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Soulsbury CD, Gray HE, Smith LM, Braithwaite V, Cotter SC, Elwood RW, Wilkinson A, Collins LM. The welfare and ethics of research involving wild animals: A primer. Methods Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.13435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Helen E. Gray
- Faculty of Biological Sciences University of Leeds Leeds UK
| | | | | | | | - Robert W. Elwood
- School of Biological Sciences Queen's University Belfast Belfast UK
| | - Anna Wilkinson
- School of Life Sciences University of Lincoln Lincoln UK
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Humane Use of Cardiac Puncture for Non-Terminal Phlebotomy of Wild-Caught and Released Peromyscus spp. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10050826. [PMID: 32397470 PMCID: PMC7278385 DOI: 10.3390/ani10050826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Revised: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary When researching tick-borne diseases and their management in the interest of improving public health, blood samples often need to be obtained from small rodents, which are the main source of the various pathogens that are picked up by ticks and can infect humans. In such research projects, animals are handled and released back into the environment with the least amount of harm done to ensure their continued survival. Post-sampling animal care is not an option on released animals as it is in a laboratory in a captive setting, therefore, sampling protocols need to reflect this fact. Blood sampling via cardiac puncture (sampling blood directly from the heart) tends to have a negative connotation because it is often associated with a procedure used for humane euthanasia in which sedated animals are bled to death per study protocols. We argue its use for obtaining blood samples is preferred in a field setting in which rodents are released. We show that our recapture and mortality rates rival or are better than other studies that utilize more familiar techniques. Death is not a requirement of its use and we suggest cardiac puncture for blood sampling is in the best interest of animal welfare because it does not make small rodents more prone to infection or negatively impact their vision or survival as can other blood sampling procedures. Abstract The cardiac puncture technique for obtaining relatively large volume (50–150 µL) blood samples from sedated rodents has been used in research for nearly a century. Historically, its use to phlebotomize and then release live rodents was more common. However, recently its use in a non-terminal capacity frequently imparts negative connotations in part because exsanguination of sedated animals via cardiac puncture is now an American Veterinary Medical Association-approved euthanasia technique. This association has resulted in ethical concerns by manuscript reviewers and in a few instances, outright refusal by some peer-reviewed journals to publish research that utilized the technique. To counter the perceived negative associations with its non-terminal use, we summarized nearly two decades (2001–2019) of capture and handling data throughout Connecticut, resulting in over 7000 cardiac punctures performed on nearly 5000 sedated, live-captured and released Peromyscus spp. We show that our total handling mortality rate (3.7%) was comparable, if not lower, than similar field studies that utilized other phlebotomy techniques. Many public health, integrated tick management, and vector-borne disease ecology studies require samples from individual wild-caught Peromyscus spp. over time to determine intervention efficacy and pathogen infection monitoring, and in such field studies, post-operative care is not an option. Proper execution of cardiac puncture does not increase susceptibility of individuals to predation upon release as can potential ocular abnormalities or infections that can occur as the result of use of other techniques. We posit that neither exsanguination nor resulting euthanasia are requirements of cardiac puncture and that its use is entirely appropriate for obtaining blood samples from live-captured and released Peromyscus spp. Properly performed cardiac puncture is an excellent technique to obtain blood samples from sedated, individual Peromyscus spp. on multiple appropriately-spaced occasions over single trapping seasons while keeping animal welfare a top priority.
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Gorosito IL, Douglass RJ. A damped precipitation-driven, bottom-up model for deer mouse population abundance in the northwestern United States. Ecol Evol 2017; 7:11113-11123. [PMID: 29299286 PMCID: PMC5743491 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2017] [Revised: 08/11/2017] [Accepted: 10/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Small-mammal population densities can be regulated by bottom-up (food availability) and top-down (predation) forces. In 1993, an El Niño Southern Oscillation event was followed by a cluster of human hantavirus with pulmonary syndrome in the southwestern United States. An upward trophic cascade hypothesis was proposed as an explanation for the outbreak: Increased plant productivity as a consequence of El Niño precipitations led to an unusual increase in distribution and abundance of deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus; reservoir host of Sin Nombre virus). Could such drastic events occur in mesic habitats, where plant productivity in response to climate conditions is likely to be much less dramatic? In this work, we investigate to what extent deer mouse populations follow a precipitation-driven, bottom-up model in central and western Montana and discuss important conditions for such a model to be possible. We found positive correlations between deer mouse abundance and on-the-ground measured plant productivity with a several-month lag in three of six study sites. This effect was weaker when deer mouse populations were more abundant, indicating density-dependent effects. Dispersal resulting from territoriality may be important in attenuating local density increments in spite of high food availability. In addition, there is evidence that population abundance in the study area could respond to other abiotic factors. In particular, precipitation in the form of snow may reduce deer mice survival, thus compensating the benefits of improved plant productivity. Deer mouse populations in Montana study sites follow complex dynamics determined by multiple limiting factors, leading to a damped precipitation-driven bottom-up regulation. This prevents dramatic changes in rodent abundances after sudden increments of food availability, such as those observed in other regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene L. Gorosito
- Departamento de EcologíaGenética y EvoluciónFacultad de Ciencias Exactas y NaturalesUniversidad de Buenos AiresBuenos AiresArgentina
- Instituto de EcologíaGenética y Evolución de Buenos AiresConsejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y TécnicasBuenos AiresArgentina
