Veterinary Medicine Commons^™

Assessment Of Longitudinal Systolic Funcion By Using Tissue Motion Annular Displacement In Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Cats, Nadthagarn Glaewketgarn

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

In humans, tissue motion annular displacement (TMAD) providesresponsive and accurate assessment on longitudinal systolic function. The aim ofthis study is to investigate the LV longitudinal systolic function in hypertrophiccardiomyopathy (HCM) and control cats by using TMAD. The study includes 26control cats and 21 HCM cats. Global TMAD were not influence by breed, sex, age,and heart rate. Global TMAD and % Global TMAD significantly decreased in theHCM group (2.86±0.86 mm and 11.46±3.37%) when compared to control group(3.95±0.89 mm and 16.12±2.94%) (p<0.001 and <0.001), suggesting LV longitudinalsystolic dysfunction in HCM cats. LV fractional shortening (LVFS) showed nodifference between the control (52.76±11.63%) and HCM stage group(59.80±13.51%) (p=0.061). Indicate that TMAD is a sensitive technique foridentifying LV longitudinal systolic dysfunction. Global TMAD and % global TMADhad a significant correlation with global longitudinal strain (GLS). Therefore, TMADcan be used to evaluate longitudinal systolic function in HCM. The reliability test ofglobal TMAD and % global TMAD were considered moderate. In conclusion, globalTMAD and % global TMAD was significantly decreased in cats with HCM comparedwith the control group and was considered as sensitive and repeatable techniquefor evaluating LV longitudinal systolic dysfunction in cats with HCM

Investigating Of Candidate Genes Affecting Milk Production In Dairy Cattle Using Systematic Review And Whole Genome Sequencing Database, Xiaoxian Su

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Milk production traits in dairy cattle, such as milk yield, fat content, and protein levels, are pivotal to the economic success of the dairy industry. These traits not only determine the quality and quantity of milk produced but also directly impact the profitability of dairy operations. Consequently, a deep understanding of the genetic architecture underlying these traits is essential for the development of effective breeding programs aimed at enhancing milk production and quality. The purpose of this study is to identify potential candidate genes related to milk production in Thai dairy cattle through systematic review of genome wide association study …

Safety Assessment Of Lactic Acid Bacteria (Lab) As Potential Probiotics For Thai Swine And Poultry: A Whole Genome Sequencing Approach, Yuda Disastra

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

The standard criteria for determining the safety of bacteria used as probiotics do not exist at this time. The objective of this investigation was to assess the feasibility and safety of eight lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains employed as probiotics. Of these, four were Pediococcus acidilactici strains (IAF6519, IAF5919, AF2519, and AF2019), one Ligilactobacillus salivarius AF2319 derived from chickens and Pediococcus acidilactici P72N and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum L25F and L22F obtained from pigs. Phenotypic investigation was performed on biochemical features, antimicrobial resistance patterns, and hemolytic activity. P. acidilactici AF2519 and AF2019 strains were resistant to erythromycin and clindamycin, Ligilactobacillus salivarius strain …

Dynamic Community Of Strongyle Nematodes And Ivermectin Resistant Evidence Of Domesticated Horses In Thailand, Mohamed Hossameldein Abdelfatah Mohamed Hamad

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Strongylids are a group of parasitic nematodes that infect horses and other equids worldwide, with a potential negative impact on their health and performance. There is no available research that has studied strongylids infection in domesticated horse populations nor assessed the effectiveness of ivermectin in treating these parasites in Thailand. This thesis, therefore, aimed to comprehensively investigate strongyle parasite intensity and factors influencing egg shedding patterns. Additionally, it utilized nemabiome metabarcoding approach to identify strongylid species, analyse ecological diversity, and assess co-occurrence patterns within the studied horse populations. Furthermore, it employed faecal egg count reduction (FECR) test to assess the …

Prioritization Of Candidate Genes For Mastitis Resistance Trait In Genome-Wide Association Studies (Gwas) Utilizing Multiple Methodologies In Thai Dairy Cattle, Nhu Le Uyen Vo

