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measuring and selecting scales of effect for landscape predictors in species-habitat models.wildlife managers often use habitat models to determine species habitat requirements and to identify locations for conservation efforts, uses which depend on accurate specification of species-habitat relationships. prior study suggests that model performance may be influenced by the way we measure environmental predictors. we hypothesized that species responses to landscape predictors are best represented by landscape composition-based measurements, rather than distance-based measurements. we al ...201223387125
lack of genetic structure and female-specific effect of dispersal barriers in a rabies vector, the striped skunk (mephitis mephitis).evaluating the permeability of potential barriers to movement, dispersal and gene exchanges can help describe spreading patterns of wildlife diseases. here, we used landscape genetics methods to assess the genetic structure of the striped skunk (mephitis mephitis), which is a frequent vector of rabies, a lethal zoonosis of great concern for public health. our main objective was to identify landscape elements shaping the genetic structure of this species in southern québec, canada, in an area whe ...201223166760
multiple paternity in the american dog tick, dermacentor variabilis (acari: ixodidae).the reproductive strategies and variation in reproductive success of ticks are poorly understood. we determined variation in multiple paternity in the american dog tick dermancentor variabilis . in total, 48 blood-engorged female ticks and 22 male companion ticks were collected from 13 raccoon ( procyon lotor ) hosts. in the laboratory, 56.3% of blood-engorged females laid eggs, of which 37.0% hatched or showed signs of development. we examined the presence of multiple paternity in the ensuing c ...201222257158
metagonimoides oregonensis (heterophyidae: digenea) infection in pleurocerid snails and desmognathus quadramaculatus salamander larvae in southern appalachian streams.metagonimoides oregonensis (heterophyidae) is a little-known digenetic trematode that uses raccoons and possibly mink as definitive hosts, and stream snails and amphibians as intermediate hosts. some variation in the life cycle and adult morphology in western and eastern populations has been previously noted. in the southern appalachians, pleurocera snails and stream salamanders, e.g., desmognathus spp., are used as intermediate hosts in the life cycle. we completed a series of studies in this s ...201222394058
anthropogenic influences on macro-level mammal occupancy in the appalachian trail corridor.anthropogenic effects on wildlife are typically assessed at the local level, but it is often difficult to extrapolate to larger spatial extents. macro-level occupancy studies are one way to assess impacts of multiple disturbance factors that might vary over different geographic extents. here we assess anthropogenic effects on occupancy and distribution for several mammal species within the appalachian trail (at), a forest corridor that extends across a broad section of the eastern united states. ...201222880038
effects of climate and exurban development on nest predation and predator presence in the southern appalachian mountains (usa).in the eastern united states, land-use and climate change have likely contributed to declines in the abundance of neotropical migrant birds that occupy forest interiors, but the mechanisms are not well understood. we conducted a nest-predation experiment in southern appalachian mountain forests (north carolina, u.s.a.) during the 2009 and 2010 breeding seasons to determine the effects of exurban development and temperature on predator presence and the average number of days until eggs in an arti ...201222624665
the role of adaptations in two-strain competition for sylvatic trypanosoma cruzi transmission.this study presents a continuous-time model for the sylvatic transmission dynamics of two strains of trypanosoma cruzi enzootic in north america, in order to study the role that adaptations of each strain to distinct modes of transmission (classical stercorarian transmission on the one hand, and vertical and oral transmission on the other) may play in the competition between the two strains. a deterministic model incorporating contact process saturation predicts competitive exclusion, and reprod ...201222877420
the sylvatic transmission cycle of trypanosoma cruzi in a rural area in the humid chaco of argentina.little is known about the sylvatic transmission cycle of trypanosoma cruzi in the gran chaco ecoregion. we conducted surveys to identify the main sylvatic hosts of t. cruzi, parasite discrete typing units and vector species involved in pampa del indio, a rural area in the humid argentinean chaco. a total of 44 mammals from 14 species were captured and examined for infection by xenodiagnosis and polymerase chain reaction amplification of the hyper-variable region of kinetoplast dna minicircles of ...201222771688
isolation, mouse pathogenicity, and genotyping of trypanosoma cruzi from an english cocker spaniel from virginia, usa.trypanosoma cruzi was demonstrated in blood smears and heart tissue from a 5-year old, female, english cocker spaniel that had never been outside of the state of virginia, usa. plasma from the dog was positive in a commercially available immunochromatographic dipstick assay for t. cruzi and negative in an immunochromatographic dipstick assay for visceral leishmania spp. the plasma from the dog had an indirect immunofluorescent antibody titer of 1:800 against epimastigotes of t. cruzi while the t ...201222341614
the raccoon (procyon lotor) as potential rabies reservoir species in germany: a risk assessment.terrestrial wildlife rabies has been successfully eliminated from germany predominantly as a result of the distribution of oral rabies vaccine baits. in case that wildlife rabies would re-emerge among its known reservoir species in germany, swift action based on previous experiences could spatially and temporally limit and subsequently control such an outbreak. however, if rabies emerged in the raccoon population in germany (procyon lotor), there are no tools or local experience available to cop ...201222712420
prevalence of toxoplasma gondii infection diagnosed by pcr in farmed red foxes, arctic foxes and raccoon dogs.the aim of this study was to compare toxoplasma gondii infection in three canid species: red fox vulpes vulpes, arctic fox vulpes lagopus and raccoon dog nyctereutesprocyonoides kept at the same farm. anal swabs were taken from 24 adult and 10 juvenile red foxes, 12 adult arctic foxes, three adult and seven juvenile raccoon dogs. additionally, muscle samples were taken from 10 juvenile red foxes. pcr was used to detect t. gondii dna. t. gondii infection was not detected in any of the arctic foxe ...201222428309
detection of antibodies against the rabies virus in korean raccoon dogs (nyctereutes procyonoides koreensis).rabies has been reported in dogs, cattle, and raccoon dogs in korea, especially in the provinces of gyeonggi and gangwon. the aim of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence of the rabies in wild korean raccoon dogs by using 50 blood samples collected in gyeonggi and gangwon provinces. antibodies against rabies were measured by using a fluorescent antibody virus neutralization test. of the 50 blood samples tested, 20 raccoon dogs (40%) tested positive. seropositive animals were distribut ...201222448528
