Influence of extender, freezing rate, and thawing rate on post-thaw motility, viability and morphology of coyote (Canis latrans) spermatozoa

Abstract The objective of this study was to examine the post-thaw effects of three cryoprotective extenders (Tris-fructose-citric acid extender, Tris-glucose-citric acid extender, and lactose extender), three linear freezing rates (À1, À6, and À20 8C/min), and three thawing rates (37 8C water bath for 120 s, 60 8C water bath for 30 s, and 70 8C water bath for 8 s) on coyote spermatozoa. After thawing, the findings supported that cryopreservation of coyote (Canis latrans) spermatozoa frozen at a moderate freezing rate (À6 8C/min), in either a Tris-fructose or Tris-glucose extender, and thawed at a slow rate (37 8C water bath for 120 s) or moderate rate (60 8C water bath for 30 s), resulted in a more vigorous post-thaw motility (range, 57.5-44.0%) and viability (range, 64-49.6%) with the least amount of morphological and acrosomal abnormalities.

Disease Risks Associated with Increasing Feral Swine Numbers and Distribution in the United States

Feral hogs or “wild boars” come from several sources and include released or escaped domestic swine and the truly wild European boar. When free-roaming in North America, all are included in the term “feral swine,” as are hybrids of the two types. Although morphologically distinct, both the feral swine and European wild swine are recognized as Sus scrofa. The physical damage caused by feral swine has been well documented and includes damage to vehicles, vineyards, tree plantings, archaeological sites, agricultural crops, turf, soils, rare plant communities, and wildlife habitat (Seward et al. 2004). In addition they compete with livestock and native wildlife for food resources; prey on domestic animals and wildlife; and carry diseases that affect pets, livestock, wildlife and people (Seward et al. 2004). Texas, the state with the largest feral hog population, reports the annual damage to agriculture at $51.8 million (Adams et al. 2005). The total damage caused by feral swine in the United States is estimated to be approximately$800 million annually (Pimentel et al. 2000). This estimate is approximate, and probably conservative, because environmental damage costs attributable to feral swine are not easily quantified nor are the costs of potential disease outbreaks

Determination of Cabergoline by Electrospray Ionization Tandem Mass Spectrometry: Picogram Detection via Column Focusing Sample Introduction

An electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometric method was developed for low-picogram detection of an ergot alkaloid, cabergoline, in coyote plasma extracts. Cabergoline is under investigation as an abortifacient in canid species. Central to the successful development of this method was the ability to introduce relatively large sample volumes into the mass spectrometer. This was achieved by focusing the analyte on a conventional high-performance liquid chromatography guard column prior to elution into the spectrometer. Volumes up to at least 900 μL could be injected onto the guard column using a 100% aqueous mobile phase. Cabergoline retained on the column was eluted as a discreet band into the mass spectrometer by the rapid addition of methanol (30%) to the mobile phase. As compared to flow injection sample introduction, the ability to inject larger sample volumes led to a greatly lowered detection limit. Using this technique and a modification of a previously reported extraction procedure, cabergoline could be determined in coyote plasma at concentrations as low as 9 pg of cabergoline/ mL of plasma

Optimization of human, animal, and environmental health by using the One Health approach

Emerging diseases are increasing burdens on public health, negatively affecting the world economy, causing extinction of species, and disrupting ecological integrity. One Health recognizes that human, domestic animal, and wildlife health are interconnected within ecosystem health and provides a framework for the development of multidisciplinary solutions to global health challenges. To date, most health-promoting interventions have focused largely on single-sector outcomes. For example, risk for transmission of zoonotic pathogens from bush-meat hunting is primarily focused on human hygiene and personal protection. However, bush-meat hunting is a complex issue promoting the need for holistic strategies to reduce transmission of zoonotic disease while addressing food security and wildlife conservation issues. Temporal and spatial separation of humans and wildlife, risk communication, and other preventative strategies should allow wildlife and humans to co-exist. Upstream surveillance, vaccination, and other tools to prevent pathogen spillover are also needed. Clear multi-sector outcomes should be defined, and a systems-based approach is needed to develop interventions that reduce risks and balance the needs of humans, wildlife, and the environment. The ultimate goal is long-term action to reduce forces driving emerging diseases and provide interdisciplinary scientific approaches to management of risks, thereby achieving optimal outcomes for human, animal, and environmental health

Determination of Cabergoline by Electrospray Ionization Tandem Mass Spectrometry: Picogram Detection via Column Focusing Sample Introduction

An electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometric method was developed for low-picogram detection of an ergot alkaloid, cabergoline, in coyote plasma extracts. Cabergoline is under investigation as an abortifacient in canid species. Central to the successful development of this method was the ability to introduce relatively large sample volumes into the mass spectrometer. This was achieved by focusing the analyte on a conventional high-performance liquid chromatography guard column prior to elution into the spectrometer. Volumes up to at least 900 μL could be injected onto the guard column using a 100% aqueous mobile phase. Cabergoline retained on the column was eluted as a discreet band into the mass spectrometer by the rapid addition of methanol (30%) to the mobile phase. As compared to flow injection sample introduction, the ability to inject larger sample volumes led to a greatly lowered detection limit. Using this technique and a modification of a previously reported extraction procedure, cabergoline could be determined in coyote plasma at concentrations as low as 9 pg of cabergoline/ mL of plasma