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Mastitis affects milk yield in dairy cattle worldwide, leading to economic losses. Recognized as a polygenic trait, mastitis resistance is influenced by genetic, environmental, and physiological factors. This study aimed to enhance the genetic architecture and selection of the candidate for mastitis resistance traits in Thai dairy cattle by several methods. The study consisted of two parts. In Part 1, the study is divided into 1A) collecting genes from a systematic review of published GWAS, 1B) Analyzing the gene list with the Thai dairy cattle whole genome sequencing database, and 1C) Performing pathway enrichment analysis to identify candidate genes. Further …

Reliability Of Cardiac Measurement By Vertebral Heart Score Among Different Thoracic Types Of Dogs, Suphat Soeratanapant

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Vertebral heart score (VHS) is a radiographic tool that widely use in veterinary clinical field for evaluating the heart sizeby measure a heart long and short axes and neutralize with vertebral length. However, VHSs among canine breeds are varied from thereference value. Thoracic type is one of the factors that affect to VHS because the shape of canine thoracic type is the structuralvariations that affect heart orientation. Subsequently, it affects to VHS value in thoracic radiographs. Computed tomography (CT) is anadvanced diagnostic tool that provide a multiplane image without superimposition effect. Therefore, CT provide more accurate heartorientation and its evaluation …

Impact Of Probiotic Supplementation In Lactating Sows On Immune And Oxidative Stress Biomarkers, Short-Chain Fatty Acids, Piglet Performance, And Fecal Microbiome, Chutikan Srisang

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This clinical trial aimed to investigate the effects of probiotic supplementation in lactating sows on their serum immunoglobulin levels, milk yield, serum malondialdehyde (MDA), fecal short-chain fatty acid levels, piglet performance, and fecal microbiome. The research was conducted at a commercial swine breeding herd in central Thailand. The study included 109 Canadian Landrace × Yorkshire sows, with parity numbers ranging from 1 to 7. The sows were divided into two groups based on their parity numbers: control (n = 61) and treatment (n = 48). The control group sows received a conventional commercial lactation diet without any antibiotic supplementation, starting …

Contamination Of Antimicrobial-Resistant Escherichia Coli, Salmonella Spp., Enterococcus Faecalis, And Enterococcus Faecium In Commercial Raw Meat-Based Diets For Cats And Dogs, Rusmin Indra

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This study aimed to investigate the contamination of third-generation cephalosporin (3GC)-resistant Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Enterococcus faecalis, and E. faecium in commercial raw meat-based diets (RMBDs) for cats and dogs in Thailand. Fifty RMBD products from ten brands were included for total plate count and bacterial isolation. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was conducted for the targeted bacteria. Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) production and the presence of blaCTX-M and mcr genes were detected. Additionally, E. coli phylogroups and Salmonella serovars were identified. The RMBD samples were contaminated by 3GC-resistant E. coli (80.0%), Salmonella spp. (70.0%), E. faecalis (100%), and E. faecium (84.0%). All …

Analytical Performance Of Progesterone Testing Using Surface Plasmon Field-Enhanced Fluorescence Spectroscopy Technology In Dogs, Pimuk Sungprasit

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

A new clinical chemistry analyzer using surface plasmon field-enhanced fluorescence spectroscopy (SPFS) has been introduced into veterinary diagnostic laboratories as a point-of-care unit, enabling rapid turnaround times for both diagnosis and follow-up. Consequently, the test results must be accurate, precise, and reliable. This research aims to evaluate the method performance of the analyzer. The evaluation was conducted according to Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) guidelines using method validation. The performance evaluation included studies on imprecision (within-day and between-day), method comparison, recovery tests, and linearity for determining progesterone concentration. The method validation results showed good and acceptable precision. Serum spiking concentrations …

Volatile Organic Compound Profiles Identifiled In Vaginal Discharge Of Bitches During Estrous Cycle, Amornthep Preechatangkit

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are the metabolites of microorganisms. VOCs are low molecular weight and easily evaporate at room temperature, all odorants are VOC. VOCs are different depending on health status and reproductive status. The objective of this study was to profile the VOCs in bitches during estrous cycle, and to compare VOCs between stages of estrous cycle and between pre-ovulatory, ovulation and post-ovulatory periods. A total of 23 normal, healthy bitches requested for ovulation timing as part of the routine breeding management were used in this study. All animals had a previous history of normal estrous cycle without any …

