Publications

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trans-species amplification of prp(cwd) and correlation with rigid loop 170n.chronic wasting disease (cwd) is an efficiently transmitted spongiform encephalopathy of cervids. whether cwd could represent a threat to non-cervid species remains speculative. here we show that brain homogenates from several cwd-susceptible non-cervid species, such as ferrets and hamsters, support amplification of prp(cwd) by spmca, whereas brain homogenates from cwd-resistant species, such as laboratory mice and transgenic mice expressing human prp(c) [tg(huprp) mice], do not. we also investi ...200919269662
parallels between playbacks and pleistocene tar seeps suggest sociality in an extinct sabretooth cat, smilodon.inferences concerning the lives of extinct animals are difficult to obtain from the fossil record. here we present a novel approach to the study of extinct carnivores, using a comparison between fossil records (n=3324) found in late pleistocene tar seeps at rancho la brea in north america and counts (n=4491) from playback experiments used to estimate carnivore abundance in africa. playbacks and tar seep deposits represent competitive, potentially dangerous encounters where multiple predators are ...200918957359
crab-eating fox (cerdocyon thous), a south american canid, as a definitive host for hammondia heydorni.hammondia heydorni is a cyst forming coccidia closely related to other apicomplexans, such as toxoplasma gondii, neospora caninum and hammondia hammondi with a two-host life cycle. dogs and other canids as red foxes (vulpes vulpes) and coyotes (canis latrans) may serve as definitive hosts for h. heydorni. sporulated oocysts are infective for cattle, sheep and goats, which may serve as intermediate hosts. herein, we describe the ability of crab-eating fox (cerdocyon thous), a wild carnivore that ...200919303215
a serological survey of infectious disease in yellowstone national park's canid community.gray wolves (canis lupus) were reintroduced into yellowstone national park (ynp) after a >70 year absence, and as part of recovery efforts, the population has been closely monitored. in 1999 and 2005, pup survival was significantly reduced, suggestive of disease outbreaks.200919756151
linkage disequilibrium and demographic history of wild and domestic canids.assessing the extent of linkage disequilibrium (ld) in natural populations of a nonmodel species has been difficult due to the lack of available genomic markers. however, with advances in genotyping and genome sequencing, genomic characterization of natural populations has become feasible. using sequence data and snp genotypes, we measured ld and modeled the demographic history of wild canid populations and domestic dog breeds. in 11 gray wolf populations and one coyote population, we find that ...200919189949
molecular and evolutionary history of melanism in north american gray wolves.morphological diversity within closely related species is an essential aspect of evolution and adaptation. mutations in the melanocortin 1 receptor (mc1r) gene contribute to pigmentary diversity in natural populations of fish, birds, and many mammals. however, melanism in the gray wolf, canis lupus, is caused by a different melanocortin pathway component, the k locus, that encodes a beta-defensin protein that acts as an alternative ligand for mc1r. we show that the melanistic k locus mutation in ...200919197024
alternate pathway of infection with hepatozoon americanum and the epidemiologic importance of predation.the range of american canine hepatozoonosis (ach) is expanding from the southern usa northward. transmission of hepatozoon americanum occurs by ingestion of infected gulf coast ticks, amblyomma maculatum. the source of the protozoan for the tick remains undetermined; infected dogs are unusual hosts for the tick.200919709355
human vaccinia infection after contact with a raccoon rabies vaccine bait - pennsylvania, 2009.since 2003, the u.s. department of agriculture's wildlife services has coordinated a multistate oral rabies vaccination (orv) program for wildlife in a 15-state zone extending from maine to alabama and in texas. the program seeks to enhance local control and prevent the spread of epizootic rabies among raccoons and, in texas, among gray foxes and coyotes. the program uses baits containing liquid vaccinia-rabies glycoprotein (v-rg) recombinant virus vaccine. because contact with ruptured baits ca ...200919893480
coyotes (canis latrans) and the matching law.environmental change is accelerating due to anthropogenic influence. species that have greater behavioral flexibility may be better adapted to exploit new or constantly changing habitats. there are few mammals and even fewer carnivores that better illustrate widespread adaptability and behavioral flexibility in the wake of human disturbance than coyotes (canis latrans). yet how such predators successfully track resources, enabling them to survive and extend their range in stochastic environments ...200919555745
protein hydrolysates are avoided by herbivores but not by omnivores in two-choice preference tests.the negative sensory properties of casein hydrolysates (hc) often limit their usage in products intended for human consumption, despite hc being nutritious and having many functional benefits. recent, but taxonomically limited, evidence suggests that other animals also avoid consuming hc when alternatives exist.200919122811
spatial analysis of plague in california: niche modeling predictions of the current distribution and potential response to climate change.plague, caused by the bacterium yersinia pestis, is a public and wildlife health concern in california and the western united states. this study explores the spatial characteristics of positive plague samples in california and tests maxent, a machine-learning method that can be used to develop niche-based models from presence-only data, for mapping the potential distribution of plague foci. maxent models were constructed using geocoded seroprevalence data from surveillance of california ground s ...200919558717
oral rabies vaccination in north america: opportunities, complexities, and challenges.steps to facilitate inter-jurisdictional collaboration nationally and continentally have been critical for implementing and conducting coordinated wildlife rabies management programs that rely heavily on oral rabies vaccination (orv). formation of a national rabies management team has been pivotal for coordinated orv programs in the united states of america. the signing of the north american rabies management plan extended a collaborative framework for coordination of surveillance, control, and ...200920027214
surveillance for transmissible spongiform encephalopathy in scavengers of white-tailed deer carcasses in the chronic wasting disease area of wisconsin.chronic wasting disease (cwd), a class of neurodegenerative transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (tse) occurring in cervids, is found in a number of states and provinces across north america. misfolded prions, the infectious agents of cwd, are deposited in the environment via carcass remains and excreta, and pose a threat of cross-species transmission. in this study tissues were tested from 812 representative mammalian scavengers, collected in the cwd-affected area of wisconsin, for tse inf ...200919697235
