Life Sciences Commons^™

Tracking Sero-Molecular Trends Of Swine Brucellosis In Hawai'i And The Central Pacific, Thi Hai Au La, Ian A. Mcmillan, Prashant Dahal, Andrew H. Burger, Mahdi Belcaid, Darrin M. Phelps, Samuel M. Goldstein, Vienna R. Brown, Michael H. Norris

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Introduction

Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease of mammals caused by bacterial species of the Brucella genus. The reservoir for disease is typically mammals, with species of Brucella found infecting amphibians, bats, and marine mammals. Brucella spp. can pass directly to humans through contact with infected animals or their products. Brucella spp. can cause chronic debilitating infections in mammals, including humans, and is associated with spontaneous abortions in infected animals, causing reduced fecundity. In Hawai‘i, terrestrial species that could harbor Brucella spp. include swine, cattle, horses, and axis deer among others. The numerous feral swine in Hawai‘i are known to carry …

Trichinella Murrelli Identified In Red Foxes (Vulpes Vulpes) In Pennsylvania, Usa, Jitender Dubey, Peter C. Thompson, Larissa S. De Araujo, Aditya Gupta, Sasha Kay, Oliver C. H. Kwok, Jaquin Battle, Kyle R. Van Why, Justin D. Brown, Benjamin Rosenthal

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Trichinella infections have been eliminated from pork where pigs are raised in biosecure facilities, but wildlife infections persist. Trichinella murrelli is the primary zoonotic species in wild carnivores in the United States, having been identified in several species of omnivores and carnivores. Here, we document its occurrence in seven of 21 (33.3%) red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from six counties in Pennsylvania. Encysted Trichinella juveniles were detected in muscle squashes (< 5 g samples) of all seven foxes, and in histological sections of the tongue and limb muscle of three. Juveniles from muscle squashes were pooled and tested in a multiplex PCR capable of differentiating all Trichinella species native to the USA; all samples contained only T. murrelli. This is the first identification of T. murrelli in red foxes from Pennsylvania, …

The Influence Of Social And Spatial Processes On The Epidemiology Of Environmentally Transmitted Pathogens In Wildlife: Implications For Management, Aakash Pandey, Chris Wojan, Abigail Feuka, Meggan E. Craft, Kezia Manlove, Kim M. Pepin

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Social and spatial structures of host populations play important roles in pathogen transmission. For environmentally transmitted pathogens, the host space use interacts with both the host social structure and the pathogen’s environmental persistence (which determines the timelag across which two hosts can transmit). Together, these factors shape the epidemiological dynamics of environmentally transmitted pathogens. While the importance of both social and spatial structures and environmental pathogen persistence has long been recognized in epidemiology, they are often considered separately. A better understanding of how these factors interact to determine disease dynamics is required for developing robust surveillance and management strategies. Here, …

Bayesian Integrated Species Distribution Models For Hierarchical Resource Selection By A Soaring Bird, Ryo Ogawa, Guiming Wang, L. Wes Burger, Bronson Strickland, J. Brian Davis, Fred L. Cunningham

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Migratory birds exhibit seasonal geographic range (hereafter, range) dynamics during the annual cycle. Few studies have examined how migratory birds select their habitats for range occupancy at the species level and space use at the individual level simultaneously. We hypothesized that environmental variables directly related to fitness components would affect the range occupancy probabilities of migrants, whereas environment variables related to movements and flights would affect the space use intensities of migrants. We built Bayesian integrated species distribution models (ISDMs) to evaluate the effects of climate conditions, wind conditions, and landcover compositions on the seasonal range dynamics of American white …

Agricultural And Ecological Resources Safeguarded By The Prevention Of Wild Pig Population Expansion, Colin Jareb, Kim M. Pepin, Ryan S. Miller, Stephanie A. Shwiff, Sophie C. Mckee

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) are one of the most destructive invasive species in the United States, known for causing extensive damage to agricultural commodities, natural resources, and property, and for transmitting diseases to livestock. Following the establishment of the National Feral Swine Damage Management Program (NFSDMP) in 2014, the expansion of wild pig populations has been successfully slowed. This paper combines two modeling approaches across eight separate models to characterize the expansion of wild pig populations in the absence of intervention by the NFSDMP and forecasts the value of a subset of resources safeguarded from the threat of …

Raccoon Density Estimation From Camera Traps For Raccoon Rabies Management, Amy J. Davis, Wesley C. Dixon, Richard B. Chipman, Amy T. Gilbert, Jacob E. Hill, James C. Beasley, Olin E. Rhodes Jr., Guha Dharmarajan

