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toward an ecological framework for assessing reservoirs of vector-borne pathogens: wildlife reservoirs of trypanosoma cruzi across the southern united states.wildlife species are critical for both feeding vectors and serving as reservoirs of zoonotic vector-borne pathogens. transmission pathways leading to disease in humans or other target taxa might be better understood and managed given a complete understanding of the relative importance of different reservoir species in nature. using the conceptual framework of "reservoir potential," which considers elements of both reservoir competence and vector-host contact, we review the wildlife reservoirs of ...201729106561
histopathological changes in the liver and stomach of didelphis virginiana (didelphimorphia: didelphidae) during natural infection with gnathostoma turgidum (nematoda: gnathostomidae).gnathostoma turgidum is a nematode parasite that exploits the stomach of virginian opossums, didelphis virginiana, in latin america. the opossum is the definitive host of g. turgidum in the wild. intrahepatic growth and maturation of the parasite, subsequent migration to the stomach and spontaneous expulsion are common. however, the histopathological lesions caused by g. turgidum are poorly described. a better understanding of the life cycle of this parasite and the pathological changes in natur ...201729103381
the transcriptome of thedidelphis virginianaopossum kidney ok proximal tubule cell line.the ok cell line derived from the kidney of a female opossumdidelphis virginianahas proven to be a useful model in which to investigate the unique regulation of ion transport and membrane trafficking mechanisms in the proximal tubule (pt). sequence data and comparison of the transcriptome of this cell line to eutherian mammal pts would further broaden the utility of this culture model. however, the genomic sequence ford. virginianais not available and although a draft genome sequence for the opo ...201728615248
reproductive disorders of marsupials.marsupial reproduction differs significantly in anatomy and physiology from that of placental mammals. the gastrointestinal and urogenital tracts empty into a cloaca. reproductive parameters include gestation and pouch time, as the fetus develops outside of the uterus. captive marsupials discussed include sugar gliders), short-tailed opossums, virginia opossums, and tammar and bennett's wallabies. common disease conditions include joey eviction, pouch infections, mastitis, metritis, prostatitis, ...201728169182
eosinophilic meningoencephalitis associated with rat lungworm (angiostrongylus cantonensis) migration in two nine-banded armadillos (dasypus novemcinctus) and an opossum (didelphis virginiana) in the southeastern united states.angiostrongylus cantonensis, the rat lungworm, was the cause of neural larval migrans in two nine-banded armadillos (dasypus novemcinctus) and one virginia opossum (didelphis virginiana) from the southeastern united states. histologic findings in all three cases included eosinophilic meningoencephalitis with variable numbers of nematode larvae in the meninges or the neuroparenchyma. in two of the three cases, nematodes were extracted from brain tissue via a "squash prep" method. identification o ...201728626635
sarcocystis neurona manipulation using culture-derived merozoites for bradyzoite and sporocyst production.equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (epm) remains a significant central nervous system disease of horses in the american continents. sarcocystis neurona is considered the primary causative agent and its intermediate life stages are carried by a wide host-range including raccoons (procyon lotor) in north america. s. neurona sarcocysts mature in raccoon skeletal muscle and can produce central nervous system disease in raccoons, mirroring the clinical presentation in horses. the study aimed to devel ...201728372843
amblyomma auricularium (ixodida: ixodidae) in florida: new hosts and distribution records.previous published evidence for the occurrence of an exotic armadillo tick, amblyomma auricularium (conil), in florida is scant, but we found it is fully established and integrated into the state's tick fauna. we collected 11,192 specimens of this tick from naturalized nine-banded armadillos, dasypus novemcinctus l., and 14 other species of wild native mammals and birds in florida, while sampling statewide during 2004 through 2007. in all, we document its specific presence only in 14 contiguous ...201728082640
spontaneous neoplasms in captive virginia opossums ( didelphis virginiana): a retrospective case series (1989-2014) and review of the literature.this retrospective project summarizes the types of neoplasms identified in virginia opossums ( didelphis virginiana) presented to the university of tennessee, college of veterinary medicine (utcvm) postmortem service in 1989-2014 and serves as a review of the literature. of the 85 virginia opossums identified from the utcvm case database, there were 17 diagnoses of neoplasia from 12 cases (14%). these cases included 8 females, 2 males, and 2 neutered males. all opossums with known ages (11 of 12 ...201728375825
