1
|
Dalton CS, Tomaselli M, Rothenburger JL, Mavrot F, Di Francesco J, Leclerc LM, Ytrehus B, Checkley S, Kutz S, Abdul-Careem MF, van der Meer F. Detection and Phylogenetic Analysis of Orf Virus and Muskox Rhadinovirus 1 from Muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) in the Canadian Arctic. J Wildl Dis 2024; 60:461-473. [PMID: 38334201 DOI: 10.7589/jwd-d-22-00170] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Orf virus (genus Parapoxvirus) has been associated with gross skin lesions on muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) from Victoria Island, Nunavut, Canada, where muskox populations are experiencing population declines. Orf virus causes painful proliferative and necrotizing dermatitis upon viral replication and shedding, which may lead to animal morbidity or mortality through secondary infections and starvation. Herpesvirus, known to cause gross lesions on skin and mucosa during active viral replication, has also been documented in muskoxen but to date has not been associated with clinical disease. Our objective was to characterize the variation of orf virus and herpesvirus in wild muskoxen of the Canadian Arctic. Tissue samples including gross skin lesions from the nose, lips, and/or legs were opportunistically collected from muskoxen on Victoria Island, Nunavut and Northwest Territories, and mainland Nunavut, Canada, from 2015 to 2017. Sampled muskoxen varied in age, sex, location, hunt type, and body condition. Tissues from 60 muskoxen were tested for genetic evidence of orf virus and herpesvirus infection using PCR targeting key viral genes. Tissues from 38 muskoxen, including 15 with gross lesions, were also examined for histological evidence of orf virus and herpesvirus infection. Eleven muskoxen (10 from Victoria Island and one from mainland Nunavut) with gross lesions had microscopic lesions consistent with orf virus infection. Muskox rhadinovirus 1, a gammaherpesvirus endemic to muskoxen, was detected in 33 (55%) muskoxen including 17 with gross lesions. In all tissues examined, there was no histological evidence of herpesvirus-specific disease. Sequencing and characterization of amplified PCR products using phylogenetic analysis indicated that a strain of orf virus, which appears to be unique, is likely to be endemic in muskoxen from Victoria Island and mainland Nunavut. Many of the muskoxen are also subclinically infected with a known muskox-endemic strain of herpesvirus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chimoné Stefni Dalton
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada
| | - Matilde Tomaselli
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada
- Polar Knowledge Canada, Canadian High Arctic Research Station, 1 Uvajuq Rd., P.O. Box 2150, Cambridge Bay, Nunavut X0B 0C0, Canada
| | - Jamie L Rothenburger
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada
- Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative (Alberta Region), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada
| | - Fabien Mavrot
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada
| | - Juliette Di Francesco
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, California 95616, USA
| | - Lisa-Marie Leclerc
- Department of Environment, Government of Nunavut, P.O. 377, Kugluktuk, Nunavut X0B 0E0, Canada
| | - Bjørnar Ytrehus
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7036, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Sylvia Checkley
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada
| | - Susan Kutz
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada
- Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative (Alberta Region), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada
| | - Mohamed Faizal Abdul-Careem
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada
| | - Frank van der Meer
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Aguilar XF, Leclerc LM, Mavrot F, Roberto-Charron A, Tomaselli M, Mastromonaco G, Gunn A, Pruvot M, Rothenburger JL, Thanthrige-Don N, Jahromi EZ, Kutz S. An integrative and multi-indicator approach for wildlife health applied to an endangered caribou herd. Sci Rep 2023; 13:16524. [PMID: 37783688 PMCID: PMC10545743 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-41689-y] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Assessing wildlife health in remote regions requires a multi-faceted approach, which commonly involves convenient samplings and the need of identifying and targeting relevant and informative indicators. We applied a novel wildlife health framework and critically assessed the value of different indicators for understanding the health status and trends of an endangered tundra caribou population. Samples and data from the Dolphin and Union caribou herd were obtained between 2015 and 2021, from community-based surveillance programs and from captured animals. We documented and categorized indicators into health determinants (infectious diseases and trace elements), processes (cortisol, pathology), and health outcomes (pregnancy and body condition). During a recent period of steep population decline, our results indicated a relatively good body condition and pregnancy rates, and decreasing levels of stress, along with a low adult cow survival. We detected multiple factors as potential contributors to the reduced survival, including Brucella suis biovar 4, Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae and lower hair trace minerals. These results remark the need of targeted studies to improve detection and investigations on caribou mortalities. We also identified differences in health indicators between captured and hunter sampled caribou, highlighting the importance of accounting for sampling biases. This integrative approach that drew on multiple data sources has provided unprecedented knowledge on the health in this herd and highlights the value of documenting individual animal health to understand causes of wildlife declines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Fernandez Aguilar
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4Z6, Canada.
