Sex and age specific infestation rates of raccoons (Procyon lotor) by American dog ticks (Dermacentor variabilis)

Abstract only availableAmerican dog ticks (Dermacentor variabilis) can have profound direct and indirect effects on human and wildlife hosts. However, there is little information on their short- or long-term rates of parasitism in free-ranging wildlife populations. In Missouri, raccoons (Procyon lotor) are the principal host of dog ticks, with tick prevalence reaching up to 90%. Our goal was to determine the intensity of non-engorged (short-term) and engorged (long-term) tick infestations among different age, sex, and reproductive classes of raccoons. From May to July 2005 we captured 105 raccoons across eight populations residing in predominantly forested ecosystems of central Missouri. Raccoons were sexed, weighed, and aged by examining tooth wear, genital morphology, and body size. Ticks were sampled by direct, two-minute timed observations to estimate tick abundance. Non-engorged and engorged ticks infested males, lactating females, and non-lactating females in decreasing levels of intensity. There was no correlation between weight and the intensity of tick infestation, but tick burdens generally increased with age.Life Sciences Undergraduate Research Opportunity Progra

Effects of clumped resources on den use by male raccoons at Baskett Wildlife Area

Abstract only availableThe objective of this study is to determine the effects of an experimentally manipulated clumped resource on den use by male raccoons. Male raccoons typically exhibit solitary foraging strategies and den selection. Telemetry was used to locate den sites for eight radio-collared male raccoons distributed across two study sites. Baskett Wildlife Area was divided into an experimental site (North Baskett) containing a centralized food plot, and a control site (South Baskett) without a centralized food plot. GIS computer software was used plot, analyze and compare potential differences in den site use between the experimental and control sites. Data was collected 4-5 consecutive days per week over a two month period between June 1, 2008 and July 31, 2008.NSF Undergraduate Mentoring in Environmental Biolog

The influence of increased contact rate among raccoons on a nematode of public, and wildlife health concern, Baylisascar [abstract]

Abstract only availableNatural and anthropogenic fluctuations in resource availability can alter the behavioral ecology and population dynamics of wildlife. This may have unintended consequences to wildlife disease ecology, as theoretical models predict parasite transmission is highly dependent on contact rate and density of individuals within a population. We examined the influence of alterations in the behavioral ecology of hosts on the nematode Baylisascaris procyonis of raccoons, that can infect and cause disease and mortality in a variety of animals, including humans. Twelve populations of free-ranging raccoons were monitored for three years. After one year of baseline data collection, we experimentally altered the contact rate and resource availability of randomly selected populations via dispersed or clumped food distributions. Rates of contact were measured via remote cameras and host characteristics (age, sex) and infection of B. procyonis in individuals were assessed via live-capture and standard sugar flotation techniques. Prevalence of B. procyonis averaged 6.5% at three control sites (no food added; n=186 individuals), 14.3% at four sites had dispersed food additions (n=42), and 21% at five sites with clumped food additions that aggregated raccoons (n=81). The 95% confidence interval of prevalence at experimental sites did not overlap with values observed at control sites. Data collected prior to manipulation indicated that differences observed during the experiment were not due to naturally occurring differences at those sites; prevalence of B. procyonis averaged 2.3% at sites assigned to the control category, 5.4% at sites assigned to the dispersed food category, and 4.1% at sites assigned to the experimental category. These results support the hypothesis that increased rates of contact can increase transmission of parasites such as B. procyonis, and emphasize the potentially important role of anthropogenic activity in wildlife disease ecology when dealing with species that can take advantage of such resources and tolerate aggregations of conspecifics.NSF Undergraduate Mentoring in Environmental Biolog

The influence of increased contact rate among raccoons on a directly transmitted nematode, Baylisascaris procyonis [abstract]

Abstract only availableHuman encroachment on wildlife habitat can result in anthropogenic food sources that aggregate raccoons. This may have unintended consequences to wildlife and human health, as theoretical models predict parasite transmission is highly dependent on the contact rate and density of individuals within a population. We examined the influence of contact rate on a directly transmitted nematode (Baylisascaris procyonis) of raccoons that can infect and cause disease and mortality in a wide range of accidental hosts, including humans. Twelve populations of free-ranging raccoons were monitored for three years. After one year of baseline data collection, we experimentally altered the contact rate and resource availability of randomly selected populations via dispersed or clumped food distributions. Prior to manipulation, prevalence of B. procyonis averaged 9% across all sites (range 0-35%). During the experiment, prevalence of B. procyonis averaged 4% at control sites (no food added), 18% at sites that had dispersed food additions (which did not increase contact), and 22% at sites with clumped food additions that aggregated raccoons. Data collected prior to the experiment indicated that sites that were assigned to the dispersed food treatment had a naturally-occurring higher prevalence (13%) than the sites assigned to the control (5%) and aggregation treatment (9%), indicating that the high values observed in the dispersed food sites during the experiment may be due to site-specific differences rather than the addition of dispersed food. These results support the hypothesis that increased rates of contact can increase transmission of directly transmitted parasites such as B. procyonis, and emphasize the potentially important role of anthropogenic activity in the ecology of diseases when dealing with wildlife species that can take advantage of such resources and tolerate large aggregations of conspecifics

Genetic relatedness of artificially aggregating raccoons (Procyon lotor) [abstract]