Molecular Investigation And Genetic Characterization Of Canine Astrovirus And Canine Kobuvirus With Associated Pathology In Domestic Dogs In Vietnam And Thailand, Tin Van Nguyen

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Canine astrovirus (CaAstV) and canine kobuvirus (CaKoV) are recently recognized pathogens associated with canine gastrointestinal disease (GID), though their exact role remains poorly understood. In both Vietnam and Thailand, these viruses were detected in dogs with and without diarrhea, particularly high frequency in puppies under 6 months old. Co-infection between CaAstV and CaKoV, as well as with other common canine enteric viruses (canine parvovirus, canine enteric coronavirus, canine distemper virus), were also confirmed. Complete coding sequences (CDS) of 7 CaAstV strains and 9 CaKoV strains from Vietnam, and 2 CaAstV strains and 4 CaKoV strains from Thailand were successfully identified. …

Reproductive Performance Of Gilts And Sows In Gestation Group Housing And Free Farrowing System In Tropical Climate, Natchanon Dumniem

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Animal welfare is a rising topic in the swine industry, resulting in the adoption of alternative housing systems. However, the knowledge of management practices to mitigate the deleterious effects of these systems on reproductive performance in tropical environments is limited. This thesis aims to determine the impacts of alternative housing systems on the reproductive performance of sows and gilts, comprising 4 parts. i) To compare reproductive performance among conventional crates (CC), group housing gestation pen with temporary farrowing crate (PC), and group housing gestation pen and free-farrowing pen (PP). On average, the farrowing rate of sows in the CC group …

Developmental Model Of Endometrial Cell Culture For The Study Of Equine Endometrosis, Sawita Santiviparat

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

The importance and rationale of this thesis were to address the critical knowledge gap in equine endometrosis by developing a comprehensive 3-dimensional (3D) in vitro model of equine endometrial tissue using advanced technology like 3D bioprinting. Study 1 aimed to develop an in vitro model for studying equine endometrial function by isolating and characterizing equine endometrial epithelial cells (eECs) and endometrial mesenchymal stem cells (eMSCs) using a modified tissue explantation outgrowth technique. Both cell types were successfully cultured in specific medium conditions, maintaining their characteristic features. Notably, eECs retained their function in fetal bovine serum (FBS) and KnockOut™ serum replacement …

Innovation Of Alpha-Mangostin Encapsulated With Nanostructured-Lipid Carrier As Non-Surgical Castration In Cats And Survey Attitude Towards Surgical Sterilization In Thailand, Shanaporn Leelakajornkit

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Overpopulation of companion animals, particularly dogs and cats, is a global concern, necessitating effective population control policies. This research investigates the attitudes of veterinarians and pet owners in Thailand regarding dog and cat surgical sterilization and the use of progestins as non-surgical contraception. The study also assesses the effects of intratesticular administration of alpha-mangostin encapsulated in nanostructured lipid carriers (AM-NLC) in male cats, and adverse effects. Furthermore, a novel formulation of AM-NLC for intratesticular administration is also developed. Surveys reveal that decisions on sterilization are influenced by species, sex, COVID-19 impacts, and demographic factors. And anesthesia risks remain a primary …

Genetic Diversity Of Influenza A Viruses In Live Bird Markets And Free-Grazing Ducks In Thailand, Supanat Boonyapisitsopa

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Influenza A viruses (IAVs) can infect birds and a wide variety of mammals. Live bird markets (LBMs) and free-grazing ducks (FGDs) are the important reservoirs of influenza A viruses in Thailand. This study aims to gain the overall information of IAVs circulated in LBMs in Bangkok and in FGD flocks in Thailand. IAVs surveillance in LBM in Bangkok was conducted to identified the IAVs in LBM during 2019-2020. The IAV-H9N2 (n=8) and IAV-H9Nx (n=2) were isolated from 1,178 swab samples. The IAVs of the previous CU-EIDAs’ LBM surveillance programs during 2014-2018 were included for overall genetic analysis. Total 6 subtypes …