comparing onrab® and raboral v-rg® oral rabies vaccine field performance in raccoons and striped skunks, new brunswick, canada, and maine, usa.control of rabies in mesocarnivore reservoirs through oral rabies vaccination (orv) requires an effective vaccine bait. oral rabies vaccine performance in the field may be affected by a variety of factors, including vaccine bait density and distribution pattern, habitat, target species population density, and the availability of competing foods. a field study in which these covariates were restricted as much as possible was conducted along the international border of the state of maine (me), usa ...201222247384
mucosal adjuvants to improve wildlife rabies vaccination.raboral v-rg(®)a is a recombinant vaccine used in oral rabies vaccination (orv) programs for wildlife in the united states. vaccination rates for raccoons are substantially lower than vaccination rates for gray foxes and coyotes. research suggests that the low viscosity of the oral vaccine may preclude animals from receiving an effective dose when biting into the vaccine bait delivery system. we evaluated the possibility of using two benign compounds, chitosan and n,n,n-trimethylated chitosan (t ...201223060506
immune response and protection in raccoons (procyon lotor) following consumption of baits containing onrab®, a human adenovirus rabies glycoprotein recombinant vaccine.we investigated the immune response and protection conferred in raccoons (procyon lotor) following consumption of onrab(®) oral rabies vaccine baits. forty-two wild-caught, captive raccoons were each offered an onrab vaccine bait; 21 controls received no vaccine baits. blood samples collected from all raccoons before treatment, and each week posttreatment for 16 wk, were assessed for the presence of rabies virus antibody. in the bait group, an individual was considered to have responded to vacci ...201223060502
oral rabies vaccination of raccoons and striped skunks with onrab® baits: multiple factors influence field immunogenicity.multiple control methods have been used in north america to manage the spread of rabies caused by the raccoon (procyon lotor) rabies virus variant (rrvv). recently, oral vaccination with onrab(®) vaccine baits, which contain an adenovirus rabies glycoprotein recombinant, has been made available as an additional tool for rabies control. our objectives were to estimate rabies antibody prevalence in wild-caught raccoons and striped skunks (mephitis mephitis), and identify factors influencing the pr ...201223060499
control of terrestrial animal rabies in anne arundel county, maryland, after oral vaccination of raccoons (1998-2007).to evaluate the effectiveness of an oral rabies vaccination (orv) project conducted from 1998 through 2007 in anne arundel county, md, for the control of rabies in terrestrial animals.201222947155
rabies surveillance in the united states during 2011.during 2011, 49 states and puerto rico reported 6,031 rabid animals and 6 human rabies cases to the cdc, representing a 1.9% decrease from the 6,153 rabid animals and 2 human cases reported in 2010. approximately 92% of reported rabid animals were wildlife. relative contributions by the major animal groups were as follows: 1,981 raccoons (32.8%), 1,627 skunks (27.0%), 1,380 bats (22.9%), 427 foxes (7.1%), 303 cats (5.0%), 65 cattle (1.1%), and 70 dogs (1.2%). compared with 2010, there was a subs ...201222947154
[a woman with retrograde amnesia].a 56-year-old woman presented with retrograde amnesia and confusion at the emergency department after falling down the stairs. physical examination revealed a bilateral periorbital hematoma (raccoon eyes) and bilateral retroauricular ecchymosis, both strongly indicative of a basilar skull fracture.201222951125
a case of dyspnea and periorbital rash.a 75-year-old woman presented with dyspnea on exertion, orthopnea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, and edema. macroglossia, generalized petechiae, raccoon eyes sign, and peripheral neuropathy were present, and an echocardiogram showed cardiac dilatation and left ventricular systolic dysfunction. rectal biopsy and immune fixation electrophoresis confirmed the diagnosis of al amyloidosis.201222754127
trap-vaccinate-release program to control raccoon rabies, new york, usa.in 2009, an outbreak of raccoon rabies in central park in new york city, new york, usa, infected 133 raccoons. five persons and 2 dogs were exposed but did not become infected. a trap-vaccinate-release program vaccinated ≈ 500 raccoons and contributed to the end of the epizootic.201222709617
genetic structure and rabies spread potential in raccoons: the role of landscape barriers and sex-biased dispersal.identifying natural barriers to movements of hosts associated with infectious diseases is essential for developing effective control strategies. raccoon rabies variant (rrv) is a zoonosis of concern for humans because its main vector, the raccoon (procyon lotor), is found near residential areas. in québec, canada, all cases of rrv found in raccoons since 2006 were detected on the eastern side of the richelieu river, suggesting that this river acts as a barrier to gene flow and thus the potential ...201225568059
chemical immobilization of raccoons (procyon lotor) with ketamine-medetomidine mixture and reversal with atipamezole.safe and reliable capture techniques for wild animals are important for ecologic studies and management operations. we assessed the efficiency of ketamine-medetomidine (k:m) injection and reversal with atipamezole. we anesthetized 67 raccoons (procyon lotor; 34 males, 33 females) 103 times (individuals captured between one and five times) from april 2009-october 2010 in mont-orford provincial park, quebec, canada. we administered a 1:1 mixture by volume of ketamine and medetomidine by intramuscu ...201222247380
seasonal changes in spermatogenesis and peripheral testosterone concentration in raccoons (procyon lotor) in hokkaido.feral raccoons (procyon lotor) have been increasing in number since 1979 and are currently subject to pest control in hokkaido. one of the reasons for the increase in numbers is thought to be the high reproductive potential of raccoons, but little is known about their reproduction. the main aim of this study was to clarify seasonal changes in spermatogenesis and peripheral testosterone concentration of raccoons in hokkaido. in the present study, external characteristics and histology of the test ...201222230981
difference in age at first conception between early and late litters of feral raccoon (procyon lotor) in kanagawa prefecture.due to the long parturition period of raccoons, we assumed that age at first conception of late born females was later than that of early born females. from march 2005 to september 2008, 201 females estimated to be younger than 24 months were separated into early- and late-born groups on the basis of their estimated birth month (to the nearest 2 months), and parous status and body mass index (bmi) were examined. age at first conception of late-born females (over 18 months old) was estimated to b ...201222167106