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Density estimation for unmarked animals is particularly challenging, yet density estimates are often necessary for effective wildlife management. Raccoons (Procyon lotor) are the primary terrestrial wildlife reservoir for Lyssavirus rabies within the United States. The raccoon rabies variant (RRVV) is actively managed at landscape scales using oral rabies vaccination (ORV) within the eastern United States. To effectively manage RRVV, it is important to know the density of raccoons to appropriately scale the density of ORV baits distributed on the landscape. We compared methods to estimate raccoon densities from camera‐trap data versus more intensive capture‐mark‐recapture (CMR) estimates across 2 …

Surveillance Of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus In Wild Canids From Pennsylvania, Usa, Kevin D. Niedringhaus, Taylor C. Chan, Ashley Mcdowell, Lauren Mxwell, Madison Stevens, Lane Potts, Erica Miller, Eman Anis, Kyle Van Why, Thomas Keller, David Stallknecht, Rebecca L. Poulson, Kaitlyn Bahrs, Justin D. Brown

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The avian influenza virus is a global pathogen with significant health and economic implications. While primarily a pathogen of wild and domestic birds, recent outbreaks of the H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) clade 2.3.4.4b have caused mortality in a wide variety of mammals, including members of the Canidae family, on multiple continents. Despite sporadic mortality events globally, the epidemiology and pathobiology of H5N1 HPAIV in wild canids remains poorly defined. During 2022–2024, 41 wild canid carcasses (diagnostic cases), including 23 red foxes and 18 gray foxes, were tested for the influenza A virus (IAV) via PCR, with five …

Rabies, Amy T. Gilbert, Christine Ellis

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Illustrated fact sheet on rabies.

Synthesis And Biophysical Analysis Of Modified Cell-Penetrating Peptides, Joel Mitchell

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are a family of peptides that have the ability to penetrate biological membranes. They were discovered in the late 1980s and have been the topic of many studies. Much of the interest in CPPs has been due to their ability to translocate biological membranes, and the possibility that they could offer a novel drug delivery method by conjugation to biologically active molecules. Linear CPPs can be modified to form cyclic structures. This change in structure has been observed to enhance the stability and penetrative ability of the CPPs which have been studied. The current thesis focuses on …

Structural And Functional Analysis Of The Putatively Virulent Gene Products Tde1414, Tde1511, And Tde2714 From The Oral Pathogen Treponema Denticola, Brock W. Corbett

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Periodontitis is a destructive polymicrobial disease of the teeth and gums characterized by dental plaque biofilms on the tooth surface, severe inflammation of surrounding gum tissues, and the resorption of alveolar bone. Discussed as one of the most prevalent conditions plaguing humankind, increased clinical parameters of periodontitis is associated with the increased presence of three bacteria known as the “red complex”: Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, and Treponema denticola. Various transcriptomic and proteomic studies of T. denticola when incorporated into mature biofilms have illuminated key gene targets the bacterium may use as virulence factors to aid in pathogenesis. …

Variation In Mainland Northwest Territories Late-Winter Muskox (Ovibos Moschatus) Density Estimations And Habitat Associations Above And Below Treeline., Charlotte Rentmeister

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The Arctic and Sub-Arctic ecosystems are seeing accelerated changes in temperature, landcover, and consequently species abundance and distributions. Reliable distributions, and associated population density estimates, are essential for effective conservation and management efforts. Growing concerns from northern communities regarding the relationship between muskox and declining caribou populations strengthens the need for updated information on muskox populations within mainland Northwest Territories (NWT). The first objective for my research was to quantify and map updated winter estimates of abundance, density, and distribution of muskoxen within three recent survey regions located in mainland NWT, using a multiple covariate distance sampling method (MCDS), paired …

Effect Of Rare Earth Element Mixtures On Daphnia Magna, Celine Do

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Rare earth elements (REEs) are increasingly being used in modern technologies and as such, there is an increasing concern for the potential environmental risk associated with anthropogenic contamination. In addition to there being very little data available for individual REEs, there is also a lack of knowledge concerning mixtures. The objective of my study was to investigate the chronic effects of lanthanum (La) and yttrium (Y) as well as the acute effects of neodymium (Nd), praseodymium (Pr) and Y as a single metal and as a mixture to Daphnia magna. Standard 21-d chronic tests and 48-h single metal acute …

Evaluating The Risk Posed By Gadolinium In The Grand River Watershed, Johann Memmel