- Wildlife Conservation Medicine Research Group (WildCoM), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Spain.
| | - Lisa-Marie Leclerc
- Department of Environment, Government of Nunavut, P.O. Box 377, Kugluktuk, NU, X0B 0E0, Canada
| | - Fabien Mavrot
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4Z6, Canada
| | - Amélie Roberto-Charron
- Department of Environment, Government of Nunavut, P.O. Box 377, Kugluktuk, NU, X0B 0E0, Canada
| | - Matilde Tomaselli
- Polar Knowledge Canada, Canadian High Arctic Research Station, 1 Uvajuq Road, PO Box 2150, Cambridge Bay, NU, X0B 0C0, Canada
| | | | - Anne Gunn
- CircumArctic Rangifer Monitoring and Assessment (CARMA) Network, 368 Roland Rad, Salt Spring Island, BC, V8K 1V1, Canada
| | - Mathieu Pruvot
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4Z6, Canada
| | - Jamie L Rothenburger
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4Z6, Canada
- Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative (Alberta Region), Alberta, Canada
| | - Niroshan Thanthrige-Don
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Ottawa Laboratory Fallowfield, 3851 Fallowfield Road, Station H, PO Box 11300, Nepean, ON, K2H 8P9, Canada
| | - Elham Zeini Jahromi
- Alberta Centre for Toxicology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Susan Kutz
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4Z6, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Trudeau MJ, Goldsmith D, Letain C, Stamler S, Rothenburger JL. MUSKRATS (ONDATRA ZIBETHICUS) ARE COMPETENT INTERMEDIATE HOSTS OF ECHINOCOCCUS MULTILOCULARIS IN NORTH AMERICA. J Wildl Dis 2023; 59:684-693. [PMID: 37768814 DOI: 10.7589/jwd-d-23-00017] [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: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
The tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis is an emerging pathogen of significance to human and animal health in Canada, yet little is known about key rodent intermediate hosts in local urban ecosystems. In Europe, invasive muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus) are an important indicator intermediate host species; however, the role of this semiaquatic rodent in the ecology of E. multilocularis is undetermined in the North American context. We examined 93 muskrats that were livetrapped in the spring of 2017 within Calgary, Alberta, Canada, for the presence of E. multilocularis infection. The objectives of this study were to 1) diagnose alveolar echinococcosis using macroscopic assessment, histopathology, and molecular analyses; 2) quantify infection severity; and 3) assess host demographic risk factors for infection. Macroscopic cysts consistent with alveolar echinococcosis were present in 24% of muskrats (22/93). Most individuals had hepatic cysts; however, cysts were also occasionally detected in the mesentery, reproductive organs, omentum, peritoneum, spleen, diaphragm, lung, or kidney. The mean number of cysts per liver was 2.1 (range, 1-4). We examined hepatic cysts from 18 individuals using histology; all had lesions compatible with alveolar echinococcosis. Protoscoleces, indicative of patent infections, were present in 14/18 (78%). No demographic risk factors (sex, body condition, body mass) were significantly associated with infection. Muskrats in the North American context are competent intermediate hosts with high infection prevalence and may play an important role in the ecology of this emerging parasite.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marian J Trudeau
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada
| | - Dayna Goldsmith
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada
- Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative-Alberta Region, 3280 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada
| | - Collin Letain
- Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative-Alberta Region, 3280 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada
| | - Samantha Stamler
- Wildlife Management Branch, Government of Alberta, 6909 116 St. NW, Edmonton, Alberta T6H 4P2, Canada
| | - Jamie L Rothenburger
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada
- Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative-Alberta Region, 3280 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Fenton H, Cluff HD, Blakley B, Rothenburger JL. Hepatic fibrosis and mineralization in a free-ranging barren-ground caribou ( Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus) from the Northwest Territories. Can Vet J 2022; 63:157-160. [PMID: 35110773 PMCID: PMC8759337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Due to concerns about the appearance of portions of liver from a harvested adult, male barren-ground caribou (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus), samples were submitted for diagnostic investigation. The gross and histologic findings were consistent with severe hepatic fibrosis and mineralization. Concentrations of vitamin E in the liver were also deficient. Disease investigations in wildlife of detectable abnormalities such as this provide important information for understanding the role of disease as populations change, as well as for safety of human food sources.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Heather Fenton
- Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 334, Basseterre, St. Kitts, West Indies (Fenton); Government of the Northwest Territories, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, North Slave Office, P.O. Box 2668, 3803 Bretzlaff Drive, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories X1A 2P9 (Cluff ); Western College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4 (Blakley); Department of Ecosystem and Public Health; Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative (Alberta Region) University of Calgary, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta (Rothenburger)
| | - H Dean Cluff
- Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 334, Basseterre, St. Kitts, West Indies (Fenton); Government of the Northwest Territories, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, North Slave Office, P.O. Box 2668, 3803 Bretzlaff Drive, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories X1A 2P9 (Cluff ); Western College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4 (Blakley); Department of Ecosystem and Public Health; Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative (Alberta Region) University of Calgary, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta (Rothenburger)
| | - Barry Blakley
- Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 334, Basseterre, St. Kitts, West Indies (Fenton); Government of the Northwest Territories, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, North Slave Office, P.O. Box 2668, 3803 Bretzlaff Drive, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories X1A 2P9 (Cluff ); Western College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4 (Blakley); Department of Ecosystem and Public Health; Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative (Alberta Region) University of Calgary, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta (Rothenburger)
| | - Jamie L Rothenburger
- Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 334, Basseterre, St. Kitts, West Indies (Fenton); Government of the Northwest Territories, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, North Slave Office, P.O. Box 2668, 3803 Bretzlaff Drive, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories X1A 2P9 (Cluff ); Western College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4 (Blakley); Department of Ecosystem and Public Health; Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative (Alberta Region) University of Calgary, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta (Rothenburger)
