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Cunningham MW, Onorato DP, Sayler KA, Leone EH, Conley KJ, Mead DG, Crum Bradley JA, Maes RK, Kiupel M, Shindle DB, Wisely SM, Subramaniam K, Wise AG, Clemons BC, Cusack LM, Jansen D, Schueller P, Hernández FA, Waltzek TB. PSEUDORABIES (AUJESZKY'S DISEASE) IS AN UNDERDIAGNOSED CAUSE OF DEATH IN THE FLORIDA PANTHER ( PUMA CONCOLOR CORYI). J Wildl Dis 2021; 57:784-98. [PMID: 34460918 DOI: 10.7589/JWD-D-20-00119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Feral swine (Sus scrofa), an important prey species for the endangered Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi), is the natural host for pseudorabies virus (PRV). Prior to this study, PRV had been detected in just three panthers. To determine the effect of PRV on the panther population, we prospectively necropsied 199 panthers and retrospectively reviewed necropsy and laboratory findings, reexamined histology, and tested archived tissues using real-time PCR from 46 undiagnosed panther mortalities. Seven additional infections (two prospective, five retrospective) were detected for a total of 10 confirmed panther mortalities due to PRV. To further evaluate the effect of PRV, we categorized radio-collared (n=168) and uncollared panther mortalities (n=367) sampled from 1981 to 2018 based on the likelihood of PRV infection as confirmed, probable, suspected, possible, or unlikely/negative. Of 168 radio-collared panthers necropsied, PRV was the cause of death for between eight (confirmed; 4.8%) and 32 (combined confirmed, probable, suspected, and possible categories; 19.0%) panthers. The number of radio-collared panther mortalities due to PRV was estimated to be 15 (95% empirical limits: 12-19), representing 8.9% (confidence interval: 4.6-13.2%) of mortalities. Gross necropsy findings in 10 confirmed cases were nonspecific. Microscopic changes included slight to mild perivascular cuffing and gliosis (primarily in the brain stem), lymphoplasmacytic meningoencephalitis (cerebral cortex), and intranuclear inclusion bodies (adrenal medulla). The PRV glycoprotein C gene sequences from three positive panthers grouped with the sequence from a Florida feral swine. Our findings indicate that PRV may be an important and underdiagnosed cause of death in Florida panthers.
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Elsmo EJ, Fenton H, Cleveland CA, Shock B, Cunningham M, Howerth EW, Yabsley MJ. Necrotizing interstitial pneumonia and suppurative myocarditis associated with Bartonella henselae infection in three Florida pumas. J Vet Diagn Invest 2018; 30:728-732. [PMID: 30027827 DOI: 10.1177/1040638718789226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [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: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Three Florida pumas ( Puma concolor coryi) that had spent time in captivity prior to being released in the wild were found exhibiting respiratory signs and reluctance to move. All 3 pumas died shortly after immobilization, despite supportive veterinary care. Significant autopsy findings included necrotizing interstitial pneumonia, with pulmonary edema and hyaline membranes, and suppurative myocarditis. Organisms morphologically consistent with Bartonella henselae were identified in intravascular histiocytes in the lung of one of the pumas on histopathology and confirmed via transmission electron microscopy. B. henselae was detected in fresh lung tissue and confirmed by PCR and sequence analysis (16S-23S spacer region, pap31, and rpoB genes) from one of the affected pumas. In all affected pumas, B. henselae was detected by PCR in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded lung tissue, and positively staining organisms were identified in sections of lung by immunohistochemistry for B. henselae. In situ hybridization detected B. henselae DNA in lung tissue from 2 of 3 affected pumas. Our case series suggests that B. henselae can be associated with a fatal disease syndrome in Florida pumas. The cause of susceptibility to fatal disease associated with B. henselae infection in these pumas remains unknown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth J Elsmo
- Departments of Population Health (Elsmo, Fenton, Cleveland, Shock, Yabsley), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA.,Veterinary Pathology (Elsmo, Howerth), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA.,Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA (Cleveland, Shock, Yabsley).,Department of Biology, Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, TN (Shock).,Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Gainesville, FL (Cunningham)
| | - Heather Fenton
- Departments of Population Health (Elsmo, Fenton, Cleveland, Shock, Yabsley), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA.,Veterinary Pathology (Elsmo, Howerth), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA.,Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA (Cleveland, Shock, Yabsley).,Department of Biology, Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, TN (Shock).,Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Gainesville, FL (Cunningham)
| | - Christopher A Cleveland