evaluation of variation in nitrate concentration levels in the raccoon river watershed in iowa.the raccoon river watershed in iowa has received considerable attention in the recent past due to frequent detections of nitrate concentrations above the federal drinking water standard. this paper econometrically investigates the determinants of variation of nitrate concentrations in the raccoon river. the analysis relies on a generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedastic process to model the serial dependence of volatility of the monthly nitrate concentrations in the raccoon river. mo ...201223099948
a fatal mongoose bite.animal bite is a bite wound from a pet, farm or wild animal. dog bites make up 80-85% of all reported incidents. cats amount for about 10% of reported bites and other animals such as rodents, rabbits, horses, raccoons, bats and monkeys amount to 5-10%. bites by mongoose are uncommon. here, we present a case of fatal mongoose bite to an elderly woman who died as a complication of streptococcal infection at the bite site.201223166164
indices using external measurements for assessing fat deposition of adult feral raccoons (procyon lotor) in kanagawa prefecture, japan.we examined the use of external measurements and relative fat deposition of adult feral raccoons (procyon lotor) to develop relative indices of body fat deposition in post-growth feral raccoons. from march 2006 to march 2010, 288 adult raccoon carcasses (110 males, 178 females) collected in kanagawa prefecture, japan, which were determined to be 24 months old, were subjected to external measurements of body weight (bw), girth measurement (gm), and body mass index (bmi). to assess relative body f ...201221979454
prevalence of seropositivity to pathogens in small carnivores in adjacent areas of lazovskii reserve.the prevalence of infectious diseases in wild and feral carnivores is poorly known in primorsky krai, where rare species such as the amur tiger and the far east leopard roam. in this study we evaluated the prevalence of seropositivity in feral (cats, dogs) and wild (raccoon dog, badger, american mink, far eastern wild cat) carnivores to various pathogens: distemper virus, parvovirus, feline immunodeficiency and feline leukemia virus, feline coronavirus, toxoplasma gondii, mycoplasma sp., and chl ...201232214774
invasion of the raccoon dog nyctereutes procyonoides in europe: history of colonization, features behind its success, and threats to native fauna.we aimed to review the history of the introduction and colonization of the raccoon dog nyctereutes procyonoides in europe, the features behind its successful expansion and its impact on native fauna. the raccoon dog quickly colonized new areas after being introduced to the european part of the former soviet union. today it is widespread in northern and eastern europe and is still spreading in central europe. features behind its success include its adaptability, high reproductive potential, omniv ...201132288758
pathology of neurologic disorders of raccoons (procyon lotor).the raccoon (procyon lotor) is almost ubiquitous in north america. in recent times, it was introduced in many parts of the world where it has now become largely feral. since the outbreak of raccoon rabies epizootic in eastern united states and canada, most diagnostic laboratories have had increased numbers of raccoon carcasses or raccoon brain submissions for diagnosis of rabies. however, since a number of other diseases that affect the central nervous system and have similar clinical signs as r ...201121908341
spontaneous lesions in aged captive raccoons (procyon lotor).in nature, free-ranging raccoons typically do not live longer than 2 y; most raccoons in the wild die young due to accidents and diseases. therefore, few data are available regarding lesions associated with advancing age in raccoons. this communication documents the lesions present in raccoons (7 male; 3 female) that were older than 7 y and had been used as breeders at a commercial facility in central iowa. the most frequent microscopic lesions in these raccoons included accumulation of iron pig ...201121640026
migratory nodules caused by raccoon heartworms in an otherwise healthy adult male. 201121496696
raccoon eyes in systemic al amyloidosis. 201121477158
strong seasonality produces spatial asynchrony in the outbreak of infectious diseases.models for infectious diseases usually assume a fixed demographic structure. yet, a disease can spread over a region encountering different local demographic variations that may significantly alter local dynamics. spatial heterogeneity in the resulting dynamics can lead to important differences in the design of surveillance and control strategies. we illustrate this by exploring the north-south gradient in the seasonal demography of raccoon rabies over the eastern usa. we find that the greater v ...201120961894
from agricultural intensification to conservation: sediment transport in the raccoon river, iowa, 1916-2009.fluvial sediment is a ubiquitous pollutant that negatively affects surface water quality and municipal water supply treatment. as part of its routine water supply monitoring, the des moines water works (dmww) has been measuring turbidity daily in the raccoon river since 1916. for this study, we calibrated daily turbidity readings to modern total suspended solid (tss) concentrations to develop an estimation of daily sediment concentrations in the river from 1916 to 2009. our objectives were to ev ...201122031575
pulmonary trematodosis (pharyngostomoides sp.) in a juvenile raccoon (procyon lotor).a lethargic, wild, juvenile raccoon died and was subsequently presented for necropsy. the lungs had widely disseminated, finely granular, yellow-tan foci with moderate pulmonary, as well as, thoracic lymphadenopathy. histopathology revealed numerous cross-sections of larval trematodes morphologically consistent with diplostomid mesocercariae and metacercariae as well as moderate alveolointerstitial pneumonia with a mixed population of eosinophils, macrophages, lymphocytes, and plasma cells. the ...201121908291
oral vaccination against raccoon rabies: landscape heterogeneity and timing of distribution influence wildlife contact rates with the onrab vaccine bait.aerial distribution of oral vaccine baits is one of the available strategies for controlling the spread of infectious wildlife diseases. this technique has commonly been used to control rabies in wild carnivores and, together with other techniques, was used to immunize wild populations of raccoons (procyon lotor) and striped skunks (mephitis mephitis) after the detection of the first rabid raccoon in the province of quebec, canada, in 2006. vaccine bait distribution was conducted over large area ...201121719823
signs observed among animal species infected with raccoon rabies variant virus, massachusetts, usa, 1992-2010.we analyzed signs occurring among domestic and wild terrestrial animal species infected with raccoon rabies variant virus (rrv) in massachusetts, 1992-2010. the clinical sign of aggression was significantly associated with rabid stray cats (odds ratio, or = 2.3) and rrv affected major wild terrestrial animal species individually, which included raccoons (or = 2.8), skunks (or = 8.0), gray foxes (or = 21.3), red foxes (or = 10.4), woodchucks (or = 4.7) and coyotes (or = 27.6). while aggression is ...201126486623