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Case JE, Pederzolli RLA, Clark EG, Fenton H, Kutz SJ, Grahn BH, Rothenburger JL. Congenital cataract and spherophakia leading to starvation in a free-ranging muskox neonate from the Northwest Territories, Canada. J Vet Diagn Invest 2021; 34:160-163. [PMID: 34763579 PMCID: PMC8688975 DOI: 10.1177/10406387211057470] [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] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
A muskox neonate (Ovibos moschatus) that died of starvation was diagnosed with congenital lenticular anomalies that included spherophakia and hypermature cataract associated with probable lens-induced lymphocytic uveitis and neutrophilic keratitis. Impaired sight as a result of cataract and associated inflammation likely contributed to abandonment and starvation, although maternal death cannot be excluded definitively. Ocular lesions, such as congenital cataracts and spherophakia in neonates, may be important factors affecting survival in free-ranging animals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julia E Case
- Departments of Ecosystem and Public Health and the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative Alberta Region, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Rae-Leigh A Pederzolli
- Departments of Ecosystem and Public Health and the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative Alberta Region, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Edward G Clark
- Production Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Heather Fenton
- Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Government of the Northwest Territories, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada.,Current address: Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, St. Kitts, West Indies
| | - Susan J Kutz
- Departments of Ecosystem and Public Health and the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative Alberta Region, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Bruce H Grahn
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine and Prairie Ocular Pathology Service, Prairie Diagnostic Services, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Jamie L Rothenburger
- Departments of Ecosystem and Public Health and the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative Alberta Region, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Greenfield JB, Anderson MV, Dorey EA, Redman E, Gilleard JS, Nemeth NM, Rothenburger JL. Molecular characterization of Sarcocystis spp. as a cause of protozoal encephalitis in a free-ranging black bear. J Vet Diagn Invest 2021; 34:146-152. [PMID: 34416834 DOI: 10.1177/10406387211038389] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
A free-ranging juvenile male black bear (Ursus americanus), found dead in Alberta, Canada, had severe nonsuppurative encephalitis. Lesions in the brain were most severe in the gray matter of the cerebral cortex, and included perivascular cuffs of lymphocytes and plasma cells, areas of gliosis that disrupted the neuropil, and intralesional protozoan schizonts. The left hindlimb had suppurative myositis associated with Streptococcus halichoeri. Immunohistochemistry and molecular analyses (PCR and sequencing of 4 discriminatory loci: 18S rDNA, ITS-1 rDNA, cox1, rpoB) identified Sarcocystis canis or a very closely related Sarcocystis sp. in the affected muscle and brain tissues. The main lesion described in previously reported cases of fatal sarcocystosis in bears was necrotizing hepatitis. Fatal encephalitis associated with this parasite represents a novel presentation of sarcocystosis in bears. Sarcocystosis should be considered a differential diagnosis for nonsuppurative encephalitis in bears.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jordan B Greenfield
- Departments of Ecosystem and Public Health and the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative Alberta Region, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Madison V Anderson
- Departments of Ecosystem and Public Health and the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative Alberta Region, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Emily A Dorey
- Departments of Ecosystem and Public Health and the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative Alberta Region, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Elizabeth Redman
- Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - John S Gilleard
- Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Nicole M Nemeth
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study and Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Jamie L Rothenburger
- Departments of Ecosystem and Public Health and the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative Alberta Region, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Fisher M, Harrison TMR, Nebroski M, Kruczkiewicz P, Rothenburger JL, Ambagala A, Macbeth B, Lung O. Discovery and comparative genomic analysis of elk circovirus (ElkCV), a novel circovirus species and the first reported from a cervid host. Sci Rep 2020; 10:19548. [PMID: 33177604 PMCID: PMC7659335 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-75577-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The complete genome sequence of a novel circovirus (elk circovirus (ElkCV) Banff/2019) was determined via high throughput sequencing of liver tissue from a euthanized Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus canadensis nelsoni) from Alberta, Canada. The genome is circular and 1,787 nucleotides long, with two major ORFs encoding predicted proteins. Comparative genomic analysis to 4,164 publicly available complete and near complete circovirus genomes showed that ElkCV shares approximately 65% pairwise genome-wide nucleotide identity with the most closely related circovirus species, porcine circoviruses (PCV) 1 and 2 and bat-associated circovirus (BatACV) 11. ElkCV features a stem-loop within the origin of replication region characteristic of circoviruses. However, it differs from those found in PCV1, PCV2 and BatACV11 since it has a longer stem and contains hexamer repeats that overlap the stem in opposing orientations. Interestingly, stem-loop structures of similar length featuring repeats in a similar position and orientation are also seen in some avian circoviruses. Based on the demarcation threshold established by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) for members of Circoviridae (80% pairwise genome-wide nucleotide identity), ElkCV represents a novel species and is the first complete circovirus genome reported from a cervid host.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mathew Fisher
- National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Thomas M R Harrison
- National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Michelle Nebroski
- National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Peter Kruczkiewicz
- National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Jamie L Rothenburger
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health and Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative (Alberta Region), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Aruna Ambagala
- National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Bryan Macbeth
- Parks Canada Agency, Banff National Park, Banff, AB, Canada
| | - Oliver Lung
- National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Winnipeg, MB, Canada. .,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Frayne KMF, Chappell BR, Davies JL, Macbeth BJ, Ngeleka M, Rothenburger JL. Lesions of Mycobacterium avium spp. hominissuis Infection Resembling M. bovis Lesions in a Wild Mule Deer, Canada 1. Emerg Infect Dis 2020; 26. [PMID: 32568050 PMCID: PMC7323542 DOI: 10.3201/eid2607.200187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
We used molecular analyses to confirm Mycobacterium avium spp. hominissuis infection in lung granulomas and pyogranulomas in the tracheobronchial lymph node in a wild mule deer in Banff, Canada. These lesions are similar to those found in M. bovis–infected animals, emphasizing the critical need for disease surveillance in wildlife populations.
