Natural history of Plasmodium odocoilei malaria infection in farmed white-tailed deer

ABSTRACT White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), an ecologically and economically important species, are the most widely distributed large animals in North America. A recent study indicated that up to 25% of all white-tailed deer may be infected with Plasmodium odocoilei, a malaria parasite belonging to the distinct clade of ungulate-infecting Plasmodium spp. Because the clinical impact of P. odocoilei on deer health and survival is unknown, we undertook a retrospective longitudinal study of farmed Floridian O. virginianus fawns. We found that a substantial proportion (21%) of fawns acquire malaria infection during the first 8 months of life. Some animals naturally clear P. odocoilei infection, while other animals remain persistently positive. Importantly, we found that animals that acquire malaria parasites very early in life have poor survival compared to animals that remain uninfected. Our report thus provides the first evidence of a clinically significant impact of malaria infection in young deer. IMPORTANCE Malaria parasites of the genus Plasmodium are known to infect a variety of vertebrate hosts, including ungulates (hoofed mammals). A recent study found that up to a quarter of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in North America are infected with the parasite Plasmodium odocoilei. In addition to occupying an important ecological niche, white-tailed deer are popular game animals and deer farming represents a rapidly growing industry. However, the effect of P. odocoilei infection in this ecologically and economically important ungulate species is unknown. Our work is significant because (i) we identified a high prevalence of P. odocoilei in farmed deer and (ii) we found evidence for both cleared and persistent infection, as well as an association with decreased survival of young fawns

Distribution of \u3ci\u3eBaylisascaris procyonis\u3c/i\u3e in Raccoons (\u3ci\u3eProcyon lotor\u3c/i\u3e) in Florida, USA

Baylisascaris procyonis, or raccoon roundworm, is an intestinal nematode parasite of raccoons (Procyon lotor) that is important to public and wildlife health. Historically, the parasite was uncommon in the southeastern US; however, the range of B. procyonis has expanded to include Florida, US. From 2010 to 2016, we opportunistically sampled 1,030 raccoons statewide. The overall prevalence was 3.7% (95% confidence interval=2.5–4.8%) of sampled individuals, and infection intensity ranged from 1 to 48 (mean±standard deviation 9.9±4.0). We found raccoon roundworm in 9/56 (16%) counties sampled, and the percent positive ranged from 1.1% to 13.3% of specimens collected per county. Including previously published data, B. procyonis was detected in 11 Florida counties. We used logistic regression to estimate the contribution of raccoon demographic variables and the presence of the endoparasite Macracanthorhynchus ingens to B. procyonis detection in Florida. Following the model selection process we found housing density, M. ingens presence, and urbanicity to be predictive of raccoon roundworm presence. We also found substantial among-county variation. Raccoon sex and age were not useful predictors. Public health officials, wildlife rehabilitators, wildlife managers, and others should consider any Florida raccoon to be potentially infected with B. procyonis, particularly in areas where housing density is high

Risk for Severe Group A Streptococcal Disease among Patients’ Household Contacts

From January 1997 to April 1999, we determined attack rates for cases of invasive group A streptococcal (GAS) disease in household contacts of index patients using data from Active Bacterial Core Surveillance sites. Of 680 eligible index-patient households, 525 (77.2%) were enrolled in surveillance. Of 1,514 household contacts surveyed, 127 (8.4%) sought medical care, 24 (1.6%) required hospital care, and none died during the 30-day reference period. One confirmed GAS case in a household contact was reported (attack rate, 66.1/100,000 household contacts). One household contact had severe GAS-compatible illness without confirmed etiology. Our study suggests that subsequent cases of invasive GAS disease can occur, albeit rarely. The risk estimate from this study is important for developing recommendations on the use of chemoprophylaxis for household contacts of persons with invasive GAS disease

Characterization of mule deerpox virus in Florida white?tailed deerfawns expands the known host and geographic range of this emergingpathogen

AbstractInfections caused by mule deerpox virus (MDPV) have been sporadically reported in North American cervids. White-taileddeer (Odocoileus virginianus) fawns from a farm located in South Central Florida presented with ulcerative and crustinglesions on the coronary band as well as the mucocutaneous tissues of the head. Evaluation of the crusted skin lesions wasundertaken using microscopic pathology and molecular techniques. A crusted skin sample was processed for virus isolationin four mammalian cell lines. The resulting isolate was characterized by negative staining electron microscopy and deepsequencing. Histopathologic evaluation of the skin lesions from the fawns revealed a hyperplastic and proliferative epidermiswith ballooning degeneration of epidermal and follicular keratinocytes with intracytoplasmic eosinophilic inclusions.Electron microscopy of cell culture supernatant demonstrated numerous large brick-shaped particles typical of most poxviruses.Polymerase chain reaction assays followed by Sanger sequencing revealed a poxvirus gene sequence nearly identicalto that of previous strains of MDPV. The full genome was recovered by deep sequencing and genetic analyses supported theFlorida white-tailed deer isolate (MDPV-F) as a strain of MDPV. Herein, we report the first genome sequence of MDPVfrom a farmed white-tailed deer fawn in the South Central Florida, expanding the number of locations and geographic rangein which MDPV has been identified