trypanosoma cruzi strain tciv infects raccoons from illinois.the northern limits of trypanosoma cruzi across the territory of the united states remain unknown. the known vectors triatoma sanguisuga and t. lecticularia find their northernmost limits in illinois; yet, earlier screenings of those insects did not reveal the presence of the pathogen, which has not been reported in vectors or reservoir hosts in this state.201829211106
factors influencing experimental estimation of scavenger removal and observer detection in bird-window collision surveys.wildlife collisions with human-built structures are a major source of direct anthropogenic mortality. understanding and mitigating the impact of anthropogenic collisions on wildlife populations require unbiased mortality estimates. however, counts of collision fatalities are underestimated due to several bias sources, including scavenger removal of carcasses between fatality surveys and imperfect detection of carcasses present during surveys. these biases remain particularly understudied for bir ...201830194798
survey of baylisascaris spp. in eastern tennessee wildlife and detection of baylisascaris spp. eggs in virginia opossum ( didelphis virginiana) feces.we analyzed 69 eastern tennessee wildlife samples for baylisascaris spp. during 2011. the prevalence of baylisascaris spp. in raccoons ( procyon lotor) was 16% (8/49), an increase compared to previous surveys in this region. one virginia opossum ( didelphis virginiana) had eggs in its feces, indicating that opossums can play a role in baylisascaris spp. transmission.201829902128
physiological basal parameters of free-ranging opossums ( didelphis virginiana) in the yucatan peninsula, mexico.the aim of the present study is to determine the basal parameters in opossums ( didelphis virginiana) during physical examination in yucatan, mexico. sixty-six opossums were captured and manually handled for physical examinations. sex, age, cardiac and respiratory rate, body temperature, pulse, mucous membranes, capillary refill time, hydration, size of superficial lymph nodes, mental status, and body condition were evaluated. also, comparisons between rectal and auricular temperatures were perf ...201829900782
prevalence, abundance and intensity of eggs and oocysts of gastrointestinal parasites in the opossum didelphis virginiana kerr, 1792 in yucatan, mexico.virginia opossum, didelphis virginiana, is a synanthropic mammal associated with peridomestic areas of yucatán, however, little is known about the gastrointestinal parasite infections of this species. the infection prevalence, mean abundance and mean intensity of eggs and oocysts of gastrointestinal parasites, in opossums captured in the peridomestic areas were estimated in six rural localities of yucatán, mexico. eighty-four faecal samples were processed by flotation technique. mcmaster test wa ...201831662637
transcriptomic analysis of skin pigmentation variation in the virginia opossum (didelphis virginiana).skin pigmentation and coat pigmentation are two of the best-studied examples of traits under natural selection given their quantifiable fitness interactions with the environment (e.g., camouflage) and signalling with other organisms (e.g., warning coloration). previous morphological studies have found that skin pigmentation variation in the virginia opossum (didelphis virginiana) is associated with variation in precipitation and temperatures across its distribution range following gloger's rule ...201829742302
playing by the rules? phenotypic adaptation to temperate environments in an american marsupial.phenotypic variation along environmental gradients can provide evidence suggesting local adaptation has shaped observed morphological disparities. these differences, in traits such as body and extremity size, as well as skin and coat pigmentation, may affect the overall fitness of individuals in their environments. the virginia opossum (didelphis virginiana) is a marsupial that shows phenotypic variation across its range, one that has recently expanded into temperate environments. it is unknown, ...201829607255
parotid salivary gland basal cell adenocarcinoma in a big-eared opossum (didelphis aurita).the opossum (family didelphidae) is a marsupial endemic to the americas. apart from the south american short-tailed opossum (monodelphis domestica) and the virginia opossum (didelphis virginiana), there is considerable lack of knowledge about the health and diseases of most opossum species. among these, the big-eared opossum (didelphis aurita) is found in argentina, brazil and paraguay. natural and experimental studies have shown this species to be susceptible to infectious agents with zoonotic ...201829599001
