Publications

complexities in ferret influenza virus pathogenesis and transmission models.	ferrets are widely employed to study the pathogenicity, transmissibility, and tropism of influenza viruses. however, inherent variations in inoculation methods, sampling schemes, and experimental designs are often overlooked when contextualizing or aggregating data between laboratories, leading to potential confusion or misinterpretation of results. here, we provide a comprehensive overview of parameters to consider when planning an experiment using ferrets, collecting data from the experiment, ...	2016	27412880
an essential role of svz progenitors in cortical folding in gyrencephalic mammals.	because folding of the cerebral cortex in the mammalian brain is believed to be crucial for higher brain functions, the mechanisms underlying its formation during development and evolution are of great interest. although it has been proposed that increased neural progenitors in the subventricular zone (svz) are responsible for making cortical folds, their roles in cortical folding are still largely unclear, mainly because genetic methods for gyrencephalic mammals had been poorly available. here, ...	2016	27403992
mistuning detection performance of ferrets in a go/no-go task.	the harmonic structure of sounds is an important grouping cue in auditory scene analysis. the ability of ferrets to detect mistuned harmonics was measured using a go/no-go task paradigm. psychometric functions plotting sensitivity as a function of degree of mistuning were used to evaluate behavioral performance using signal detection theory. the mean (± standard error of the mean) threshold for mistuning detection was 0.8 ± 0.1 hz, with sensitivity indices and reaction times depending on the deg ...	2016	27369180
sensory experience modifies feature map relationships in visual cortex.	the extent to which brain structure is influenced by sensory input during development is a critical but controversial question. a paradigmatic system for studying this is the mammalian visual cortex. maps of orientation preference (op) and ocular dominance (od) in the primary visual cortex of ferrets, cats and monkeys can be individually changed by altered visual input. however, the spatial relationship between op and od maps has appeared immutable. using a computational model we predicted that ...	2016	27310531
quantitative mri and dti abnormalities during the acute period following cci in the ferret.	during the acute time period following traumatic brain injury (tbi), noninvasive brain imaging tools such as magnetic resonance imaging (mri) can provide important information about the clinical and pathological features of the injury and may help predict long-term outcomes. in addition to standard imaging approaches, several quantitative mri techniques including relaxometry and diffusion mri have been identified as promising reporters of cellular alterations after tbi and may provide greater se ...	2016	27294688
orientation selectivity and the functional clustering of synaptic inputs in primary visual cortex.	the majority of neurons in primary visual cortex are tuned for stimulus orientation, but the factors that account for the range of orientation selectivities exhibited by cortical neurons remain unclear. to address this issue, we used in vivo two-photon calcium imaging to characterize the orientation tuning and spatial arrangement of synaptic inputs to the dendritic spines of individual pyramidal neurons in layer 2/3 of ferret visual cortex. the summed synaptic input to individual neurons reliabl ...	2016	27294510
naturally occurring recombination in ferret coronaviruses revealed by complete genome characterization.	ferret coronaviruses (frcovs) exist as an enteric and a systemic pathotype, of which the latter is highly lethal to ferrets. to our knowledge, this study provides the first full genome sequence of a frcov, tentatively called frcov-nl-2010, which was detected in 2010 in ferrets in the netherlands. phylogenetic analysis showed that frcov-nl-2010 is most closely related to mink cov, forming a separate clade of mustelid alphacoronavirus that split off early from other alphacoronaviruses. based on se ...	2016	27283016
a restricted period for formation of outer subventricular zone defined by cdh1 and trnp1 levels.	the outer subventricular zone (osvz) is a germinal layer playing key roles in the development of the neocortex, with particular relevance in gyrencephalic species such as human and ferret, where it contains abundant basal radial glia cells (brgcs) that promote cortical expansion. here we identify a brief period in ferret embryonic development when apical rgcs generate a burst of brgcs that become founders of the osvz. after this period, brgcs in the osvz proliferate and self-renew exclusively lo ...	2016	27264089
building the ferretome.	databases of structural connections of the mammalian brain, such as cocomac (cocomac.g-node.org) or bams (https://bams1.org), are valuable resources for the analysis of brain connectivity and the modeling of brain dynamics in species such as the non-human primate or the rodent, and have also contributed to the computational modeling of the human brain. another animal model that is widely used in electrophysiological or developmental studies is the ferret; however, no systematic compilation of br ...	2016	27242503
crouching to fit in: the energetic cost of locomotion in tunnels.	animals that are specialized for a particular habitat or mode of locomotion often demonstrate locomotor efficiency in a focal environment when compared to a generalist species. however, measurements of these focal habitats or behaviors are often difficult or impossible to do in the field. in this study, the energetics and kinematics of simulated tunnel locomotion by two unrelated semi-fossorial mammals, the ferret and degu, were analyzed using open-flow respirometry and digital video. animals we ...	2016	27591314
multichannel cochlear implant for selective neuronal activation and chronic use in the free-moving mongolian gerbil.	animal models for chronic multichannel cochlear implant stimulation and selective neuronal activation contribute to a better understanding of auditory signal processing and central neural plasticity.	2016	27519925
the temporal-spatial dynamics of feature maps during monocular deprivation revealed by chronic imaging and self-organization model simulation.	experiments on the adult visual cortex of cats, ferrets and monkeys have revealed organized spatial relationships between multiple feature maps which can also be reproduced by the kohonen and elastic net self-organization models. however, attempts to apply these models to simulate the temporal kinetics of monocular deprivation (md) during the critical period, and their effects on the spatial arrangement of feature maps, have led to conflicting results. in this study, we performed md and chronic ...	2016	27746342
ferrets that help fight the flu.		2016	27763617