the molecular epidemiology of cryptosporidium and giardia infections in coyotes from alberta, canada, and observations on some cohabiting parasites.coyotes from southern alberta and saskatchewan, canada, were examined for the presence of giardia and cryptosporidium and cohabiting helminths. toxascaris was present in over 90% of the 70 animals examined, and taenia sp. in 6.5-25% of the two groups of animals studied. giardia (12.5-21.7%) and cryptosporidium (0-17.4%) were also common and molecular characterisation revealed both zoonotic and host-adapted genotypes of giardia, whereas the cryptosporidium proved to be a variant of the canine spe ...200919019549
captive coyotes compared to their counterparts in the wild: does environmental enrichment help?this article attempts to determine the effects of environment (captive or wild) and a simple form of environmental enrichment on the behavior and physiology of a nonhuman animal. specifically, analyses first compared behavioral budgets and stereotypic behavior of captive coyotes (canis latrans) in kennels and pens to their counterparts in the wild. second, experiments examined the effect of a simple form of environmental enrichment for captive coyotes (food-filled bones) on behavioral budgets, s ...200920183476
influence of exogenous gonadotropin-releasing hormone on seasonal reproductive behavior of the coyote (canis latrans).wild canis species such as the coyote (c. latrans) express a suite of reproductive traits unusual among mammals, including perennial pair-bonds and paternal care of the young. coyotes also are monestrous, and both sexes are fertile only in winter; thus, they depend upon social and physiologic synchrony for successful reproduction. to investigate the mutability of seasonal reproduction in coyotes, we attempted to evoke an out-of-season estrus in october using one of two short-acting gonadotropin- ...200919631975
detection of neospora caninum from farm-bred young blue foxes (alopex lagopus) in china.neospora caninum has been detected in several wild mammalian species, i.e., deer, coyotes, dingoes, and foxes. farm-bred foxes were rarely reported to be affected by the parasite. in this study, we detected for the first time the infection of n.caninum in farm-bred young blue foxes (alopex lagopus) in china. neospora-like tissue cysts were observed in brains and kidneys of the foxes by histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations. one hundred and three sera from the clinically normal v ...200919194087
forensic utility of the mitochondrial hypervariable region 1 of domestic dogs, in conjunction with breed and geographic information.the 608-bp hypervariable region 1 (hv1) sequences from 36 local dogs were analyzed to characterize the population genetic structure of canid mitochondrial dna (mtdna). sixteen haplotypes were identified. a 417-bp segment of this sequence was compared with genbank sequences from a geographically representative sample of 201 dogs, two coyotes, and two wolves. sixty-six haplotypes were identified including 62 found only in domestic dogs. fourteen of these correspond to the 16 local haplotypes and w ...200818279243
phylogenetic analysis of porphyromonas species isolated from the oral cavity of australian marsupials.porphyromonas species are frequently isolated from the oral cavity and are associated with periodontal disease in both animals and humans. black, pigmented porphyromonas spp. isolated from the gingival margins of selected wild and captive australian marsupials with varying degrees of periodontal disease (brushtail possums, koalas and macropods) were compared phylogenetically to porphyromonas strains from non-marsupials (bear, wolf, coyote, cats and dogs) and porphyromonas gingivalis strains from ...200818564186
rabies surveillance in the united states during 2007.summary: during 2007, 49 states and puerto rico reported 7,258 cases of rabies in animals and 1 case in a human to the cdc, representing a 4.6% increase from the 6,940 cases in animals and 3 cases in humans reported in 2006. approximately 93% of the cases were in wildlife, and 7% were in domestic animals. relative contributions by the major animal groups were as follows: 2,659 raccoons (36.6%), 1,973 bats (27.2%), 1,478 skunks (20.4%), 489 foxes (6.7%), 274 cats (3.8%), 93 dogs (1.3%), and 57 ca ...200818795848
analysis of forensic snps in the canine mtdna hv1 mutational hotspot region.a 60 bp sequence variation hotspot in the canine mitochondrial dna hypervariable region 1 was evaluated for its use in forensic investigations. nineteen haplotypes containing 18 single nucleotide polymorphisms were observed among laboratory-generated and genbank-derived domestic dog sequences representing five regional localities in the u.s. samples from the different localities were highly variable with the levels of intra-population variability being similar among the populations studied. amov ...200818808373
defining the immune response to ehrlichia species using murine models.pathogenic bacteria belonging to the family anaplasmataceae include species of the genera ehrlichia and anaplasma. ehrlichia chaffeensis, first known as the causative agent of human monocytic ehrlichiosis, also infects several vertebrate hosts including white-tailed deer, dogs, coyotes and goats. e. chaffeensis is transmitted from the bite of an infected hard tick, such as amblyomma americanum. e. chaffeensis and other tick-transmitted pathogens have adapted to both the tick and vertebrate host ...200819028013
surveillance of coyotes to detect bovine tuberculosis, michigan.bovine tuberculosis (tb) is endemic in white-tailed deer (odocoileus virginianus) in the northeastern portion of michigan's lower peninsula. bovine tb in deer and cattle has created immense financial consequences for the livestock industry and hunting public. surveillance identified coyotes (canis latrans) as potential bio-accumulators of mycobacterium bovis, a finding that generated interest in their potential to serve as sentinels for monitoring disease risk. we sampled 175 coyotes in the bovi ...200819046508
trichinella murrelli in scavenging mammals from south-central wisconsin, usa.tissues and serum from 59 raccoons (procyon lotor), 42 coyotes (canis latrans), and seven striped skunks (mephitis mephitis) collected in dane and iowa counties, wisconsin, usa, between october 2005 and march 2006 were microscopically and serologically examined for the presence of trichinella spp. encapsulated larvae were found on compression slides prepared from tongue tissues from a few animals. complete tissue digestion of tongues revealed that 19% of the raccoons, 26% of the coyotes, and non ...200818689648
prey behavior, age-dependent vulnerability, and predation rates.variation in the temporal pattern of vulnerability can provide important insights into predator-prey relationships and the evolution of antipredator behavior. we illustrate these points with a system that has coyotes (canis latrans) as a predator and two species of congeneric deer (odocoileus spp.) as prey. the deer employ different antipredator tactics (aggressive defense vs. flight) that result in contrasting patterns of age-dependent vulnerability in their probability of being captured when e ...200818840071
seasonal variation in serum testosterone, testicular volume, and semen characteristics in the coyote (canis latrans).the coyote is a seasonally breeding mammal, with most copulations occurring between december and april (depending on location). the objective of this study was to characterize seasonal changes in serum testosterone concentrations, testicular volume, and ejaculate quantity and quality in captive male coyotes. there were seasonal differences in testicular volume, with the greatest volume (20.2+/-5.4cm2), mean+/-s.e.m.) in february, corresponding with peak breeding season. circulating serum testost ...200818359065