Collapse
|
9
|
Ma L, Chen Z, Huang DW, Cissé OH, Rothenburger JL, Latinne A, Bishop L, Blair R, Brenchley JM, Chabé M, Deng X, Hirsch V, Keesler R, Kutty G, Liu Y, Margolis D, Morand S, Pahar B, Peng L, Van Rompay KKA, Song X, Song J, Sukura A, Thapar S, Wang H, Weissenbacher-Lang C, Xu J, Lee CH, Jardine C, Lempicki RA, Cushion MT, Cuomo CA, Kovacs JA. Diversity and Complexity of the Large Surface Protein Family in the Compacted Genomes of Multiple Pneumocystis Species. mBio 2020; 11:e02878-19. [PMID: 32127451 PMCID: PMC7064768 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02878-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Pneumocystis, a major opportunistic pathogen in patients with a broad range of immunodeficiencies, contains abundant surface proteins encoded by a multicopy gene family, termed the major surface glycoprotein (Msg) gene superfamily. This superfamily has been identified in all Pneumocystis species characterized to date, highlighting its important role in Pneumocystis biology. In this report, through a comprehensive and in-depth characterization of 459 msg genes from 7 Pneumocystis species, we demonstrate, for the first time, the phylogeny and evolution of conserved domains in Msg proteins and provide a detailed description of the classification, unique characteristics, and phylogenetic relatedness of five Msg families. We further describe, for the first time, the relative expression levels of individual msg families in two rodent Pneumocystis species, the substantial variability of the msg repertoires in P. carinii from laboratory and wild rats, and the distinct features of the expression site for the classic msg genes in Pneumocystis from 8 mammalian host species. Our analysis suggests multiple functions for this superfamily rather than just conferring antigenic variation to allow immune evasion as previously believed. This study provides a rich source of information that lays the foundation for the continued experimental exploration of the functions of the Msg superfamily in Pneumocystis biology.IMPORTANCEPneumocystis continues to be a major cause of disease in humans with immunodeficiency, especially those with HIV/AIDS and organ transplants, and is being seen with increasing frequency worldwide in patients treated with immunodepleting monoclonal antibodies. Annual health care associated with Pneumocystis pneumonia costs ∼$475 million dollars in the United States alone. In addition to causing overt disease in immunodeficient individuals, Pneumocystis can cause subclinical infection or colonization in healthy individuals, which may play an important role in species preservation and disease transmission. Our work sheds new light on the diversity and complexity of the msg superfamily and strongly suggests that the versatility of this superfamily reflects multiple functions, including antigenic variation to allow immune evasion and optimal adaptation to host environmental conditions to promote efficient infection and transmission. These findings are essential to consider in developing new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Liang Ma
- Critical Care Medicine Department, NIH Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Zehua Chen
- Broad Institute of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Da Wei Huang
- Leidos BioMedical Research, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Ousmane H Cissé
- Critical Care Medicine Department, NIH Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jamie L Rothenburger
- Department of Pathobiology, Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Lisa Bishop
- Critical Care Medicine Department, NIH Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Robert Blair
- Tulane National Primate Research Center, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Jason M Brenchley
- Laboratory of Viral Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Magali Chabé
- Université Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019-UMR 8204-CIIL-Centre d'Infection et d'Immunité de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Xilong Deng
- Critical Care Medicine Department, NIH Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Vanessa Hirsch
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Rebekah Keesler
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Geetha Kutty
- Critical Care Medicine Department, NIH Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Yueqin Liu
- Critical Care Medicine Department, NIH Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Daniel Margolis
- Critical Care Medicine Department, NIH Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Serge Morand
- Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution, Université de Montpellier 2, Montpellier, France
| | - Bapi Pahar
- Tulane National Primate Research Center, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Li Peng
- Critical Care Medicine Department, NIH Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Koen K A Van Rompay
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Xiaohong Song
- Critical Care Medicine Department, NIH Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jun Song
- Center for Advanced Models for Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Michigan Medical Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Antti Sukura
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sabrina Thapar
- Critical Care Medicine Department, NIH Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Honghui Wang
- Critical Care Medicine Department, NIH Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Jie Xu
- Center for Advanced Models for Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Michigan Medical Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Chao-Hung Lee
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Claire Jardine
- Department of Pathobiology, Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Richard A Lempicki
- Leidos BioMedical Research, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Melanie T Cushion
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Christina A Cuomo
- Broad Institute of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Joseph A Kovacs
- Critical Care Medicine Department, NIH Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Allen SE, Rothenburger JL, Jardine CM, Ambagala A, Hooper-McGrevy K, Colucci N, Furukawa-Stoffer T, Vigil S, Ruder M, Nemeth NM. Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease in White-Tailed Deer, Canada. Emerg Infect Dis 2019; 25:832-834. [PMID: 30882321 PMCID: PMC6433007 DOI: 10.3201/eid2504.180743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Epizootic hemorrhagic disease affects wild and domestic ruminants and has recently spread northward within the United States. In September 2017, we detected epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus in wild white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus, in east-central Canada. Culicoides spp. midges of the subgenus Avaritia were the most common potential vectors identified on site.