involvement of the different lung compartments in the pathogenesis of ph1n1 influenza virus infection in ferrets.	severe cases after ph1n1 infection are consequence of interstitial pneumonia triggered by alveolar viral replication and an exacerbated host immune response, characterized by the up-regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the influx of inflammatory leukocytes to the lungs. different lung cell populations have been suggested as culprits in the unregulated innate immune responses observed in these cases. this study aims to clarify this question by studying the different induction of innate im ...	2016	27825367
imaging findings in 14 domestic ferrets (mustela putorius furo) with lymphoma.	lymphoma is the most common malignant neoplasia in domestic ferrets, mustela putorius furo. however, imaging findings in ferrets with lymphoma have primarily been described in single case reports. the purpose of this retrospective study was to describe imaging findings in a group of ferrets with confirmed lymphoma. medical records were searched between 2002 and 2012. a total of 14 ferrets were included. radiographs (n = 12), ultrasound (n = 14), computed tomography (ct; n = 1), and magnetic reso ...	2016	23738830
s-phase duration is the main target of cell cycle regulation in neural progenitors of developing ferret neocortex.	the evolutionary expansion of the neocortex primarily reflects increases in abundance and proliferative capacity of cortical progenitors and in the length of the neurogenic period during development. cell cycle parameters of neocortical progenitors are an important determinant of cortical development. the ferret (mustela putorius furo), a gyrencephalic mammal, has gained increasing importance as a model for studying corticogenesis. here, we have studied the abundance, proliferation, and cell cyc ...	2016	25963823
pyogranulomatous panophthalmitis with systemic coronavirus disease in a domestic ferret (mustela putorius furo).	a 15-month-old spayed female ferret (mustela putorius furo) presented for lethargy and weight loss of 2 weeks duration. upon physical examination, a 2-mm-diameter focal area of opacity was noted in the left cornea. in addition, the ferret was quiet, in poor body condition, and dehydrated. a complete blood count and plasma biochemistry revealed a severe nonregenerative anemia, azotemia, hyperproteinemia, hypoalbuminemia, and mild hyperphosphatemia and hyperchloremia. urinalysis revealed hyposthen ...	2016	25918975
relative salience of spectral and temporal features in auditory long-term memory.	in order to explore the representation of sound features in auditory long-term memory, two groups of ferrets were trained on go vs nogo, 3-zone classification tasks. the sound stimuli differed primarily along the spectral and temporal dimensions. in group 1, two ferrets were trained to (i) classify tones based on their frequency (tone-task), and subsequently learned to (ii) classify white noise based on its amplitude modulation rate (am-task). in group 2, two ferrets were trained to classify ton ...	2016	28040019
differences in the mechanical properties of the developing cerebral cortical proliferative zone between mice and ferrets at both the tissue and single-cell levels.	cell-producing events in developing tissues are mechanically dynamic throughout the cell cycle. in many epithelial systems, cells are apicobasally tall, with nuclei and somata that adopt different apicobasal positions because nuclei and somata move in a cell cycle-dependent manner. this movement is apical during g2 phase and basal during g1 phase, whereas mitosis occurs at the apical surface. these movements are collectively referred to as interkinetic nuclear migration, and such epithelia are c ...	2016	27933293
predictive ensemble decoding of acoustical features explains context-dependent receptive fields.	a primary goal of auditory neuroscience is to identify the sound features extracted and represented by auditory neurons. linear encoding models, which describe neural responses as a function of the stimulus, have been primarily used for this purpose. here, we provide theoretical arguments and experimental evidence in support of an alternative approach, based on decoding the stimulus from the neural response. we used a bayesian normative approach to predict the responses of neurons detecting rele ...	2016	27927954
comparison of digital rectal and microchip transponder thermometry in ferrets (mustela putorius furo).	body temperature is a common physiologic parameter measured in both clinical and research settings, with rectal thermometry being implied as the 'gold standard.' however, rectal thermometry usually requires physical or chemical restraint, potentially causing falsely elevated readings due to animal stress. a less stressful method may eliminate this confounding variable. the current study compared 2 types of digital rectal thermometers-a calibrated digital thermometer and a common digital thermome ...	2016	27177569
polyostotic lymphoma in a ferret (mustela putorius furo).	an 8.5-year-old, neutered female ferret (mustela putorius furo) was presented with tachypnoea, polyuria, polydipsia, anorexia and depression. radiographs revealed multiple osteolytic lesions of the bone, characterized cytologically by the infiltration of medium- to large-sized lymphocytes. the animal was humanely destroyed and post-mortem examination revealed multifocal masses obliterating the bone marrow of the mandible, right and left humeri and femur, and consisting of an infiltrative populat ...	2016	27147110
collateral circulation in ferrets (mustela putorius) during temporary occlusion of the caudal vena cava.	objective to determine whether extent of collateral circulation would change during temporary occlusion of the caudal vena cava (cvc) in ferrets (mustela putorius), a pressure change would occur caudal to the occlusion, and differences would exist between the sexes with respect to those changes. animals 8 adult ferrets (4 castrated males and 4 spayed females). procedures ferrets were anesthetized. a balloon occlusion catheter was introduced through a jugular vein, passed into the cvc by use of f ...	2016	27111022
histology and immunohistochemistry of severe inflammatory bowel disease versus lymphoma in the ferret (mustela putorius furo).	inflammatory bowel disease (ibd) is a common disorder of ferrets (mustela putorius furo) that may progress to lymphoma. although routine histology is used to distinguish between these diseases, misclassifications may occur. immunohistochemistry (ihc) is commonly used to distinguish between ibd and lymphoma in small animals. the objective of our study was to determine the agreement in the diagnosis reached solely using hematoxylin and eosin (he)-stained, full-thickness sections versus using a com ...	2016	27026106
histological and immunohistochemical features of histiocytic sarcoma in four domestic ferrets (mustela putorius furo).	four cases of histiocytic sarcoma in domestic ferrets (mustela putorius furo) are described in the present study. tumor samples obtained from the abdominal viscera, including the spleen, were submitted for histologic examination. microscopically, poorly demarcated masses contained numerous round- to pleomorphic-shaped cells with coarsely vacuolated and eosinophilic cytoplasm. bizarre, binucleated tumor cells and multinucleated giant tumor cells with low phagocytic activity were commonly observed ...	2016	26965237