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Gadolinium (Gd) is a rare earth element (REE), primarily used in contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), with additional applications in metallurgy, phosphors, neutron shielding, and other niche applications. Both Gd and Gd-based contrast agents (GBCAs, the form used for MRIs) have been detected downstream of wastewater effluent discharges and there is currently little research into the risk this poses to aquatic ecosystems. This study investigated the potential environmental risks of Gd and GBCAs using the Grand River watershed (GRW) in southwestern Ontario as a model ecosystem due to it containing a variety of land uses (urban, industrial, agricultural) …

The Effects Of Warmer Temperatures On The Physiology Of Invasive Sea Lamprey And Imperiled Populations Of Lake Sturgeon In The Laurentian Great Lakes, Milica Koledin

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Invasive sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) contributed to massive declines in fisheries in the Laurentian Great Lakes due to their parasitism of large-bodied salmonid fishes in the 20^th century. Chemical control measures, which involve the application of 3-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenol (TFM) into rivers containing larval sea lamprey, were successfully implemented approximately 60 years ago to control populations. Recently, however, it was discovered that TFM tolerance increases in sea lamprey with a rise in temperature for reasons which are incompletely understood. Nor is it understood how sea lamprey will respond to warmer temperatures due to climate change, which could affect their …

Comparing Ionoregulation And Modes Of Nitrogen Excretion Across The Life Cycle Of Parasitic And Non-Parasitic Lamprey Species, Shannon Davidson

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Abstract

Ionoregulation and nitrogenous waste (N-waste) metabolism in fishes has been extensively documented in teleosts and elasmobranchs, but less so in lampreys (Petromizontiformes). All lamprey species undergo metamorphosis which drastically changes their physiology and modes of feeding. However, differences in ionoregulatory mechanisms due to anadromous versus non anadromous life history strategies emerge following metamorphosis in different lamprey species. Furthermore, some species, such as anadromous juvenile sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus), are parasitic and migrate to seawater (SW) to ingest blood protein from host fishes, while juveniles of freshwater (FW), non-parasitic species, such as the American brook lamprey …

Impacts Of Environmental Stressors On Mummichog (Fundulus Heteroclitus) Growth And The Gh-Igf1 Pathway Using A Laboratory Bioassay, Olena Kuntyj

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Using a flow-through laboratory bioassay, experiments investigated the effects of limited feeding, increased temperature, ammonium chloride (NH₄Cl), and 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE₂) on juvenile mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus) growth. Weight measurements were taken every three days as the apical growth endpoint. Gene expression was examined by qPCR for genes in the GH (growth hormone)-IGF1 (insulin-like growth factor 1) pathway, including gh, igf1, and their receptors (ghra, ghrb, igf1ra, igf1rb). In Experiment 1, juvenile mummichog were exposed to excess or limited feed for 21 days. The limited-fed mummichog weighed less, were …

Fishes In Murky Waters: Effects Of Total Suspended Solids On Fish Gills And Performance, Xena Montoya

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Total suspended solids (TSS) naturally occur in aquatic habitats, but climate change and other anthropogenic disturbances can lead to increased levels. Exposure to high levels of TSS has the potential to damage fish gills through abrasion, leading to impairment of gill function and fish physiology. However, little work has been done exploring the linkages between TSS-induced gill damage and animal performance. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that TSS damages gill structure, causing gill dysfunction and reducing swimming performance. We exposed salmonids (rainbow trout, brook trout and cutthroat trout) and non-salmonids (fathead minnow and longnose dace) to different TSS concentrations (0-1000 …

Characterizing The Targeting Pathway Of Chloroplast Outer Membrane Protein Oep18 In Arabidopsis Thaliana And Other Targeting Signals Utilized By Outer Envelope Membrane Proteins, Ceaira Hiemstra

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Approximately 95% of chloroplast proteins are encoded by nuclear DNA and are post-translationally targeted to the chloroplast. Over half of the 138 known or predicted chloroplast outer membrane (OM) proteins are predicted to utilize four non-canonical targeting pathways. The first two pathways are characterized by containing a single α-helical transmembrane domain (TMD) within the first or last 50 amino acids (AAs), the third pathway is utilized by β-barrels, and the last requires an N-terminal cleavable transit peptide (TP). Recently, a fifth novel pathway called Toc159-like (TOC159L) has been characterized by the presence of a C-terminal reverse TP in Toc159. Subsequent …

Assessing Road Dust Impacts On Macroinvertebrates Community Structure In Canadian Arctic Lakes, Hong Yi Gao

