scholarly journals The Patterns and Causes of Dermatitis in Terrestrial and Semi-Aquatic Mammalian Wildlife

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1691
Author(s):  
Elise M. Ringwaldt ◽  
Barry W. Brook ◽  
Scott Carver ◽  
Jessie C. Buettel
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Threatened Species ◽  
Social Factors ◽  
Mammalian Species ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Wildlife Species ◽  
Dermatological Disease ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
Free Ranging

Causative disease and stress agents which manifest as dermatitis in mammals have varying effects on individual animals, from benign irritation and inflammation, to causing morbidity and even mortality. Bacteria, viruses and ectoparasites are all potential causes of dermatitis, and it can be exacerbated by various environmental, genetic and social factors. Furthermore, it is uncertain whether dermatitis is more likely to manifest in already-vulnerable wildlife species. Here, we systematically review the literature for reports of dermatitis in terrestrial and semi-aquatic wild mammalian species, with the goal of determining the biogeographical scale of dermatitis reports, the causes of dermatitis, and whether manifestation of dermatitis is reported more commonly in certain wildlife species or their captivity status (i.e., free-living, in captivity or in a laboratory). We reveal biases in the reporting of dermatitis by a biogeographic realm, with 55% of cases reported in the Nearctic, and towards particular orders of mammals, namely Artiodactyla and Carnivora. Overall, free-living wildlife is almost twice as likely to be reported as having dermatitis than individuals in captivity and six times more likely than individuals in laboratories, which we interpret as owing to exposure to a broader spectrum of parasites in free-ranging individuals, and potential reporting bias in captive individuals. Notably, dermatitis was reported in 23 threatened species, with some species more likely than others to be reported exhibiting clinical signs of dermatitis resulting from underlying health problems. We also find that threatened species are more likely to be reported as having dermatitis in captivity, particularly outside of their endemic home range. This review highlights diverse patterns of dermatological disease causes in captive and free-ranging wildlife, conditions under which they are more likely to be documented, and the need for cross-disciplinary research to ascertain (and so better manage) the varied causes.

Behavioural adjustments of wild-caught kangaroos to captivity

2017 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 213 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. Munn ◽  
S. Phelan ◽  
M. Rigby ◽  
J. A. Roberts
Keyword(s):  
Wild Animal ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Novel Environment ◽  
Short Period ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
Free Ranging

It is important to understand how wild-caught animals may respond to captivity, and whether their behaviours in captivity are reflective of their wild counterparts. We observed the behaviour of wild-caught western grey kangaroos (Macropus fuliginosus) and red kangaroos (Osphranter rufus; formerly M. rufus) that were transferred to a large naturally vegetated enclosure. Observations were made on the first day of captivity and again after 7–10 days, and were compared with the behaviour of free-living kangaroos at the same locality and over the same period. We quantified feeding, moving, grooming and non-alert behaviours. Of these, grooming was higher in captive kangaroos than in free-living animals on the first day of captivity only, and was no different to that of wild animal by 7–10 days’ captivity. Such self-directed behaviour may be indicative of heightened distress for kangaroos on the first day of captivity, but it may also be indicative of grooming to eliminate contamination of human smells or debris following capture by darting and recovery. Overall, our findings indicate that after a short period of captivity, wild-caught kangaroos adjust to a novel environment relatively quickly, and animals from each species showed behaviour patterns comparable with free-ranging counterparts within 7–10 days after capture and captivity.

Ejaculate traits in the Namibian cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus): influence of age, season and captivity

2007 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 370 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrienne E. Crosier ◽  
Laurie Marker ◽  
JoGayle Howard ◽  
Budhan S. Pukazhenthi ◽  
Josephine N. Henghali ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sperm Motility ◽  
Sperm Quality ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Acinonyx Jubatus ◽  
Young Males ◽  
Sperm Density ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
Free Ranging

The objective was to examine the influence of animal age, season and captivity status on seminal quality in wild-born cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) in Namibia, Africa. Animals were divided into three age categories: juvenile (14–24 months; n = 16 males, 23 ejaculates); adult (25–120 months; n = 76 males, 172 ejaculates); and aged (>120 months; n = 5 males, 5 ejaculates). Seasons were categorised into hot–wet (January–April), cold–dry (May–August) and hot–dry (September–December). A comparison between freshly wild-caught (n = 29 males, 41 ejaculates) and captive-held cheetahs (n = 68 males, 159 ejaculates) was also conducted. Raw ejaculates contained 69.0 ± 1.1% motile spermatozoa (mean ± s.e.m.) with 73.6 ± 1.5% of these cells containing an intact acrosome. Overall, 18.4 ± 0.9% of spermatozoa were morphologically normal, with midpiece anomalies being the most prevalent (~39%) defect. Juvenile cheetahs produced ejaculates with poorer sperm motility, forward progressive status, lower seminal volume and fewer total motile spermatozoa than adult and aged animals. Spermatogenesis continued unabated throughout the year and was minimally influenced by season. Proportions of sperm malformations were also not affected by season. Ejaculates from captive cheetahs had increased volume and intact acrosomes, but lower sperm density than wild-caught counterparts. In summary, Namibian cheetahs produce an extraordinarily high proportion of pleiomorphic spermatozoa regardless of age, season or living (captive versus free-ranging) status. Young males less than 2 years of age produce poorer ejaculate quality than adult and aged males. Because (1) all study animals were wild born and (2) there was little difference between freshly caught males and those maintained in captivity for protracted periods, our results affirm that teratospermia in the cheetah is mostly genetically derived. It also appears that an ex situ environment for the Namibian cheetah can ensure sperm quality comparable with that for free-living males.