oral malignant melanoma in a ferret ( mustela putorius furo).	oral malignant melanomas are one of the most common oral malignant neoplasms in dogs but are rare in other domesticated species. this case report describes the clinical manifestations and histological appearance of oral melanoma in a ferret ( mustela putorius furo). to the authors' knowledge, this is the first published description of a clinical case and histopathological findings of oral melanoma in this species.	2016	28326981
structural and functional connectivity between the lateral posterior-pulvinar complex and primary visual cortex in the ferret.	the role of higher-order thalamic structures in sensory processing remains poorly understood. here, we used the ferret (mustela putorius furo) as a novel model species for the study of the lateral posterior (lp)-pulvinar complex and its structural and functional connectivity with area 17 [primary visual cortex (v1)]. we found reciprocal anatomical connections between the lateral part of the lp nucleus of the lp-pulvinar complex (lpl) and v1. in order to investigate the role of this feedback loop ...	2016	26505737
oral and dental diseases in a population of domestic ferrets (mustela putorius furo).	domestic ferrets have been used for many purposes, but recently their popularity as companion animals has increased greatly. however, data on their oral and dental diseases are rare. the objective of this study was therefore to describe oral and dental diseases in a population of client-owned domestic ferrets.	2016	27604062
clinical, cytological, histological and immunohistochemical features of cutaneous mast cell tumours in ferrets (mustela putorius furo).	cutaneous mast cell tumours (cmcts) are one of the most common cutaneous tumours in ferrets (mustela putorius furo). however, limited information is available regarding cytological and histological features of these tumours and studies evaluating kit expression are lacking in this species. the aims of this prospective study were to describe the most common clinical, cytological and histological features of cmcts in ferrets and to compare the usefulness of different staining techniques in the dia ...	2016	27578524
neoplastic diseases in the domestic ferret (mustela putorius furo) in italy: classification and tissue distribution of 856 cases (2000-2010).	the aim of this study was to describe the prevalence and tissue distribution of neoplasms in italian ferrets, compared to the epidemiological data previously reported in usa and japan.	2016	27919252
diagnosis and management of polycythemia vera in a ferret (mustela putorius furo).	a 5-y-old female ferret (mustela putorius furo) was evaluated for diarrhea, anorexia, and lethargy for 1 wk. only mild dehydration was detected on physical examination. cbc analysis revealed marked erythrocytosis with an unremarkable plasma biochemistry panel; follow-up cbc analyses revealed a consistent primary erythrocytosis. whole-body radiographs and abdominal ultrasonography were unremarkable except for a small nephrolith in the right kidney and a small cyst in the left kidney. the plasma e ...	2016	28304249
the complete mitochondrial genome of black-footed ferret, mustela nigripes (mustela, mustelinae).	in this study, the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of black-footed ferret, mustela nigripes, is determined for the first time. this mitogenome is 16,556 bp in length and contains 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer rna genes, 2 ribosomal rna genes, and 1 control region (d-loop). the overall base composition is a (32.9%), c (26.1%), g (13.8%), and t (27.2%), so the percentage of a and t (60.1%) is higher than that of g and c. most of the genes are encoded on h-strand, except for the nd6 s ...	2016	25208186
fatal gastric dilation in two adult black-footed ferrets (mustela nigripes).	acute gastric dilation resulting in death was identified in two adult black-footed ferrets (mustela nigripes) housed at the smithsonian conservation biology institute in front royal, virginia. both individuals were adult males (3 and 5 yr) and previously clinically healthy prior to the event. the etiology of gastric dilation in both cases could not be definitively determined, and necropsy revealed severe cardiovascular compromise secondary to bloat. limited literature is available regarding a sy ...	2016	27010305
implementing the use of a biobank in the endangered black-footed ferret (mustela nigripes).	in the current global health climate, many conservation biologists are managing crisis situations, including increased species extinction rates. one strategy for securing wildlife populations into the future is to preserve biomaterials in genome resource banks (grb; or 'biobanks'). however, for grbs to be successful we must understand the fundamental reproductive biology of species, along with developing assisted reproductive techniques (arts), including ai and semen cryopreservation. art has be ...	2016	26953795
[research advances in the porcine deltacoronavirus].	the deltacoronavirus is a new member of the subfamily coronaviridae of the family coronaviridae. deltacoronaviruses can infect birds and mammals. deltacoronaviruses were detected in early 2007 in asian leopard cats and chinese ferret badgers. in 2014, porcine deltacoronavirus (pdcov) infection spread rapidly in the usa. moreover, cell culture-adapted pdcov has been obtained from infected piglets. animal experiments have confirmed that the isolated pdcov is highly pathogenic and causes severe dia ...	2016	27396171
influence of papmv nanoparticles on the kinetics of the antibody response to flu vaccine.	the addition of an adjuvant to a vaccine is a promising approach to increasing strength and immunogenicity towards antigens. despite the fact that adjuvants have been used in vaccines for decades, their mechanisms of action and their influence on the kinetics of the immune response are still not very well understood. the use of papaya mosaic virus (papmv) nanoparticles-a novel tlr7 agonist-was recently shown to improve and broaden the immune response directed to trivalent inactivated flu vaccine ...	2016	27282291
competitive fitness of influenza b viruses possessing e119a and h274y neuraminidase inhibitor resistance-associated substitutions in ferrets.	neuraminidase (na) inhibitors (nais) are the only antiviral drugs recommended for influenza treatment and prophylaxis. although nai-resistant influenza b viruses that could pose a threat to public health have been reported in the field, their fitness is poorly understood. we evaluated in ferrets the pathogenicity and relative fitness of reverse genetics (rg)-generated influenza b/yamanashi/166/1998-like viruses containing e119a or h274y na substitutions (n2 numbering). ferrets inoculated with na ...	2016	27466813
structure and function analysis of an antibody recognizing all influenza a subtypes.	influenza virus remains a threat because of its ability to evade vaccine-induced immune responses due to antigenic drift. here, we describe the isolation, evolution, and structure of a broad-spectrum human monoclonal antibody (mab), medi8852, effectively reacting with all influenza a hemagglutinin (ha) subtypes. medi8852 uses the heavy-chain vh6-1 gene and has higher potency and breadth when compared to other anti-stem antibodies. medi8852 is effective in mice and ferrets with a therapeutic wind ...	2016	27453466