native great lakes wolves were not restored.wolves from the great lakes area were historically decimated due to habitat loss and predator control programmes. under the protection of the us endangered species act, the population has rebounded to approximately 3000 individuals. we show that the pre-recovery population was dominated by mitochondrial dna haplotypes from an endemic american wolf referred to here as the great lakes wolf. in contrast, the recent population is admixed, and probably derives also from the grey wolf (canis lupus) of ...200817956840
recolonizing wolves and mesopredator suppression of coyotes: impacts on pronghorn population dynamics.food web theory predicts that the loss of large carnivores may contribute to elevated predation rates and, hence, declining prey populations, through the process of mesopredator release. however, opportunities to test predictions of the mesopredator release hypothesis are rare, and the extent to which changes in predation rates influence prey population dynamics may not be clear due to a lack of demographic information on the prey population of interest. we utilized spatial and seasonal heteroge ...200818488620
indirect effects and traditional trophic cascades: a test involving wolves, coyotes, and pronghorn.the traditional trophic cascades model is based on consumer resource interactions at each link in a food chain. however, trophic-level interactions, such as mesocarnivore release resulting from intraguild predation, may also be important mediators of cascades. from september 2001 to august 2004, we used spatial and seasonal heterogeneity in wolf distribution and abundance in the southern greater yellowstone ecosystem to evaluate whether mesopredator release of coyotes (canis latrans), resulting ...200818459344
risk factors associated with anthrax outbreak in animals in north dakota, 2005: a retrospective case-control study.we identified the risk factors associated with the anthrax outbreak of 2005 in animals in north dakota.200819006977
hybridization among three native north american canis species in a region of natural sympatry.background: population densities of many species throughout the world are changing due to direct persecution as well as anthropogenic habitat modification. these changes may induce or increase the frequency of hybridization among taxa. if extensive, hybridization can threaten the genetic integrity or survival of endangered species. three native species of the genus canis, coyote (c. latrans), mexican wolf (c. lupus baileyi) and red wolf (c. rufus), were historically sympatric in texas, united st ...200818841199
[seroprevalence of antibodies anti-neospora caninum and anti-toxoplasma gondii in captive wild canids].neosporosis is considered one of the main cause of abortion in dairy cattle in the world. the prevalence of neospora caninum in wild species has been studied since the coyote (canis latrans), a north american wild canid specie was discovered as definitive host of this parasite. the aim of the present study was to determine the serum prevalence of n. caninum and t. gondii in wild native canids species from brazil. serum samples of 25 crab-eating dogs (cerdocyon thous), five pampas fox (lycalopex ...200820059860
phytoremediation of chlorinated ethenes in seepline sediments: tree selection.phytoremediation of chlorinated ethene (ce)-contaminated water was investigated at the savannah river site in aiken, sc, usa. perchloroethylene (pce) and trichloroethylene (tce) are present where ce-contaminated groundwater currently outcrops in seepline soils. results of constructed and planted test cells, filled with soil from a noncontaminated seepline area and supplied with ce-contaminated groundwater (48 ppb) in the field for one season are presented. these test cells were planted with lobl ...200819260231
fatal footsteps: murder of undocumented border crossers in maricopa county, arizona.in the past 5 years, the mortality rate among undocumented workers in arizona has increased steadily. in 1998-1999, the number of deaths among border crossers was 28. that number increased dramatically in 1999-2000 to 106 and has exceeded 200 in each of the past 2 years. in the past, many immigrant deaths occurred as a result of dehydration and exposure (1). more recently, a new trend has emerged, that is, death of border crossers at the hands of the persons ("coyotes") hired to lead them across ...200818279237
origin and phylogenetic analysis of tibetan mastiff based on the mitochondrial dna sequence.at present, the tibetan mastiff is the oldest and most ferocious dog in the world. however, the origin of the tibetan mastiff and its phylogenetic relationship with other large breed dogs such as saint bernard are unclear. in this study, the primers were designed according to the mitochondrial genome sequence of the domestic dog, and the 2,525 bp mitochondrial sequence, containing the whole sequence of cytochrome b, trna-thr, trna-pro, and control region of the tibetan mastiff, was obtained. usi ...200818571121
downside risk of wildlife translocation.translocation has been used successfully by wildlife professionals to enhance or reintroduce populations of rare or extirpated wildlife, provide hunting or wildlife viewing opportunities, farm wild game, and reduce local human-wildlife conflicts. however, accidental and intentional translocations may have multiple unintended negative consequences, including increased stress and mortality of relocated animals, negative impacts on resident animals at release sites, increased conflicts with human i ...200818634483
detection of lawsonia intracellularis by real-time pcr in the feces of free-living animals from equine farms with documented occurrence of equine proliferative enteropathy.the objective of this study was to determine whether lawsonia intracellularis was present in the feces of free-living animals collected on two equine premises with documented occurrence of equine proliferative enteropathy (epe). fresh feces from black-tailed jackrabbits (lepus californicus, n=100), striped skunks (mephitis mephitis, n=22), feral cats (felis catus, n=14), brewer's blackbirds (euphagus cyanocephalus, n=10), virginian opossums (didelphis virginiana, n=9), raccoons (procyon lotor, n ...200818957657
relationships between human disturbance and wildlife land use in urban habitat fragments.habitat remnants in urbanized areas typically conserve biodiversity and serve the recreation and urban open-space needs of human populations. nevertheless, these goals can be in conflict if human activity negatively affects wildlife. hence, when considering habitat remnants as conservation refuges it is crucial to understand how human activities and land uses affect wildlife use of those and adjacent areas. we used tracking data (animal tracks and den or bed sites) on 10 animal species and infor ...200818254856
