LIMITED ANTIBODY EVIDENCE OF EXPOSURE TO MYCOBACTERIUM BOVIS IN FERAL SWINE (\u3ci\u3eSUS SCROFA\u3c/i\u3e) IN THE USA

Bovine tuberculosis is a chronic disease of cattle (Bos taurus) caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium bovis. Efforts have been made in the US to eradicate the disease in cattle, but spillover into wildlife and subsequent spillback have impeded progress in some states. In particular, infection in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) has been followed by infection in cattle in some Midwestern states. Infection has also been documented in feral swine (Sus scrofa) on the Hawaiian island of Molokai and in various European countries, but no large-scale survey of antibody exposure to the bacteria has been conducted in feral swine in the US. We tested 488 sera from feral swine collected near previously documented outbreaks of bovine tuberculosis in cattle and captive cervids, in addition to 2,237 feral swine sera collected across the US from 1 October 2013 to 30 September 2014. While all but one of the samples were antibody negative, the results are important for establishing baseline negative data since feral swine are capable reservoirs and could be implicated in future outbreaks of the disease

Test Of An Alternative Rodent Control Method: CHF Fertilizer/Small Mammal Repellant

Small mammals, primarily rodents, are an indirect threat to aviation safety because they are the prey base for numerous species of raptors. An abundant rodent population at an airport can attract and sustain a significant number of hazardous raptors in the airport vicinity. The use of chemical rodenticides has been shown to reduce rodent populations but may not be practical because of environmental concerns, thus alternative methods are needed. A test of a small mammal repellant, CHF, was conducted at Burke Lakefront Airport in Cleveland, OH. CHF, manufactured by Coolworks BV, is a pelleted, composted 1:1 mixture of mink/fox manure and peat. Coolworks BV recommends a broadcast application of CHF at a rate of 250 kilograms per hectare (223 pounds per acre) with repeated applications of 1 to 3 times per year or as needed. The study area consisted of three 3 acre treatment blocks and three 3 acre control blocks. The target rodent species was the meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus); however, all rodents captured [which included deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus), house mice (Mus musculus) and Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus)] were included in the analyses. A pre-application trapping index was conducted on each block in early October 2007 immediately prior to the first CHF application. Two weeks following the first application we observed a 51% decrease in meadow voles and a 31% decrease in all rodents from the treated blocks while there was a 55% increase in meadow voles and a 37% increase in all rodent species from the control blocks. Another index conducted one month after a second product application compared to the pretreatment indices revealed an 85% decrease in meadow voles and an 83% decrease in all rodents from the treated blocks while there was a 44% increase in meadow voles and an 83% increase in all rodent species from the control blocks. The preliminary results of the fall/winter tests show potential, indicating that CHF may have a place in an integrated management system

Wildlife in Airport Environments: Chapter 6 Wildlife Translocation as a Management Alternative at Airports

Wildlife in urban settings may be a welcome sight for many, but negative interactions between people and various wild species are increasing (Conover et al. 1995, Conover 2002). Wildlife populations are commonly managed in part to reduce these conflicts, particularly in high-risk areas such as roadways and airports (Conover 2002). However, the public often opposes lethal control or management methods perceived as causing harm to nuisance animals (Reiter et al. 1999, Conover 2002, Treves et al. 2006), and attitudes vary considerably depending on the particular wildlife species involved (Kretser et al. 2009). Consequently, a variety of nonlethal management approaches are typically integrated with limited lethal control (Conover 2002)