a polyvalent influenza dna vaccine applied by needle-free intradermal delivery induces cross-reactive humoral and cellular immune responses in pigs.	pigs are natural hosts for influenza a viruses, and the infection is widely prevalent in swine herds throughout the world. current commercial influenza vaccines for pigs induce a narrow immune response and are not very effective against antigenically diverse viruses. to control influenza in pigs, the development of more effective swine influenza vaccines inducing broader cross-protective immune responses is needed. previously, we have shown that a polyvalent influenza dna vaccine using vectors c ...	2016	27211039
efficacy of a specific polyclonal equine f(ab')2 against avian influenza (h5n1) in ferrets: synergy with oseltamivir.	current therapies against avian influenza (h5n1) provide limited clinical benefit. fbf-001 is a highly purified equine polyclonal immunoglobulin fragment against h5n1.	2016	27380317
squalene-containing licensed adjuvants enhance strain-specific antibody responses against the influenza hemagglutinin and induce subtype-specific antibodies against the neuraminidase.	while seasonal influenza vaccines are usually non-adjuvanted, h1n1pdm09 vaccines were formulated with different squalene-containing adjuvants, to enable the reduction of antigen content thus increasing the number of doses available. to comparatively assess the effects of these adjuvants on antibody responses against matched and mismatched strains, and to correlate antibody levels with protection from disease, ferrets were immunized with 2μg of commercial h1n1pdm09 vaccine antigen alone or formul ...	2016	27616472
stabilization of live attenuated influenza vaccines by freeze drying, spray drying, and foam drying.	the goal of this research is to develop stable formulations for live attenuated influenza vaccines (laiv) by employing the drying methods freeze drying, spray drying, and foam drying.	2016	26818839
the replication of bangladeshi h9n2 avian influenza viruses carrying genes from h7n3 in mammals.	h9n2 avian influenza viruses are continuously monitored by the world health organization because they are endemic; they continually reassort with h5n1, h7n9 and h10n8 viruses; and they periodically cause human infections. we characterized h9n2 influenza viruses carrying internal genes from highly pathogenic h7n3 viruses, which were isolated from chickens or quail from live-bird markets in bangladesh between 2010 and 2013. all of the h9n2 viruses used in this study carried mammalian host-specific ...	2016	27094903
selective bottlenecks shape evolutionary pathways taken during mammalian adaptation of a 1918-like avian influenza virus.	avian influenza virus reassortants resembling the 1918 human pandemic virus can become transmissible among mammals by acquiring mutations in hemagglutinin (ha) and polymerase. using the ferret model, we trace the evolutionary pathway by which an avian-like virus evolves the capacity for mammalian replication and airborne transmission. during initial infection, within-host ha diversity increased drastically. then, airborne transmission fixed two polymerase mutations that do not confer a detectabl ...	2016	26867176
cerebral pyogranuloma associated with systemic coronavirus infection in a ferret.	a 2-year-old male ferret was presented with central nervous system signs. computed tomography (ct) of the brain revealed a well-defined contrast-enhancing lesion on the rostral forebrain that appeared extraparenchymal. surgical excision of the mass was performed and the ferret was euthanised during the procedure. histopathology of the excised mass showed multiple meningeal nodular lesions with infiltrates of epithelioid macrophages, occasionally centred on degenerated neutrophils and surrounded ...	2016	26046449
incorporating midbrain adaptation to mean sound level improves models of auditory cortical processing.	adaptation to stimulus statistics, such as the mean level and contrast of recently heard sounds, has been demonstrated at various levels of the auditory pathway. it allows the nervous system to operate over the wide range of intensities and contrasts found in the natural world. yet current standard models of the response properties of auditory neurons do not incorporate such adaptation. here we present a model of neural responses in the ferret auditory cortex (the ic adaptation model), which tak ...	2016	26758822
imaging visual cortical structure and function in vivo.	the recent advent of in vivo two-photon microscopy has allowed the repeat imaging of cortical structures at microscopic resolution within intact brains. recent data obtained using this imaging technique shows that dendritic spines, the postsynaptic sites of the majority of excitatory synapses in the central nervous system (cns), rapidly remodel in response to changes in the visual environment. we combined two-photon microscopy of dendritic segments with intrinsic signal imaging of visual cortica ...	2016	23733120
little thief: the domestic ferret.	three illnesses appear commonly in pet ferrets: cardiomyopathies insulinoma, and adrenal associated endocrinopathy. treatment for dilated cardiomyopathy include ace inhibitors, and furosemide is recommended for the treatment for long-term diuresis treatment of congestive heart failure. insulinoma, cancer of the pancreas, is the most common neoplasm of the american ferret, often times treated by surgically excising the cancerous lobes, optionally can be treated with steroids that suppress insulin ...	2016	23966531
scout's story: a case report on treating congestive heart failure in a ferret.	this case study reports on a ferret diagnosted with congestive heart failure. the veterinarians treated it with a compounded enalapril syrup successfully. radiographs of the thorax of the ferret are shown along with a photo of the ferret receiving her daily oral medication via oral syringe.	2016	23966533
ultrasonographic visualization of the adrenal glands of healthy ferrets and ferrets with hyperadrenocorticism.	a protocol was developed to compare the ultrasonographic characteristics of the adrenal glands of 21 healthy ferrets and 37 ferrets with hyperadrenocorticism. by using specific landmarks, the adrenal glands were imaged in 97% of the cases. the adrenal glands of ferrets with hyperadrenocorticism had a significantly increased thickness, with changes in shape, structure, and echogenicity compared to the adrenal glands of healthy ferrets. based on the findings of the study, adrenal glands may be cla ...	2016	17339284
detection, prevalence and phylogenetic relationships of demodex spp and further skin prostigmata mites (acari, arachnida) in wild and domestic mammals.	this study was conceived to detect skin mites in social mammals through real-time qpcr, and to estimate taxonomic demodex and further prostigmata mite relationships in different host species by comparing sequences from two genes: mitochondrial 16s rrna and nuclear 18s rrna. we determined the mite prevalence in the hair follicles of marmots (13%) and bats (17%). the high prevalence found in marmots and bats by sampling only one site on the body may indicate that mites are common inhabitants of th ...	2016	27802314