coyotes demonstrate how habitat specialization by individuals of a generalist species can diversify populations in a heterogeneous ecoregion.the tendency for individuals to disperse into habitat similar to their natal habitat has been observed in a wide range of species, although its population genetic consequences have received little study. such behavior could lead to discrete habitat-specific population subdivisions even in the absence of physical dispersal barriers or habitat gaps. previous studies of coyotes have supported this hypothesis in a small region of california, but its evolutionary significance ultimately depends on th ...200818391065
landscape ecology of eastern coyotes based on large-scale estimates of abundance.since their range expansion into eastern north america in the mid-1900s, coyotes (canis latrans) have become the region's top predator. although widespread across the region, coyote adaptation to eastern forests and use of the broader landscape are not well understood. we studied the distribution and abundance of coyotes by collecting coyote feces from 54 sites across a diversity of landscapes in and around the adirondacks of northern new york. we then genotyped feces with microsatellites and fo ...200818536259
using the dog genome to find single nucleotide polymorphisms in red foxes and other distantly related members of the canidae.single nucleotide polymorphisms (snp) are the ideal marker for characterizing genomic variation but can be difficult to find in nonmodel species. we explored the usefulness of the dog genome for finding snps in distantly related nonmodel canids and evaluated so-ascertained snps. using 40 primer pairs designed from randomly selected bacterial artificial chromosome clones from the dog genome, we successfully sequenced 80-88% of loci in a coyote (canis latrans), grey fox (urocyon cinereoargenteus), ...200821585716
economic evaluation of an oral rabies vaccination program for control of a domestic dog-coyote rabies epizootic: 1995-2006.to conduct a benefit-cost analysis of the results of the domestic dog and coyote (ddc) oral rabies vaccine (orv) program in texas from 1995 through 2006 by use of fiscal records and relevant public health data.200819046031
np1ec degradation pathways under oxic and microxic conditions.the degradation pathway of nonylphenol ethoxyacetic acid (np1ec) and the conditions favoring dicarboxylated alklyphenol ethoxyacetic acid (canp1ec; where n = the number of aliphatic carbon atoms) formation were studied in oxic microcosms constructed with organic carbon-poor soil from the mesa soil aquifer treatment (sat) facility (arizona) and pristine organic carbon-rich sediments from coyote creek (california). results suggest that the availability of dissolved oxygen determines the dominant b ...200818800508
application of cfd (fluent) to lng spills into geometrically complex environments.recent discussions on the fate of lng spills into impoundments have suggested that the commonly used combination of source5 and degadis to predict the flammable vapor dispersion distances is not accurate, as it does not account for vapor entrainment by wind. source5 assumes the vapor layer to grow upward uniformly in the form of a quiescent saturated gas cloud that ultimately spills over impoundment walls. the rate of spillage is then used as the source term for degadis. a more rigorous approach ...200818359557
captive breeding and the reintroduction of mexican and red wolves.mexican and red wolves were both faced with extinction in the wild until captive populations were established more than two decades ago. these captive populations have been successfully managed genetically to minimize mean kinship and retain genetic variation. descendants of these animals were subsequently used to start reintroduced populations, which now number about 40-50 mexican wolves in arizona and new mexico and about 100 red wolves in north carolina. the original captive mexican wolf popu ...200818173506
to what extent do microsatellite markers reflect genome-wide genetic diversity in natural populations?microsatellite variability is widely used to infer levels of genetic diversity in natural populations. however, the ascertainment bias caused by typically selecting only the most polymorphic markers in the genome may lead to reduced sensitivity for judging genome-wide levels of genetic diversity. to test this potential limitation of microsatellite-based approaches, we assessed the degree of nucleotide diversity in noncoding regions of eight different carnivore populations, including inbred as we ...200818647238
perfluorochemicals in water reuse.faced with freshwater shortages, water authorities are increasingly utilizing wastewater reclamation to augment supplies. however, concerns over emerging trace contaminants that persist through wastewater treatment need to be addressed to evaluate potential risks. in the present study, perfluorinated surfactant residues were characterized in recycled water from four california wastewater treatment plants that employ tertiary treatment and one that treats primary sewage in a wetland constructed f ...200818547612
reproductive biology of the coyote (canis latrans): integration of mating behavior, reproductive hormones, and vaginal cytology.the reproductive biology of wild canis species is often described as unique among mammals because an unusual combination of behavioral and physiological characteristics including a seasonally monestrous cycle, copulatory lock or tie, obligatory pseudopregnancy, social monogamy, and biparental care of the young. we investigated social behavior, endocrine profiles, and vaginal cytology of female coyotes (canis latrans) during 4 breeding seasons, 2000-2003. blood levels of estradiol, progesterone, ...200832287378
natural attenuation potential of downwelling streams for perfluorochemicals and other emerging contaminants.stream augmentation with tertiary treated municipal wastewater-i.e., recycled water-is increasingly considered as an ecologically beneficial way to utilize recycled water, especially in semi-arid regions of the american southwest. there is concern that emerging contaminants, i.e. unregulated but biologically active organic compounds, may be present in recycled water and will impact on the aquatic environment and the underlying groundwater. emerging contaminants include a wide variety of chemical ...200718057642
patterns of gastrointestinal parasitism among five sympatric prairie carnivores: are males reservoirs?male vertebrates are believed to be disproportionately vulnerable to parasites, but empirical support for this contention is mixed. we tested the hypothesis of higher levels of parasitism in males with the use of counts of gastrointestinal helminths in 5 sympatric mammalian carnivores (american badgers, coyotes, red foxes, raccoons, striped skunks) from central saskatchewan. parasite burdens for females and males of each host species were compared with the use of prevalence (percentage of hosts ...200717626341
on the application of computational fluid dynamics codes for liquefied natural gas dispersion.computational fluid dynamics (cfd) codes are increasingly being used in the liquefied natural gas (lng) industry to predict natural gas dispersion distances. this paper addresses several issues regarding the use of cfd for lng dispersion such as specification of the domain, grid, boundary and initial conditions. a description of the k-epsilon model is presented, along with modifications required for atmospheric flows. validation issues pertaining to the experimental data from the burro, coyote, ...200717113710
