Complete genome sequence of Frog virus 3, isolated from a strawberry poison frog (Oophaga pumilio) imported from Nicaragua into the Netherlands

Frog virus 3 was isolated from a strawberry poison frog (Oophaga pumilio) imported from Nicaragua via Germany to the Netherlands, and its complete genome sequence was determined. Frog virus 3 isolate Op/2015/Netherlands/UU3150324001 is 107,183 bp long and has a nucleotide similarity of 98.26% to the reference Frog virus 3 isolate

Postmortaal onderzoek van bruinvissen (Phocoena phocoena) uit Nederlandse wateren, 2021 : Biologische gegevens, gezondheidsstatus en doodsoorzaken

This annual report presents the results of post-mortem examinations of stranded harbour porpoises in 2021. One of the main objectives of the research is to quantify human-induced causes of death. In 2021, 54 dead harbour porpoises were examined: 35 males and 19 females, comprising 24 adults, 23 juveniles and 7 neonates. In addition three foetuses found, examined and sampled. Most of the examined harbour porpoises died as a result of infectious diseases (39%) and grey seal attacks (20%). Bycatch was the most likely cause of death of 7 porpoises (13%) and 5 other porpoises died following trauma of unclear origin (9%)

Postmortaal onderzoek van bruinvissen (Phocoena phocoena) uit Nederlandse wateren, 2019 : Biologische gegevens, gezondheidsstatus en doodsoorzaken

This annual report presents the results of post-mortem examinations of porpoises in 2019. One of the main objectives of the research is to quantify human-induced causes of death. In 2019, 57 dead harbour porpoises were examined: 31 males and 26 females, 22 adults, 24 juveniles and 11 neonates. There were an additional six foetuses found. Most of the examined harbour porpoises died as a result of infectious diseases (30%) and grey seal attacks (21%), followed by bycatch (11%)

Boxelder tree (Acer negundo) intoxication in fallow deer (Dama dama) and Dutch Landrace goats (Capra aegagrus hircus)

Within 10 days of ingesting boxelder tree (Acer negundo) cuttings, seven fallow deer (Dama dama) died (n=2) or were euthanased (n=5) after showing signs of colic, anorexia and severe depression. Another fallow deer and two Dutch Landrace goats (Capra aegagrus hircus) simultaneously displayed colic signs but survived. Therapy included intramuscular flunixine meglumine. Postmortem investigation revealed subacute renal tubular necrosis and extensive lung oedema in all animals, and three deer had liver degeneration. The combination of clinical history and postmortem findings lead to the presumptive diagnosis of maple leaf intoxication as described in equids. This is the first report of likely boxelder tree (A negundo) intoxication in animals and the first report of maple leaf intoxication in fallow deer and goats

Boxelder tree (Acer negundo) intoxication in fallow deer (Dama dama) and Dutch Landrace goats (Capra aegagrus hircus)

Within 10 days of ingesting boxelder tree (Acer negundo) cuttings, seven fallow deer (Dama dama) died (n=2) or were euthanased (n=5) after showing signs of colic, anorexia and severe depression. Another fallow deer and two Dutch Landrace goats (Capra aegagrus hircus) simultaneously displayed colic signs but survived. Therapy included intramuscular flunixine meglumine. Postmortem investigation revealed subacute renal tubular necrosis and extensive lung oedema in all animals, and three deer had liver degeneration. The combination of clinical history and postmortem findings lead to the presumptive diagnosis of maple leaf intoxication as described in equids. This is the first report of likely boxelder tree (A negundo) intoxication in animals and the first report of maple leaf intoxication in fallow deer and goats

Postmortaal onderzoek van bruinvissen (Phocoena phocoena) uit Nederlandse wateren, 2022 : Biologische gegevens, gezondheidsstatus en doodsoorzaken

Post-mortem research on porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) from Dutch waters, 2022. Biological data, health status and causes of death. This annual report presents the results of post-mortem examinations of beached harbour porpoises in 2022. One of the main objectives of the research is to quantify human-induced causes of death. In 2022, 57 dead harbour porpoises were examined: 31 males and 26 females, comprising 18 adults, 27 juveniles and 12 neonates. In addition two male foetuses were examined. Most of the examined harbour porpoises died as a result of infectious diseases (40.4%) and grey seal attacks (24.6%). Bycatch was the most likely cause of death for six porpoises (10.5%) and seven other porpoises died following trauma of unclear origin (12.3%)

Reptile Toll-like receptor 5 unveils adaptive evolution of bacterial flagellin recognition