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Douglass RJ, Vadell MV. How much effort is required to accurately describe the complex ecology of a rodent-borne viral disease? Ecosphere 2016; 7. [PMID: 27398256 DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
We use data collected on 18,1-ha live trapping grids monitored from 1994 through 2005 and on five of those grids through 2013 in the mesic northwestern US to illustrate the complexity of the deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus)/Sin Nombre virus (SNV) host-pathogen system. Important factors necessary to understand zoonotic disease ecology include those associated with distribution and population dynamics of reservoir species as well as infection dynamics. Results are based on more than 851,000 trap nights, 16,608 individual deer mice and 10,572 collected blood samples. Deer mice were distributed throughout every habitat we sampled and were present during every sampling period in all habitats except high altitude habitats over1900 m. Abundance varied greatly among locations with peak numbers occurring mostly during fall. However, peak rodent abundance occurred during fall, winter and spring during various years on three grids trapped 12 mo/yr. Prevalence of antibodies to SNV averaged 3.9% to 22.1% but no grids had mice with antibodies during every month. The maximum period without antibody-positive mice ranged from one month to 52 months, or even more at high altitude grids where deer mice were not always present. Months without antibody-positive mice were more prevalent during fall than spring. Population fluctuations were not synchronous over broad geographic areas and antibody prevalences were not well spatially consistent, differing greatly over short distances. We observed an apparently negative, but non-statistically significant relationship between average antibody prevalence and average deer mouse population abundance and a statistically significant positive relationship between the average number of antibody positive mice and average population abundance. We present data from which potential researchers can estimate the effort required to adequately describe the ecology of a rodent-borne viral system. We address different factors affecting population dynamics and hantavirus antibody prevalence and discuss the path to understanding a complex rodent-borne disease system as well as the obstacles in that path.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - María Victoria Vadell
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Poblaciones, Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, C1428EGA Argentina
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Springer YP, Hoekman D, Johnson PTJ, Duffy PA, Hufft RA, Barnett DT, Allan BF, Amman BR, Barker CM, Barrera R, Beard CB, Beati L, Begon M, Blackmore MS, Bradshaw WE, Brisson D, Calisher CH, Childs JE, Diuk‐Wasser M, Douglass RJ, Eisen RJ, Foley DH, Foley JE, Gaff HD, Gardner SL, Ginsberg HS, Glass GE, Hamer SA, Hayden MH, Hjelle B, Holzapfel CM, Juliano SA, Kramer LD, Kuenzi AJ, LaDeau SL, Livdahl TP, Mills JN, Moore CG, Morand S, Nasci RS, Ogden NH, Ostfeld RS, Parmenter RR, Piesman J, Reisen WK, Savage HM, Sonenshine DE, Swei A, Yabsley MJ. Tick‐, mosquito‐, and rodent‐borne parasite sampling designs for the National Ecological Observatory Network. Ecosphere 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
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Maroli M, Vadell MV, Iglesias A, Padula PJ, Gómez Villafañe IE. Daily Movements and Microhabitat Selection of Hantavirus Reservoirs and Other Sigmodontinae Rodent Species that Inhabit a Protected Natural Area of Argentina. ECOHEALTH 2015; 12:421-431. [PMID: 26063039 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-015-1038-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2014] [Revised: 05/04/2015] [Accepted: 05/07/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Abundance, distribution, movement patterns, and habitat selection of a reservoir species influence the dispersal of zoonotic pathogens, and hence, the risk for humans. Movements and microhabitat use of rodent species, and their potential role in the transmission of hantavirus were studied in Otamendi Natural Reserve, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Movement estimators and qualitative characteristics of rodent paths were determined by means of a spool and line device method. Sampling was conducted during November and December 2011, and March, April, June, October, and December 2012. Forty-six Oxymycterus rufus, 41 Akodon azarae, 10 Scapteromys aquaticus and 5 Oligoryzomys flavescens were captured. Movement patterns and distances varied according to sex, habitat type, reproductive season, and body size among species. O. flavescens, reservoir of the etiologic agent of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in the region, moved short distances, had the most linear paths and did not share paths with other species. A. azarae had an intermediate linearity index, its movements were longer in the highland grassland than in the lowland marsh and the salty grassland, and larger individuals traveled longer distances. O. rufus had the most tortuous paths and the males moved more during the non-breeding season. S. aquaticus movements were associated with habitat type with longer distances traveled in the lowland marsh than in the salty grassland. Hantavirus antibodies were detected in 20% of A. azarae and were not detected in any other species. Seropositive individuals were captured during the breeding season and 85% of them were males. A. azarae moved randomly and shared paths with all the other species, which could promote hantavirus spillover events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malena Maroli
- Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción (CICyTTP), CONICET, Dr. Matteri y España, s/n, E3105BWA, Diamante, Entre Ríos, Argentina
| | - María Victoria Vadell
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Poblaciones, Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Instituto IEGEBA (CONICET-UBA), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Intendente Güiraldes 2160 - Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ayelén Iglesias
- Departamento de Virologia, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas, ANLIS "Dr. C. G. Malbrán", Av.Velez Sarsfield 563, C1282AFF, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Paula Julieta Padula
- Departamento de Virologia, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas, ANLIS "Dr. C. G. Malbrán", Av.Velez Sarsfield 563, C1282AFF, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Isabel Elisa Gómez Villafañe
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Poblaciones, Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Instituto IEGEBA (CONICET-UBA), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Intendente Güiraldes 2160 - Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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