characterization of toxoplasma gondii from raccoons (procyon lotor), coyotes (canis latrans), and striped skunks (mephitis mephitis) in wisconsin identified several atypical genotypes.during 2005-2006, sera and tissues from raccoons (procyon lotor), coyotes (canis latrans), and skunks (mephitis mephitis) from the state of wisconsin were tested for toxoplasma gondii infection. antibodies to t. gondii were found in 32 of 54 (59.2%) raccoons, 18 of 35 (51.4%) coyotes, and 5 of 7 (71.4%) skunks using the modified agglutination test and a cut-off titer of 1:20. pooled tissues (brains, hearts, and tongues) from 30 raccoons, 15 coyotes, and 1 skunk were bioassayed for t. gondii infe ...200718314705
ruptured aortic aneurysm in a coyote (canis latrans) from south carolina.a radio-collared adult female coyote (canis latrans) from south carolina was found dead with no apparent signs of trauma or struggle. necropsy revealed a ruptured aortic aneurysm within the thoracic cavity as well as severe heartworm infection, with parasites present in the caudal vena cava. histologically, inflammatory cell infiltrates were frequent in the aneurysm and consisted of eosinophils, neutrophils, lymphocytes, plasma cells, and macrophages. bacteria, fungi, and parasites were not foun ...200717939363
prevalence of antibodies to leishmania infantum and trypanosoma cruzi in wild canids from south carolina.wild canids are reservoir hosts for leishmania infantum and trypanosoma cruzi. the present study examined the prevalence of antibodies to these zoonotic parasites in a population of wild canids from a nonagricultural setting in south carolina. sera from 26 gray foxes (urocyon cinereoargenteus) and 2 coyotes (canis latrans) were examined for antibodies to l. infantum and t. cruzi using the indirect immunofluorescent antibody test and commercially available parasite-specific immunochromatigraphic ...200717918387
patterns in the occurrence of saprophytic fungi carried by arthropods caught in traps baited with rotted wood and dung.fungi from approximately 1700 individual arthropods that had been captured in traps set in aspen-dominated woodland in western canada and baited with coyote dung, moose dung, white-rotted wood, brown-rotted wood and fiberglass were isolated in pure culture and identified. these data were analysed with principal components analysis (pca) to determine whether different types of substrate attracted specific arthropods and whether these animals carried unique assemblages of fungi with known proclivi ...200717663118
food webs and intraguild predation: community interactions of a native mesocarnivore.trophic level interactions between predators create complex relationships such as intraguild predation. theoretical research has predicted two possible paths to stability in intraguild systems: intermediate predators either outcompete higher-order predators for shared resources or select habitat based on security. the effects of intraguild predation on intermediate mammalian predators such as swift foxes (vulpes velox) are not well understood. we examined the relationships between swift foxes an ...200717479752
does interference competition with wolves limit the distribution and abundance of coyotes?interference competition with wolves canis lupus is hypothesized to limit the distribution and abundance of coyotes canis latrans, and the extirpation of wolves is often invoked to explain the expansion in coyote range throughout much of north america. we used spatial, seasonal and temporal heterogeneity in wolf distribution and abundance to test the hypothesis that interference competition with wolves limits the distribution and abundance of coyotes. from august 2001 to august 2004, we gathered ...200717922704
relaxin as a diagnostic tool for pregnancy in the coyote (canis latrans).the diagnosis of pregnancy in the domestic dog (canis familiaris) often employs specialized equipment, experienced staff, and the cooperation of the bitch. these procedures can be challenging when the subject is a wild canid, particularly in a field setting. in addition, reproductive hormone assays are unreliable as a diagnostic tool because the estrous profiles of pregnant and pseudopregnant canines are similar. however, research has demonstrated that the hormone relaxin can be detected in mate ...200717069998
agouti sequence polymorphisms in coyotes, wolves and dogs suggest hybridization.domestic dogs have been shown to have multiple alleles of the agouti signal peptide (asip) in exon 4 and we wished to determine the level of polymorphism in the common wild canids of canada, wolves and coyotes, in comparison. all canadian coyotes and most wolves have banded hairs. the asip coding sequence of the wolf did not vary from the domestic dog but one variant was detected in exon 4 of coyotes that did not alter the arginine at this position. two other differences were found in the sequen ...200717630272
canine scavenging of human remains in an indoor setting.this case study documents the nearly complete consumption of adult human remains by two domestic dogs (canis familiaris) inside a residence. while scavenging behavior has been observed for coyotes, wolves, hyenas and other canines in natural outdoor environments, little information is available concerning canine scavenging of human remains in an indoor setting. in this case, the dogs were confined with the body inside a residence for approximately 1 month. the impact of intrinsic and extrinsic f ...200717210237
presence of antibotulinum neurotoxin antibodies in selected wild canids in israel.serum samples from 35 golden jackals (canis aureus syriacus), eight wolves (canis lupus), and four red foxes (vulpes vulpes) from various regions of israel were collected during the years 2001-04 and tested for antibodies to clostridium botulinum neurotoxin (bont) types c and d. antibodies against bont types c and d were detected in 10 (29%) and in 3 (9%) of 35 golden jackals, respectively, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. this report describes detection of anti bont antibodies in wild c ...200717699099
oral rabies vaccine (orv) bait uptake by captive striped skunks.aerial delivery of oral rabies vaccine (orv) baits has proven effective in large-scale efforts to immunize wildlife against rabies, and in north america this strategy currently is being used to immunize foxes (urocyon cinereoargenteus and vulpes vulpes), raccoons (procyon lotor), and coyotes (canis latrans). skunks are also a major reservoir and vector of rabies, but at present oral vaccines for use in skunks are not licensed. furthermore, given differences in morphology (smaller jaws) and behav ...200717347398
locating hybrid individuals in the red wolf (canis rufus) experimental population area using a spatially targeted sampling strategy and faecal dna genotyping.hybridization with coyotes (canis latrans) continues to threaten the recovery of endangered red wolves (canis rufus) in north carolina and requires the development of new strategies to detect and remove coyotes and hybrids. here, we combine a spatially targeted faecal collection strategy with a previously published reference genotype data filtering method and a genetic test for coyote ancestry to screen portions of the red wolf experimental population area for the presence of nonred wolf canids. ...200717444895
mitochondrial dna analysis of the domestic dog: control region variation within and among breeds.the mitochondrial dna (mtdna) control regions of 125 domestic dogs (canis familiaris) encompassing 43 breeds, as well as one coyote and two wolves were sequenced and subsequently examined for sequence variation in an effort to construct a reference dog mtdna data set for forensic analysis. forty informative variable sites were identified that described 45 haplotypes, 29 of which were observed only once. substantial variation was found both within and among breeds in the mtdna derived from tissue ...200717456083
