Publications

isotopic investigation of niche partitioning among native carnivores and the non-native coyote (canis latrans).	we employed stable carbon (δ(13)c) and nitrogen (δ(15)n) isotopes within a hypothetico-deductive framework to explore potential resource partitioning among terrestrial mammalian carnivores. isotope values were acquired using guard hair samples from bobcat (lynx rufus), coyote (canis latrans), gray fox (urocyon cinereoargenteus), and red fox (vulpes vulpes) in the adirondack park, ny, usa. enrichment along the δ(13)c axis was expected to reflect the use of human sources of food (reflecting a corn ...	2014	24666214
mitochondrial analysis of the most basal canid reveals deep divergence between eastern and western north american gray foxes (urocyon spp.) and ancient roots in pleistocene california.	pleistocene aridification in central north america caused many temperate forest-associated vertebrates to split into eastern and western lineages. such divisions can be cryptic when holocene expansions have closed the gaps between once-disjunct ranges or when local morphological variation obscures deeper regional divergences. we investigated such cryptic divergence in the gray fox (urocyon cinereoargenteus), the most basal extant canid in the world. we also investigated the phylogeography of thi ...	2015	26288066
data from camera surveys identifying co-occurrence and occupancy linkages between fishers (pekania pennanti), rodent prey, mesocarnivores, and larger predators in mixed-conifer forests.	these data provide additional information relevant to the frequency of fisher detections by camera traps, and single-season occupancy and local persistence of fishers in small patches of forest habitats detailed elsewhere, "landscape fuel reduction, forest fire, and biophysical linkages to local habitat use and local persistence of fishers (pekania pennanti) in sierra nevada mixed-conifer forests" [10]. the data provides insight on camera trap detections of 3 fisher predators (bobcat [lynx rufus ...	2016	26937448
genomic flatlining in the endangered island fox.	genetic studies of rare and endangered species often focus on defining and preserving genetically distinct populations, especially those having unique adaptations [1, 2]. much less attention is directed at understanding the landscape of deleterious variation, an insidious consequence of geographic isolation and the inefficiency of natural selection to eliminate harmful variants in small populations [3-5]. with population sizes of many vertebrates decreasing and isolation increasing through habit ...	2016	27112291
sarcoptic mange in a south american gray fox (chilla fox; lycalopex griseus ), chile.	mange, a prevalent disease of dogs in chile, is also a serious threat to wildlife. we report a case of sarcoptic mange in a south american gray fox or chilla fox ( lycalopex griseus ). further research is needed to understand the impact of mange in wildlife populations.	2016	27310169
high trypanosoma cruzi infection prevalence associated with minimal cardiac pathology among wild carnivores in central texas.	infection with the zoonotic vector-borne protozoal parasite trypanosoma cruzi causes chagas disease in humans and dogs throughout the americas. despite the recognized importance of various wildlife species for perpetuating trypanosoma cruzi in nature, relatively little is known about the development of cardiac disease in infected wildlife. using a cross-sectional study design, we collected cardiac tissue and blood from hunter-donated wildlife carcasses- including raccoon (procyon lotor), coyote ...	2016	27330982
identification of a novel aleutian mink disease virus b-cell epitope using a monoclonal antibody against vp2 protein.	aleutian mink disease virus (amdv) is a parvovirus that causes an immune complex-mediated disease in minks. capsid protein vp2 is a major structural viral protein and can be used to diagnose amdv. in this study, a specific monoclonal antibody, 1m13, was produced against the amdv vp2 protein (amino acids 291-502). a linear vp2-protein epitope was identified by subjecting a series of partially overlapping synthesized peptides to be enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (elisa) analysis. the results in ...	2016	27354304
characterization of a novel canine distemper virus causing disease in wildlife.	canine distemper virus (cdv) is a common cause of a multisystemic disease in both domestic dogs and wildlife species, including raccoons and foxes. outbreaks of cdv in domestic dogs in eastern tennessee have occurred since 2012, and it was determined that these outbreaks resulted from a novel genotype of cdv. we hypothesized that this virus is also infecting area wildlife and may be a source of the virus for these outbreaks in dogs. from 2013 to 2014, autopsies were performed and tissues collect ...	2016	27400957