retention time of chlorophacinone in black-tailed prairie dogs informs secondary hazards from a prairie dog rodenticide bait.	secondary toxicity in mammals and birds that consume animals containing residues of anticoagulant rodenticides represents a persistent conflict between conservation, agriculture and environmental contamination. chlorophacinone residues in black-tailed prairie dogs (cynomys ludovicianus) represent a secondary exposure hazard to predatory and scavenging avian and mammalian species in the central plains of the united states, especially considering efforts to re-establish black-footed ferrets (muste ...	2016	25997570
an atypical distribution of lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes in the hooded seal (cystophora cristata) brain may reflect a biochemical adaptation to diving.	the brains of some diving mammals can withstand periods of severe hypoxia without signs of deleterious effects. this may in part be due to an enhanced cerebral capacity for anaerobic energy production. here, we have tested this hypothesis by comparing various parameters of the lactate dehydrogenase (ldh) in the brain of the hooded seal (cystophora cristata) with those in the brains of the ferret (mustela putorius furo) and mouse (mus musculus). we found that mrna and protein expression of lactat ...	2016	26820264
a mouse model for mers coronavirus-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome.	middle east respiratory syndrome coronavirus (mers-cov) is a novel virus that emerged in 2012, causing acute respiratory distress syndrome (ards), severe pneumonia-like symptoms and multi-organ failure, with a case fatality rate of ∼36%. limited clinical studies indicate that humans infected with mers-cov exhibit pathology consistent with the late stages of ards, which is reminiscent of the disease observed in patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus. models of mers-c ...	2016	27892925
a novel class of small molecule agonists with preference for human over mouse tlr4 activation.	the best-characterized toll-like receptor 4 (tlr4) ligands are lipopolysaccharide (lps) and its chemically modified and detoxified variant, monophosphoryl lipid a (mpl). although both molecules are active for human tlr4, they demonstrate a potency preference for mouse tlr4 based on data from transfected cell lines and primary cells of both species. after a high throughput screening process of small molecule libraries, we have discovered a new class of tlr4 agonist with a species preference profi ...	2016	27736941
palisade endings are a constant feature in the extraocular muscles of frontal-eyed, but not lateral-eyed, animals.	to test whether palisade endings are a general feature of mammalian extraocular muscles (eoms).	2016	26830369
small mammals: common surgical procedures of rodents, ferrets, hedgehogs, and sugar gliders.	small mammal surgical procedures are a part of clinical veterinary practice and are performed with regularity. anesthetic and analgesic techniques are important components of any successful small mammal surgical procedure. many basic surgical principles used in dogs and cats can be directly applied to small mammals, but tissues tend to be smaller and thinner, and hemostasis is critical with small patients due to risk of death with minimal blood loss. common surgical procedures in small mammals i ...	2016	26611930
in this issue - july 2016: canine distemper in dogs and ferrets in australia · conjunctival myxoma in a dog · antimicrobial resistance genes in porcine pathogens · farm economic impacts of bovine johne's disease · exertional heat illness in horses · suppression of oestrus in mares using injectable altrenogest · sex identification in the eastern blue-tongued lizard.		2016	27349879
pathogenesis of influenza d virus in cattle.	cattle have been proposed as the natural reservoir of a novel member of the virus family orthomyxoviridae, which has been tentatively classified as influenza d virus (idv). although isolated from sick animals, it is unclear whether idv causes any clinical disease in cattle. to address this aspect of koch's postulates, three dairy calves (treatment animals) held in individual pens were inoculated intranasally with idv strain d/bovine/mississippi/c00046n/2014. at 1 day postinoculation, a seronegat ...	2016	27030270
isolation, characterization, and differentiation of dental pulp stem cells in ferrets.	the ferret canine tooth has been introduced as a suitable model for studying dental pulp regeneration. the aim of this study was to isolate and characterize ferret dental pulp stem cells (fdpscs) and their differentiation potential.	2016	26794343
season of deltamethrin application affects flea and plague control in white-tailed prairie dog (cynomys leucurus) colonies, colorado, usa.	in 2008 and 2009, we evaluated the duration of prophylactic deltamethrin treatments in white-tailed prairie dog ( cynomys leucurus ) colonies and compared effects of autumn or spring dust application in suppressing flea numbers and plague. plague occurred before and during our experiment. overall, flea abundance tended to increase from may or june to september, but it was affected by deltamethrin treatment and plague dynamics. success in trapping prairie dogs (animals caught/trap days) declined ...	2016	27195680
expression analysis highlights axl as a candidate zika virus entry receptor in neural stem cells.	the recent outbreak of zika virus (zikv) in brazil has been linked to substantial increases in fetal abnormalities and microcephaly. however, information about the underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms connecting viral infection to these defects remains limited. in this study we have examined the expression of receptors implicated in cell entry of several enveloped viruses including zikv across diverse cell types in the developing brain. using single-cell rna-seq and immunohistochemistry, ...	2016	27038591
molecular investigation of cryptosporidium in small caged pets in northeast china: host specificity and zoonotic implications.	this study screened 151 pet-derived fecal specimens randomly collected from four commercial markets in northeast china for the presence of cryptosporidium by genus-specific nested pcrs of the small subunit rrna gene. of these, 14 specimens (9.3 %) from nine species of birds, two types of rodents, and a hedgehog were positive for cryptosporidium. sequence analysis on the pcr-positive isolates facilitated identification of three cryptosporidium species (c. baileyi, c. galli, and c. ubiquitum) and ...	2016	27107987
complete mitochondrial genome of the stoat (mustela erminea) and new zealand fur seal (arctocephalus forsteri) and their significance for mammalian phylogeny.	the complete mitochondrial genome of three mustelid species, stoats (mustela erminea), weasels (mustela nivalis) and ferrets (mustela furo), and the new zealand fur seal (arctocephalus forsteri) were sequenced using direct mitochondrial dna extraction and overlapping long pcrs. the usual 37 mammalian mitochondrial genes (13 protein coding genes, 22 t-rna and 2 r-rna) were identified in all four mitogenomes. the divergence of stoats from other members of the sub-family mustelinae was dated 4.5 mi ...	2016	27246241
