Recent shifts in the occurrence, cause, and magnitude of animal mass mortality events
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Fey SB et al (2015). Recent shifts in the occurrence, cause, and magnitude of animal mass mortality events. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 201414894.
Abstract: Mass mortality events (MMEs) are rapidly occurring catastrophic demographic events that punctuate background mortality levels......... Despite extensive documentation of individual MMEs, we have no understanding of the major features characterizing the occurrence and magnitude of MMEs, their causes, or trends through time....... Here we present an analysis of 727 published MMEs from across the globe, affecting 2,407 animal populations. We show that the magnitude of MMEs has been intensifying for birds, fishes, and marine invertebrates; invariant for mammals; and decreasing for reptiles and amphibians...... it remains unclear whether the increase in the occurrence of MMEs represents a true pattern or simply a perceived increase. ……"
Full text here
Thursday, 19 February 2015/Author: Anonym/Number of views (3688)/Comments (0)/
Categories: Diseases and disease agentsWildlife Disease - GeneralWorld watchWildlife diseases - International activities and trends
Parasites and biological invasions: parallels, interactions, and control
Trends in parasitology
Dunn, A. M., & Hatcher, M. J. (2015). Parasites and biological invasions: parallels, interactions, and control. Trends in Parasitology. Abstract.
"Species distributions are changing at an unprecedented rate owing to human activity.....there are many parallels between invasion and emergence processes, and invasions can drive the spread of new diseases to wildlife..........policy on invasive species and parasites of wildlife is fragmented........We call for international policy that acknowledges the strong links between emerging diseases and invasion risk"
Friday, 30 January 2015/Author: Anonym/Number of views (4448)/Comments (0)/
Categories: Diseases and disease agentsWildlife Disease - GeneralInvestigation and diagnosticsGeneral Wildlife & Emerging Diseases World watchWildlife diseases - International activities and trends
Detection of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Viruses H5N2 and H5N8 in Wild Birds of the United States.
USGS NWHC Avian Influenza Bulletin (December 2014)
There have been a number of influenza A H5N8 detections globally in 2014, with several recent detections in poultry and wild birds in Europe and North America. The USGS National Wildlife Health Centre has collated a list of 'Wild bird species known to be infected with HPAIV H5N8 and a timeline of major HPAIV H5N8 events during 2014, which are summarised in their recent bulletin
Wednesday, 14 January 2015/Author: Anonym/Number of views (4172)/Comments (0)/
Categories: Diseases and disease agentsAvian InfluenzaHostsBirdsWorld watchAvian Health-International News
Epidemiology of avian influenza in wild aquatic birds in a biosecurity hotspot, North Queensland, Australia
Accepted Manuscript - note to users
Abstract: "……. A three-year repeated cross sectional study on the epidemiology of avian influenza in Australian nomadic wild aquatic birds was conducted in this potential biosecurity hotspot using molecular and serological techniques. Avian influenza virus subtypes H6 and H9 were commonly present in the studied population. It is likely that one of the H6 viruses was newly introduced through migratory birds confirming the perceived biosecurity risk. The matrix gene of another H6 virus was similar to the Australian H7 subtypes, which suggests the reassortment of a previously introduced H6 and local viruses. Similarly, a H9 subtype had a matrix gene similar to that found in Asian H9 viruses suggesting reassortment of viruses originated from Australia and Asia. Whilst H5N1 was not found, the serological study demonstrated a constant circulation of the H5 subtype in the sampled birds. The odds of being reactive for avian influenza viral antibodies were 13.1(95% CI: 5.9-28.9) for Pacific Black Ducks over Plumed Whistling Ducks, highlighting that some species of waterfowl pose a greater biosecurity risk. Antibody titres were slightly higher during warm wet compared with warm dry weather. Routine surveillance programs should be established to monitor the introduction of avian influenza viruses from Asia and the interactions of the introduced viruses with resident viruses in order to better detect emerging pathogens in aquatic birds of North Queensland. Surveillance should be targeted towards highly susceptible species such as the Pacific Black Duck and carried out during favourable environmental conditions for viral transmission such as the wet season in northern Australia."
Cited journal article: Hoque MDA et al (2014) Epidemiology of avian influenza in wild aquatic birds in a biosecurity hotspot, North Queensland, Australia. Preventative Veterinary Medicine. In Press, Accepted Manuscript
Wednesday, 26 November 2014/Author: Anonym/Number of views (4173)/Comments (0)/
Categories: Diseases and disease agentsAvian InfluenzaHostsBirds
Chytrid could wipe out American, European salamanders
Eureka Alert Article
28/10/2014 Eureka Alert Article: "Scientists call for controls on imports to check deadly fungus' spread. A deadly disease that is wiping out salamanders in parts of Europe will inevitably reach the U.S. through the international wildlife trade unless steps are taken to halt its spread, says University of Maryland amphibian expert Karen Lips. The recently described fungus, Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans, has caused a crash in wild populations of fire salamanders in the Netherlands. After the fungus was discovered in Europe last year, Lips joined an international team of experts that tested more than 5,000 amphibians from four continents. Their results, published Oct. 31 in the journal Science, show the fungus probably originated in Southeast Asia 30 million years ago and reached Europe through the international trade in Asian newts, which are popular with amphibian fanciers.