scholarly journals A Survey for Escherichia coli Virulence Factors in Asymptomatic Free-Ranging Parrots

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
André Becker Saidenberg ◽  
Neiva Maria Robaldo Guedes ◽  
Gláucia Helena Fernandes Seixas ◽  
Mariangela da Costa Allgayer ◽  
Erica Pacífico de Assis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Virulence Factors ◽  
Carrier State ◽  
Free Living ◽  
E Coli ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
Parasite Relationship ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
Host Parasite ◽  
Free Ranging

Parrots in captivity are frequently affected by Escherichia coli (E. coli) infections. The objective of this study was to collect information on the carrier state for E. coli pathotypes in asymptomatic free-ranging parrots. Cloacal swabs were collected from nestlings of Hyacinth, Lear’s macaws and Blue-fronted Amazon parrots and tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for virulence factors commonly found in enteropathogenic, avian pathogenic, and uropathogenic E. coli strains. In total, 44 samples were cultured and E. coli isolates were yielded, from which DNA was extracted and processed by PCR. Genes commonly found in APEC isolates from Blue-fronted Amazon parrots and Hyacinth macaws were expressed in 14 of these 44 samples. One atypical EPEC isolate was obtained from a sample from Lear’s macaw. The most commonly found gene was the increased serum survival (iss) gene. This is the first report, that describes such pathotypes in asymptomatic free-living parrots. The findings of this study suggest the presence of a stable host/parasite relationship at the time of the sampling brings a new understanding to the role that E. coli plays in captive and wild parrots. Such information can be used to improve husbandry protocols as well as help conservation efforts of free-living populations.

Clinical signs in free-ranging Guiana dolphins Sotalia guianensis during a morbillivirus epidemic: case study in Sepetiba Bay, Brazil

2019 ◽  
Vol 133 (3) ◽  
pp. 175-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
L Flach ◽  
MB Alonso ◽  
T Marinho ◽  
K Van Waerebeek ◽  
MF Van Bressem
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Sepetiba Bay ◽  
Sotalia Guianensis ◽  
Free Ranging

scholarly journals Misinformation tactics protect rare birds from problem predators

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (11) ◽  
pp. eabe4164
Author(s):  
Grant L. Norbury ◽  
Catherine J. Price ◽  
M. Cecilia Latham ◽  
Samantha J. Brown ◽  
A. David M. Latham ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Threatened Species ◽  
Prey Availability ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Bird Populations ◽  
New Information ◽  
Mammalian Predators ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
Living Species ◽  
Information Reliability

Efficient decision-making integrates previous experience with new information. Tactical use of misinformation can alter choice in humans. Whether misinformation affects decision-making in other free-living species, including problem species, is unknown. Here, we show that sensory misinformation tactics can reduce the impacts of predators on vulnerable bird populations as effectively as lethal control. We repeatedly exposed invasive mammalian predators to unprofitable bird odors for 5 weeks before native shorebirds arrived for nesting and for 8 weeks thereafter. Chick production increased 1.7-fold at odor-treated sites over 25 to 35 days, with doubled or tripled odds of successful hatching, resulting in a 127% increase in modeled population size in 25 years. We demonstrate that decision-making processes that respond to changes in information reliability are vulnerable to tactical manipulation by misinformation. Altering perceptions of prey availability offers an innovative, nonlethal approach to managing problem predators and improving conservation outcomes for threatened species.

scholarly journals Framing of visual content shown on popular social media may affect viewers’ attitudes to threatened species

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernando Ballejo ◽  
Pablo Ignacio Plaza ◽  
Sergio Agustín Lambertucci
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Threatened Species ◽  
Social Medium ◽  
Visual Content ◽  
Wildlife Species ◽  
Mammalian Predators ◽  
Negative Comments ◽  
Over Time ◽  
The Way

AbstractContent published on social media may affect user’s attitudes toward wildlife species. We evaluated viewers’ responses to videos published on a popular social medium, focusing particularly on how the content was framed (i.e., the way an issue is conveyed to transmit a certain meaning). We analyzed videos posted on YouTube that showed vultures interacting with livestock. The videos were negatively or positively framed, and we evaluated viewers’ opinions of these birds through the comments posted. We also analyzed negatively framed videos of mammalian predators interacting with livestock, to evaluate whether comments on this content were similar to those on vultures. We found that the framing of the information influenced the tone of the comments. Videos showing farmers talking about their livestock losses were more likely to provoke negative comments than videos not including farmer testimonies. The probability of negative comments being posted on videos about vultures was higher than for mammalian predators. Finally, negatively framed videos on vultures had more views over time than positive ones. Our results call for caution in the presentation of wildlife species online, and highlight the need for regulations to prevent the spread of misinformed videos that could magnify existing human-wildlife conflicts.