A Comprehensive Study Of African Horse Sickness Outbreak In The Northeastern Region Of Thailand: Outbreak Investigation, Genetic Characterization, And Longitudinal Serological Monitoring, Napawan Bunpapong

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

African horse sickness (AHS) results from infection with the African horse sickness virus (AHSV). The AHSV is a non-contagious and belongs to genus Orbivirus, family Reoviridae and primarily by Culicoides midges. AHS caused the devastating infection in equine population, including horses, ponies, European donkeys, and mules. AHS maintains its occurrence in southern African countries, it may possess threatening impact to the naïve regions such as Asia or Southeast Asia. The objectives of this study are 1) To investigate the emerging AHS outbreak in the Northeastern region of Thailand, 2) To characterize emerged AHSV in Thailand and 3) To monitor serological …

Integrating Robotics Into Wildlife Conservation: Testing Improvements To Predator Deterrents Through Movement, Stewart W. Breck, Jeffrey T. Schultz, David Prause, Cameron Krebs, Anthony J. Giordano, Byron Boots

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Background Agricultural and pastoral landscapes can provide important habitat for wildlife conservation, but sharing these landscapes with wildlife can create conflict that is costly and requires managing. Livestock predation is a good example of the challenges involving coexistence with wildlife across shared landscapes. Integrating new technology into agricultural practices could help minimize human-wildlife conflict. In this study, we used concepts from the fields of robotics (i.e., automated movement and adaptiveness) and agricultural practices (i.e., managing livestock risk to predation) to explore how integration of these concepts could aid the development of more effective predator deterrents.

Methods …

Assessment Of Habitat‐Specific Competition For Oral Rabies Vaccine Baits Between Raccoons And Opossums, James L. Helton, Jacob E. Hill, David A. Bernasconi, Wesley C. Dixon, Richard B. Chipman, Amy Gilbert, James C. Beasley, Guha Dharmarajan, Olin E. Rhodes Jr.

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Throughout the eastern United States, the National Rabies Management Program (NRMP) distributes oral rabies vaccine (ORV) baits to manage rabies virus circulation in raccoon (Procyon lotor) populations. The consumption of vaccine baits by non‐target species including Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana) may reduce the effectiveness of ORV programs, but competition for baits remains poorly quantified in many areas of the southeastern United States. We distributed placebo ORV baits injected with a biomarker across 4 land cover types (bottomland hardwood, upland pine, riparian, isolated wetland) on the Savannah River Site in South Carolina, USA, 2017–2019. We then trapped …

Producers’ Perceptions Of Large Carnivores And Nonlethal Methods To Protect Livestock From Depredation: Findings From A Multistate Federal Initiative, Keith M. Carlisle, Hailey E. Ellis, Colorado State University, Alan D. Bright

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

We examined livestock producers’ perceptions of wolves, grizzly bears, black bears, and mountain lions, as well as their experiences with using nonlethal methods to protect livestock from depredation. All producers in the study received nonlethal predator management assistance in 2020 from USDA-APHIS-Wildlife Services (“WS”) pursuant to a federally funded initiative focused on the use of nonlethal methods to protect livestock. Such methods included assistance from range riders (i.e., individuals who monitor livestock and carnivores), fladry (i.e., flags hung from rope that serve as a repellent), and other audio/visual deterrents (e.g., Foxlights). The producers did not specifically seek nonlethal assistance from …

Genomic Analyses Of Gray Fox Lineages Suggest Ancient Divergence And Secondary Contact In The Southern Great Plains, Elizabeth M. Kierepka, Sophie Preckler-Quisquater, Dawn M. Reding, Antoinette Piaggio, Seth P.D. Riley, Benjamin N. Sacks

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) lineage diverged from all other extant canids at their most basal node and is restricted to the Americas. Previous mitochondrial analysis from coastal populations identified deeply divergent (up to 1 Mya) eastern and western lineages that predate most intraspecific splits in carnivores. We conducted genotyping by sequencing and mitochondrial analysis on gray foxes sampled across North America to determine geographic concordance between nuclear and mitochondrial contact zones and divergence times. We also estimated the admixture within the contact zone between eastern and western gray foxes based on nuclear DNA. Both datasets confirmed that …