species-specific visitation and removal of baits for delivery of pharmaceuticals to feral swine.within the domestic swine industry there is growing trepidation about the role feral swine (sus scrofa) play in the maintenance and transmission of important swine diseases. innovative disease management tools for feral swine are needed. we used field trials conducted in southern texas from february to march 2006 to compare species-specific visitation and removal rates of fish-flavored and vegetable-flavored baits with and without commercially available raccoon (procyon lotor) repellent (trial 1 ...200717699086
evaluation of repetitive extragenic palindromic-pcr for discrimination of fecal escherichia coli from humans, and different domestic- and wild-animals.the objective of this study was to investigate the potential of repetitive extragenic palindromic anchored polymerase chain reaction (rep-pcr) in differentiating fecal escherichia coli isolates of human, domestic- and wild-animal origin that might be used as a molecular tool to identify the possible source(s) of fecal pollution of source water. a total of 625 fecal e. coli isolates of human, 3 domestic- (cow, dog and horse) and 7 wild-animal (black bear, coyote, elk, marmot, mule deer, raccoon a ...200717704635
movement and resource use by a group of alouatta pigra in a forest fragment in balancán, méxico.uncommonly observed behaviors were systematically recorded in a troop (n = 9 individuals) of black howler monkeys (alouatta pigra) inhabiting a small forest fragment (1.7 ha) in leona vicario, balancán, tabasco, mexico. between february 2002 and january 2003 (n = 499 h), we observed behaviors such as ground travel (85 occasions, total = 269 min/10.8% of total locomotion time), ground foraging (eight occasions, total = 50 min/0.84% of total feeding time) and drinking water pooled in tree holes (2 ...200717136475
feasibility of using coyotes (canis latrans) as sentinels for bovine mycobacteriosis (mycobacterium bovis) infection in wild cervids in and around riding mountain national park, manitoba, canada.elk (cervus elaphus manitobensis) and white-tailed deer (odocoileus virginianus) in the riding mountain national park (rmnp) region of southwestern manitoba have been identified as a likely wildlife reservoir of mycobacterium bovis, the causative agent of bovine mycobacteriosis in livestock. the feasibility of using coyotes (canis latrans) collected from trappers as a sentinel species was investigated. retropharyngeal, mesenteric, and colonic lymph nodes and tonsils collected at necropsy from 82 ...200717699081
improved bioavailability of orally administered mifepristone from plga nanoparticles.the objective of this study was to prepare an oral dosage formulation of mifepristone that will improve the oral bioavailability of mifepristone and sustain the release of mifepristone for at least 3 days to effectively control reproduction, especially in coyotes. nanoparticles containing mifepristone were prepared from dl-lactide/glycolide copolymers (plga). encapsulation efficiency of the nanoparticles was determined by hplc. in vitro release study was done in 30% isopropyl alcohol in water. i ...200717101249
prevalence of cryptosporidium species in wildlife populations within a watershed landscape in southeastern new york state.a cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of cryptosporidium in wildlife in the new york city (nyc) watershed in southeastern new york state. a total of 6227 fecal samples were collected and evaluated from 5892 mammals (38 species), 263 birds (14 species), 2 reptiles (2 species), 8 amphibians (4 species), and 62 fish (15 species). cryptosporidium was detected in 30 species. of the species found positive for cryptosporidium, 16 represented new records for this parasite-alo ...200717466459
canine bartonellosis: serological and molecular prevalence in brazil and evidence of co-infection with bartonella henselae and bartonella vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii.the purpose of this study was to determine the serological and molecular prevalence of bartonella spp. infection in a sick dog population from brazil. at the são paulo state university veterinary teaching hospital in botucatu, 198 consecutive dogs with clinicopathological abnormalities consistent with tick-borne infections were sampled. antibodies to bartonella henselae and bartonella vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii were detected in 2.0% (4/197) and 1.5% (3/197) of the dogs, respectively. using 16s-2 ...200717583666
evaluation of four serological techniques to determine the seroprevalence of neospora caninum in foxes (vulpes vulpes) and coyotes (canis latrans) on prince edward island, canada.the objectives of this study were (1) to evaluate the performance and agreement of serological assays (elisa, ifat, neospora caninum agglutination test and immunoblot) using reference sera and field sera from foxes and coyotes and (2) to estimate the n. caninum seroprevalence in foxes and coyotes on prince edward island, canada. with fox and coyote reference sera the test performance of the elisa, ifat and ib was excellent (100% sensitivity and specificity). nat showed a low sensitivity (50%). s ...200717223270
rabies surveillance in the united states during 2006.during 2006, 49 states and puerto rico reported 6,940 cases of rabies in animals and 3 cases in humans to the cdc, representing an 8.2% increase from the 6,417 cases in animals and 1 case in a human reported in 2005. approximately 92% of the cases were in wildlife, and 8% were in domestic animals. relative contributions by the major animal groups were as follows: 2,615 raccoons (37.7%), 1,692 bats (24.4%), 1,494 skunks (21.5%), 427 foxes (6.2%), 318 cats (4.6%), 82 cattle (1.2%), and 79 dogs (1. ...200717696853
rabies surveillance in the united states during 2005.during 2005, 49 states and puerto rico reported 6,417 cases of rabies in nonhuman animals and 1 case in a human being to the cdc, representing a 6.2% decrease from the 6,836 cases in nonhuman animals and 8 cases in human beings reported in 2004. approximately 92% of the cases were in wildlife, and 8% were in domestic animals. relative contributions by the major animal groups were as follows: 2,534 raccoons (39.5%), 1,478 skunks (23%), 1,408 bats (21.9%), 376 foxes (5.9%), 269 cats (4.2%), 93 cat ...200617173527
a bartonella vinsonii berkhoffii typing scheme based upon 16s-23s its and pap31 sequences from dog, coyote, gray fox, and human isolates.since the isolation of bartonella vinsonii subspecies berkhoffii from a dog with endocarditis in 1993, this organism has emerged as an important pathogen in dogs and as an emerging pathogen in people. current evidence indicates that coyotes, dogs and gray foxes potentially serve as reservoir hosts. based upon sequence differences within the 16s-23s its region and pap31 gene, we propose a classification scheme that divides b. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii isolates into four distinct types. two conse ...200616460911