gray fox (urocyon cinereoargenteus) parasite diversity in central mexico.	mexico has a long history of parasitological studies in communities of vertebrates. however, the mega diversity of the country makes fauna inventories an ongoing priority. presently, there is little published on the parasite fauna of gray foxes (urocyon cinereoargenteus schereber, 1775) and this study provides new records of parasites for gray foxes in central mexico. it is a continuation of a series of previous parasitological studies conducted with this carnivore in mexico from 2003 to the pre ...	2016	27408801
bartonella rochalimae and b. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii in wild carnivores from colorado, usa.	spleen samples from 292 wild carnivores from colorado, us were screened for bartonella infection. bartonella dna was detected in coyotes ( canis latrans ) (28%), striped skunks ( mephitis mephitis ) (23%), red foxes ( vulpes vulpes ) (27%), and raccoons ( procyon lotor ) (8%) but not in black bears ( ursus americanus ), gray foxes ( urocyon cinereoargenteus ), and mountain lions ( puma concolor ). two bartonella species, b. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii and b. rochalimae, were identified. all 10 in ...	2016	27529290
the origin of the lower fourth molar in canids, inferred by individual variation.	an increase in tooth number is an exception during mammalian evolution. the acquisition of the lower fourth molar in the bat-eared fox (otocyon megalotis, canidae, carnivora, mammalia) is one example; however, its developmental origin is not clear. in some canids (canidae), individual variation exist as supernumerary molar m4. this study focuses on the acquisition of the lower fourth molar in canids and proposes that the inhibitory cascade model can explain its origin.	2016	27843722
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 ...	2017	28082640
ecological potential for rabies virus transmission via scavenging of dead bats by mesocarnivores.	multiple species of bats are reservoirs of rabies virus in the americas and are occasionally the source of spillover infections into mesocarnivore species. although rabies transmission generally is assumed to occur via bite, laboratory studies have demonstrated the potential for rabies transmission via ingestion of rabid animals. we investigated the ecological potential for this mode of transmission by assessing mesocarnivore scavenging behavior of dead bats in suburban habitats of flagstaff, ar ...	2017	28094609
diversity of rickettsiae in a rural community in northern california.	far northern california forests are highly biodiverse in wildlife reservoirs and arthropod vectors that may propagate rickettsial pathogens in nature. the proximity of small rural communities to these forests puts people and domestic animals at risk of vector-borne infection due to spillover from wildlife. the current study was conducted to document exposure to rickettsial pathogens in people and domestic animals in a rural community, and identify which rickettsiae are present in sylvatic and pe ...	2017	28274808
assessment of the immunogenicity of rabies vaccine preserved by vaporization and delivered to the duodenal mucosa of gray foxes (urocyon cinereoargenteus).	objective to assess the immunogenicity of thermostable live-attenuated rabies virus (rabv) preserved by vaporization (pbv) and delivered to the duodenal mucosa of a wildlife species targeted for an oral vaccination program. animals 8 gray foxes (urocyon cinereoargenteus). procedures endoscopy was used to place rabv pbv (n = 3 foxes), alginate-encapsulated rabv pbv (3 foxes), or nonpreserved rabv (2 foxes) vaccine into the duodenum of foxes. blood samples were collected weekly to monitor the immu ...	2017	28541146
systemic aa amyloidosis in the red fox (vulpes vulpes).	amyloid a (aa) amyloidosis occurs spontaneously in many mammals and birds, but the prevalence varies considerably among different species, and even among subgroups of the same species. the blue fox and the gray fox seem to be resistant to the development of aa amyloidosis, while island foxes have a high prevalence of the disease. herein, we report on the identification of aa amyloidosis in the red fox (vulpes vulpes). edman degradation and tandem ms analysis of proteolyzed amyloid protein reveal ...	2017	28791746
[relative abundance of the gray fox urocyon cinereoargenteus (carnívora: canidae) in veracruz central area, mexico].	the gray fox, urocyon cinereoargenteus, is a medium-size canid widely distributed in méxico. most studies on this species focus on habitat use, home range, diet, intraguild competence, and lanscape distribution between urban and rural sites. in central veracruz, gray foxes are present in fragments of cloud forest and in shaded coffee plantations; nevertheless, its abundance has not yet been compared among other vegetation types found in the area, such as sugarcane plantations. in this study we d ...	2016	28862421
oral vaccination of wildlife using a vaccinia-rabies-glycoprotein recombinant virus vaccine (raboral v-rg®): a global review.	raboral v-rg® is an oral rabies vaccine bait that contains an attenuated ("modified-live") recombinant vaccinia virus vector vaccine expressing the rabies virus glycoprotein gene (v-rg). approximately 250 million doses have been distributed globally since 1987 without any reports of adverse reactions in wildlife or domestic animals since the first licensed recombinant oral rabies vaccine (orv) was released into the environment to immunize wildlife populations against rabies. v-rg is genetically ...	2017	28938920