A Social Network Analysis Of Actors Involved In Wild Pig (Sus Scrofa) Management In Missouri, Hailey E. Ellis, Meredith J. Grady, Lauren Jaebker, Alan D. Bright, Keith M. Carlisle

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) cause significant damage to agriculture and native ecosystems and can transmit diseases to animals and people. Management responses designed to reduce population numbers are needed to mitigate these threats. Identifying networks of key actors, including the ways in which they interact, is valuable for purposes of better understanding opportunities or constraints that generate or impede effective management responses. The goal of our study was to understand the network of organizations, and the personnel working within them, that were active in wild pig management, research, or policy initiatives in Missouri during 2018–2020 by 1) identifying …

Effects Of Corn Supplementation On Serum And Muscle Microrna Profiles In Horses, Clarissa Carver, Jason E. Bruemmer, Stephen Coleman, Gabriele Landolt, Tanja Hess

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Laminitis associated with equine metabolic syndrome causes significant economic losses in the equine industry. Diets high in non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) have been linked to insulin resistance and laminitis in horses. Nutrigenomic studies analyzing the interaction of diets high in NSCs and gene expression regulating endogenous microRNAs (miRNA) are rare. This study's objectives were to determine whether miRNAs from dietary corn can be detected in equine serum and muscle and its impacts on endogenous miRNA. Twelve mares were blocked by age, body condition score, and weight and assigned to a control (mixed legume grass hay diet) and a mixed legume hay …

Transmission Of Sars-Cov-2 In Free-Ranging White-Tailed Deer In The United States, Aijing Feng, Sarah Bevins, Jeff Chandler, Thomas J. Deliberto, Ria Ghai, Kristina Lantz, Julianna Lenoch, Adam Retchless, Susan A. Shriner, Cynthia Y. Tang, Suxiang Sue Tong, Mia Torchetti, Anna Uehara, Xiu-Feng Wan

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

SARS-CoV-2 is a zoonotic virus with documented bi-directional transmission between people and animals. Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from humans to free-ranging white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) poses a unique public health risk due to the potential for reservoir establishment where variantsmay persist and evolve. We collected 8,830 respiratory samples from free-ranging white-tailed deer across Washington, D.C. and 26 states in the United States between November 2021 and April 2022. We obtained 391 sequences and identified 34 Pango lineages including the Alpha, Gamma, Delta, and Omicron variants. Evolutionary analyses showed these white-tailed deer viruses originated fromat least 109 independent spillovers fromhumans,which resulted in …

H7n9 Influenza A Virus Transmission In A Multispecies Barnyard Model, Angela M. Bosco-Lauth, Anna Rodriguez, Rachel M. Maison, Stephanie M. Porter, J. Jeffrey Root

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Influenza A viruses are a diverse group of pathogens that have been responsible for millions of human and avian deaths throughout history. Here, we illustrate the transmission potential of H7N9 influenza A virus between Coturnix quail (Coturnix sp.), domestic ducks (Anas platyrhynchos domesticus), chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus), and house sparrows (Passer domesticus) co-housed in an artificial barnyard setting. In each of four replicates, individuals from a single species were infected with the virus. Quail shed virus orally and were a source of infection for both chickens and ducks. Infected chickens transmitted the virus to quail but not to ducks or …

Raccoon Rabies Control And Elimination In The Northeastern Usa And Southern Québec, Canada, Amy J. Davis, Marianne Gagnier, Ariane Massé, Kathleen M. Nelson, Jordona D. Kirby, Ryan Wallace, Xiaoyue Ma, Christine Fehlner-Gardiner, Richard B. Chipman, Amy Gilbert

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Rabies virus (RABV) is a deadly zoonosis that circulates in wild carnivore populations in North America. Intensive management within the USA and Canada has been conducted to control the spread of the raccoon (Procyon lotor) variant of RABV and work towards elimination. We examined RABV occurrence across the northeastern USA and southeastern Québec, Canada during 2008–2018 using a multi-method, dynamic occupancy model. Using a 10 km× 10 km grid overlaid on the landscape, we examined the probability that a grid cell was occupied with RABV and relationships with management activities (oral rabies vaccination (ORV) and trap-vaccinate-release efforts), habitat, neighbour effects …