two candidate genes (fto and insig2) for fat accumulation in four canids: chromosome mapping, gene polymorphisms and association studies of body and skin weight of red foxes.fat accumulation is a polygenic trait which has a significant impact on human health and animal production. obesity is also an increasingly serious problem in dog breeding. the fto and insig2 are considered as candidate genes associated with predisposition for human obesity. in this report we present a comparative genomic analysis of these 2 genes in 4 species belonging to the family canidae - the dog and 3 species which are kept in captivity for fur production, i.e. red fox, arctic fox and chin ...201121846970
raccoon dog rabies surveillance and post-vaccination monitoring in lithuania 2006 to 2010.abstract:201122085767
identification of major dioxin-like compounds and androgen receptor antagonist in acid-treated tissue extracts of high trophic-level animals.we evaluated the applicability of combining in vitro bioassays with instrument analyses to identify potential endocrine disrupting pollutants in sulfuric acid-treated extracts of liver and/or blubber of high trophic-level animals. dioxin-like and androgen receptor (ar) antagonistic activities were observed in baikal seals, common cormorants, raccoon dogs, and finless porpoises by using a panel of rat and human cell-based chemical-activated luciferase gene expression (calux) reporter gene bioassa ...201122003927
baylisascaris procyonis in raccoons (procyon lotor) from eastern colorado, an area of undefined prevalence.baylisascaris procyonis is a zoonotic parasite that has been documented in raccoons throughout much of the united states; however, no published information on its occurrence is available for the transition zone from the great plains to the rocky mountains. because this parasite can cause neural larva migrans and diffuse unilateral subacute neuroretinitis in humans (as well as other hosts), a more complete understanding of the distribution of this parasite seems warranted for public health reason ...201122119387
evidence for evolutionary convergence at mhc in two broadly distributed mesocarnivores.variation within major histocompatibility complex (mhc) genes is important in recognizing pathogens and initiating an immune response. these genes are relevant in enhancing our understanding of how species cope with rapid environmental changes and concomitant fluctuations in selective pressures such as invasive, infectious diseases. disease-based models suggest that diversity at mhc is maintained through balancing selection arising from the coevolution of hosts and pathogens. despite intensive b ...201122085968
A Comparative Analysis of MC4R Gene Sequence, Polymorphism, and Chromosomal Localization in Chinese Raccoon Dog and Arctic Fox.Numerous mutations of the human melanocortin receptor type 4 (MC4R) gene are responsible for monogenic obesity, and some of them appear to be associated with predisposition or resistance to polygenic obesity. Thus, this gene is considered a functional candidate for fat tissue accumulation and body weight in domestic mammals. The aim of the study was comparative analysis of chromosome localization, nucleotide sequence, and polymorphism of the MC4R gene in two farmed species of the Canidae family, ...201122047079
Helminths of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) in Lithuania.SUMMARYRed foxes and raccoon dogs are hosts for a wide range of parasites including important zoonotic helminths. The raccoon dog has recently invaded into Europe from the east. The contribution of this exotic species to the epidemiology of parasitic diseases, particularly parasitic zoonoses is unknown. The helminth fauna and the abundance of helminth infections were determined in 310 carcasses of hunted red foxes and 99 of raccoon dogs ...201121996514
A Spatial Model to Forecast Raccoon Rabies Emergence.Abstract Although raccoons are widely distributed throughout North America, the raccoon rabies virus variant is enzootic only in the eastern United States, based on current surveillance data. This variant of rabies virus is now responsible for >60% of all cases of animal rabies reported in the United States each year. Ongoing national efforts via an oral rabies vaccination (ORV) program are aimed at preventing the spread of raccoon rabies. However, from an epidemiologic perspective, the relati ...201121995266
[the raccoon dog (nyctereutes procyonoides) in germany--an established neozoon as host and vector for parasites and other pathogenes].some invasive wildlife species have the potential to act as additional host and vector species for parasitic and other infectious diseases. we used the raccoon dog (nyctereutes procyonides), a carnivore species that has its origin in asia, as an example to demonstrate biological and ecological prerequisites which enables an invasive species to occupy a new habitat permanently. studies conducted during the last ten years identified a total of 23 endoparasites, two ectoparasites, six bacterial or ...201122191167
Genetic diversity of parvovirus isolates from dogs and wild animals in China.We isolated three new parvovirus variants in China. The isolate from a blue fox was related to feline parvovirus, but possessed a mutation of VP2 residue A300P. Isolates from a raccoon dog and a masked civet were antigenically similar to canine parvovirus-2a but had a substitution of VP2 residue G300S.201122102680
The mitochondrial genome of Baylisascaris procyonis.Baylisascaris procyonis (Nematoda: Ascaridida), an intestinal nematode of raccoons, is emerging as an important helminthic zoonosis due to serious or fatal larval migrans in animals and humans. Despite its significant veterinary and public health impact, the epidemiology, molecular ecology and population genetics of this parasite remain largely unexplored. Mitochondrial (mt) genomes can provide a foundation for investigations in these areas and assist in the diagnosis and control of B. procyonis ...201122046447
Incidental nest predation in freshwater turtles: inter- and intraspecific differences in vulnerability are explained by relative crypsis.There has long been interest in the influence of predators on prey populations, although most predator-prey studies have focused on prey species that are targets of directed predator searching. Conversely, few have addressed depredation that occurs after incidental encounters with predators. We tested two predictions stemming from the hypothesis that nest predation on two sympatric freshwater turtle species whose nests are differentially prone to opportunistic detection-painted turtles (Chrysemy ...201122009341
Susceptibility of carnivore hosts to strains of canine distemper virus from distinct genetic lineages.Using the complete haemagglutinin (HA) gene and partial phosphoprotein (P) gene we investigated the genotype of canine distemper virus (CDV) strains recovered from two wildlife species in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. Phylogenetic analyses demonstrated significant differences between the strains from raccoons Procyon lotor (family Procyonidae) obtained in 2007 and strains from red foxes Vulpes vulpes (family Canidae) obtained in 2008. The raccoon strains belonged to the CDV European wildlife ...201122024346