neospora caninum-like oocysts observed in feces of free-ranging red foxes (vulpes vulpes) and coyotes (canis latrans).the aim of this study was to examine the feces of free-ranging foxes and coyotes for the presence of neospora caninum oocysts. feces were collected from 271 foxes and 185 coyotes in the canadian province of prince edward island, processed by sucrose flotation, and examined by light microscopy for the presence of coccidian oocysts. in 2 fox and 2 coyote samples, oocysts morphologically and morphometrically similar to oocysts of n. caninum were observed. dna was extracted from these samples and su ...200617304805
protecting babies: vaccine strategies to prevent foetopathy in neospora caninum-infected cattle.neospora caninum is an apicomplexan protozoan parasite that is a significant infectious abortifacient agent in cattle. despite the fact that it is a member of a well described taxonomic group, it is a relatively newly discovered parasite and its biology is not yet fully understood. cattle become infected either congenitally via transplacental transmission or post-natally by ingesting oocysts derived from the definitive host; dogs and coyotes are the only definitive hosts that have been described ...200616441503
neospora caninum in wildlife.neosporosis, which is caused by the coccidian parasite neospora caninum, is recognized as a major disease of domestic animals that causes high abortion rates in cattle and fatal neurological disease in dogs. a life cycle of n. caninum in wild animals (i.e. sylvatic) has long been suspected because neosporosis has been detected in several wildlife species. recently, the transmission of n. caninum has been confirmed in coyotes and white-tailed deer. the newly confirmed wild hosts and other wild an ...200616616642
relaxation of selective constraint on dog mitochondrial dna following domestication.the domestication of dogs caused a dramatic change in their way of life compared with that of their ancestor, the gray wolf. we hypothesize that this new life style changed the selective forces that acted upon the species, which in turn had an effect on the dog's genome. we sequenced the complete mitochondrial dna genome in 14 dogs, six wolves, and three coyotes. here we show that dogs have accumulated nonsynonymous changes in mitochondrial genes at a faster rate than wolves, leading to elevated ...200616809672
sodium fluoroacetate poisoning.sodium fluoroacetate was introduced as a rodenticide in the us in 1946. however, its considerable efficacy against target species is offset by comparable toxicity to other mammals and, to a lesser extent, birds and its use as a general rodenticide was therefore severely curtailed by 1990. currently, sodium fluoroacetate is licensed in the us for use against coyotes, which prey on sheep and goats, and in australia and new zealand to kill unwanted introduced species. the extreme toxicity of fluoro ...200617288493
perceptual specificity in the alarm calls of gunnison's prairie dogs.gunnison's prairie dogs have a complex alarm communication system. we show that the escape responses of prairie dogs to naturally occurring live predators differed depending upon the species of predator. we also show that playbacks of alarm calls that were elicited originally by the live predators produced the same escape responses as the live predators themselves. the escape responses fell into two qualitatively different categories: running to the burrow and diving inside for hawks and humans, ...200616529880
antibodies to west nile virus in asymptomatic mammals, birds, and reptiles in the yucatan peninsula of mexico.surveillance for evidence of west nile virus (wnv) infection in taxonomically diverse vertebrates was conducted in the yucatan peninsula of mexico in 2003 and 2004. sera from 144 horses on cozumel island, quintana roo state, 415 vertebrates (257 birds, 52 mammals, and 106 reptiles) belonging to 61 species from the merida zoo, yucatan state, and 7 farmed crocodiles in ciudad del carmen, campeche state were assayed for antibodies to flaviviruses. ninety (62%) horses on cozumel island had epitope-b ...200616687701
acoustic structures in the alarm calls of gunnison's prairie dogs.acoustic structures of sound in gunnison's prairie dog alarm calls are described, showing how these acoustic structures may encode information about three different predator species (red-tailed hawk-buteo jamaicensis; domestic dog-canis familaris; and coyote-canis latrans). by dividing each alarm call into 25 equal-sized partitions and using resonant frequencies within each partition, commonly occurring acoustic structures were identified as components of alarm calls for the three predators. alt ...200616708970
neosporosis in dairy cattle: an update from an epidemiological perspective.our understanding of the epidemiology of bovine neosporosis is advancing rapidly with considerable research activity being facilitated by improving methods. the dynamics of the infection in the known definitive hosts, the dog and the coyote, are being described. improved procedures for production of oocysts enables the horizontal transmission to intermediate hosts and the subsequent more natural infection process to be studied. details of the sylvatic cycles, potentially involving other animals ...200616737732
possible vector dissemination by swift foxes following a plague epizootic in black-tailed prairie dogs in northwestern texas.to determine whether swift foxes (vulpes velox) could facilitate transmission of yersinia pestis to uninfected black-tailed prairie dog (cynomys ludovicianus) colonies by acquiring infected fleas, ectoparasite and serologic samples were collected from swift foxes living adjacent to prairie dog towns during a 2004 plague epizootic in northwestern texas, usa. a previous study (1999-2001) indicated that these swift foxes were infested almost exclusively with the flea pulex irritans. black-tailed pr ...200616870868
carnivore-livestock conflicts: effects of subsidized predator control and economic correlates on the sheep industry.despite the importance of carnivores in terrestrial ecosystems, many nations have implemented well-coordinated, state-funded initiatives to remove predators, largely because of conflicts with humans over livestock. although these control efforts have been successful in terms of the number of carnivores removed, their effects on the viability of the industries they seek to protect are less understood. i assessed the efficacy of long-term efforts by the u.s. government to improve the viability of ...200616909568
patterns of antimicrobial susceptibility in michigan wildlife and bovine isolates of mycobacterium bovis.the state of michigan has recognized the presence of mycobacterium bovis in its free-ranging white-tailed deer population since 1994. this endemic infection is primarily located in a 12-county area in the northeastern lower peninsula of michigan. a statewide surveillance and eradication program of the disease has been in effect since 1994. worldwide, mycobacterium tuberculosis complex organisms have a known predilection toward development of antimicrobial resistance. the objective of this study ...200616921884
giardia and cryptosporidium species and genotypes in coyotes (canis latrans).feces and duodenal scrapings were collected from 22 coyotes (canis latrans) killed in managed hunts in northeastern pennsylvania. polymerase chain reaction (pcr) methods were used to detect giardia and cryptosporidium spp. pcr-amplified fragments of giardia and cryptosporidium spp. ssu-rrna genes were subjected to dna sequence analysis for species/genotype determination. seven coyotes (32%) were positive for g. duodenalis: three assemblage c, three assemblage d, and one assemblage b. six coyotes ...200617312792