trypanosoma cruzi transmission among captive nonhuman primates, wildlife, and vectors.natural infection of captive nonhuman primates (nhps) with trypanosoma cruzi (agent of chagas disease) is an increasingly recognized problem in facilities across the southern usa, with negative consequences for nhp health and biomedical research. we explored a central texas nhp facility as a nidus of transmission by characterizing parasite discrete typing units (dtu) in seropositive rhesus macaques (macaca mulatta), identifying the wildlife reservoirs, and characterizing vector infection. in ser ...201829497880
helminth community structure of the gray four-eyed opossum philander opossum (mammalia: didelphidae) in the neotropical portion of mexico.studies on helminth communities associated with didelphids are scarce; the majority of works have focused at taxonomic level. to increase the ecological knowledge of these host-parasite associations, during march (dry season) of 3 consecutive years (2013-2015) a total of 49 adults of the gray four-eyed opossum (philander opossum) was collected in the neotropical portion of mexico (agua fría, chiapas state) and examined for helminths. the main objectives of this study were to describe the infra- ...201931418650
west nile virus associations in wild mammals: an update.although west nile virus (wnv) is generally thought to circulate among mosquitoes and birds, several historic and recent works providing evidence of wnv activity in wild mammals have been published. indeed, a previous review tabulated evidence of wnv exposure in at least 100 mammalian species. herein, we provide an update on wnv activity in wild and select other mammals that have been reported since the last major review article on this subject was published in early 2013. of interest, new speci ...201931117189
fatal west nile virus infection in a virginia opossum (didelphis virginiana) with pulmonary lepidic-predominant adenocarcinoma.a fatal case of west nile virus (wnv) infection was diagnosed based on histopathologic findings and the presence of wnv rna by reverse transcription pcr in the affected organs in a virginia opossum (didelphis virginiana) in quebec, canada in 2017. disease caused by wnv has not been described in a marsupial species.201931008678
development and evaluation of a duplex taqman qpcr assay for detection and quantification of trypanosoma cruzi infection in domestic and sylvatic reservoir hosts.a question of epidemiological relevance in chagas disease studies is to understand trypanosoma cruzi transmission cycles and trace the origins of (re)emerging cases in areas under vector or disease surveillance. conventional parasitological methods lack sensitivity whereas molecular approaches can fill in this gap, provided that an adequate sample can be collected and processed and a nucleic acid amplification method can be developed and standardized. we developed a duplex qpcr assay for accurat ...201931783770
onrab® oral rabies vaccine is shed from, but does not persist in, captive mammals.onrab® is a human adenovirus rabies glycoprotein recombinant vaccine developed to control rabies in wildlife. to support licensing and widespread use of the vaccine, safety studies are needed to assess its potential residual impact on wildlife populations. we examined the persistence of the onrab® vaccine virus in captive rabies vector and non-target mammals. this research complements work on important rabies vector species (raccoon, striped skunk, and red fox) but also adds to previous findings ...201931248686
redescription of cruzia americana maplestone, 1930 (nematoda: kathlaniidae) a parasite of didelphis virginiana (kerr) (mammalia: didelphidae) in the usa.cruzia americana maplestone, 1930 is a common nematode parasite of opossums in north america. however, our present knowledge on the morphology of this species is still limited and its validity is uncertain. in the present study, specimens of c. americana collected from the type-host didelphis virginiana (kerr) (mammalia: didelphidae) in the usa were studied using light microscopy and, for the first time, scanning electron microscopy (sem). the sem observations revealed the internal structures of ...201931087202
sarcocystis neurona-induced myeloencephalitis relapse following anticoccidial treatment.sarcocystis neurona is a ubiquitous parasite in the eastern united states, which is the principal causative agent in the neurologic disorder equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (epm). while much is known about this protozoa's life cycle in its natural host, the opossum (didelphis virginiana), little is known of how it acts in the aberrant equine host, which displays a high incidence of exposure with a relatively low rate of morbidity. for this study, we employed the popular interferon gamma knock ...201931033388