habitat selection and diurnal refugia of gray foxes in southwestern georgia, usa.	understanding habitat selection of gray foxes (urocyon cinereoargenteus) is essential to evaluate their potential response to changes in land use and predator communities. few studies have evaluated temporal habitat selection or explicitly identified habitats used by gray foxes for diurnal refugia. we used gps collars to obtain location data for 34 gray foxes (20 males and 14 females) from february 2014 to december 2015 to evaluate temporal (seasonal and diel) habitat selection and selection of ...	2017	29040319
distribution and host associations of ixodid ticks collected from wildlife in florida, usa.	a tick survey was conducted to document tick-host associations with florida (usa) wildlife, and to determine the relative abundance and distribution of ixodid ticks throughout the state. the survey was conducted using collection kits distributed to licensed florida hunters as well as the examination of archived specimens from ongoing state wildlife research programs. collected tick samples were obtained from 66% of florida counties and were collected from nine wildlife hosts, including black bea ...	2017	29110170
dynamic occupancy modelling reveals a hierarchy of competition among fishers, grey foxes and ringtails.	determining how species coexist is critical for understanding functional diversity, niche partitioning and interspecific interactions. identifying the direct and indirect interactions among sympatric carnivores that enable their coexistence is particularly important to elucidate because they are integral for maintaining ecosystem function. we studied the effects of removing nine fishers (pekania pennanti) on their population dynamics and used this perturbation to elucidate the interspecific inte ...	2018	29282715
dental pathology of the grey fox (urocyon cinereoargenteus).	museum specimens from 637 grey foxes (urocyon cinereoargenteus) were examined macroscopically according to predefined criteria. of the 637 specimens, 569 were included for further examination. the study population included more males (n = 261, 45.9%) than females (n = 196, 34.4%) and animals of unknown sex (n = 112, 19.7%). additionally, 481 (84.5%) adults, 67 (11.8%) young adults and 21 (3.7%) individuals of unknown age comprised the study population, with juveniles and neonates excluded. the n ...	2018	29422314
additional progress in the development and application of a direct, rapid immunohistochemical test for rabies diagnosis.	laboratory-based surveillance is fundamental to effective rabies prevention and control. the direct fluorescent antibody (ab) test (fat) is the gold standard for rabies diagnosis. recently, additional tests besides the fat have been developed, such as the direct rapid immunohistochemical test (drit). in this study, our objective was to further refine technical aspects of the drit using a combination of two monoclonal abs (mabs), 502 and 802, conduct additional testing among rabies reference labo ...	2018	29925781
serosurvey for influenza virus subtypes h3n8 and h3n2 antibodies in free-ranging canids in pennsylvania, usa.	canine influenza virus (civ) subtypes h3n8 and h3n2 are endemic among domestic dog ( canis lupus familiaris ) populations in the northeastern us. infection of free-ranging carnivores with influenza virus has been sporadically reported. generalist mesocarnivores that exploit anthropogenic, peri-urban habitats share a wide interface with domestic dogs that allows for the transmission of infectious disease. to investigate the potential exposure of free-ranging canids to civ in pennsylvania, us, ser ...	2019	30096030
pelvic sexual dimorphism among species monomorphic in body size: relationship to relative newborn body mass.	females have larger pelves than males among eutherians to mitigate obstetrical difficulty. this study addresses 3 issues concerning pelvic sexual dimorphism using 8 species that are sexually monomorphic in nonpelvic size: aotus azarae , castor canadensis , dasypus novemcinctus , hylobates lar , saguinus geoffroyi , sciurus carolinensis , sylvilagus floridanus , and urocyon cinereoargenteus . using published data to compute the index of relative newborn body mass (rnbm = [newborn body mass/adult ...	2016	30302031
seroprevalence for the tick-borne relapsing fever spirochete borrelia turicatae among small and medium sized mammals of texas.	in low elevation arid regions throughout the southern united states, borrelia turicatae is the principal agent of tick-borne relapsing fever. however, endemic foci and the vertebrate hosts involved in the ecology of b. turicatae remain undefined. experimental infection studies suggest that small and medium sized mammals likely maintain b. turicatae in nature, while the tick vector is a long-lived reservoir.	2018	30372445