Cited Journal Article: Martel, A et al (2014) Recent introduction of a chytrid fungus endangers Western Palearctic salamanders. Science. 346 (6209), 630-631. DOI: 10.1126/science.1258268
Tuesday, 25 November 2014/Author: Anonym/Number of views (4561)/Comments (0)/
Categories: Diseases and disease agentsChytridiomycosis HostsAmphibiansWorld watchAmphibian Health-International News
Promising Tools Assess Presence of Chytrid Fungus in Amphibian Habitats
US Geological Survey Newsroom
29/9/2014 USGS Newsroom: "Amphibians, including threatened and endangered species like the Oregon Spotted Frog, may benefit from a recent study that highlights the use of promising tools that can assess the risk of disease exposure….. For this study, scientists coupled sophisticated molecular tools with advanced statistics to evaluate whether the amphibian chytrid fungus occupied ponds and wetlands. First, they used DNA extracted from water samples to test for the presence and abundance of the amphibian chytrid fungus. Then they used an occupancy modeling method to estimate the chance of a false-negative result, or the likelihood of not detecting the pathogen when it was actually present. The study found chytrid fungus in approximately 61 percent of sampled ponds and wetlands. The fungus was present year round at the long-term monitoring site, but its density was highest in the spring. Beside seasonal variability, elevation also played a role in the presence of the fungus. Chytrid fungus was more common in amphibian breeding habitats at lower elevations than those habitats at higher elevations……"
Cited Journal Article: Chestnut T et al. (2014) Heterogeneous Occupancy and Density Estimates of the Pathogenic Fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in Waters of North America. PLoS ONE 9(9): e106790. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0106790.
Categories: Diseases and disease agentsChytridiomycosis HostsAmphibiansManagement and interventionGeneralWorld watchAmphibian Health-International News
Koala transcriptome revealed
Life Scientist Article
21/10/2014 Life Scientist Article: "Researchers have sequenced 15,000 genes from the koala, Phascolarctos cinereus, taking a significant first step in the characterisation and assembly of the koala genome. Generated from the genomes of two geographically separated koalas, one male and one female, the work was conducted by Dr Rebecca Johnson from the Australian Museum Research Institute, Professor Peter Timms at Queensland University of Technology and collaborators at the University of New South Wales……Genes specifically expressed in a range of different tissues including spleen, liver, uterus, kidney, lung, heart, brain, adrenal gland, bone marrow, lymph node, salivary gland, and testes were identified. Of putative protein sequences identified, 72% aligned to at least one sequence in the NCBI protein database, with the best alignments to sequences from other marsupials………The retrovirus is integrating into the koala genome, and in this research, koala retrovirus transcripts were detected in the transcriptomes of the two animals studied. Both koala genomes had sequences from the A subtype of the virus, but the male koala transcriptome also had sequences more closely related to the B subtype - the first report of a koala retrovirus B-like sequence in a wild population……."
Cited Journal Article: Hobbs M et al (2014) A transcriptome resource for the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus): insights into koala retrovirus transcription and sequence diversity. BMC Genomics 2014, 15:786 doi:10.1186/1471-2164-15-786.
Categories: Diseases and disease agentsKoala RetrovirusHostsKoalas
Experimental research to obtain a better understanding of the pathogenesis of chytridiomycosis, and the susceptibility and resistance of key amphibian species to chytridiomycosis in Australia
Final report to Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts on work completed for RFT 43/2004
This is the final report for the project Experimental research to obtain a better understanding of the epidemiology, transmission and dispersal of amphibian chytrid fungus in Australian ecosystems.
The researchers found that frog social behaviour, use of microenvironments and aspects of their innate immune system have strong effects on the probability of infection with this serious amphibian pathogen. The rediscovery of the armoured mist frog (Litoria lorica) is examined in relation to these factors. This species had previously been thought to be extinct.
Friday, 24 October 2014/Author: Anonym/Number of views (3911)/Comments (0)/
Categories: Diseases and disease agentsChytridiomycosis HostsAmphibiansAustralian Policies & Guidelines
OIE experts review current knowledge on Ebola virus disease
The World Organisation for Animal Health
9/10/2014 OIE Article: "The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has issued a technical information sheet on Ebola virus disease outlining epidemiological observations and scientific knowledge of the disease including the animal reservoir. The OIE technical information sheet…. has been prepared and reviewed by internationally regarded scientific experts, including experts from OIE global Reference Centres and Working Group on wildlife, and was subsequently endorsed by the OIE Scientific Commission on Animal Diseases…."
Thursday, 23 October 2014/Author: Anonym/Number of views (5268)/Comments (0)/
Categories: Diseases and disease agentsExoticHostsBatsInvestigation and diagnosticsGeneral Wildlife & Emerging Diseases Emergency Disease Preparedness & ResponseWorld watchWildlife diseases - International activities and trendsZoonoses, emerging diseases, human/public healthGeneral
Vancouver Rat Project
A collaborative research project studying rat-associated zoonotic diseases in urban rat populations
The goal of the Vancouver Rat Project is to address this knowledge gap by studying urban rat populations, the microbes they carry,and the risk that they could pose to people through the transmission of infectious diseases.
Explore their website >> to learn more about rats, the project, and the results that have been generated so far.
Tuesday, 1 April 2014/Author: Tiggy Grillo/Number of views (4808)/Comments (0)/
Categories: Diseases and disease agentsHostsFeral AnimalsWorld watchZoonoses, emerging diseases, human/public healthUseful databases and other sources of information