Abstract only availableFaculty Mentor: Lori Eggert, Biological SciencesRaccoons are generally solitary animals but due to increasing human populations, solitary animals such as the raccoon are forced into closer contact with one another. Aggregation in general may result in the transmission of diseases and parasites, but it is unclear whether the transmission is due solely to aggregation or if genetic relatedness plays a role in disease/parasite transmission.  My project examined the relatedness between raccoons aggregating at enriched food sources at several local field sites. To determine relatedness between individuals, I amplified twelve polymorphic microsatellite loci using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Fragment analysis will then be used to determine the alleles of the individuals at each locus. Using the computer analysis program Kinship, relationship probabilities will be calculated between individuals and populations. The data generated in this study will be used in a larger study of patterns of disease/parasite occurrences in aggregating raccoons

The effect of genetic relatedness and diversity on parasite load in the North American raccoon (procyon lotor) [abstract]

Abstract only availableThe influence of genetic relatedness and diversity on parasite transmission and diversity was examined in raccoons (Procyon lotor) from mid-Missouri. Relatedness and diversity of individuals was measured using 12 polymorphic microsatellite loci that were amplified using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Fragment analysis was used to determine the alleles of the individuals at each locus. Using the computer analysis program Kinship, relationship probabilities were calculated between individuals and populations. Heterozygosity, internal relatedness, and d2 values were also calculated. Parasite similarity indices did not differ among pairwise comparisons of animals with first order, second order, and no detected relationships. We are currently investigating if correlations exist between ectoparasite or endoparasite loads and heterozygosity, internal relatedness and d2 values. The data generated in this preliminary study will be used in a larger study of patterns of disease/parasite occurrences in artificially aggregating raccoons.Life Sciences Undergraduate Research Opportunity Progra

Modulating Variables ofTrypanosoma cruziandTrypanosoma evansiTransmission in Free-Ranging Coati (Nasua nasua) from the Brazilian Pantanal Region

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Co-Infection and Wild Animal Health: Effects of Trypanosomatids and Gastrointestinal Parasites on Coatis of the Brazilian Pantanal

Submitted by sandra infurna ([email protected]) on 2016-03-10T13:18:43Z No. of bitstreams: 1 natalie_olifiers_etal_IOC_2015.pdf: 544380 bytes, checksum: 1b384a5c2017f8f05c7082c6269a2842 (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by sandra infurna ([email protected]) on 2016-03-10T14:37:58Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 natalie_olifiers_etal_IOC_2015.pdf: 544380 bytes, checksum: 1b384a5c2017f8f05c7082c6269a2842 (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-10T14:37:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 natalie_olifiers_etal_IOC_2015.pdf: 544380 bytes, checksum: 1b384a5c2017f8f05c7082c6269a2842 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Laboratório de Biologia e Parasitologia de Mamíferos Reservatórios. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Laboratório de Biologia de Tripanosomatídeos. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Universidade Católica Dom Bosco. Laboratório de Parasitologia Animal. Campo Grande, MS, Brasil.Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho”. Departamento de Biologia Aplicada à Agropecuária. Jaboticabal, SP, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Laboratório de Biologia e Parasitologia de Mamíferos Reservatórios. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária. Centro de Pesquisa Agropecuária do Pantanal. Laboratório de Vida Selvagem. Corumbá, MS, Brasil.University of Missouri. Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences. Columbia, MIssouri, USA.Wild animals are infected by diverse parasites, but how they influence host health is poorly understood. We examined the relationship of trypanosomatids and gastrointestinal parasites with health of wild brown-nosed coatis (Nasua nasua) from the Brazilian Pantanal. We used coati body condition and hematological parameters as response variables in linear models that were compared using an information theoretic approach. Predictors were high/low parasitemias by Trypanosoma cruzi and T. evansi, and indices representing the abundance of distinct groups of gastrointestinal parasites. We also analyzed how host health changed with host sex and reproductive seasonality. Hemoparasites was best related to coati body condition and hematological indices, whereas abundance of gastrointestinal parasites was relatively less associated with coati health. Additionally, some associations were best predicted by models that incorporated reproductive seasonality and host sex. Overall, we observed a lower health condition during the breeding season, when coatis are under reproductive stress and may be less able to handle infection. In addition, females seem to handle infection better than males. Body condition was lower in coatis with high parasitemias of T. evansi, especially during the reproductive season. Total red blood cell counts, packed cell volume, platelets and eosinophils were also lower in animals with high T. evansi parasitemias. Total white blood cell counts and mature neutrophils were lower in animals with high parasitemias for both Trypanosoma species, with neutrophils decreasing mainly during the reproductive season. Overall, decreases in hematological parameters of females with T. evansi high parasitemias were less evident. For T. cruzi, monocytes decreased in individuals with high parasitemias. High abundances of microfilariae in the bloodstream, and cestode eggs and coccidian oocysts in feces were also associated with coati blood parameters. This study shows the potential value of examining hematological parameters as an approach to better understand the ecological relevance of parasite-host interactions

Effects of trypanosomatids and gastrointestinal parasites on coatis of the Brazilian Pantanal

<p>Hematological, parasitological, and body condition data for male and female coatis (Procyonidae: Nasua nasua) captured during the reproductive and non-reproductive seasons in the Brazilian Pantanal region.</p

Red blood cells as a function of <i>Trypanosoma</i> parasitemia in coatis.

<p>Total red blood cells count (RBC) as a function of high (+) or low (-) parasitemias by <i>Trypanosoma evansi</i> (TE) and <i>T</i>. <i>cruzi</i> (TC) in coatis captured in the Nhumirim Ranch, Pantanal from 2005 to 2009. High parasitemia by <i>T</i>. <i>evansi</i> was detected by the microhematocrit centrifuge technique (MHCT), whereas for <i>T</i>. <i>cruzi</i> it was detected by hemoculture (HC). Bars are 95% confidence limits.</p