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

In the Canadian Arctic, unpaved gravel roads are essential for regional accessibility but are also potential sources of road dust runoff. My study investigated the impacts of road dust from the Dempster and Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highways on adjacent freshwater ecosystems, focusing on water quality parameters and macroinvertebrate communities. Using a stratified random sampling design, 18 lakes were studied across two regions (boreal forest and tundra) and three distance categories from the road (0-300 m, 300-600 m, and > 600 m). Contrary to my initial hypotheses, findings revealed no significant differences in water quality or invertebrate communities relative to distance from the road. …

Elucidating Mechanisms Of Enhanced Dsrna-Nanophytoglycogen Innate Immune Responses In Healthy Human Cells, Nicholas Jadaa

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Immunostimulatory nucleic acids, such as long double-stranded RNA (ds)RNA, can stimulate innate immune responses in a non-sequence specific manner. These molecules are recognized by pattern-recognition receptors in the cytoplasm, endosome, and on the cell surface. Activation leads to the production of mediators of innate immune pathways, including type I interferon and proinflammatory cytokines. Although these receptors are present in all cells, their role in non-immune cells is often overlooked due to their lower level of responsiveness. Nanocarriers can enhance these nucleic acid-mediated responses, allowing for exploration of innate immune pathways in non-immune cells. Nanoparticles as carriers of nucleic acids can …

Characterization Of The Interaction Of Three Domains Of Nlrp2 (Pyd, Lrr, And Nacht) With Ebp1 Protein, Rakshya Bhatta

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

NOD-like receptors (NLRs) are cytoplasmic proteins essential for various immune responses such as reactions to infectious diseases, metabolic and cellular damage, fetal development, and cancer. Among the 22 identified NLR proteins, research has highlighted the significant roles of NLRP2 in fetal development. NLRP2 is also classified as a maternal effect gene and the mutation to this gene can lead to DNA methylation imprinting defects, altered gene expression, and conditions such as recurrent miscarriages (RMs). The protein EBP1, which has been found to have roles in embryonic development has been implicated in the regulation of DNA methylation. Recent studies have also …

Role Of Ph And Plant Age On The Selection Of Rhizobial Endophytes In Soybean Root Nodules, Cole Alexander Roman

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Soybeans form symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria in their root nodules to acquire most of their nitrogen requirement; nitrogen is often one of the limiting nutrients in the soil. Members of the Bradyrhizobium, Sinorhizobium, Mesorhizobium, and Rhizobium genera can nodulate soybeans. Bradyrhizobium is preferentially selected over other types of rhizobia in varying environmental conditions and is often found in acidic soils. Sinorhizobium is often identified in the root nodules of soybeans in neutral and alkaline soil. So far, the potential role of soil pH on the selection of rhizobial endophytes with soybean root nodules is unknown. Likewise, …

Gastrointestinal Parasite Prevalence Of Missouri Dogs Against Various Risk Factors, Mattie Cobban

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Gastrointestinal parasites infect various mammalian species, including dogs, causing symptoms like diarrhea, lethargy, anemia, and possible death. Some gastrointestinal parasites possess zoonotic potential posing risk to dog owners, shelter workers, trainers, veterinary staff, groomers, and the public since dogs have access to public areas such as parks and stores. This study aims to understand the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites of dogs in southwest Missouri under different environmental conditions. Fecal samples were collected from the Polk County Humane Society, local dog trials, and dog owners. The Mini-FLOTAC fecal flotation method was employed to quantify the type and number of parasite ova …

Suitability Of Reintroduction As A Tool For The Conservation Of The Central American River Turtle (Dermatemys Mawii), Wesley O. Smith

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

The Central American River Turtle (Dermatemys mawii) has declined throughout its historical range to the point that it is critically endangered; the primary driver is overharvesting by humans for consumption. To help conserve this critically endangered turtle, a head-start program was established in Belize and introductions of head-started individuals have been considered to bolster populations. I released and studied hatchling and head-started juvenile Central American River Turtles during the summers of 2021 and 2022, respectively. The goal was to determine the suitability of hatchlings and juveniles for use in conservation reintroductions, along with elucidating aspects of the ecology …

Population Viability Of Egyptian Tortoises: Analyzing Demographics Sensitivities And Extinction Risk In North Sinai, Basem Ahmed Rabia Motwaly