Infection prevalences of common tick-borne pathogens in adult lone star ticks (Amblyomma americanum) and American dog ticks (Dermacentor variabilis) in Kentucky.Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Lyme disease, and ehrlichiosis are tick-borne diseases that are reported annually in Kentucky. We conducted a survey to describe infection prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in Amblyomma americanum and Dermacentor variabilis ticks collected in Kentucky. During 2007-2008, we collected 287 ticks (179 D. variabilis and 108 A. americanum) from canine, feral hog, horse, raccoon, white-tailed deer, and human hosts in six counties in Kentucky. Ticks were screened for Ricke ...201121976578
Analysis of the mitochondrial haplogroups of farm and wild-living raccoon dogs in Poland.Raccoon dogs' mitochondrial DNA genes (MT-CYTB, MT-CO1 and MT-CO2) containing a total of 1.5 kbp exhibited 11 synonymous substitutions in the polymorphism described, with almost 73% found in the gene MT-CO2. The polymorphism was observed in 27.3% of the loci in wild-living animals, and in over 90% of the loci in farm raccoon dogs. Seven mitochondrial haplogroups have been determined, among which three (Np1, Np2 and Np4) were found in the wild-living raccoon dogs and the other four (Np3, Np5, Np6 ...201122040079
trypanosoma cruzi and chagas' disease in the united states.chagas' disease is caused by the protozoan parasite trypanosoma cruzi and causes potentially life-threatening disease of the heart and gastrointestinal tract. the southern half of the united states contains enzootic cycles of t. cruzi, involving 11 recognized triatomine vector species. the greatest vector diversity and density occur in the western united states, where woodrats are the most common reservoir; other rodents, raccoons, skunks, and coyotes are also infected with t. cruzi. in the east ...201121976603
[polymorphism of the mitochondrial dna control region in the population of raccoon dog (nyctereutes procyonoides gray, 1834) introduced into the upper volga basin].analysis of sequences (n = 30) of a hypervariable segment (599 bp) of the mtdna control region in raccoon dog nyctereutes procyonoides gray, 1834, introduced into the upper volga basin, revealed a high level of molecular genetic variation. two statistically significantly different haplogroups were identified. these haplogroups, however, were not associated with spatial geographic structure of the population. phylogenetic patterns of the introduced population were associated with probable heterog ...201122232926
an outbreak of canine distemper virus in tigers (panthera tigris): possible transmission from wild animals to zoo animals.canine distemper virus (cdv), a morbillivirus that causes one of the most contagious and lethal viral diseases known in canids, has an expanding host range, including wild animals. since december 2009, several dead or dying wild raccoon dogs (nyctereutes procyonoides) were found in and around one safari-style zoo in japan, and cdv was isolated from four of these animals. in the subsequent months (january to february 2010), 12 tigers (panthera tigris) in the zoo developed respiratory and gastroin ...201122214864
mathematical models for rabies.rabies virus and its associated host-pathogen population dynamics have proven a remarkable model system for developing mathematical models of infectious disease emergence and spread. beginning with simple susceptible-infectious-removed (sir) compartment models of fox rabies emergence and spread across western europe, mathematical models have now been developed to incorporate dynamics across heterogeneous landscapes, host demographic variation, and environmental stochasticity. model structures ra ...201121601056
evolution of wildlife rabies control tactics.the development of tactics for the control of rabies in wildlife species has evolved dramatically during the past few decades in part due to research advances. historically, rabies control measures primarily involved the culling of target species. however, contemporary advances in the research and development of oral rabies vaccines and delivery systems for wildlife have now made it feasible to treat rabies outbreaks over thousands of square kilometers of habitat. systems have been developed to ...201121601057
understanding effects of barriers on the spread and control of rabies.this chapter reviews the evidence for the impact of natural and anthropogenic barriers on the spread of rabies using evidence mainly drawn from the epidemics of fox and raccoon variant rabies virus over the past 60 years in north america. those barriers have both directed and inhibited the spread of rabies and, at a regional scale, have been integrated with rabies control efforts in north america. few studies have been done, however, to examine how the texture (grain) and configuration of the ha ...201121601058
genetic tracking of the raccoon variant of rabies virus in eastern north america.to gain insight into the incursion of the raccoon variant of rabies into the raccoon population in three canadian provinces, a collection of 192 isolates of the raccoon rabies virus (rrv) strain was acquired from across its north american range and was genetically characterized. a 516-nucleotide segment of the non-coding region between the g and l protein open reading frames, corresponding to the most variable region of the rabies virus genome, was sequenced. this analysis identified 119 differe ...201121624778
spinal cord involvement in a child with raccoon roundworm (baylisascaris procyonis) meningoencephalitis.a 14-month-old previously healthy boy developed progressively worsening neurological symptoms secondary to eosinophilic meningoencephalitis with myelitis caused by raccoon roundworm (baylisascaris procyonis) infection. mri demonstrated t2 hyperintensity and enhancement of the cerebral white matter, cerebellum and spinal cord. prior case reports have described signal abnormality within the brains of patients with raccoon roundworm neural larva migrans (nlm). this is a unique case in which spinal ...201121629989
host and viral ecology determine bat rabies seasonality and maintenance.rabies is an acute viral infection that is typically fatal. most rabies modeling has focused on disease dynamics and control within terrestrial mammals (e.g., raccoons and foxes). as such, rabies in bats has been largely neglected until recently. because bats have been implicated as natural reservoirs for several emerging zoonotic viruses, including sars-like corona viruses, henipaviruses, and lyssaviruses, understanding how pathogens are maintained within a population becomes vital. unfortunate ...201121646516
advancements in web-database applications for rabies surveillance.abstract: background: protection of public health from rabies is informed by the analysis of surveillance data from human and animal populations. in canada, public health, agricultural and wildlife agencies at the provincial and federal level are responsible for rabies disease control, and this has led to multiple agency-specific data repositories. aggregation of agency-specific data into one database application would enable more comprehensive data analyses and effective communication among par ...201121810215