biomonitoring organochlorine pesticides in didelphis virginiana from yucatan, mexico by gc-ecd.the aim of the present work was to apply a validated methodology for the detection of organochlorine pesticides in didelphis virginiana (virginia opossum) serum samples collected in yucatan, mexico. recent studies performed to investigate the presence of organochlorines (ocls) in water, human blood and milk, and animal tissues from yucatan have shown that the ocls concentrations are high and can be associated with potential human health risk. since opossum is considered an important synanthropic ...201930989282
salmonella, campylobacter, clostridium difficile, and anti-microbial resistant escherichia coli in the faeces of sympatric meso-mammals in southern ontario, canada.the role of free-ranging wildlife in the epidemiology of enteropathogens causing clinical illness in humans and domestic animals is unclear. salmonella enterica and anti-microbial resistant bacteria have been detected in the faeces of raccoons (procyon lotor), but little is known about the carriage of these bacteria in other sympatric meso-mammals. our objectives were to: (a) report the prevalence of salmonella and associated anti-microbial resistance, campylobacter spp, clostridium difficile, a ...201930985994
potential effects of blood meal host on bacterial community composition in ixodes scapularis nymphs.tick microbiomes may play an important role in pathogen transmission. however, the drivers of microbiome variation are poorly understood, and this limitation has impeded mechanistic understanding of the functions of microbial communities for pathogen acquisition. the goal of this research was to characterize the role of the blood meal host in structuring the microbiome of ixodes scapularis, the primary vector of lyme disease in the eastern united states, and to determine if ticks that fed from d ...201930660375
effect of high-density oral rabies vaccine baiting on rabies virus neutralizing antibody response in raccoons ( procyon lotor).from 2014 to 2016, we examined the effect of distributing oral rabies vaccine baits at high density (150 baits/km2) in an area of virginia, us that was naïve to oral rabies vaccination prior to the study. we also compared the effect of baiting at high density in a naïve area to baiting at standard density (75 baits/km2) in an area that had been baited annually for 12 yr. our results suggested that rabies virus seroconversion in raccoons ( procyon lotor) gradually increased each year under the hi ...201930507337
landscape-scale differences among cities alter common species' responses to urbanization.understanding how biodiversity responds to urbanization is challenging, due in part to the single-city focus of most urban ecological research. here, we delineate continent-scale patterns in urban species assemblages by leveraging data from a multi-city camera trap survey and quantify how differences in greenspace availability and average housing density among ten north american cities relate to the distribution of eight widespread north american mammals. to do so, we deployed camera traps at 56 ...202033141996
association of the invasive haemaphysalis longicornis tick with vertebrate hosts, other native tick vectors, and tick-borne pathogens in new york city, usa.haemaphysalis longicornis, the asian longhorned tick, is an invasive ixodid tick that has rapidly spread across the northeastern and southeastern regions of the united states since first reported in 2017. the emergence of h. longicornis presents a potential threat for livestock, wildlife, and human health as the host associations and vector potential of this invasive pest in the united states are poorly understood. previous field data from the united states has shown that h. longicornis was not ...202033130214
dracunculus species in meso-mammals from georgia, united states, and implications for the guinea worm eradication program in chad, africa.the prevalence and diversity of parasitic nematodes in wildlife have been well studied for certain species, yet for others considerable gaps in knowledge exist. the parasitic nematode dracunculus insignis infects north american wildlife, and past research on this species has led to an increased understanding of the potential host diversity and transmission of the closely related human guinea worm, dracunculus medinensis (which is currently the focus of a global eradication program). many definit ...202033009554
canine dracunculus nematode infection, toledo, spain.a fragment of a dracunculus-like worm was extracted from the hind limb of a 2-year-old dog from toledo, spain. cytochrome oxidase i and rrna sequences confirmed an autochthonous mammalian dracunculus worm infection in europe. sequence analyses suggest close relation to a parasite obtained from a north american opossum.202032687046