Collapse
|
11
|
Rothenburger JL, Himsworth CG, Nemeth NM, Pearl DL, Treuting PM, Jardine CM. The devil is in the details-Host disease and co-infections are associated with zoonotic pathogen carriage in Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus). Zoonoses Public Health 2019; 66:622-635. [PMID: 31222965 DOI: 10.1111/zph.12615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2019] [Revised: 05/06/2019] [Accepted: 05/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Traditionally, zoonotic pathogen ecology studies in wildlife have focused on the interplay among hosts, their demographic characteristics and their pathogens. But pathogen ecology is also influenced by factors that traverse the hierarchical scale of biological organization, ranging from within-host factors at the molecular, cellular and organ levels, all the way to the host population within a larger environment. The influence of host disease and co-infections on zoonotic pathogen carriage in hosts is important because these factors may be key to a more holistic understanding of pathogen ecology in wildlife hosts, which are a major source of emerging infectious diseases in humans. Using wild Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) as a model species, the purpose of this study was to investigate how host disease and co-infections impact the carriage of zoonotic pathogens. Following a systematic trap and removal study, we tested the rats for the presence of two potentially zoonotic bacterial pathogens (Bartonella tribocorum and Leptospira interrogans) and assessed them for host disease not attributable to these bacteria (i.e., nematode parasites, and macroscopic and microscopic lesions). We fitted multilevel multivariable logistic regression models with pathogen status as the outcome, lesions and parasites as predictor variables and city block as a random effect. Rats had significantly increased odds of being infected with B. tribocorum if they had a concurrent nematode infection in one or more organ systems. Rats with bite wounds, any macroscopic lesion, cardiomyopathy or tracheitis had significantly increased odds of being infected with L. interrogans. These results suggest that host disease may have an important role in the ecology and epidemiology of rat-associated zoonotic pathogens. Our multiscale approach to assessing complex intrahost factors in relation to zoonotic pathogen carriage may be applicable to future studies in rats and other wildlife hosts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jamie L Rothenburger
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.,Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative Ontario-Nunavut Region, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Chelsea G Himsworth
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Animal Health Centre, British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture and Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative British Columbia Region, Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Nicole M Nemeth
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
| | - David L Pearl
- Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Piper M Treuting
- Department of Comparative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Claire M Jardine
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.,Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative Ontario-Nunavut Region, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Rothenburger JL, Himsworth CG, La Perle KMD, Leighton FA, Nemeth NM, Treuting PM, Jardine CM. Pathology of wild Norway rats in Vancouver, Canada. J Vet Diagn Invest 2019; 31:184-199. [PMID: 30852980 DOI: 10.1177/1040638719833436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
To achieve a contemporary understanding of the common and rare lesions that affect wild, urban Norway rats ( Rattus norvegicus), we conducted a detailed pathology analysis of 672 rats from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Grossly evident lesions, such as wounds, abscesses, and neoplasms, were present in 71 of 672 rats (11%) and tended to be severe. The most common and significant lesions were infectious and inflammatory, most often affecting the respiratory tract and associated with bite wounds. We assessed a subset of rats (up to n = 406 per tissue) for the presence of microscopic lesions in a variety of organ systems. The most frequent lesions that could impact individual rat health included cardiomyopathy (128 of 406; 32%), chronic respiratory tract infections as indicated by pulmonary inducible bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (270 of 403; 67%), tracheitis (192 of 372; 52%), and thyroid follicular hyperplasia (142 of 279; 51%). We isolated 21 bacterial species from purulent lesions in rats with bacterial infections, the most frequent of which were Escherichia coli, Enterococcus sp., and Staphylococcus aureus. Parasitic diseases in rats resulted from infection with several invasive nematodes: Capillaria hepatica in the liver (242 of 672; 36%), Eucoleus sp. in the upper gastrointestinal tract (164 of 399; 41%), and Trichosomoides crassicauda in the urinary bladder (59 of 194; 30%). Neoplastic, congenital, and degenerative lesions were rare, which likely reflects their adverse effect on survival in the urban environment. Our results establish a baseline of expected lesions in wild urban rats, which may have implications for urban rat and zoonotic pathogen ecology, as well as rat control in cities worldwide.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jamie L Rothenburger
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph and Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative (CWHC; Ontario-Nunavut Region), Guelph, ON, Canada (Rothenburger, Nemeth, Jardine).,Animal Health Centre, British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture and CWHC (British Columbia Region), Abbotsford, BC, Canada (Himsworth).,School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada (Himsworth).,Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Comparative Pathology & Mouse Phenotyping Shared Resource, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH (La Perle).,Department of Veterinary Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan and CWHC (National Headquarters), Saskatoon, SK, Canada (Leighton).,Department of Comparative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA (Treuting)
| | - Chelsea G Himsworth
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph and Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative (CWHC; Ontario-Nunavut Region), Guelph, ON, Canada (Rothenburger, Nemeth, Jardine).,Animal Health Centre, British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture and CWHC (British Columbia Region), Abbotsford, BC, Canada (Himsworth).,School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada (Himsworth).,Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Comparative Pathology & Mouse Phenotyping Shared Resource, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH (La Perle).,Department of Veterinary Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan and CWHC (National Headquarters), Saskatoon, SK, Canada (Leighton).,Department of Comparative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA (Treuting)
| | - Krista M D La Perle