hematology and serum biochemistry in debilitated, free-ranging raccoon dogs (nyctereutes procyonoides) infested with sarcoptic mange.frequent outbreaks of sarcoptes scabiei infestation in raccoon dogs (nyctereutes procyonoides) have been reported in japan. although many raccoon dogs are brought to kanazawa zoological garden (yokohama, kanagawa, japan) because of s. scabiei infestation and debilitation, some of them die of asthenia. the clinical status of severely debilitated raccoon dogs must be determined to save their lives. in this study, we compared hematological and serum biochemical values between severely debilitated a ...201121749931
leptospirosis and tularaemia in raccoons (procyon lotor) of larimer country, colorado.raccoons (procyon lotor) are commonly implicated as carriers of many zoonotic pathogens. the purpose of this cross-sectional study was to look for leptospira interrogans and francisella tularensis in opportunistically sampled, free-ranging raccoons of larimer country, colorado, usa. sixty-five animals were included in the study and testing consisted of gross post-mortem examination, histopathology, and both immunohistochemistry and pcr for l. interrogans and f. tularensis. no significant gross l ...201121824365
a recombinant antigen-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for specific diagnosis of baylisascaris procyonis larva migrans.baylisascaris larva migrans is an important zoonotic disease caused by baylisascaris procyonis, the raccoon roundworm, and is being increasingly considered in the differential diagnosis of eosinophilic meningoencephalitis in children and young adults. although b. procyonis excretory-secretory (bpes) antigen-based elisa and western blot assays are useful in the immunodiagnosis of this infection, cross-reactivity remains a major problem. recently, a recombinant b. procyonis antigen, bprag1, was re ...201121832102
[phylogenetic analysis of rabies viruses isolated from animals in tokyo in the 1950s].molecular epidemiological analysis of 96 rabies viruses isolated from animals in tokyo in the 1950s involves japanese fixed virus, komatsugawa, takamen, and nishigahara strains. strains isolated in tokyo were divided into tokyo 1 and tokyo 2, and grouped into a worldwide distribution cluster differing from takamen and nishigahara. tokyo 1 was grouped into the same cluster as viruses isolated from united states west coast dogs in the 1930s and 1940s. tokyo 2 was grouped into the same cluster as t ...201121706842
epizootic canine distemper virus infection among wild mammals.in the spring of 2007, seven raccoon dogs and a weasel were captured near the city of tanabe in wakayama prefecture, japan. the causative agent of the animals' death 1-2days after capture was identified as canine distemper virus (cdv) by virus isolation, immunostaining with an anti-cdv polyclonal antibody, and a commercially available cdv antigen-detection kit. sequence analysis of hemagglutinin genes indicated the isolated viruses belong to genotype asia-1 and possess the substitution from tyro ...201121840141
comparison of the host specificities of two bacteroidales quantitative pcr assays used for tracking human fecal contamination.the sewage-associated real-time quantitative pcr (qpcr) assays bachum and hf183 sybr were compared for specificity against local fecal sources. both assays were equally sensitive to sewage, but bachum showed substantially more false-positive results for cat, dog, gull, and raccoon feces.201121742921
Prevalence of Salmonella, Yersinia and Campylobacter spp. in Feral Raccoons (Procyon lotor) and Masked Palm Civets (Paguma larvata) in Japan.To estimate the public and animal health risk that alien species pose, the prevalence of Salmonella, Yersinia, and Campylobacter spp. in feral raccoons (Procyon lotor, nÔÇâ=ÔÇâ459) and masked palm civets (Paguma larvata, nÔÇâ=ÔÇâ153), which are abundant alien species in Japan, was investigated in urban and suburban areas of Japan. Salmonella enterica was detected from 29 samples [26 raccoons, 5.7%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 7.8-3.5%; three masked palm civets, 2.0%, 95% CI 4.2-0%]. Many of the ...201121824337
clinical and pathologic characteristics of t-cell lymphoma with a leukemic phase in a raccoon dog (nyctereutes procyonoides).a 7.5-year-old raccoon dog (nyctereutes procyonoides) from the henry doorly zoo (omaha, nebraska) presented to the veterinary hospital for lethargy and weight loss. on physical examination, splenomegaly and hepatomegaly were noted on palpation and were confirmed by radiographic evaluation. radiography also demonstrated a mass in the cranial mediastinum. a complete blood cell count revealed marked leukocytosis (115,200 cells/µl), with a predominance of lymphoid cells. the animal was euthanized du ...201121908331
Zoonoses of procyonids and nondomestic felids.There are several important zoonotic diseases which can be acquired from procyonids, and nondomestic felids. Baylisascaris procyonis, the raccoon roundworm, is a common parasite of raccoons and can cause visceral, ocular, or neural larval migrans in people. Neural larval migrans can cause severe signs in individuals. Dermatophytosis and enteric pathogens are the most important zoonotic agents found in nondomestic felids. Microsporum canis infections can be spread from nondomestic felids to owner ...201121872788
rabies surveillance in the united states during 2010.during 2010, 48 states and puerto rico reported 6,154 rabid animals and 2 human rabies cases to the cdc, representing an 8% decrease from the 6,690 rabid animals and 4 human cases reported in 2009. hawaii and mississippi did not report any laboratory-confirmed rabid animals during 2010. approximately 92% of reported rabid animals were wildlife. relative contributions by the major animal groups were as follows: 2,246 raccoons (36.5%), 1,448 skunks (23.5%), 1,430 bats (23.2%), 429 foxes (6.9%), 30 ...201121916759
Anchoring the dog to its relatives reveals new evolutionary breakpoints across 11 species of the Canidae and provides new clues for the role of B chromosomes.The emergence of genome-integrated molecular cytogenetic resources allows for comprehensive comparative analysis of gross karyotype architecture across related species. The identification of evolutionarily conserved chromosome segment (ECCS) boundaries provides deeper insight into the process of chromosome evolution associated with speciation. We evaluated the genome-wide distribution and relative orientation of ECCSs in three wild canid species with diverse karyotypes (red fox, Chinese raccoon ...201121947954
retrospective study of extensive vaccination programs for canine rabies control and public health in korea.this retrospective study of the patterns and efforts of the extensive vaccination programs for canine rabies control (evpcrc) compared the prevalence rate (pr) of rabies under two different vaccination programs for dogs in korea between 1962 and 2007. a total of 753 cases of rabid dogs were reported between 1962 and 2007, and there were 350 human cases reported in the same period. there were 518 cases (pr, 4.11) of rabid dogs reported from 1962 to 1979, when the low-egg-passage flury strain ...201122116332