morphological and molecular data reveal a new species of lueheia (acanthocephala: plagiorhynchidae) from turdus migratorius (turdidae) in central mexico and its phylogenetic implications within the family.members of the genus lueheia travassos, 1919, are endoparasites of birds, particularly passerines, throughout the americas. adults of lueheia sp., (plagiorhynchidae golvan, 1960; porrorchinae golvan, 1956) were recovered from the intestine of the american robin (turdus migratorius phillipsi bangs) in mexico city, and two other species of acanthocephalans identified as porrorchis nickoli, (plagiorhynchidae: porrorchinae) salgado-maldonado and cruz-reyes, 2002 and centrorhynchus microcephalus (bra ...202032671541
'candidatus mycoplasma haemoalbiventris', a novel hemoplasma species in white-eared opossums (didelphis albiventris) from brazil.opossums of the genus didelphis are considered synanthropic animals due to their close contact with human beings. previously, two species of hemotropic mycoplasmas (hemoplasmas) have been detected in opossums: 'candidatus mycoplasma haemodidelphidis' in the north american opossum (didelphis virginiana) and a potentially novel hemotropic mycoplasma sp. in the white-eared opossums (didelphis albiventris) from brazil. accordingly, the aims of this study were as follows: (a) to determine the prevale ...202032644252
surveys for ticks on wildlife hosts and in the environment at asian longhorned tick (haemaphysalis longicornis)-positive sites in virginia and new jersey, 2018.haemaphysalis longicornis, the asian longhorned tick (alt), is native to eastern asia, but it has become invasive in several countries, including australia, new zealand and recently in the eastern united states (us). to identify wild mammal and avian host species in the us, we conducted active wildlife surveillance in two states with known alt infestations (virginia and new jersey). in addition, we conducted environmental surveys in both states. these surveillance efforts resulted in detection o ...202032639639
letter to the editor: venezuelan equine encephalitis virus 1b invasion and epidemic control-south texas, 1971.the epidemic strain of venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (vee) 1b invaded south texas in 1971. the success of the eventual containment and control of the virus invasion was the early recognition and immediate detection, cooperation, coordination, and participation among multiple federal agencies. there were 4739 wild vertebrate animals trapped on a ranch in the area with only 1 vee virus isolation from a virgina opossum (didelphis virginiana). a large number of mosquitoes were also collected ...202032580287
ectoparasites of didelphis virginiana from yucatan, mexico.a faunal study is presented to determine the species of ectoparasites found in the opossum didelphis virginiana (kerr) (marsupialia: didelphidae). for this, tomahawk traps were placed in the peridomiciles of a rural town in yucatán, to capture individuals of this marsupial and proceed to the collection of their ectoparasites. a total of 3,023 arthropods were collected from 145 opossums. the most frequent ectoparasites were the acarines ornithodoros (alectorobius) nr. talaje (64.8%) (argasidae); ...202032504090
comparative metal analysis in a species assemblage of mammals from the southeastern united states.metal pollution commonly occurs in many terrestrial environments and may pose a threat for the animals inhabiting such areas. here, we present concentrations of six metals (cadmium [cd], copper [cu], nickel [ni], lead [pb], selenium [se], and zinc [zn]) in the liver tissues of seven species of mammals obtained from a study that examined the impact of mesopredator removal on northern bobwhite (colinus virginianus) populations. a total of 1326 samples were collected from 2003 to 2006 at four sites ...202032323028
trypanosoma cruzi infections and associated pathology in urban-dwelling virginia opossums (didelphis virginiana).trypanosoma cruzi, a zoonotic protozoan parasite, infects a wide range of mammals. the southern united states has endemic sylvatic transmission cycles maintained by several species of wildlife and domestic dogs. we hypothesized that urban-dwelling opossums (didelphis virginiana) in south texas are infected with t. cruzi, and that tissue pathology would be associated with infection. in 2017, we collected blood, heart tissue and anal gland secretions from 100 wild opossums across three seasons tha ...202032215248
resistance of south american opossums to vwf-binding venom c-type lectins.opossums in the clade didelphini are well known to be resistant to snake venom due to endogenous circulating inhibitors which target metalloproteinases and phospholipases. however, the mechanisms through which these opossums cope with a variety of other damaging venom proteins are unknown. a protein involved in blood clotting (von willebrand factor) has been found to have undergone rapid adaptive evolution in venom-resistant opossums. this protein is a known target for a subset of snake venom c- ...202032135198