roads do not increase carrion use by a vertebrate scavenging community.	wildlife-vehicle collisions introduce a considerable amount of carrion into the environment, but scavenger use of this resource has not been extensively investigated. scavengers may use roads for reliable foraging opportunities, but might also use roads for other purposes and encounter carrion opportunistically. we examined scavenging of carrion along linear features by placing 52 rabbit carcasses in each of three treatments in forested habitat during winter (dec 2016-mar 2017) in south carolina ...	2018	30397216
purging of strongly deleterious mutations explains long-term persistence and absence of inbreeding depression in island foxes.	the recovery and persistence of rare and endangered species are often threatened by genetic factors, such as the accumulation of deleterious mutations, loss of adaptive potential, and inbreeding depression [1]. island foxes (urocyon littoralis), the dwarfed descendants of mainland gray foxes (urocyon cinereoargenteus), have inhabited california's channel islands for >9,000 years [2-4]. previous genomic analyses revealed that island foxes have exceptionally low levels of diversity and elevated le ...	2018	30415705
seroprevalence of toxoplasma gondii and neospora caninum infections and associated factors in sheep from costa rica.	the presence of antibodies against toxoplasma gondii and neospora caninum were analyzed in 392 sheep sera from ten costa rican ovine flocks using indirect immuno-enzymatic assays. additionally, general information about sheep management, environment, and clinical reproductive disorders was assessed through a questionnaire to inquire factors related to these apicomplexan parasites. a total of 161 (41.1%) serum samples reacted positive to t. gondii, 43 (10.9%) to n. caninum and 26 (6.63%) to both ...	2019	30666319
dental and temporomandibular joint pathology of the kit fox (vulpes macrotis).	skull specimens from 836 kit foxes (vulpes macrotis) were examined macroscopically according to predefined criteria; 559 specimens were included in this study. the study group consisted of 248 (44.4%) females, 267 (47.8%) males and 44 (7.9%) specimens of unknown sex; 128 (22.9%) skulls were from young adults and 431 (77.1%) were from adults. of the 23,478 possible teeth, 21,883 teeth (93.2%) were present for examination, 45 (1.9%) were absent congenitally, 405 (1.7%) were acquired losses and 1,1 ...	2019	30898300
presence of trypanosomatid antibodies in gray foxes (urocyon cinereoargenteus) and domestic and feral dogs (canis lupus familiaris) in queretaro, mexico.	trypanosoma cruzi and leishmania spp. are vector-borne parasitic protozoa, the causative agents of chagas and leishmaniasis diseases, respectively. trypanosoma cruzi and leishmania spp. have been reported in a wide variety of mammals, including canids, which play an important role in the transmission of these parasites between urban and natural environments. currently, no studies have been conducted on trypanosomatids in wild canids in mexico. using a partially purified fraction of excreted iron ...	2016	31014533
infection of eight mesocarnivores in new hampshire and vermont with a distinct clade of canine distemper virus in 2016-2017.	three fishers (martes pennanti), 2 gray foxes (urocyon cinereoargenteus), 1 mink (neovison vison), 1 skunk (mephitis mephitis), and 1 raccoon (procyon lotor), from vermont and new hampshire, had lesions on autopsy consistent with canine distemper virus (cdv) infections diagnosed in a 12-mo period in 2016-2017. lesions of cdv infection were most commonly noted in the lungs (8 of 8 animals), urothelium (5 of 8), biliary tract (5 of 8), gastrointestinal tract (4 of 7), and brain (4 of 6). splenic l ...	2019	31023162
biotic factors influencing the unexpected distribution of a humboldt marten (martes caurina humboldtensis) population in a young coastal forest.	pacific martens (martes caurina) are often associated with mature forests with complex structure for denning, resting, and efficient hunting. nonetheless, a small isolated population of the humboldt subspecies of pacific martens (martes caurina humboldtensis) occupies a narrow strip of young, coastal forest (< 70 years old) but not inland mature forest in the central oregon coast range. we examined factors contributing to this unexpected distribution of martens by 1) analyzing marten diets using ...	2019	31042737
of microbes and mange: consistent changes in the skin microbiome of three canid species infected with sarcoptes scabiei mites.	sarcoptic mange is a highly contagious skin disease caused by the ectoparasitic mite sarcoptes scabiei. although it afflicts over 100 mammal species worldwide, sarcoptic mange remains a disease obscured by variability at the individual, population and species levels. amid this variability, it is critical to identify consistent drivers of morbidity, particularly at the skin barrier.	2019	31619277