[baylisascariosis (baylisascaris procyonis)--a rare parasitic zoonosis in europe].raccoons (procyon lotor) were imported from north america into germany many decades ago, and nowadays they are part of the home wildlife fauna. unfortunately, the raccoon roundworm, baylisascaris procyonis, was also imported. this nematode species is well known as an important agent of larva migrans in more than 100 animal species including man in north america, causing a fatal neurological or severe ocular disease. there are also several respective reports from germany. a review about the biolo ...201122191168
association of mc3r gene polymorphisms with body weight in the red fox and comparative gene organization in four canids.there are five genes encoding melanocortin receptors. among canids, the genes have mainly been studied in the dog (mc1r, mc2r and mc4r). the mc4r gene has also been analysed in the red fox. in this report, we present a study of chromosome localization, comparative sequence analysis and polymorphism of the mc3r gene in the dog, red fox, arctic fox and chinese raccoon dog. the gene was localized by fish to the following chromosome: 24q24-25 in the dog, 14p16 in the red fox, 18q13 in the arctic fox ...201120477806
longitudinal study on the seroprevalence of avian influenza, leptospirosis, and tularemia in an urban population of raccoons (procyon lotor) in ontario, canada.raccoons (procyon lotor) live at high densities, often in close association with people, in urban areas in ontario and have been implicated as potential reservoirs of numerous zoonotic disease agents. we collected 137 blood samples from 61 apparently healthy raccoons in a small area of toronto, ontario, from june to october 2007 as part of a longitudinal study to determine the seasonal patterns of seroprevalence of francisella tularensis, avian influenza, and leptospira. in addition, we collecte ...201120491583
genetic variability and viral seroconversion in an outcrossing vertebrate population.inverse correlations between genetic variability and parasitism are important concerns for conservation biologists. we examined correlations between neutral genetic variability and the presence of antibodies to canine distemper virus (cdv) and feline parvovirus (fpv) in a free-ranging population of raccoons. over 3 years there was a strong relationship between age and seroprevalence rates. most young animals were seronegative to cdv and fpv, but the oldest age class was greater than 80 per cent ...201120667873
tick-borne disease agents in various wildlife from mississippi.because tick-borne diseases are becoming increasingly important throughout the world, monitoring their causative agents in wildlife may serve as a useful indicator of potential human exposure. we assessed the presence of known and putative zoonotic, tick-borne agents in four wildlife species in mississippi. animals were tested for exposure to or infection with ehrlichia chaffeensis, ehrlichia ewingii, borrelia lonestari, rickettsia spp., anaplasma phagocytophilum, and francisella tularensis. who ...201120846016
genetic evidence for domestic raccoon dog rabies caused by arctic-like rabies virus in inner mongolia, china.an outbreak of rabies affected domestic raccoon dogs on an animal farm in inner mongolia, china in 2007. a study was conducted to characterize the aetiological agent and clarify the origin of the rabies virus. brain tissues were obtained from five rabid raccoon dogs. viral nucleoprotein antigen was detected in the brain tissues and five rabies viruses were isolated from these rabid animals. phylogenetic analysis of the n and g gene sequences showed that these isolates were closely related to arc ...201120546631
serological survey of five zoonoses, scrub typhus, japanese spotted fever, tularemia, lyme disease, and q fever, in feral raccoons (procyon lotor) in japan.we investigated the seroprevalence of five tick- or mite-borne zoonoses, scrub typhus (orientia tsutsugamushi), japanese spotted fever (rickettsia japonica), tularemia (francisella tularensis), lyme disease (borrelia afzelii and borrelia garinii), and q fever (coxiella burnetii), in feral raccoons (procyon lotor) captured in hokkaido and kanagawa prefectures in japan. of the 559 raccoons captured in hokkaido, 8 (1.4%), 3 (0.5%), 1 (0.2%), and 1 (0.2%) carried antibodies against o. tsutsugamushi ...201120553108
heterozygote deficiencies in parasite populations: an evaluation of interrelated hypotheses in the raccoon tick, ixodes texanus.population genetics is increasingly being used to study the biology of parasites at the scales of both the host (infrapopulation, ip) and host population (component population, cp). in this study we tested three mechanistic hypotheses that could explain deviations from hardy-weinberg equilibrium (hwe) expectations due to heterozygote deficits (hds) at the cp scale in raccoon ticks (ixodes texanus; n=718) collected from raccoons (procyon lotor; n=91) and genotyped at 11 microsatellite loci. these ...201120606689
reducing baylisascaris procyonis roundworm larvae in raccoon latrines.baylisascaris procyonis roundworms, a parasite of raccoons, can infect humans, sometimes fatally. parasite eggs can remain viable in raccoon latrines for years. to develop a management technique for parasite eggs, we tested anthelmintic baiting. the prevalence of eggs decreased at latrines, and larval infections decreased among intermediate hosts, indicating that baiting is effective.201121192862
invasive plant species alters consumer behavior by providing refuge from predation.understanding the effects of invasive plants on native consumers is important because consumer-mediated indirect effects have the potential to alter the dynamics of coexistence in native communities. invasive plants may promote changes in consumer pressure due to changes in protective cover (i.e., the architectural complexity of the invaded habitat) and in food availability (i.e., subsidies of fruits and seeds). no experimental studies have evaluated the relative interplay of these two effects. ...201121221650
immunogenicity and efficacy of two rabies vaccines in wild-caught, captive raccoons.the immunogenicity and efficacy of two rabies vaccines in wild-caught, captive raccoons (procyon lotor) were investigated. raccoons were fed ontario slim (os) baits containing a recombinant vaccinia virus-rabies glycoprotein (vrg) oral rabies vaccine, or they were given an intramuscular (im) injection of imrab(®) 3 rabies vaccine. blood samples collected before treatment and from weeks 1 to 16 posttreatment were assessed for the presence of rabies virus antibody (rva). there were significantly m ...201121270007
intoxication of nontarget wildlife with rodenticides in northwestern kansas.the perception of prairie dogs (cynomys spp.) both as a nuisance species and a keystone species presents a significant challenge to land, livestock, and wildlife managers. anticoagulant and nonanticoagulant rodenticides are commonly employed to control prairie dog populations throughout their range. chlorophacinone, and to a lesser extent zinc phosphide, are widely used in northwestern kansas for controlling black-tailed prairie dog (cynomys ludovicianus) populations. although zinc phosphide poi ...201121270011