dynamics of hybridization and introgression in red wolves and coyotes.hybridization and introgression are significant causes of endangerment in many taxa and are considered the greatest biological threats to the reintroduced population of red wolves (canis rufus) in north carolina (u.s.a.). little is known, however, about these processes in red wolves and coyotes (c. latrans). we used individual-based simulations to examine the process of hybridization and introgression between these species. under the range of circumstances we considered, red wolves in colonizing ...200616922243
mechanistic home range models capture spatial patterns and dynamics of coyote territories in yellowstone.patterns of space-use by individuals are fundamental to the ecology of animal populations influencing their social organization, mating systems, demography and the spatial distribution of prey and competitors. to date, the principal method used to analyse the underlying determinants of animal home range patterns has been resource selection analysis (rsa), a spatially implicit approach that examines the relative frequencies of animal relocations in relation to landscape attributes. in this analys ...200616769637
species resilience in pleistocene hominids that traveled far and ate widely: an analogy to the wolf-like canids.morphological and genetic analyses have yet to resolve the question of whether more than one species of homo existed contemporaneously in the pleistocene. in an effort to contribute a process-related perspective to hominid phylogenetic reconstruction, this paper uses an analogy to the northern wolf-like canids (the wolves and coyotes) to ask the question, how many homo species should there be, given their likely behavioral profile(s)? in contrast to earlier comparisons to social carnivores which ...200616904731
a southern california freeway is a physical and social barrier to gene flow in carnivores.roads present formidable barriers to dispersal. we examine movements of two highly mobile carnivores across the ventura freeway near los angeles, one of the busiest highways in the united states. the two species, bobcats and coyotes, can disappear from habitats isolated and fragmented by roads, and their ability to disperse across the ventura freeway tests the limits of vertebrates to overcome anthropogenic obstacles. we combine radio-telemetry data and genetically based assignments to identify ...200616689893
an aerial baiting system for the distribution of attenuated or recombinant rabies vaccines for foxes, raccoons, and skunks.an aerial baiting system was developed to deliver oral rabies vaccines to wild carnivore vectors of rabies, e.g., red fox, striped skunk, and raccoon. the bait consists of a polyethylene bag that contains either a 30-g hamburger ball or a 25-ml cube of polyurethane sponge coated with a wax-beef tallow mixture containing 100-150 mg of tetracycline as a biomarker. attractants used with the sponge were added to the bag (e.g., liver slurry, cheeses, fish oils, or fruits). baits (greater than 80,000) ...20063206077
evaluation of cocoa- and coffee-derived methylxanthines as toxicants for the control of pest coyotes.methylxanthines were quantified in coffee, tea, and chocolate products. tarajuilie tea from india, cocoa powder, and cocoa nibs contained the highest levels of methylxanthines. theobromine, caffeine, and theophylline combined in the ratios observed in tea and chocolate were ingested by coyotes. although both mixtures induced acute toxicity, the symptoms accompanying the chocolate methylxanthine mimic were preferable. manipulation of the ratios of methylxanthines in the chocolate mimic led to the ...200515884841
conservation of mhc class ii doa sequences among carnivores.we obtained the nucleotide sequence for most of the major histocompatibility complex (mhc) class ii doa locus for weddell, leopard, northern elephant, and southern elephant seals and from the coyote and compared them to all known doa data available to date. we found generally low levels of interspecific polymorphisms, providing further support for stabilizing selection acting on the doa locus. this suggests that do gene products play a substantial functional role in the regulation of antigen pre ...200515730524
influence of extender, freezing rate, and thawing rate on post-thaw motility, viability and morphology of coyote (canis latrans) spermatozoa.the objective of this study was to examine the post-thaw effects of three cryoprotective extenders (tris-fructose-citric acid extender, tris-glucose-citric acid extender, and lactose extender), three linear freezing rates (-1, -6, and -20 degrees c/min), and three thawing rates (37 degrees c water bath for 120s, 60 degrees c water bath for 30s, and 70 degrees c water bath for 8s) on coyote spermatozoa. after thawing, the findings supported that cryopreservation of coyote (canis latrans) spermato ...200515961151
monitoring coyote population dynamics by genotyping faeces.reliable population estimates are necessary for effective conservation and management, and faecal genotyping has been used successfully to estimate the population size of several elusive mammalian species. information such as changes in population size over time and survival rates, however, are often more useful for conservation biology than single population estimates. we evaluated the use of faecal genotyping as a tool for monitoring long-term population dynamics, using coyotes (canis latrans) ...200515813796
coyote movements and social structure along a cryptic population genetic subdivision.a recent region-wide study determined that the central california coyote (canis latrans) population was genetically subdivided according to habitat bioregions, supporting the hypothesis that coyotes exhibit a dispersal bias toward their natal habitat type. here, we further investigated this hypothesis using radio-collared coyotes captured on a 150-km(2) study site on the border of (i.e. overlapping) two bioregions (great valley and cascade mountains). as predicted, most coyotes were assigned (ba ...200515773950
experimental infection of adult and juvenile coyotes with domestic dog and wild coyote isolates of hepatozoon americanum (apicomplexa: adeleorina).each of five adult and four juvenile coyotes (canis latrans) was exposed to an oral dose of 50 hepatozoon americanum oocysts recovered from amblyomma maculatum ticks that previously fed on either naturally infected domestic dogs (canis familiaris) or naturally infected wild coyotes. all coyotes exposed to h. americanum became infected, regardless of isolate source, and all exhibited mild to moderate clinical disease that simulated american canine hepatozoonosis in naturally infected dogs. at 100 ...200516244069
serologic survey of select infectious diseases in coyotes and raccoons in nebraska.to obtain data about select zoonotic and other infectious diseases in free-ranging predators in five ecoregions in nebraska, sera were collected from 67 coyotes (canis latrans) and 63 raccoons (procyon lotor) from november 2002 through january 2003. for coyotes, antibodies were detected against canine distemper virus (cdv, 61%), francisella tularensis (32%), rickettsia rickettsi (13%), and flaviviruses (48%). none of the coyote sera had antibodies to borrelia burgdorferi, brucella canis, or six ...200516456169
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