Toll-like receptors (TLR) are ancient innate immune receptors crucial for immune homeostasis and protection against infection. TLRs are present in mammals, birds, amphibians and fish but have not been functionally characterized in reptiles despite the central position of this animal class in vertebrate evolution. Here we report the cloning, characterization, and function of TLR5 of the reptile Anolis carolinensis (Green Anole lizard). The receptor (acTLR5) displays the typical TLR protein architecture with 22 extracellular leucine rich repeats flanked by a N-and C-terminal leucine rich repeat domain, a membrane-spanning region, and an intracellular TIR domain. The receptor is phylogenetically most similar to TLR5 of birds and most distant to fish TLR5. Transcript analysis revealed acTLR5 expression in multiple lizard tissues. Stimulation of acTLR5 with TLR ligands demonstrated unique responsiveness towards bacterial flagellin in both reptile and human cells. Comparison of acTLR5 and human TLR5 using purified flagellins revealed differential sensitivity to Pseudomonas but not Salmonella flagellin, indicating development of species-specific flagellin recognition during the divergent evolution of mammals and reptiles. Our discovery of reptile TLR5 fills the evolutionary gap regarding TLR conservation across vertebrates and provides novel insights in functional evolution of host-microbe interactions.</p

Challenges in the Assessment of Bycatch : Postmortem Findings in Harbor Porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) Retrieved From Gillnets

Bycatch is considered one of the most significant threats affecting cetaceans worldwide. In the North Sea, bottom-set gillnets are a specific risk for harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena). Methods to estimate bycatch rates include on-board observers, remote electronic monitoring, and fishermen voluntarily reporting; none of these are systematically conducted. Additionally, necropsies of stranded animals can provide insights into bycatch occurrence and health status of individuals. There are, however, uncertainties when it comes to the assessment of bycatch in stranded animals, mainly due to the lack of diagnostic tools specific for underwater entrapment. We conducted a literature review to establish criteria that aid in the assessment of bycatch in small cetaceans, and we tested which of these criteria applied to harbor porpoises retrieved from gillnets in the Netherlands (n = 12). Twenty-five criteria were gathered from literature. Of these, “superficial incisions,” “encircling imprints,” and “recent ingestion of prey” were observed in the vast majority of our confirmed bycatch cases. Criteria like “pulmonary edema,” “pulmonary emphysema,” and “organ congestion” were also frequently observed, although considered unspecific as an indicator of bycatch. Notably, previously mentioned criteria as “favorable health status,” “absence of disease,” or “good nutritional condition” did not apply to the majority of our bycaught porpoises. This may reflect an overall reduced fitness of harbor porpoises inhabiting the southern North Sea or a higher chance of a debilitated porpoise being bycaught, and could result in an underestimation of bycatch rates when assessing stranded animals.</p

Mycotic Infections in Free-Ranging Harbor Porpoises (Phocoena phocoena)

Studies on the occurrence of fungal communities in the marine environment are still scarce, but mycotic infections in cetaceans are increasingly reported. Fungal disease following infection with Aspergillus species is most frequently reported, with the respiratory tract commonly affected in cetaceans and other taxa, like humans and birds. Infection with Aspergillus spp. is dependent on the characteristics of the fungus as well as the hosts immune status, with dissemination into other organs being relatively common. Along the southern North Sea, harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) strandings increased significantly since 2005 and necropsies to determine causes of death have been conducted since 2008. Here we describe the post-mortem findings in stranded, free-ranging harbor porpoises on the Dutch coast which were diagnosed with fungal disease, to determine the prevalence of mycotic infections, and to compare them to those described in other species. A total of 18/754 (2.4%) harbor porpoises showed lesions compatible with localized or disseminated fungal disease as confirmed by histological examination. The respiratory tract was most commonly affected (67%), followed by the central nervous system (CNS, 33%), and auditory system (AS, 17%). Aspergillosis was confirmed for 11/18, by fungal growth (as A. fumigatus species complex, n = 9) and PCR (as Aspergillus spp., n = 1, and as A. fumigatus sensu strictu by sequence analysis, n = 1). One live stranded and euthanized animal presented partial hemiplegia of the blowhole and therefore an MRI was conducted, which resulted in a unique image of the extensive, fungus-induced lesion in the left cerebellar hemisphere, deforming and displacing the brainstem, and additionally affected the AS. The gross- and histologic lesions in the 18 porpoises diagnosed with fungal disease were similar to changes described in other mammalian species. The prevalence of fungal disease in free-living harbor porpoises is lower than seen in captive and rehabilitated animals, suggesting that captivity increases the risk to develop mycotic infections. Finally, fungal infection in the CNS and AS are usually considered consequences of vascular dissemination originating from pulmonary foci. However, only 1/7 cases with otitis and/or encephalitis demonstrated pulmonary aspergillosis, suggesting a different pathogenesis

Mycotic Infections in Free-Ranging Harbor Porpoises (Phocoena phocoena)

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