scholarly journals Free-Ranging Farm Cats: Home Range Size and Predation on a Livestock Unit In Northwest Georgia

PLoS ONE ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. e0120513 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanna E. Kitts-Morgan ◽  
Kyle C. Caires ◽  
Lisa A. Bohannon ◽  
Elizabeth I. Parsons ◽  
Katharine A. Hilburn
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Home Range Size ◽  
Range Size ◽  
Free Ranging

scholarly journals Canine distemper virus infection in a lesser grison (Galictis cuja): first report and virus phylogeny

2013 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 247-250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Megid ◽  
Carlos R. Teixeira ◽  
Adriana Cortez ◽  
Marcos B. Heinemann ◽  
João M.A.P. Antunes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Virus Infection ◽  
Canine Distemper Virus ◽  
Wildlife Conservation ◽  
Domestic Animals ◽  
Canine Distemper ◽  
Habitat Alterations ◽  
Source Of Infection ◽  
First Case ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
Free Ranging

Infectious diseases in wild animals have been increasing as a result of their habitat alterations and closer contact with domestic animals. Canine distemper virus (CDV) has been reported in several species of wild carnivores, presenting a threat to wildlife conservation. We described the first case of canine distemper virus infection in lesser grison (Galictis cuja). A free-ranging individual, with no visible clinical sigs, presented sudden death after one day in captivity. Molecular diagnosis for CDV infection was performed using whole blood collected by postmortem intracardiac puncture, which resulted positive. The virus phylogeny indicated that domestic dogs were the probable source of infection.

The effects of environmental and visitor variables on the behavior of free-ranging ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) in captivity

Zoo Biology ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 250-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Courtney Collins ◽  
Ilse Corkery ◽  
Amy Haigh ◽  
Sean McKeown ◽  
Thomas Quirke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lemur Catta ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
Free Ranging

scholarly journals Revisiting Ophidiomycosis (Snake Fungal Disease) After a Decade of Targeted Research

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina M. Davy ◽  
Leonard Shirose ◽  
Doug Campbell ◽  
Rachel Dillon ◽  
Christina McKenzie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Sublethal Effects ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Fungal Disease ◽  
Host Susceptibility ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Molecular Testing ◽  
Population Declines ◽  
Snake Fungal Disease ◽  
Free Ranging

Emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) are typically characterized by novelty (recent detection) and by increasing incidence, distribution, and/or pathogenicity. Ophidiomycosis, also called snake fungal disease, is caused by the fungus Ophidiomyces ophidiicola (formerly “ophiodiicola”). Ophidiomycosis has been characterized as an EID and as a potential threat to populations of Nearctic snakes, sparking over a decade of targeted research. However, the severity of this threat is unclear. We reviewed the available literature to quantify incidence and effects of ophidiomycosis in Nearctic snakes, and to evaluate whether the evidence supports the ongoing characterization of ophidiomycosis as an EID. Data from Canada remain scarce, so we supplemented the literature review with surveys for O. ophidiicola in the Canadian Great Lakes region. Peer-reviewed reports of clinical signs consistent with ophidiomycosis in free-ranging, Nearctic snakes date back to at least 1998, and retrospective molecular testing of samples extend the earliest confirmed record to 1986. Diagnostic criteria varied among publications (n = 33), confounding quantitative comparisons. Ophidiomycosis was diagnosed or suspected in 36/121 captive snakes and was fatal in over half of cases (66.7%). This result may implicate captivity-related stress as a risk factor for mortality from ophidiomycosis, but could also reflect reporting bias (i.e., infections are more likely to be detected in captive snakes, and severe cases are more likely to be reported). In contrast, ophidiomycosis was diagnosed or suspected in 441/2,384 free-ranging snakes, with mortality observed in 43 (9.8 %). Ophidiomycosis was only speculatively linked to population declines, and we found no evidence that the prevalence of the pathogen or disease increased over the past decade of targeted research. Supplemental surveys and molecular (qPCR) testing in Ontario, Canada detected O. ophidiicola on 76 of 657 free-ranging snakes sampled across ~136,000 km2. The pathogen was detected at most sites despite limited and haphazard sampling. No large-scale mortality was observed. Current evidence supports previous suggestions that the pathogen is a widespread, previously unrecognized endemic, rather than a novel pathogen. Ophidiomycosis may not pose an imminent threat to Nearctic snakes, but further research should investigate potential sublethal effects of ophidiomycosis such as altered reproductive success that could impact population growth, and explore whether shifting environmental conditions may alter host susceptibility.

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