Gene expression differs in susceptible and resistant amphibians exposed to Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis.

Chytridiomycosis, the disease caused by the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), has devastated global amphibian biodiversity. Nevertheless, some hosts avoid disease after Bd exposure even as others experience near-complete extirpation. It remains unclear whether the amphibian adaptive immune system plays a role in Bd defence. Here, we describe gene expression in two host species-one susceptible to chytridiomycosis and one resistant-following exposure to two Bd isolates that differ in virulence. Susceptible wood frogs (Rana sylvatica) had high infection loads and mortality when exposed to the more virulent Bd isolate but lower infection loads and no fatal disease when exposed to the less virulent isolate. Resistant American bullfrogs (R. catesbeiana) had high survival across treatments and rapidly cleared Bd infection or avoided infection entirely. We found widespread upregulation of adaptive immune genes and downregulation of important metabolic and cellular maintenance components in wood frogs after Bd exposure, whereas American bullfrogs showed little gene expression change and no evidence of an adaptive immune response. Wood frog responses suggest that adaptive immune defences may be ineffective against virulent Bd isolates that can cause rapid physiological dysfunction. By contrast, American bullfrogs exhibited robust resistance to Bd that is likely attributable, at least in part, to their continued upkeep of metabolic and skin integrity pathways as well as greater antimicrobial peptide expression compared to wood frogs, regardless of exposure. Greater understanding of these defences will ultimately help conservationists manage chytridiomycosis

Molecular characterization of Babesia peircei and Babesia ugwidiensis provides insight into the evolution and host specificity of avian piroplasmids

There are 16 recognized species of avian-infecting Babesia spp. (Piroplasmida: Babesiidae). While the classification of piroplasmids has been historically based on morphological differences, geographic isolation and presumed host and/or vector specificities, recent studies employing gene sequence analysis have provided insight into their phylogenetic relationships and host distribution and specificity. In this study, we analyzed the sequences of the 18S rRNA gene and ITS-1 and ITS-2 regions of two Babesia species from South African seabirds: Babesia peircei from African penguins (Spheniscus demersus) and Babesia ugwidiensis from Bank and Cape cormorants (Phalacrocorax neglectus and P. capensis, respectively). Our results show that avian Babesia spp. are not monophyletic, with at least three distinct phylogenetic groups. B. peircei and B. ugwidiensis are closely related, and fall within the same phylogenetic group as B. ardeae (from herons Ardea cinerea), B. poelea (from boobies Sula spp.) and B. uriae (from murres Uria aalge). The validity of B. peircei and B. ugwidiensis as separate species is corroborated by both morphological and genetic evidence. On the other hand, our results indicate that B. poelea might be a synonym of B. peircei, which in turn would be a host generalist that infects seabirds from multiple orders. Further studies combining morphological and molecular methods are warranted to clarify the taxonomy, phylogeny and host distribution of avian piroplasmids. Keywords: Africa, Babesia, Piroplasmida, Phalacrocoracidae, Spheniscidae, Tick-borne pathoge

[Photograph 2012.201.B1396.0187]

Photograph used for a newspaper owned by the Oklahoma Publishing Company. Caption: "Tom Warren Baseball Tulsa Oilers

Prevalence and diversity of \u3ci\u3eBabesia, Hepatozoon, Ehrlichia\u3c/i\u3e, and \u3ci\u3eBartonella\u3c/i\u3e in wild and domestic carnivores from Zambia, Africa

A molecular survey was conducted for several hemoparasites of domestic dogs and three species of wild carnivores from two sites in Zambia. Three Babesia spp. were detected including Babesia felis and Babesia leo in lions (Panthera leo) and a Babesia sp. (similar to Babesia lengau) in spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) and a single lion. All wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) and domestic dogs were negative for Babesia. High prevalences for Hepatozoon were noted in all three wild carnivores (38–61 %) and in domestic dogs (13 %). Significantly higher prevalences were noted in hyenas and wild dogs compared with domestic dogs and lions. All carnivores were PCR negative for Ehrlichia canis , Ehrlichia ewingii, and Bartonella spp. Overall, high prevalences and diversity of Babesia and Hepatozoon were noted in wild carnivores from Zambia. This study is the first molecular characterization of Babesia from any hyena species and is the first report of a Babesia sp. closely related to B. lengau, a parasite previously only reported from cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus), in lions and hyenas. Although usually benign in wild carnivores, these hemoparasites can be pathogenic under certain circumstances. Importantly, data on vectors for these parasites are lacking, so studies are needed to identify vectors as well as determine transmission routes, infection dynamics, and host specificity of these hemoparasites in wildlife in Africa and also the risk of transmission between domestic animals and wildlife

Supplemental Material, DS6_VET_10.1177_0300985818780449 - Idiopathic Colitis in Rhesus Macaques Is Associated With Dysbiosis, Abundant Enterochromaffin Cells and Altered T-Cell Cytokine Expression

<p>Supplemental Material, DS6_VET_10.1177_0300985818780449 for Idiopathic Colitis in Rhesus Macaques Is Associated With Dysbiosis, Abundant Enterochromaffin Cells and Altered T-Cell Cytokine Expression by Steven T. Laing, David Merriam, Barbara C. Shock, Sarah Mills, Abbie Spinner, Rachel Reader, and Dennis J. Hartigan-O’Connor in Veterinary Pathology</p

Supplemental Material, DS5_VET_10.1177_0300985818780449 - Idiopathic Colitis in Rhesus Macaques Is Associated With Dysbiosis, Abundant Enterochromaffin Cells and Altered T-Cell Cytokine Expression

<p>Supplemental Material, DS5_VET_10.1177_0300985818780449 for Idiopathic Colitis in Rhesus Macaques Is Associated With Dysbiosis, Abundant Enterochromaffin Cells and Altered T-Cell Cytokine Expression by Steven T. Laing, David Merriam, Barbara C. Shock, Sarah Mills, Abbie Spinner, Rachel Reader, and Dennis J. Hartigan-O’Connor in Veterinary Pathology</p

Supplemental Material, DS4_VET_10.1177_0300985818780449 - Idiopathic Colitis in Rhesus Macaques Is Associated With Dysbiosis, Abundant Enterochromaffin Cells and Altered T-Cell Cytokine Expression

<p>Supplemental Material, DS4_VET_10.1177_0300985818780449 for Idiopathic Colitis in Rhesus Macaques Is Associated With Dysbiosis, Abundant Enterochromaffin Cells and Altered T-Cell Cytokine Expression by Steven T. Laing, David Merriam, Barbara C. Shock, Sarah Mills, Abbie Spinner, Rachel Reader, and Dennis J. Hartigan-O’Connor in Veterinary Pathology</p

Supplemental Material, DS1-3_VET_10.1177_0300985818780449 - Idiopathic Colitis in Rhesus Macaques Is Associated With Dysbiosis, Abundant Enterochromaffin Cells and Altered T-Cell Cytokine Expression

<p>Supplemental Material, DS1-3_VET_10.1177_0300985818780449 for Idiopathic Colitis in Rhesus Macaques Is Associated With Dysbiosis, Abundant Enterochromaffin Cells and Altered T-Cell Cytokine Expression by Steven T. Laing, David Merriam, Barbara C. Shock, Sarah Mills, Abbie Spinner, Rachel Reader, and Dennis J. Hartigan-O’Connor in Veterinary Pathology</p

Supplementary material for "Gene expression differs in susceptible and resistant amphibians exposed to Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis"

Supplementary tables supporting the main tex