large-scale phylogenomic analysis reveals the complex evolutionary history of rabies virus in multiple carnivore hosts.	the natural evolution of rabies virus (rabv) provides a potent example of multiple host shifts and an important opportunity to determine the mechanisms that underpin viral emergence. using 321 genome sequences spanning an unprecedented diversity of rabv, we compared evolutionary rates and selection pressures in viruses sampled from multiple primary host shifts that occurred on various continents. two major phylogenetic groups, bat-related rabv and dog-related rabv, experiencing markedly differen ...	2016	27977811
spatial temporal dynamics and molecular evolution of re-emerging rabies virus in taiwan.	taiwan has been recognized by the world organization for animal health as rabies-free since 1961. surprisingly, rabies virus (rabv) was identified in a dead formosan ferret badger in july 2013. later, more infected ferret badgers were reported from different geographic regions of taiwan. in order to know its evolutionary history and spatial temporal dynamics of this virus, phylogeny was reconstructed by maximum likelihood and bayesian methods based on the full-length of glycoprotein (g), matrix ...	2016	26999115
pathology and molecular detection of rabies virus in ferret badgers associated with a rabies outbreak in taiwan.	until rabies virus (rabv) infection in taiwan ferret badgers (twfb; melogale moschata subaurantiaca) was diagnosed in mid-june 2013, taiwan had been considered rabies free for >50 yr. although rabies has also been reported in ferret badgers in china, the pathologic changes and distribution of viral antigens of ferret badger-associated rabies have not been described. we performed a comprehensive pathologic study and molecular detection of rabies virus in three necropsied rabid twfbs and evaluated ...	2016	26560756
government response to the discovery of a rabies virus reservoir species on a previously designated rabies-free island, taiwan, 1999-2014.	taiwan had been considered rabies free since 1961. in 2013, taiwan confirmed the detection of rabies virus in wild taiwan ferret-badgers. up to december 2014, there have been 423 rabies-confirmed ferret-badgers and three cases of spillover infection into non-reservoir hosts. genetic analysis indicates that tfbv is distinct from all other known rabies virus variants. to date, ferret-badger rabies is known to occur only in china and taiwan. the temporal dynamics of rabid ferret-badgers in taiwan s ...	2016	26542085
the nature of exposure drives transmission of nipah viruses from malaysia and bangladesh in ferrets.	person-to-person transmission is a key feature of human nipah virus outbreaks in bangladesh. in contrast, in an outbreak of nipah virus in malaysia, people acquired infections from pigs. it is not known whether this important epidemiological difference is driven primarily by differences between niv bangladesh (niv-bd) and malaysia (niv-my) at a virus level, or by environmental or host factors. in a time course study, ferrets were oronasally exposed to equivalent doses of niv-bd or niv-my. more r ...	2016	27341030
nipah virus c and w proteins contribute to respiratory disease in ferrets.	nipah virus (niv) is a highly lethal paramyxovirus that recently emerged as a causative agent of febrile encephalitis and severe respiratory disease in humans. the ferret model has emerged as the preferred small-animal model with which to study niv disease, but much is still unknown about the viral determinants of niv pathogenesis, including the contribution of the c protein in ferrets. additionally, studies have yet to examine the synergistic effects of the various p gene products on pathogenes ...	2016	27147733
detection of influenza c virus but not influenza d virus in scottish respiratory samples.	a newly proposed genus of influenza virus (influenza d) is associated with respiratory disease in pigs and cattle. the novel virus is most closely related to human influenza c virus and can infect ferrets but infection has not been reported in humans.	2016	26655269
nb protein does not affect influenza b virus replication in vitro and is not required for replication in or transmission between ferrets.	the influenza b virus encodes a unique protein, nb, a membrane protein whose function in the replication cycle is not, as yet, understood. we engineered a recombinant influenza b virus lacking nb expression, with no concomitant difference in expression or activity of viral neuraminidase (na) protein, an important caveat since na is encoded on the same segment and initiated from a start codon just 4 nt downstream of nb. replication of the virus lacking nb was not different to wild-type virus with ...	2016	26703440
evidence of disseminated infection by mycobacterium avium subspecies hominissuis in a pet ferret (mustela putorius furo).	the infection caused by the zoonotic opportunistic pathogen mycobacterium avium subsp. hominissuis (mah) was reported for the first time in a pet ferret. both owners were hiv-positive. euthanasia of the pet was recommended due to medical reasons and as a preventive action. disseminated and open tuberculosis lesions were observed in the gastrointestinal and respiratory systems of the ferret. ecographic and radiographic surveys showed a severe generalized lymphadenopathy, strong thickening of the ...	2016	27892873
ferrets as a novel animal model for studying human respiratory syncytial virus infections in immunocompetent and immunocompromised hosts.	human respiratory syncytial virus (hrsv) is an important cause of severe respiratory tract disease in immunocompromised patients. animal models are indispensable for evaluating novel intervention strategies in this complex patient population. to complement existing models in rodents and non-human primates, we have evaluated the potential benefits of an hrsv infection model in ferrets (mustela putorius furo). nine- to 12-month-old hrsv-seronegative immunocompetent or immunocompromised ferrets wer ...	2016	27314379
generation of influenza a viruses as live but replication-incompetent virus vaccines.	the conversion of life-threatening viruses into live but avirulent vaccines represents a revolution in vaccinology. in a proof-of-principle study, we expanded the genetic code of the genome of influenza a virus via a transgenic cell line containing orthogonal translation machinery. this generated premature termination codon (ptc)-harboring viruses that exerted full infectivity but were replication-incompetent in conventional cells. genome-wide optimization of the sites for incorporation of multi ...	2016	27934767
antiviral efficacy of verdinexor in vivo in two animal models of influenza a virus infection.	influenza a virus (iav) causes seasonal epidemics of respiratory illness that can cause mild to severe illness and potentially death. antiviral drugs are an important countermeasure against iav; however, drug resistance has developed, thus new therapeutic approaches are being sought. previously, we demonstrated the antiviral activity of a novel nuclear export inhibitor drug, verdinexor, to reduce influenza replication in vitro and pulmonary virus burden in mice. in this study, in vivo efficacy o ...	2016	27893810