broad similarities in shoulder muscle architecture and organization across two amniotes: implications for reconstructing non-mammalian synapsids.the evolution of upright limb posture in mammals may have enabled modifications of the forelimb for diverse locomotor ecologies. a rich fossil record of non-mammalian synapsids holds the key to unraveling the transition from "sprawling" to "erect" limb function in the precursors to mammals, but a detailed understanding of muscle functional anatomy is a necessary prerequisite to reconstructing postural evolution in fossils. here we characterize the gross morphology and internal architecture of mu ...202032117627
characterization of antimicrobial resistance genes in enterobacteriaceae carried by suburban mesocarnivores and locally owned and stray dogs.the role of wildlife in the dissemination of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria and antimicrobial resistance genes (args) in the environment is of increasing concern. we investigated the occurrence, richness and transmissibility potential of args detected in the faeces of three mesocarnivore species: the coyote (canis latrans), raccoon (procyon lotor) and virginia opossum (didelphis virginiana), and of stray and owned dogs in suburban chicago, il, usa. rectal swabs were collected from live-capture ...202032034890
the embryo of the silky shrew opossum, caenolestes fuliginosus (tomes, 1863): first description of the embryo of paucituberculata.the development of caenolestid marsupials (order paucituberculata) is virtually unknown. we provide here the first description of caenolestes fuliginosus embryos collected in the colombian central andes. our sample of four embryos comes from a single female caught during a fieldtrip at río blanco (manizales, caldas), in 2014. the sample was processed for macroscopic description using a standard event system and for histological descriptions (sectioning and staining). the grade of development of ...202031984547
arthropods associated with mammals. their importance as part of the richness in a biosphere reserve in mexico.the chamela biological station (chbs) is located in the pacific coast of mexico in the state of jalisco. this represents one of the core areas of the chamela-cuixmala biosphere reserve, characterized by one of the most threatened ecosystems, the tropical dry forest. although accumulated knowledge of biological diversity, only few studies have been focused on ectoparasites or ectodytes associated with mammals, only 23 arthropod taxa had been recorded. in order to increase knowledge about arthropo ...202031880772
organochlorine pesticides residues in blood of peridomestic populations of virginia opossum (didelphis virginiana) from ex-henequen rural localities of yucatan, mexico.organochlorine pesticides (ocps) have been used for many decades, both for the control of pests in agriculture and for the control of vectors of human and animal diseases. several recent studies have reported significant concentrations of these compounds in multiple environmental substrates due to their persistence, as well as the effect they have on ecosystem health, human health, and wildlife populations. in the present study, organochlorine pesticide residues were determined and quantified in ...202031701182
evidence of leptospira serovars in wildlife and leptospiral dna in water sources in a natural area in east-central illinois, usa.we identified seven leptospira serovars in wildlife and the presence of leptospiral dna in water sources at a natural area within a fragmented habitat in illinois, us. these serovars have been implicated in domestic animal and human leptospirosis, a reemerging zoonotic disease, whose reservoirs include wildlife and domestic animals. we live trapped medium-sized mammals (n=351) near building (h-sites) or forest sites (f-sites). using serology, we evaluated exposure to leptospira (l. interrogans s ...202031622185
detection of hemotropic mycoplasma sp. in white-eared opossums (didelphis albiventris) from southern brazil.opossums are marsupials from the new world of the genus didelphis and known as synanthropic animals due to their proximity with human beings. to date, 'candidatus mycoplasma haemodidelphis' has been solely found infecting the north american opossum (didelphis virginiana). accordingly, the aim of this study was to screen eight white-eared opossums (didelphis albiventris) from a public park in maringa city, paraná state, southern brazil, for hemoplasma infection. blood samples were taken from caud ...202031390439
host interactions of aedes albopictus, an invasive vector of arboviruses, in virginia, usa.as an invasive mosquito species in the united states, aedes albopictus is a potential vector of arboviruses including dengue, chikungunya, and zika, and may also be involved in occasional transmission of other arboviruses such as west nile, saint louis encephalitis, eastern equine encephalitis, and la crosse viruses. aedes albopictus feeds on a wide variety of vertebrate hosts, wild and domestic, as well as humans.202133600413
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