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Haynes E, Yabsley MJ, Nemeth NM, Danks ZD, Stasiak I, Garrett KB, Adcock KG, Chamberlain MJ, Ruder MG. Health Assessment of Adult Male Eastern Wild Turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) from Western Kentucky, USA. J Wildl Dis 2024:499831. [PMID: 38584308 DOI: 10.7589/jwd-d-23-00162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) are an important game species throughout the geographic range. Populations throughout multiple regions of the US have been declining, including in Kentucky, US, raising concerns among managers and resource users. To better understand the overall population health, we performed postmortem examinations and targeted pathogen, mineral, and toxicant testing on 36 adult male, apparently healthy, wild turkeys that were hunter harvested in western Kentucky during April 2018. We found that birds were in fair to good nutritional condition with no significant gross or microscopic lesions. Ticks (Amblyomma spp.) and lice (three species) were present on 94 and 31% of birds, respectively. We commonly detected intestinal nematodes and cestodes and found coccidian oocysts in 39% and capillarid eggs in 6% of birds. The prevalences of lymphoproliferative disease virus and reticuloendotheliosis virus were 39 and 11%, respectively. Spleen samples tested with PCR were positive for Borrelia burgdorferi, Haemoproteus sp., and Leucocytozoon sp. in 11, 83, and 3%, respectively. Based on a subjective histologic assessment of testis tissues, most birds had widespread and abundant sperm present. Mineral analysis and broad toxicant screening on liver samples from 32 turkeys were unremarkable. Further work is needed to assess potential population risk factors and to determine individual- and population-level impacts of pathogens on adults and poults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen Haynes
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, 589 D. W. Brooks Drive, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
| | - Michael J Yabsley
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, 589 D. W. Brooks Drive, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, 180 East Green Street, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
- Center for Ecology of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, 203 D. W. Brooks Drive, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
| | - Nicole M Nemeth
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, 589 D. W. Brooks Drive, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, 501 D. W. Brooks Drive, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
| | - Zachary D Danks
- Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, 1 Sportsman's Lane, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601, USA
| | - Iga Stasiak
- Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, 1 Sportsman's Lane, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601, USA
| | - Kayla B Garrett
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, 589 D. W. Brooks Drive, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, 180 East Green Street, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
| | - Kayla G Adcock
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, 589 D. W. Brooks Drive, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
| | - Michael J Chamberlain
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, 180 East Green Street, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
| | - Mark G Ruder
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, 589 D. W. Brooks Drive, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
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Provencher JF, Wilcox AAE, Gibbs S, Howes LA, Mallory ML, Pybus M, Ramey AM, Reed ET, Sharp CM, Soos C, Stasiak I, Leafloor JO. BAITING AND BANDING: EXPERT OPINION ON HOW BAIT TRAPPING MAY INFLUENCE THE OCCURRENCE OF HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA (HPAI) AMONG DABBLING DUCKS. J Wildl Dis 2023; 59:590-600. [PMID: 37578749 DOI: 10.7589/jwd-d-22-00163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
A Eurasian lineage highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) of the clade 2.3.4.4b (Goose/Guangdong lineage) was detected in migratory bird populations in North America in December 2021, and it, along with its reassortants, have since caused wild and domestic bird outbreaks across the continent. Relative to previous outbreaks, HPAIV cases among wild birds in 2022 exhibited wider geographic extent within North America and higher levels of mortality, suggesting the potential for population-level impacts. Given the possible conservation implications of HPAIV in wild birds, natural resource managers have sought guidance on actions that may mitigate negative effects of disease among North American bird populations, including modification of existing management practices. Banding of waterfowl is a critical tool for population management for several harvested species in North America, but some banding techniques, such as bait trapping, can lead