rabid foxes, rabid raccoons, and the odds of a human bite exposure, new york state, 1999-2007.anecdotal evidence suggests that rabid foxes are more likely to attack humans than are other rabid terrestrial animals. to examine this issue, we analyzed rabies surveillance data (1999-2007) maintained by the new york state department of health. compared to rabid raccoons (procyon lotor), foxes infected with raccoon variant rabies were more likely to bite during a human exposure incident (p<0.01). additionally, rabid gray foxes (urocyon cinereoargenteus) were significantly more likely to bite a ...201121270014
prevalence of dirofilaria immitis infection in living raccoon dogs assessed by hematological examination.the prevalence of dirofilaria immitis in free-ranging raccoon dogs (nyctereutes procyonoides viverrinus) was examined in the southeast region of kanagawa prefecture, japan, using a rapid immunomigration (rim) test kit. between april 2007 and march 2010, we examined 108 raccoon dogs rescued and housed by the kanazawa zoological garden. d. immitis infection was found in 8 (7.4%) raccoon dogs. this is the first report to reveal the prevalence of d. immitis infection in living raccoon dogs. the prev ...201121293077
combining information from surveys of several species to estimate the probability of freedom from echinococcus multilocularis in sweden, finland and mainland norway.the fox tapeworm echinococcus multilocularis has foxes and other canids as definitive host and rodents as intermediate hosts. however, most mammals can be accidental intermediate hosts and the larval stage may cause serious disease in humans. the parasite has never been detected in sweden, finland and mainland norway. all three countries require currently an anthelminthic treatment for dogs and cats prior to entry in order to prevent introduction of the parasite. documentation of freedom from e. ...201121314948
differentiation of canine distemper virus isolates in fur animals from various vaccine strains by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism according to phylogenetic relations in china.in order to effectively identify the vaccine and field strains of canine distemper virus (cdv), a new differential diagnostic test has been developed based on reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (rt-pcr) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (rflp). we selected an 829 bp fragment of the nucleoprotein (n) gene of cdv. by rflp analysis using bamhi, field isolates were distinguishable from the vaccine strains. two fragments were obtained from the vaccine strains by rt-pcr-rflp an ...201121352564
molecular characterization of korean rabies virus isolates.the nucleoprotein (n) and glycoprotein (g) of 11 korean rabies virus (rabv) isolates collected from animals diagnosed with rabies between 2008 and 2009 were subjected to molecular and phylogenetic analyses. six isolates originated from domestic animals (cattle and dogs) and five were obtained from wild free-ranging raccoon dogs. the similarities in the nucleotide sequences of the n gene among all korean isolates ranged from 98.1 to 99.8%, while those of the g gene ranged from 97.9 to 99.3%. base ...201121368564
effects of alprazolam on capture stress-related serum cortisol responses in korean raccoon dogs (nyctereutes procyonoides koreensis).the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of alprazolam on the stress that korean raccoon dogs (nyctereutes procyonoides koreensis) may experience while caught in a live trap by measuring their serum cortisol response. the animals were placed in a live trap with or without being pretreated with oral doses of alprazolam. in both groups, pre-trap blood samples were initially collected without anesthesia before the animals were positioned in the live trap; then post-trap blood samples we ...201121368571
the first detection of babesia species dna from japanese black bears (ursus thibetanus japonicus) in japan.in this study, we tried to detect protozoan blood parasites from the liver or blood of 156 japanese black bears (ursus thibetanus japonicus) in iwate prefecture of japan by polymerase chain reaction. two amplicons (approximately 540 bp and 480 bp) were detected by amplification for v4 hyper-variable regions of the 18s rrna gene. approximately 540-bp products were obtained in 119 samples (76.3%) and were considered to be dna of hepatozoon ursi. approximately 480-bp products were obtained in 22 sa ...201121376138
molecular survey of anaplasma and ehrlichia infections of feral raccoons (procyon lotor) in hokkaido, japan.infection by anaplasma and ehrlichia in feral raccoons (procyon lotor) in hokkaido, japan, was examined by molecular methods. a polymerase chain reaction (pcr) screen for anaplasmataceae, based on 16s rrna, showed that 38 (5.4%) of 699 raccoons examined were positive. these 38 positive samples were examined for anaplasma phagocytophilum, anaplasma bovis, ehrlichia chaffeensis, and ehrlichia canis infection by species-specific nested pcr. nested pcr results indicated that 36 of the 38 samples wer ...201121395415
raccoon roundworms in pet kinkajous--three states, 1999 and 2010.baylisascaris procyonis (bp) is the common roundworm of raccoons (procyon lotor). adult bp live in the small intestine of this host, where they produce eggs that are passed in the feces. bp eggs ingested by nondefinitive host species hatch in the intestine, producing larvae that can migrate widely, causing visceral, ocular, or neural larva migrans. cases of neural larva migrans in humans caused by bp likely acquired from raccoons have resulted in severe encephalitis with permanent deficits and i ...201121412211
salmonella in raccoons (procyon lotor) in southern ontario, canada.numerous serotypes of salmonella have been detected in a variety of wild animals, including raccoons (procyon lotor). raccoons are common, mid-size omnivores that live in close association with people in urban and rural areas in ontario. although raccoons are known to shed salmonella, little is known about their potential long-term role in maintaining salmonella infections. we sampled feces from raccoons in three areas of ontario: one primarily urban site around niagara, one primarily rural site ...201121441187
a unique genotype of leptospira interrogans serovar pomona type kennewicki is associated with equine abortion.although serologic data indicate horses in n. america are exposed to a variety of leptospiral serovars, abortion is almost always associated with leptospira interrogans serovar pomona type kennewicki. a variety of wildlife including raccoons, white tailed deer, striped skunks, opossums, and red and grey foxes have been shown to host serovar pomona and have therefore been suspect as sources of infection for pregnant mares. the aim of the present study was to examine genetic diversity in serovar p ...201121450416
experimental inoculation of raccoons (procyon lotor) with spiroplasma mirum and transmissible mink encephalopathy (tme).the primary objective of this study was to determine whether or not spiroplasma mirum would be capable of producing lesions of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (tse) when inoculated in raccoons (procyon lotor) and, if that was possible, to compare the clinicopathological findings with those of transmissible mink encephalopathy (tme) in the same experimental model. for this purpose, 5 groups (n = 5) of raccoon kits were inoculated intracerebrally with either s. mirum and/or tme. two other ...201121461191
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