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

This study investigated the population viability of the critically endangered Egyptian Tortoise (Testudo kleinmanni) across five populations in North Sinai, Egypt. The research aimed to assess demographic sensitivities, extinction risks, and the influence of environmental variables to guide conservation strategies. Using multistate mark-recapture models within a Bayesian framework, survival, transition, and recapture probabilities were estimated across life stages, integrating site-specific environmental data such as the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). The analysis revealed stark contrasts between populations, with three sites demonstrating high extinction risk due to lower juvenile survival and limited recruitment. In contrast, two populations exhibited demographic …

Scent Trailing In Neonate Agkistrodon Piscivorus When Exposed To Conspecific And Heterospecific Chemical Cues, Samantha R. Grove

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Chemosensation is central to snake ecology, playing an essential role in predator recognition, foraging success, and communication with conspecifics. In areas with cold winters, neonatal snakes often trail chemical cues from older individuals to locate communal hibernacula essential for winter survival. Juvenile Northern Cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorus) form social bonds with littermates and have been shown to trail chemical cues of conspecifics in the fall. However, the effect of relatedness on trailing phenomena has not been tested. Using y-maze experiments I evaluated trailing behavior of 32 captive-born neonate Northern Cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorus) to determine if (1) subjects prefer to trail siblings …

Chemoreflex Sensitization Occurs In Both Male And Female Rats During Recovery From Acute Lung Injury, Kajal Kamra, Irving H. Zucker, Harold D. Schultz, Han-Jun Wang

Journal Articles: Cellular & Integrative Physiology

Introduction: Sex-specific patterns in respiratory conditions, such as asthma, COPD, cystic fibrosis, obstructive sleep apnea, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, have been previously documented. Animal models of acute lung injury (ALI) have offered insights into sex differences, with male mice exhibiting distinct lung edema and vascular leakage compared to female mice. Our lab has provided evidence that the chemoreflex is sensitized in male rats during the recovery from bleomycin-induced ALI, but whether sex-based chemoreflex changes occur post-ALI is not known. To bridge this gap, the current study employed the bleomycin-induced ALI animal model to investigate sex-based differences in chemoreflex activation during …

Innate And Adaptive Immune System Consequences Of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Tatlock H. Lauten, Tamara Natour, Adam J. Case

Journal Articles: Cellular & Integrative Physiology

In the field of psychiatry, biological markers are rarely, if ever, used in the diagnosis of mental health disorders. Clinicians rely primarily on patient histories and behavioral symptoms to identify specific psychopathologies, which makes diagnosis highly subjective. Moreover, therapies for mental health disorders are aimed specifically at attenuating behavioral manifestations, which overlooks the pathophysiological indices of the disease. This is highly evident in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) where inflammation and immune system perturbations are becoming increasingly described. Further, patients with PTSD possess significantly elevated risks of developing comorbid inflammatory diseases such as autoimmune and cardiovascular diseases, which are likely linked …

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 31: Amphilinidea Poche 1922 (Order) [Platyhelminthes, Cestoda, Cestodaria], Klaus Rohde

Concepts in Animal Parasitology

An overview of the cestode (tapeworm) order Amphilinidea Poche, 1922, a large group of large endoparasitic worms infecting the body cavity of freshwater and marine teleost (bony) fishes and freshwater turtles. Covers the morphology of the adults and larvae and the life cycle of a representative species, Austramphilina elongata, and a discussion of other species in the group, including their taxonomy and phylogeny.

Chapter 31 in Concepts in Animal Parasitology by Klaus Rohde. 2024. S. L. Gardner and S. A. Gardner, editors. Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. doi: 10.32873/unl.dc.ciap031

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 27: Litobothriidea Dailey, 1969 (Order) [Platyhelminthes, Cestoda, Eucestoda], Luis García-Prieto, Berenice Adán-Torres, Brenda Atziri García-García, Omar Lagunas-Calvo

Concepts in Animal Parasitology

An overview of the cestode (tapeworm) order Litobothriidea Dailey, 1969. The 9 species included in the order, all belonging to the genus Litobothrium, infect the spiral intestine of sharks in the order Lamniformes in the tropical eastern Pacific to the central Indo-Pacific marine ecoregions. Covers their main morphological characteristics, description and summary of a representative species, L. amplificum (Kurochkin and Slankis, 1973) Euzet, 1994, taxonomy, and life cycles.

Chapter 27 in Concepts in Animal Parasitology by Luis García-Prieto, Berenice Adán-Torres, Brenda Atziri García-García, and Omar Lagunas-Calvo. 2024. S. L. Gardner and S. A. Gardner, editors. Zea Books, Lincoln, …