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph and Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative (CWHC; Ontario-Nunavut Region), Guelph, ON, Canada (Rothenburger, Nemeth, Jardine).,Animal Health Centre, British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture and CWHC (British Columbia Region), Abbotsford, BC, Canada (Himsworth).,School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada (Himsworth).,Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Comparative Pathology & Mouse Phenotyping Shared Resource, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH (La Perle).,Department of Veterinary Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan and CWHC (National Headquarters), Saskatoon, SK, Canada (Leighton).,Department of Comparative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA (Treuting)
| | - Frederick A Leighton
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph and Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative (CWHC; Ontario-Nunavut Region), Guelph, ON, Canada (Rothenburger, Nemeth, Jardine).,Animal Health Centre, British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture and CWHC (British Columbia Region), Abbotsford, BC, Canada (Himsworth).,School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada (Himsworth).,Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Comparative Pathology & Mouse Phenotyping Shared Resource, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH (La Perle).,Department of Veterinary Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan and CWHC (National Headquarters), Saskatoon, SK, Canada (Leighton).,Department of Comparative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA (Treuting)
| | - Nicole M Nemeth
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph and Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative (CWHC; Ontario-Nunavut Region), Guelph, ON, Canada (Rothenburger, Nemeth, Jardine).,Animal Health Centre, British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture and CWHC (British Columbia Region), Abbotsford, BC, Canada (Himsworth).,School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada (Himsworth).,Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Comparative Pathology & Mouse Phenotyping Shared Resource, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH (La Perle).,Department of Veterinary Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan and CWHC (National Headquarters), Saskatoon, SK, Canada (Leighton).,Department of Comparative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA (Treuting)
| | - Piper M Treuting
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph and Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative (CWHC; Ontario-Nunavut Region), Guelph, ON, Canada (Rothenburger, Nemeth, Jardine).,Animal Health Centre, British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture and CWHC (British Columbia Region), Abbotsford, BC, Canada (Himsworth).,School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada (Himsworth).,Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Comparative Pathology & Mouse Phenotyping Shared Resource, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH (La Perle).,Department of Veterinary Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan and CWHC (National Headquarters), Saskatoon, SK, Canada (Leighton).,Department of Comparative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA (Treuting)
| | - Claire M Jardine
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph and Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative (CWHC; Ontario-Nunavut Region), Guelph, ON, Canada (Rothenburger, Nemeth, Jardine).,Animal Health Centre, British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture and CWHC (British Columbia Region), Abbotsford, BC, Canada (Himsworth).,School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada (Himsworth).,Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Comparative Pathology & Mouse Phenotyping Shared Resource, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH (La Perle).,Department of Veterinary Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan and CWHC (National Headquarters), Saskatoon, SK, Canada (Leighton).,Department of Comparative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA (Treuting)
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Rothenburger JL. Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica: a rare tracheal lesion in a free-ranging grizzly bear. J Vet Diagn Invest 2019; 31:608-610. [PMID: 31006353 DOI: 10.1177/1040638719844553] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
A mature male grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) that died of blunt-force trauma had numerous hard 1-3-mm nodules protruding from tracheal rings into the lumen of the distal trachea. Histologically, these were round aggregates of mature cartilage within the submucosa. Such lesions are consistent with tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica, a rare tracheal disease in humans and animals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jamie L Rothenburger
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative (Alberta), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Caswell JL, Bassel LL, Rothenburger JL, Gröne A, Sargeant JM, Beck AP, Ekman S, Gibson-Corley KN, Kuiken T, LaDouceur EEB, Meyerholz DK, Origgi FC, Posthaus H, Priestnall SL, Ressel L, Sharkey L, Teixeira LBC, Uchida K, Ward JM, Webster JD, Yamate J. Observational Study Design in Veterinary Pathology, Part 2: Methodology. Vet Pathol 2018; 55:774-785. [DOI: 10.1177/0300985818798121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Observational studies are a basis for much of our knowledge of veterinary pathology, yet considerations for conducting pathology-based observational studies are not readily available. In part 1 of this series, we offered advice on planning and carrying out an observational study. Part 2 of the series focuses on methodology. Our general recommendations are to consider using already-validated methods, published guidelines, data from primary sources, and quantitative analyses. We discuss 3 common methods in pathology research—histopathologic scoring, immunohistochemistry, and polymerase chain reaction—to illustrate principles of method validation. Some aspects of quality control include use of clear objective grading criteria, validation of key reagents, assessing sample quality, determining specificity and sensitivity, use of technical and biologic negative and positive controls, blinding of investigators, approaches to minimizing operator-dependent variation, measuring technical variation, and consistency in analysis of the different study groups. We close by discussing approaches to increasing the rigor of observational studies by corroborating results with complementary methods, using sufficiently large numbers of study subjects, consideration of the data in light of similar published studies, replicating the results in a second study population, and critical analysis of the study findings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jeff L. Caswell
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Laura L. Bassel
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Jamie L. Rothenburger
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health; Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative (Alberta), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Andrea Gröne