- Departments of Population Health (Elsmo, Fenton, Cleveland, Shock, Yabsley), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA.,Veterinary Pathology (Elsmo, Howerth), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA.,Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA (Cleveland, Shock, Yabsley).,Department of Biology, Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, TN (Shock).,Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Gainesville, FL (Cunningham)
| | - Barbara Shock
- Departments of Population Health (Elsmo, Fenton, Cleveland, Shock, Yabsley), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA.,Veterinary Pathology (Elsmo, Howerth), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA.,Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA (Cleveland, Shock, Yabsley).,Department of Biology, Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, TN (Shock).,Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Gainesville, FL (Cunningham)
| | - Mark Cunningham
- Departments of Population Health (Elsmo, Fenton, Cleveland, Shock, Yabsley), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA.,Veterinary Pathology (Elsmo, Howerth), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA.,Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA (Cleveland, Shock, Yabsley).,Department of Biology, Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, TN (Shock).,Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Gainesville, FL (Cunningham)
| | - Elizabeth W Howerth
- Departments of Population Health (Elsmo, Fenton, Cleveland, Shock, Yabsley), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA.,Veterinary Pathology (Elsmo, Howerth), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA.,Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA (Cleveland, Shock, Yabsley).,Department of Biology, Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, TN (Shock).,Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Gainesville, FL (Cunningham)
| | - Michael J Yabsley
- Departments of Population Health (Elsmo, Fenton, Cleveland, Shock, Yabsley), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA.,Veterinary Pathology (Elsmo, Howerth), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA.,Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA (Cleveland, Shock, Yabsley).,Department of Biology, Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, TN (Shock).,Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Gainesville, FL (Cunningham)
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van de Kerk M, Onorato DP, Criffield MA, Bolker BM, Augustine BC, McKinley SA, Oli MK. Hidden semi-Markov models reveal multiphasic movement of the endangered Florida panther. J Anim Ecol 2014; 84:576-85. [PMID: 25251870 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [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: 04/09/2014] [Accepted: 09/02/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Animals must move to find food and mates, and to avoid predators; movement thus influences survival and reproduction, and ultimately determines fitness. Precise description of movement and understanding of spatial and temporal patterns as well as relationships with intrinsic and extrinsic factors is important both for theoretical and applied reasons. We applied hidden semi-Markov models (HSMM) to hourly geographic positioning system (GPS) location data to understand movement patterns of the endangered Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi) and to discern factors influencing these patterns. Three distinct movement modes were identified: (1) Resting mode, characterized by short step lengths and turning angles around 180(o); (2) Moderately active (or intermediate) mode characterized by intermediate step lengths and variable turning angles, and (3) Traveling mode, characterized by long step lengths and turning angles around 0(o). Males and females, and females with and without kittens, exhibited distinctly different movement patterns. Using the Viterbi algorithm, we show that differences in movement patterns of male and female Florida panthers were a consequence of sex-specific differences in diurnal patterns of state occupancy and sex-specific differences in state-specific movement parameters, whereas the differences between females with and without dependent kittens were caused solely by variation in state occupancy. Our study demonstrates the use of HSMM methodology to precisely describe movement and to dissect differences in movement patterns according to sex, and reproductive status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madelon van de Kerk
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, 110 Newins-Ziegler Hall, Gainesville, FL, 32611-0430, USA
| | - David P Onorato
- Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 298 Sabal Palm Road, Naples, FL, 34114, USA
| | - Marc A Criffield
- Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 298 Sabal Palm Road, Naples, FL, 34114, USA
| | - Benjamin M Bolker
- Departments of Mathematics & Statistics and Biology, McMaster University, 314 Hamilton Hall, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Ben C Augustine
- Department of Statistics, University of Kentucky, Multidisciplinary Science Building 0082, Lexington, KY, 40536-0082, USA
| | - Scott A McKinley
- Department of Mathematics, University of Florida, 460 Little Hall, Gainesville, FL, 32611-0430, USA
| | - Madan K Oli
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, 110 Newins-Ziegler Hall, Gainesville, FL, 32611-0430, USA
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