to increased congregation of waterfowl, potentially altering HPAIV transmission. We used an expert opinion exercise to assess how bait trapping of dabbling ducks in Canada may influence HPAIV transmission and wild bird health. The expert group found that it is moderately likely that bait trapping of dabbling ducks in wetlands will significantly increase the transmission of HPAIV among individual ducks, but there is a low probability that this will result in significant population-level effects on North American dabbling ducks. Considering the lack of empirical work studying how capture and handling methods may change transmission of HPAIV among waterfowl, as well as the importance of bait trapping for waterfowl management in North America, future work should focus on filling knowledge gaps pertaining to the influence of baiting on HPAIV occurrence to better inform banding procedures and management decision making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer F Provencher
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, 1125 Colonel By Dr., Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Alana A E Wilcox
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, 1125 Colonel By Dr., Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Samantha Gibbs
- Wildlife Health Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge, 16450 NW 31st Place, Chiefland, Florida 32626, USA
| | - Lesley-Anne Howes
- Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, 1125 Colonel By Dr., Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Mark L Mallory
- Acadia University, 33 Westwood Ave., Wolfville, Nova Scotia B4P 2R6, Canada
| | - Margo Pybus
- Alberta Fish and Wildlife, Government of Alberta, 6909-116 St., Edmonton, Alberta T6H 4P2, Canada
| | - Andrew M Ramey
- U.S. Geological Survey Alaska Science Center, 4210 University Dr., Anchorage, Alaska 99508, USA
| | - Eric T Reed
- Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 5019 52nd St., PO Box 2310, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories X1A 2P7, Canada
| | - Chris M Sharp
- Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Environmental Science and Technology Centre, 335 River Rd, Ottawa, Ontario K1V 1C7, Canada
| | - Catherine Soos
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Prairie and Northern Wildlife Research Centre, 115 Perimeter Rd, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 0X4, Canada
| | - Iga Stasiak
- Ministry of Environment, Government of Saskatchewan, 112 Research Dr., Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 3R3, Canada
| | - Jim O Leafloor
- Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Unit 510, 234 Donald St., Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 1M8, Canada
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Hafeez MA, Stasiak I, Delnatte P, El-Sherry S, Smith DA, Barta JR. Description of two new Isospora species causing visceral coccidiosis in captive superb glossy starlings, Lamprotornis superbus (Aves: Sturnidae). Parasitol Res 2014; 113:3287-97. [PMID: 24948107 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-014-3992-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2014] [Accepted: 06/06/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Isospora greineri sp. n. and Isospora superbusi sp. n. are described from captive superb glossy starlings, Lamprotornis superbus, from the Toronto Zoo succumbing to visceral coccidiosis. Sequence data from nuclear 18S recombinant DNA (rDNA) and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) loci from sporulated oocysts and infected tissues (liver, lung, or spleen) demonstrated two distinct Isospora sp. genotypes that varied in their relative abundance. In the tissues of one affected bird, as well as its associated fecal sample, two distinct COI sequences (1.7% divergence) and two distinct 18S rDNA sequences (0.6% divergence) were found at almost the same abundance; in other specimens, one of the 18S and one of the COI sequences were less abundant than the other. In the tissues of some birds, only a single COI and single 18S sequence were present. In all cases, the same pair of 18S rDNA and COI sequences fluctuated in abundance in parallel, indicating that there were two distinct species present rather than one species with more than one COI or 18S locus. The oocysts of these new species cannot be differentiated morphologically. Sporulated oocysts of both were spherical to subspherical measuring 17.7 ± 0.22 μm by 17.1 ± 0.20 μm with a mean L/W ratio of 1.03 ± 0.004. Sporocysts were ovoid measuring 13.5 ± 0.17 μm by 9.3 ± 0.15 μm with a mean L/W ratio of 1.4 ± 0.02. Sporocysts had a small Stieda body with indistinct sub-Stieda body; each sporocyst had a compact residuum. Two morphologically similar but genetically divergent Isospora species were shown to cause simultaneous enteric and extraintestinal infections in captive superb glossy starlings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mian A Hafeez
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2 W1, Canada
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