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Jan M. Sargeant
- Department of Population Medicine and Centre for Public Health and Zoonoses, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | | | - Stina Ekman
- Department of Biomedicine and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Katherine N. Gibson-Corley
- Department of Pathology, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Thijs Kuiken
- Department of Viroscience, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - David K. Meyerholz
- University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, 1165 Medical Laboratories, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Francesco C. Origgi
- Centre for Fish and Wildlife Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Horst Posthaus
- Institute of Animal Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Simon L. Priestnall
- Department of Pathobiology & Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, UK
| | - Lorenzo Ressel
- Department of Veterinary Pathology and Public Health, Institute of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Leslie Sharkey
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, North Grafton, MA, USA
| | - Leandro B. C. Teixeira
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Kazuyuki Uchida
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | | | - Jyoji Yamate
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, Izumisano City, Osaka, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Caswell JL, Bassel LL, Rothenburger JL, Gröne A, Sargeant JM, Beck AP, Ekman S, Gibson-Corley KN, Kuiken T, LaDouceur EEB, Meyerholz DK, Origgi FC, Posthaus H, Priestnall SL, Ressel L, Sharkey L, Teixeira LBC, Uchida K, Ward JM, Webster JD, Yamate J. Observational Study Design in Veterinary Pathology, Part 1: Study Design. Vet Pathol 2018; 55:607-621. [PMID: 30071806 DOI: 10.1177/0300985818785705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Observational studies are the basis for much of our knowledge of veterinary pathology and are highly relevant to the daily practice of pathology. However, recommendations for conducting pathology-based observational studies are not readily available. In part 1 of this series, we offer advice on planning and conducting an observational study with examples from the veterinary pathology literature. Investigators should recognize the importance of creativity, insight, and innovation in devising studies that solve problems and fill important gaps in knowledge. Studies should focus on specific and testable hypotheses, questions, or objectives. The methodology is developed to support these goals. We consider the merits and limitations of different types of analytic and descriptive studies, as well as of prospective vs retrospective enrollment. Investigators should define clear inclusion and exclusion criteria and select adequate numbers of study subjects, including careful selection of the most appropriate controls. Studies of causality must consider the temporal relationships between variables and the advantages of measuring incident cases rather than prevalent cases. Investigators must consider unique aspects of studies based on archived laboratory case material and take particular care to consider and mitigate the potential for selection bias and information bias. We close by discussing approaches to adding value and impact to observational studies. Part 2 of the series focuses on methodology and validation of methods.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jeff L Caswell
- 1 Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Laura L Bassel
- 1 Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jamie L Rothenburger
- 2 Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Andrea Gröne
- 3 Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jan M Sargeant
- 4 Department of Population Medicine and Centre for Public Health and Zoonoses, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Amanda P Beck
- 5 Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Stina Ekman
- 6 Department of Biomedicine and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Katherine N Gibson-Corley
- 7 Department of Pathology, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Thijs Kuiken
- 8 Department of Viroscience, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - David K Meyerholz
- 10 University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Francesco C Origgi
- 11 Centre for Fish and Wildlife Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Horst Posthaus
- 12 Institute of Animal Pathology, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Simon L Priestnall
- 13 Deparment Pathobiology & Population Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, United Kingdom
| | - Lorenzo Ressel
- 14 Department of Veterinary Pathology and Public Health, Institute of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Leslie Sharkey
- 15 Department of Clinical Sciences, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, N. Grafton, MA, USA
| | - Leandro B C Teixeira
- 16 Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Kazuyuki Uchida
- 17 Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | | | - Jyoji Yamate
- 20 Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, Izumisano City, Osaka, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Rothenburger JL, Himsworth CG, Nemeth NM, Pearl DL, Jardine CM. Environmental Factors Associated with the Carriage of Bacterial Pathogens in Norway Rats. Ecohealth 2018; 15:82-95. [PMID: 29427247 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-018-1313-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2017] [Revised: 12/22/2017] [Accepted: 01/11/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Worldwide, Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) carry a number of zoonotic pathogens. Many studies have identified rat-level risk factors for pathogen carriage. The objective of this study was to examine associations between abundance, microenvironmental and weather features and Clostridium difficile, antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) Escherichia coli and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carriage in urban rats. We assessed city blocks for rat abundance and 48 microenvironmental variables during a trap-removal study, then constructed 32 time-lagged temperature and precipitation variables and fitted multivariable logistic regression models. The odds of C. difficile positivity were significantly lower when mean maximum temperatures were high (≥ 12.89°C) approximately 3 months before rat capture. Alley pavement condition was significantly associated with AMR E. coli. Rats captured when precipitation was low (< 49.40 mm) in the 15 days before capture and those from blocks that contained food gardens and institutions had increased odds of testing positive for MRSA. Different factors were associated with each pathogen, which may reflect varying pathogen ecology including exposure and environmental survival. This study adds to the understanding of how the microenvironment and weather impacts the epidemiology and ecology of zoonotic pathogens in urban ecosystems, which may be useful for surveillance and control activities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jamie L Rothenburger
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada.
- Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada.