antigenic characterization of h3 subtypes of avian influenza a viruses from north america.	besides humans, h3 subtypes of influenza a viruses (iavs) can infect various animal hosts, including avian, swine, equine, canine, and sea mammal species. these h3 viruses are both antigenically and genetically diverse. here, we characterized the antigenic diversity of contemporary h3 avian iavs recovered from migratory birds in north america. hemagglutination inhibition (hi) assays were performed on 37 h3 isolates of avian iavs recovered from 2007 to 2011 using generated reference chicken sera. ...	2016	27309078
neutralizing inhibitors in the airways of naïve ferrets do not play a major role in modulating the virulence of h3 subtype influenza a viruses.	many insights regarding the pathogenesis of human influenza a virus (iav) infections have come from studies in mice and ferrets. surfactant protein (sp)-d is the major neutralizing inhibitor of iav in mouse airway fluids and sp-d-resistant iav mutants show enhanced virus replication and virulence in mice. herein, we demonstrate that sialylated glycoproteins, rather than sp-d, represent the major neutralizing inhibitors against h3 subtype viruses in airway fluids from naïve ferrets. moreover, whi ...	2016	27110707
influenza a virus transmission via respiratory aerosols or droplets as it relates to pandemic potential.	many respiratory viruses of humans originate from animals. for instance, there are now eight paramyxoviruses, four coronaviruses and four orthomxoviruses that cause recurrent epidemics in humans but were once confined to other hosts. in the last decade, several members of the same virus families have jumped the species barrier from animals to humans. fortunately, these viruses have not become established in humans, because they lacked the ability of sustained transmission between humans. however ...	2016	26385895
simple and specific method for detection of antibodies against hepatitis e virus in mammalian species.	hepatitis e virus (hev) is the causative agent of hepatitis e, a food- and water-borne disease. in developed countries, consumption of meats from pigs, wild boars and deer is a major source of infection. although hev and hev-related viruses have been detected in many animal species, their zoonotic potential and prevalence has not been completely understood. to detect anti-hev antibody in mammalian species, a simple enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (elisa) was established using extract from cell ...	2016	27732880
genetic evolution of hepatitis e virus.	comparative analysis of the genomic sequences of multiple hepatitis e virus (hev) isolates has revealed extensive genomic diversity among them. recently, a variety of genetically distinct hev variants have also been isolated and identified from large numbers of animal species, including birds, rabbits, rats, ferrets, bats, cutthroat trout, and camels, among others. furthermore, it has been reported that recombination in hev genomes takes place in animals and in human patients. also, chronic hev ...	2016	27738980
divergent hepatitis e virus in birds of prey, common kestrel (falco tinnunculus) and red-footed falcon (f. vespertinus), hungary.	hepatitis e virus (hev), family hepeviridae, has raised considerable public health concerns because of its zoonotic potential; however, the animal to animal transmissions and the natural chain of hepevirus infections in wildlife are less known. using random amplification and next generation sequencing technology a novel hev in birds of prey was serendipitously identified in hungary. hev rna was detected in total of 2 (18%) of the 11 and 1 (14%) of the 7 faecal samples from common kestrels and re ...	2016	27282471
ferret hepatitis e virus infection induces acute hepatitis and persistent infection in ferrets.	ferret hepatitis e virus (hev), a novel hepatitis e virus, has been identified in ferrets. however, the pathogenicity of ferret hev remains unclear. in the present study, we compared the hev rna-positivity rates and alanine aminotransferase (alt) levels of 63 ferrets between before and after import from the us to japan. we found that the ferret hev-rna positivity rates were increased from 12.7% (8/63) to 60.3% (38/63), and alt elevation was observed in 65.8% (25/38) of the ferret hev rna-positiv ...	2016	26790932
production of infectious ferret hepatitis e virus in a human hepatocarcinoma cell line plc/prf/5.	a strain of ferret hepatitis e virus (hev), sf4370, isolated from an imported ferret was used to inoculate a human hepatocarcinoma cell line, plc/prf/5. the virus genome and capsid protein were detected in the cell culture supernatant. immunofluorescence microscopy indicated that the capsid protein was located in the cytoplasm. the virus particles were purified from the culture supernatant by sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation. the capsid protein with molecular mass of ∼72 kda was detected in ...	2016	26763355
hepatitis e: an emerging global disease - from discovery towards control and cure.	hepatitis e is a systemic disease affecting the liver predominantly and caused by infection with the hepatitis e virus (hev). hev has marked genetic heterogeneity and is known to infect several animal species including pigs, boar, deer, mongoose, rabbit, camel, chicken, rats, ferret, bats and cutthroat trout. hev is the sole member of the family hepeviridae and has been divided into 2 genera: orthohepevirus (mammalian and avian hev) and piscihepevirus (trout hev). human hevs included within the ...	2016	26344932
the comparison of pathology in ferrets infected by h9n2 avian influenza viruses with different genomic features.	h9n2 avian influenza virus circulates widely in poultry and has been responsible for sporadic human infections in several regions. few studies have been conducted on the pathogenicity of h9n2 aiv isolates that have different genomic features. we compared the pathology induced by a novel reassortant h9n2 virus and two currently circulating h9n2 viruses that have different genomic features in ferrets. the results showed that the three viruses can induce infections with various amounts of viral she ...	2016	26638019
risk assessment of recent egyptian h5n1 influenza viruses.	highly pathogenic avian influenza (hpai) viruses of the h5n1 subtype are enzootic in poultry populations in different parts of the world, and have caused numerous human infections in recent years, particularly in egypt. however, no sustained human-to-human transmission of these viruses has yet been reported. we tested nine naturally occurring egyptian h5n1 viruses (isolated in 2014-2015) in ferrets and found that three of them transmitted via respiratory droplets, causing a fatal infection in on ...	2016	27922116
highly pathogenic reassortant avian influenza a(h5n1) virus clade 2.3.2.1a in poultry, bhutan.	highly pathogenic avian influenza a(h5n1), clade 2.3.2.1a, with an h9-like polymerase basic protein 1 gene, isolated in bhutan in 2012, replicated faster in vitro than its h5n1 parental genotype and was transmitted more efficiently in a chicken model. these properties likely help limit/eradicate outbreaks, combined with strict control measures.	2016	27584733
