Flavobacterium oreochromis is an opportunistic bacteria and causative agent of columnaris disease that affects freshwater fish worldwide. To initiate infection, the bacteria are required to attach and form biofilm on the fish's skin. The bacteria cells in the biofilm then produce toxins that can degrade fish connective tissue, resulting in lesions and ulcers. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) extract by three organic solvents (hexane, ethanol, and methanol) in biofilm inhibition and modulation of biofilm-associated genes of F. oreochromis. Turmeric extracts by three different organic solvents were tested for their ability to inhibit the …