| | - Chelsea G Himsworth
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 2206 E Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z9, Canada
- Animal Health Centre, BC Ministry of Agriculture, 1767 Angus Campbell Road, Abbotsford, BC, V3G 2M3, Canada
- Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, 1767 Angus Campbell Road, Abbotsford, BC, V3G 2M3, Canada
| | - Nicole M Nemeth
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
- Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - David L Pearl
- Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Claire M Jardine
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
- Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Rothenburger JL, Rousseau JD, Weese JS, Jardine CM. Livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Clostridium difficile in wild Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) from Ontario swine farms. Can J Vet Res 2018; 82:66-69. [PMID: 29382971 PMCID: PMC5764037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2017] [Accepted: 05/19/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Clostridium difficile are important human pathogens that are also carried by animals. The role of wild mammals on farms in their maintenance and transmission, however, is poorly understood. To determine if Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) are potential carriers of these bacteria on Canadian farms, we tested 21 rats from swine farms in Ontario. The MRSA spa type t034 was isolated from 1 (4.8%) rat. This livestock-associated strain often colonizes pigs and pig farmers, suggesting that transmission among rats and pigs or environmental transmission is possible on pig farms. Clostridium difficile ribotype 078 was isolated from 1 rat from a different farm. This strain is associated with infection in piglets, calves, and humans. The identification of MRSA and C. difficile in Norway rats on farms in Canada adds to the growing knowledge about the role of rats in the ecology of these pathogens. Further studies are required to determine if rats play a part in the epidemiology of these pathogens on farms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jamie L. Rothenburger
- Address all correspondence to Dr. Jamie L. Rothenburger; telephone: (519) 824-4120 ext. 54815; fax: 519-824-5930; e-mail:
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
18
|
Rothenburger JL, Himsworth CG, Nemeth NM, Pearl DL, Jardine CM. Beyond abundance: How microenvironmental features and weather influence Bartonella tribocorum infection in wild Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus). Zoonoses Public Health 2017; 65:339-351. [PMID: 29274119 DOI: 10.1111/zph.12440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) inhabit cities worldwide and carry a number of zoonotic pathogens. Although many studies have investigated rat-level risk factors, there is limited research on the effects of weather and environment on zoonotic pathogen transmission ecology in rats. The objective of this study was to use a disease ecology approach to understand how abiotic (weather and urban microenvironmental features) and biotic (relative rat population abundance) factors affect Bartonella tribocorum prevalence in urban Norway rats from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. This potentially zoonotic pathogen is primarily transmitted by fleas and is common among rodents, including rats, around the world. During a systematic rat trap and removal study, city blocks were evaluated for 48 environmental variables related to waste, land/alley use and property condition, and rat abundance. We constructed 32 weather (temperature and precipitation) variables with time lags prior to the date we captured each rat. We fitted multivariable logistic regression models with rat pathogen status as the outcome. The odds of a rat testing positive for B. tribocorum were significantly lower for rats in city blocks with one or more low-rise apartment buildings compared to blocks with none (OR = 0.20; 95% CI: 0.04-0.80; p = .02). The reason for this association may be related to unmeasured factors that influence pathogen transmission and maintenance, as well as flea vector survival. Bartonella tribocorum infection in rats was positively associated with high minimum temperatures for several time periods prior to rat capture. This finding suggests that a baseline minimum temperature may be necessary for flea vector survival and B. tribocorum transmission among rats. There was no significant association with rat abundance, suggesting a lack of density-dependent pathogen transmission. This study is an important first step to understanding how environment and weather impacts rat infections including zoonotic pathogen ecology in urban ecosystems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J L Rothenburger
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada.,Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative Ontario-Nunavut Region, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - C G Himsworth
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Animal Health Centre, British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture and Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, British Columbia Region, Abbotsford, BC, Canada
| | - N M Nemeth
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - D L Pearl
- Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - C M Jardine
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada.,Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative Ontario-Nunavut Region, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Rothenburger JL, Himsworth CH, Nemeth NM, Pearl DL, Jardine CM. Environmental Factors and Zoonotic Pathogen Ecology in Urban Exploiter Species. Ecohealth 2017; 14:630-641. [PMID: 28631116 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-017-1258-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2016] [Revised: 05/01/2017] [Accepted: 05/24/2017] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Knowledge of pathogen ecology, including the impacts of environmental factors on pathogen and host dynamics, is essential for determining the risk that zoonotic pathogens pose to people. This review synthesizes the scientific literature on environmental factors that influence the ecology and epidemiology of zoonotic microparasites (bacteria, viruses and protozoa) in globally invasive urban exploiter wildlife species (i.e., rock doves [Columba livia domestica], European starlings [Sturnus vulgaris], house sparrows [Passer domesticus], Norway rats [Rattus norvegicus], black rats [R. rattus] and house mice [Mus musculus]). Pathogen ecology, including prevalence and pathogen characteristics, is influenced by geographical location, habitat, season and weather. The prevalence of zoonotic pathogens in mice and rats varies markedly over short geographical distances, but tends to be highest in ports, disadvantaged (e.g., low income) and residential areas. Future research should use epidemiological approaches, including random sampling and robust statistical analyses, to evaluate a range of biotic and abiotic environmental factors at spatial scales suitable for host home range sizes. Moving beyond descriptive studies to uncover the causal factors contributing to uneven pathogen distribution among wildlife hosts in urban environments may lead to targeted surveillance and intervention strategies. Application of this knowledge to urban maintenance and planning may reduce the potential impacts of urban wildlife-associated zoonotic diseases on people.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jamie L Rothenburger
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada.
- Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada.
| | - Chelsea H Himsworth
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 2206 E Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z9, Canada
- Animal Health Centre, BC Ministry of Agriculture, 1767 Angus Campbell Road, Abbotsford, BC, V3G 2M3, Canada
- Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, 1767 Angus Campbell Road, Abbotsford, BC, V3G 2M3, Canada
| | - Nicole M Nemeth
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
- Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - David L Pearl
- Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Claire M Jardine
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
- Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Rothenburger JL, Hoberg E, Wagner B. First Report of Protechinostoma mucronisertulatum (Echinostomatidae) in a Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) from Saskatchewan, Canada. COMP PARASITOL 2016. [DOI: 10.1654/1525-2647-83.1.111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jamie L. Rothenburger
- Department of Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, S7N 5B4 (e-mail: )
| | - Eric Hoberg
- United States National Parasite Collection, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, Beltsville Area Research Center, BARC East 1180, 10300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, Maryland 20705, U.S.A. (e-mail: )
| | - Brent Wagner
- Department of Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, S7N 5B4 (e-mail: )
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Rothenburger JL. Can veterinarians contribute to the doctor-assisted death issue? Can Vet J 2015; 56:624. [PMID: 26028687 PMCID: PMC4431163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
|