genetic characteristics of canine distemper viruses circulating in wildlife in the united states.	canine distemper virus (cdv) is a highly contagious disease of wild and domestic mammals. maintenance of cdv among wildlife plays an important role in the disease epidemiology. wild animals, including raccoons (procyon lotor) and gray foxes (urocyon cinereoargenteus), serve as reservoirs of cdv and hamper the control of the disease. recently, we discovered that at least three different cdv lineages (america-3 [edomex], america-4, and america-5] that are genetically different from the available v ...	2020	31926508
invasive wild pigs as primary nest predators for wild turkeys.	depredation of wild turkey (meleagris gallopavo) nests is a leading cause of reduced recruitment for the recovering and iconic game species. invasive wild pigs (sus scrofa) are known to depredate nests, and have been expanding throughout the distributed range of wild turkeys in north america. we sought to gain better insight on the magnitude of wild pigs depredating wild turkey nests. we constructed simulated wild turkey nests throughout the home ranges of 20 gps-collared wild pigs to evaluate n ...	2020	32060348
endozoochorous dispersal of forest seeds by carnivorous mammals in sierra fría, aguascalientes, mexico.	some carnivorous mammals ingest fruit and disperse seeds of forest plant species capable of colonizing disturbed areas in ecosystems. the objective of the present study was to evaluate the dissemination of arctostaphylos pungens and juniperus deppeana seeds by the gray fox (urocyon cinereoargenteus), coyote (canis latrans), and other carnivores in the protected natural area sierra fría, in aguascalientes, mexico. scat collection was undertaken via transects using the direct search method, while ...	2020	32211171
serosurvey of coyotes (canis latrans), foxes (vulpes vulpes, urocyon cinereoargenteus), and raccoons (procyon lotor) for exposure to influenza a viruses in the usa.	we tested coyote (canis latrans), fox (urocyon cinereoargenteus, vulpes vulpes), and raccoon (procyon lotor) sera for influenza a virus exposure. we found 2/139 samples (1 coyote, 1 raccoon) had iav antibodies and hemagglutination inhibition assays revealed the antibodies to the 2009/2010 h1n1 human pandemic virus or to the 2007 human seasonal h1n1 virus.	2020	32320339
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 ...	2020	32323028
concurrent infection of skunk adenovirus-1, listeria monocytogenes, and a regionally specific clade of canine distemper virus in one gray fox (urocyon cinereoargenteus) and concurrent listeriosis and canine distemper in a second gray fox.	one free-ranging gray fox (urocyon cinereoargenteus) underwent autopsy following neurologic disease, with findings including morbilliviral inclusions and associated lesions in numerous tissues, adenoviral intranuclear inclusions in bronchial epithelial cells, and septic pleuropneumonia, hepatitis, splenitis, and meningoencephalitis. molecular diagnostics on fresh lung identified a strain within a distinct clade of canine distemper that is currently unique to wildlife in new england, as well as t ...	2020	32708148
cross-sectional evaluation of multiple epidemiological cycles of leptospira species in peri-urban wildlife in california.	to perform a cross-sectional survey to estimate prevalence of and potential risk factors for leptospira spp infection and exposure in peri-urban wildlife throughout california.	2020	33021456
complete genome analysis confirms that the pygmy marmoset adenovirus is a variant of the skunk adenovirus 1 - short communication.	the complete genomic sequence along with phylogenetic analyses of an adenovirus (adv), isolated from a dead captive pygmy marmoset (callithrix pygmaea) from a hungarian zoo is reported. earlier, based on the phylogenetic analysis of the sequence of a pcr-amplified fragment from the dna polymerase gene, the pygmy marmoset adv (pmadv) has been reported to cluster closest to certain chiropteran advs. in the following years similar advs were discovered in additional mammalian hosts, including a skun ...	2020	33128521
static allometry of a small-bodied omnivore: body size and limb scaling of an island fox and inferences for homo floresiensis.	island dwarfing is a paraphyletic adaptation across numerous mammalian genera. from mammoths to foxes, extreme body size reduction is shared by diverse organisms that migrate to an island environment. because it largely occurs owing to ecological variables, not phylogenetic ones, skeletal characters in a dwarfed taxon compared with its ancestor may appear abnormal. as a result, allometric patterns between body size and morphological traits may differ for an island dwarf compared with its ancesto ...	2020	33137549
drivers of canine distemper virus exposure in dogs at a wildlife interface in janos, mexico.	human population expansion has increased the contact between domestic animals and wildlife, thereby increasing the transmission of infectious diseases including canine distemper virus (cdv). here, we investigated the risk factors associated with cdv exposure in domestic and wild carnivores from the janos biosphere reserve (jbr), mexico.	2021	33981441