cross-protective efficacies of highly-pathogenic avian influenza h5n1 vaccines against a recent h5n8 virus.	to investigate cross-protective vaccine efficacy of highly-pathogenic avian influenza h5n1 viruses against a recent hpai h5n8 virus, we immunized c57bl/6 mice and ferrets with three alum-adjuvanted inactivated whole h5n1 vaccines developed through reverse-genetics (rg): [vietnam/1194/04xpr8 (clade 1), korea/w149/06xpr8 (clade 2.2), and korea/es223n/03xpr8 (clade 2.5)]. although relatively low cross-reactivities (10-40 hi titer) were observed against heterologous h5n8 virus, immunized animals wer ...	2016	27543757
vaccination is more effective than prophylactic oseltamivir in preventing cns invasion by h5n1 virus via the olfactory nerve.	influenza a viruses can replicate in the olfactory mucosa and subsequently use the olfactory nerve to enter the central nervous system (cns). it is currently unknown whether intervention strategies are able to reduce or prevent influenza virus replication within the olfactory mucosa and subsequent spread to the cns. therefore, we tested the efficacy of homologous vaccination and prophylactic oseltamivir to prevent h5n1 virus cns invasion via the olfactory nerve in our ferret model.	2016	27448390
highly pathogenic avian influenza h5n6 viruses exhibit enhanced affinity for human type sialic acid receptor and in-contact transmission in model ferrets.	since may 2014, highly pathogenic avian influenza h5n6 virus has been reported to cause six severe human infections three of which were fatal. the biological properties of this subtype, in particular its relative pathogenicity and transmissibility in mammals, are not known. we characterized the virus receptor-binding affinity, pathogenicity, and transmissibility in mice and ferrets of four h5n6 isolates derived from waterfowl in china from 2013-2014. all four h5n6 viruses have acquired a binding ...	2016	27122581
a cationic liposome-dna complexes adjuvant (jvrs-100) enhances the immunogenicity and cross-protective efficacy of pre-pandemic influenza a (h5n1) vaccine in ferrets.	influenza a (h5n1) viruses continue to pose a public health threat. as inactivated h5n1 vaccines are poorly immunogenic, adjuvants are needed to improve the immunogenicity of h5n1 vaccine in humans. here, we investigated the immunogenicity and cross-protective efficacy in ferrets of a clade 2.2-derived vaccine with addition of jvrs-100, an adjuvant consisting of cationic liposome-dna complexes (cldc). after the first vaccination, significantly higher levels of hemagglutination-inhibition (hai) a ...	2016	26967975
technology transfer of oil-in-water emulsion adjuvant manufacturing for pandemic influenza vaccine production in romania: preclinical evaluation of split virion inactivated h5n1 vaccine with adjuvant.	millions of seasonal and pandemic influenza vaccine doses containing oil-in-water emulsion adjuvant have been administered in order to enhance and broaden immune responses and to facilitate antigen sparing. despite the enactment of a global action plan for influenza vaccines and a multi-fold increase in production capabilities over the past 10 years, worldwide capacity for pandemic influenza vaccine production is still limited. in developing countries, where routine influenza vaccination is not ...	2016	26618392
pathogenesis and transmission assessments of two h7n8 influenza a viruses recently isolated from turkey farms in indiana using mouse and ferret models.	avian influenza a h7 viruses have caused multiple outbreaks in domestic poultry throughout north america, resulting in occasional infections of humans in close contact with affected birds. in early 2016, the presence of h7n8 highly pathogenic avian influenza (hpai) viruses and closely related h7n8 low-pathogenic avian influenza (lpai) viruses was confirmed in commercial turkey farms in indiana. these h7n8 viruses represent the first isolation of this subtype in domestic poultry in north america, ...	2016	27681133
mammalian pathogenesis and transmission of h7n9 influenza viruses from three waves, 2013-2015.	three waves of human infection with h7n9 influenza viruses have concluded to date, but only viruses within the first wave (isolated between march and september 2013) have been extensively studied in mammalian models. while second- and third-wave viruses remain closely linked phylogenetically and antigenically, even subtle molecular changes can impart critical shifts in mammalian virulence. to determine if h7n9 viruses isolated from humans during 2013 to 2015 have maintained the phenotype first i ...	2016	26912620
antigenic maps of influenza a(h3n2) produced with human antisera obtained after primary infection.	antigenic characterization of influenza viruses is typically based on hemagglutination inhibition (hi) assay data for viral isolates tested against strain-specific postinfection ferret antisera. here, similar virus characterizations were performed using serological data from humans with primary influenza a(h3n2) infection.	2016	26142433
peripheral leukocyte migration in ferrets in response to infection with seasonal influenza virus.	in order to better understand inflammation associated with influenza virus infection, we measured cell trafficking, via flow cytometry, to various tissues in the ferret model following infection with an a(h3n2) human seasonal influenza virus (a/perth/16/2009). changes in immune cells were observed in the blood, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and spleen, as well as lymph nodes associated with the site of infection or distant from the respiratory system. nevertheless clinical symptoms were mild, wi ...	2016	27315117
effects of egg-adaptation on receptor-binding and antigenic properties of recent influenza a (h3n2) vaccine viruses.	influenza a virus (subtype h3n2) causes seasonal human influenza and is included as a component of influenza vaccines. the majority of vaccine viruses are isolated and propagated in eggs, which commonly results in amino acid substitutions in the haemagglutinin (ha) glycoprotein. these substitutions can affect virus receptor-binding and alter virus antigenicity, thereby, obfuscating the choice of egg-propagated viruses for development into candidate vaccine viruses. to evaluate the effects of egg ...	2016	26974849
new england harbor seal h3n8 influenza virus retains avian-like receptor specificity.	an influenza h3n8 virus, carrying mammalian adaptation mutations, was isolated from new england harbor seals in 2011. we sought to assess the risk of its human transmissibility using two complementary approaches. first, we tested the binding of recombinant hemagglutinin (ha) proteins of seal h3n8 and human-adapted h3n2 viruses to respiratory tissues of humans and ferrets. for human tissues, we observed strong tendency of the seal h3 to bind to lung alveoli, which was in direct contrast to the hu ...	2016	26888262
directed selection of influenza virus produces antigenic variants that match circulating human virus isolates and escape from vaccine-mediated immune protection.	influenza vaccination does not provide 100% protection from infection, partly due to antigenic drift of the haemagglutinin (ha) protein. low serum antibody titres increase the risk of infection. to determine whether there were additional correlates of risk, we examined the relationship between human serum immunity and antigenic variation in seasonal h3n2 influenza viruses. seasonal h3n2 vaccine strains grown in the presence of heterogeneous human or mono-specific ferret antisera selected variant ...	2016	26854888