Porcine Viruses Not Previously Reported in Feral Swine in Florida

Although national surveillance is conducted throughout the United States for multiple pathogens associated with feral swine, many pathogens that persist in wild pigs globally have not been the subject of investigations within the U.S. We surveyed feral swine in Florida for two viruses that are ubiquitous in domestic and wild pigs in Europe: torque teno sus virus type 1 and porcine lymphotropic herpesvirus. We found these viruses to be prevalent in feral swine in Florida. We detected viral DNA in nasal and genital swabs or whole blood collected from animals at multiple locations throughout the state. Our results suggest that not only are animals infected with these viruses, but that they are actively shedding virus and capable of transmitting them at multiple, geographically disparate locations. These viruses have the potential to be pathogenic when an animal is coinfected with other porcine viruses, and these viruses pose a potential threat to other wildlife, livestock, and people

Porcine Viruses Not Previously Reported in Feral Swine in Florida

Although national surveillance is conducted throughout the United States for multiple pathogens associated with feral swine, many pathogens that persist in wild pigs globally have not been the subject of investigations within the U.S. We surveyed feral swine in Florida for two viruses that are ubiquitous in domestic and wild pigs in Europe: torque teno sus virus type 1 and porcine lymphotropic herpesvirus. We found these viruses to be prevalent in feral swine in Florida. We detected viral DNA in nasal and genital swabs or whole blood collected from animals at multiple locations throughout the state. Our results suggest that not only are animals infected with these viruses, but that they are actively shedding virus and capable of transmitting them at multiple, geographically disparate locations. These viruses have the potential to be pathogenic when an animal is coinfected with other porcine viruses, and these viruses pose a potential threat to other wildlife, livestock, and people

Multi-scale patterns of tick occupancy and abundance across an agricultural landscape in southern Africa.

Land use influences the prevalence and distribution of ticks due to the intimate relationship of ticks with their environment. This relationship occurs because land use alters two essential tick requirements: vertebrate hosts for blood meals and a suitable microclimate when off-host. Given the risks to human and animal health associated with pathogens transmitted by ticks, there is an ongoing need to understand the impact of environmental drivers on tick distributions. Here, we assessed how landscape features, neighborhood effects, and edges influenced tick occupancy and abundance across an agricultural landscape in southern Africa. We found that Rhipicephalus appendiculatus and Rhipicephalus simus increased in abundance closer to protected savanna, while Haemaphysalis elliptica increased in abundance closer to human habitation. The composition of the landscape surrounding savanna patches also differentially influenced the occupancy of each tick species; H. elliptica was more likely to be found in savanna patches surrounded by subsistence agriculture while R. appendiculatus and R. simus were more likely to be found in savanna surrounded by sugarcane monocultures. At the local scale we found that R. appendiculatus and R. simus avoided savanna edges. The availability of hosts and variation in vegetation structure between commercial agriculture, subsistence agriculture, and savanna likely drove the distribution of ticks at the landscape scale. Understanding how anthropogenic land use influences where ticks occur is useful for land use planning and for assessing public and animal health risks associated with ticks and tick-borne diseases

Pseudorabies Virus Shedding and Antibody Production in Invasive Wild Pigs in California

Pseudorabies virus (PrV) is a herpesvirus endemic in invasive wild pigs in the United States. The virus has the potential to spill over into domestic herds and wildlife causing extensive morbidity and mortality. We surveyed 35 wild pigs from Kern County, California for evidence of exposure to PrV using serological analysis and for viral shedding using quantitative PCR. All 29 individuals that had sufficient sera to screen for antibody production via serological assay were positive. Two of 35 individuals were found to be shedding virus via genital mucosa. An additional 5 individuals were suspected to be shedding virus either in genital mucosa or circulating virus in their bloodstream, but these results were not definitive. The prevalence of viral shedding for PrV in Kern County, California (6%) suggests that native wildlife are susceptible to spillover of this virus which is deadly to carnivore species

Macacine Herpesvirus 1 Antibody Prevalence and DNA Shedding among Invasive Rhesus Macaques, Silver Springs State Park, Florida, USA

We compiled records on macacine herpesvirus 1 (McHV-1) seroprevalence and, during 2015–2016, collected saliva and fecal samples from the free-ranging rhesus macaques of Silver Springs State Park, a popular public park in central Florida, USA, to determine viral DNA shedding and perform sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis of the US5 and US5-US6 intragenic sequence from free-ranging and laboratory McHV-1 variants did not reveal genomic differences. In animals captured during 2000–2012, average annual seroprevalence was 25% ± 9 (mean ± SD). We found 4%–14% (95% CI 2%–29%) of macaques passively sampled during the fall 2015 mating season shed McHV-1 DNA orally. We did not observe viral shedding during the spring or summer or from fecal samples. We conclude that these macaques can shed McHV-1, putting humans at risk for exposure to this potentially fatal pathogen. Management plans should be put in place to limit transmission of McHV-1 from these macaques