Writing Statistical Methods For Ecologists, Amy J. Davis, Shannon Kay

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The Methods section is a key component of any ecology research publication containing detailed information on how the data were collected and analyzed. However, descriptions of which statistical methods were used and how they were applied can substantially vary and may not provide enough information for the analyses to be reproducible. Computational and statistical programming advances have allowed ecological researchers without a strong statistical or mathematical background to access and use increasingly complex statistical methods. Thus, statistical methods are written by and need to be accessible to researchers across a range of quantitative expertise. Poorly written Methods sections can incorrectly …

Distribution Of Baylisascaris Procyonis In Raccoons (Procyon Lotor) In Florida, Usa, Mark W. Cunningham, Daniel P. Wolf, Katherine A. Sayler, Michael Milleson, Brittany Bankovich, Paul Schueller, Betsy S. Haley, Savannah Stura, Michael J. Yabsley

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Baylisascaris procyonis, or raccoon roundworm, is an intestinal nematode parasite of raccoons (Procyon lotor) that is important to public and wildlife health. Historically, the parasite was uncommon in the southeastern US; however, the range of B. procyonis has expanded to include Florida, US. From 2010 to 2016, we opportunistically sampled 1,030 raccoons statewide. The overall prevalence was 3.7% (95% confidence interval=2.5–4.8%) of sampled individuals, and infection intensity ranged from 1 to 48 (mean±standard deviation 9.9±4.0). We found raccoon roundworm in 9/56 (16%) counties sampled, and the percent positive ranged from 1.1% to 13.3% of specimens collected per …

Predator Telemetry Informs Temporal And Spatial Overlap With Stocked Salmonids In Lake Huron, David G. Fielder, Todd A. Hayden, Thomas R. Binder, Brian S. Dorr, Heidi A. Currier

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Double-Crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auratus), Walleyes (Sander vitreus), and Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush) are migratory predators that undergo extensive movements in Lake Huron. Stocking of juvenile salmonid fish (Oncorhynchus and Salmo sp.) is an important component of fishery management in Lake Huron and assessing the spatial and temporal extent of predator movements is a useful consideration for determining when and where to stock juvenile fish to reduce predation and maximize survival. Previous investigation indicated that some Walleyes migrate to the main basin of Lake Huron in spring from Saginaw Bay. Similarly, telemetry studies of Lake Trout movement in Lake Huron have …

Distribution Of The Misfolded Isoform Of The Prion Protein In Peripheral Tissues And Spinal Cord Of Rocky Mountain Elk (Cervus Elaphus Nelsoni) With Naturally Occurring Chronic Wasting Disease, Terry R. Spraker, Thomas Gidlewski, J. G. Powers, T. A. Nichols, M. A. Wild

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is an infectious transmissible spongiform encephalopathy of cervids associated with the presence of a misfolded prion protein (PrPCWD). Progression of PrPCWD distribution has been described using immunohistochemistry and histologic changes in a single section of brain stem at the level of the obex resulting in scores from 0 (early) to 10 (terminal) in elk with naturally occurring CWD. Here we describe the spread and distribution of PrPCWD in peripheral tissues and spinal cord in 16 wild and 17 farmed Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) with naturally occurring CWD and correlate these findings with obex scores. …

Investigating Nocturnal Uas Treatments In An Applied Context To Prevent Gulls From Nesting On Rooftops, Morgan Pfeiffer, Craig K. Pullins, Scott F. Beckerman, Joshua L. Hoblet, Brad Blackwell

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Ring‐billed (Larus delawarensis) and herring (L. argentatus) gulls are numerous and widespread in North America. These gulls rank among the top 9 species for risk of bird‐aircraft collisions (hereafter strikes). The ubiquitous presence of gulls in urban coastal environments, including rooftop nesting behavior, are factors impacting strike risk. Our purpose was to assess gull response to a small uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) in hazing flights at night during the nest‐building phase. We hypothesized that nocturnal UAS operation, like nocturnal predator disturbance, might reduce gull numbers and, thus, strike risk to aircraft. In spring 2021, we conducted …