WiIdIife Translocation as a Management Alternative at Airports

Wildlife in urban settings may be a welcome sight for many, but negative interactions between people and various wild species are increasing (Conover et a!. 1995, Conover 2002). Wildlife populations are commonly managed in part to reduce these conflicts, particularly in high-risk areas such as roadways and airports (Conover 2002). However, the public often opposes lethal control or management methods perceived as causing harm to nuisance animals (Reiter et al. 1999, Conover 2002, Treves et al. 2006), and attitudes vary considerably depending on the particular wildlife species involved (Kretser et a!. 2009). Consequently, a variety of nonlethal management approaches are typically integrated with limited lethal control (Conover 2002). Translocation, the transport and release of wild animals from one location to another (Nielsen 1988), is an example of a fairly recent adaptation to wildlife damage management methods. Griffith et al. (1989) provided an overview of translocation as a general wildlife conservation method. Translocation has been demonstrated as an important technique for stocking game species and furbearers, reintroducing extirpated Species, and enhancing threatened or endangered spe~ cies. The black bear (Ursus americanus) is probably the carnivore most frequently translocated to re-establish extirpated populations (Smith and Clark 1994, Linnell et aI. 1997). Based on a survey of 81 wildlife agenCies and organizations (1973-1986), Griffith et aI. (1989) determined that 90% of all translocations were of native game species and were deemed successful 86% of the time. In contrast, translocations of threatened species were successful only 46% of the time

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

LIMITED ANTIBODY EVIDENCE OF EXPOSURE TO MYCOBACTERIUM BOVIS IN FERAL SWINE (\u3ci\u3eSUS SCROFA\u3c/i\u3e) IN THE USA

Bovine tuberculosis is a chronic disease of cattle (Bos taurus) caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium bovis. Efforts have been made in the US to eradicate the disease in cattle, but spillover into wildlife and subsequent spillback have impeded progress in some states. In particular, infection in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) has been followed by infection in cattle in some Midwestern states. Infection has also been documented in feral swine (Sus scrofa) on the Hawaiian island of Molokai and in various European countries, but no large-scale survey of antibody exposure to the bacteria has been conducted in feral swine in the US. We tested 488 sera from feral swine collected near previously documented outbreaks of bovine tuberculosis in cattle and captive cervids, in addition to 2,237 feral swine sera collected across the US from 1 October 2013 to 30 September 2014. While all but one of the samples were antibody negative, the results are important for establishing baseline negative data since feral swine are capable reservoirs and could be implicated in future outbreaks of the disease

Limited antibody evidence of exposure to Mycobacterium bovis in feral swine (Sus scrofa) in the USA

Bovine tuberculosis is a chronic disease of cattle (Bos taurus) caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium bovis. Efforts have been made in the US to eradicate the disease in cattle, but spillover into wildlife and subsequent spillback have impeded progress in some states. In particular, infection in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) has been followed by infection in cattle in some Midwestern states. Infection has also been documented in feral swine (Sus scrofa) on the Hawaiian island of Molokai and in various European countries, but no large-scale survey of antibody exposure to the bacteria has been conducted in feral swine in the US. We tested 488 sera from feral swine collected near previously documented outbreaks of bovine tuberculosis in cattle and captive cervids, in addition to 2,237 feral swine sera collected across the US from 1 October 2013 to 30 September 2014. While all but one of the samples were antibody negative, the results are important for establishing baseline negative data since feral swine are capable reservoirs and could be implicated in future outbreaks of the disease.Peer Reviewe

Wildlife in Airport Environments: Appendix, Index and Back Cover

In 1990, the 190 member nations of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) adopted, in Annex 14 to the Convention on Civil International Aviation, three recommended management practices regarding bird hazards to aviation. The recommended practices required that aviation authorities within each nation (1) assess the extent of the hazard posed by birds at and in the vicinity of airports certificated for passenger traffic, (2) take necessary action to decrease the number of birds, and (3) eliminate or prevent the establishment of any site in the vicinity of the airport that could attract birds and thereby present a danger to aviation. Because of the increasing threat posed by birds to aviation worldwide, member states voted to make these recommendations mandatory ICAO standards, effective November 2003. In 2009, ICAO expanded these standards to include terrestrial wildlife such as large mammals and reptiles that pose a risk at airports (ICAO 2009)