Optimization of human, animal, and environmental health by using the One Health approach

Emerging diseases are increasing burdens on public health, negatively affecting the world economy, causing extinction of species, and disrupting ecological integrity. One Health recognizes that human, domestic animal, and wildlife health are interconnected within ecosystem health and provides a framework for the development of multidisciplinary solutions to global health challenges. To date, most health-promoting interventions have focused largely on single-sector outcomes. For example, risk for transmission of zoonotic pathogens from bush-meat hunting is primarily focused on human hygiene and personal protection. However, bush-meat hunting is a complex issue promoting the need for holistic strategies to reduce transmission of zoonotic disease while addressing food security and wildlife conservation issues. Temporal and spatial separation of humans and wildlife, risk communication, and other preventative strategies should allow wildlife and humans to co-exist. Upstream surveillance, vaccination, and other tools to prevent pathogen spillover are also needed. Clear multi-sector outcomes should be defined, and a systems-based approach is needed to develop interventions that reduce risks and balance the needs of humans, wildlife, and the environment. The ultimate goal is long-term action to reduce forces driving emerging diseases and provide interdisciplinary scientific approaches to management of risks, thereby achieving optimal outcomes for human, animal, and environmental health

Welfare Performance of Three Foothold Traps for Capturing North American River Otters \u3ci\u3eLontra canadensis\u3c/i\u3e

Foothold traps are effective tools for the live capture and restraint of wildlife for management and research. Successful river otter Lontra canadensis restoration programs throughout North America used them extensively. Restoration programs used a variety of methods and models of foothold traps, but comprehensive efforts to describe and quantify injuries associated with river otter captures have been limited. We evaluated injuries of river otters caught in three commercially available models of foothold traps including the number 11 double long-spring with standard jaws, the number 11 double long-spring with double jaws, and the number 2 coil-spring trap. Based on examinations of 70 captured river otters, we classified 78% of the total inj uries detected as ‘‘mild’’ (n=174 injuries) and 17% were classified as ‘‘moderate’’ (n= 37 injuries). We classified less than 3% of the injuries observed as ‘‘moderately severe’’ or ‘‘severe.’’ We focused only on the animal welfare performance of traps; the three trap types we tested met the animal welfare criteria required for inclusion in the best management practices for trapping river otter. The criteria based on International Standards Organization guidelines used in this assessment of trap performance provides a scientific basis for future evaluations of river otter welfare when foothold traps are used for restoration, research, and population management

Evolutionary pathway for the 2017 emergence of a novel highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H7N9) virus among domestic poultry in Tennessee, United States

In March 2017, a novel highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H7N9) virus was detected at two commercial broiler breeder facilities in Tennessee, United States. In this study, a wild bird low pathogenic avian influenza A virus, A/blue-winged teal/Wyoming/AH0099021/2016(H7N9), was shown to be the probable precursor of the novel H7N9 virus; this low pathogenic virus has eight possible progenitor genes sharing\u3e 99% sequence identity with the novel H7N9 virus. Phylogeographic analyses showed that viral gene constellations that formed and circulated among dabbling ducks contributed to the emergence of the novel H7N9 virus. This is in contrast to the virus that caused the 2016 H7N8 outbreak, which had more genetic contributions from viruses circulating among diving ducks. Study findings support the need for ongoing wild bird surveillance to monitor circulating viruses and to understand possible evolutionary pathways of virus emergence in poultry

Classical Swine Fever Surveillance in Feral Swine

Diseases such as classical swine fever (CSF) and foot-and-mouth disease have been eradicated in the United States, but possible reintroductions merit the development of an enhanced surveillance system. Important foreign animal or transboundary diseases like these pose a significant risk to the health of wildlife and livestock in the United States. Wildlife Services (WS) performs surveillance in targeted feral swine (Sus scrofa) populations as part of a comprehensive United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service effort to demonstrate disease-free status in our nation\u27s livestock and wildlife. Surveillance is based on risk assessments which identify high risk states and the vicinity of feral swine to transitional or commercial swine production facilities. During 2007 and 2008, WS sampled and tested (n = 3661) feral swine. CSF was not detected in feral swine in the United States through this surveillance effort

Lessons learned from research and surveillance directed at highly pathogenic influenza A viruses in wild birds inhabiting North America

Following detections of highly pathogenic (HP) influenza A viruses (IAVs) in wild birds inhabiting East Asia after the turn of the millennium, the intensity of sampling of wild birds for IAVs increased throughout much of North America. The objectives for many research and surveillance efforts were directed towards detecting Eurasian origin HP IAVs and understanding the potential of such viruses to be maintained and dispersed by wild birds. In this review, we highlight five important lessons learned from research and surveillance directed at HP IAVs in wild birds inhabiting North America: (1) Wild birds may disperse IAVs between North America and adjacent regions via migration, (2) HP IAVs can be introduced to wild birds in North America, (3) HP IAVs may cross the wild bird-poultry interface in North America, (4) The probability of encountering and detecting a specific virus may be low, and (5) Population immunity of wild birds may influence HP IAV outbreaks in North America. We review empirical support derived from research and surveillance efforts for each lesson learned and, furthermore, identify implications for future surveillance efforts, biosecurity, and population health. We conclude our review by identifying five additional areas in which we think future mechanistic research relative to IAVs in wild birds in North America are likely to lead to other important lessons learned in the years ahead