Journal Of Wildlife Diseases[JOURNAL]
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200 papers
Lead Bullet Burden: Widespread Lead Exposure in Wild Carnivores and Unseen Consequences of Feeding Lead-Shot Meat to Captive Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus).
Hauw C, Marker L, Yabe J … +13 more , Díez-León M, McCann N, Iiputa G, Jago M, Mukete-Hilundutah E, Nzehengwa T, Banda N, Nakayama SMM, Ishizuka M, Katjavivi U, Ehrlich J, Humphries M, Schmidt-Küntzel A
J Wildl Dis · 2025 Oct · PMID 40947545 · Publisher ↗
Lead (Pb) exposure is a global concern because of its harmful effects on the environment, animals, and humans. Although research on Pb poisoning in humans and avian species is extensive, similar literature on mammalian c...
Lead (Pb) exposure is a global concern because of its harmful effects on the environment, animals, and humans. Although research on Pb poisoning in humans and avian species is extensive, similar literature on mammalian carnivores is limited. Only two reports of suspected Pb poisoning in captive cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) exist, and none in wild cheetahs. We quantified cumulative life exposure to Pb in 62 cheetahs (33 males, 29 females) and 11 (unknown sex) leopards (Panthera pardus). Cheetahs were grouped according to time spent in captivity: wild (>10% of life in the wild) and captive (10-100% of life in captivity); all leopards were wild. Bone Pb concentration (BLC) was measured in tibias to assess the effects of time in captivity, age, and sex on Pb exposure. Lead was detected in all cheetah and leopard tibias. Mean BLC was 1.11±1.92 mg/kg for all cheetahs, with a significantly higher mean in captive (1.57±2.25 mg/kg) versus wild (0.27±0.39 mg/kg) cheetahs. Time in captivity had a significant effect on BLC, with BLC increasing with years spent in human care. Wild leopards had a higher BLC than wild cheetahs, with a mean BLC of 1.02±1.56 mg/kg. Higher BLC in captive than wild cheetahs was attributed to Pb exposure from the ammunition used to shoot ungulates for their diet. Increased exposure in wild leopards might be attributable to opportunistic scavenging, a behavior not typically seen in wild cheetahs. This study highlights the need for non-Pb ammunition options in support of conservation, animal welfare, and ultimately human health.
Observational, Virologic, and Serologic Data Provide Insights into an Outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza among Wild Birds on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska, USA, in 2022.
Daniels BL, Osnas EE, Boldenow ML … +18 more , Gerlach RF, Ahlstrom CA, Coburn SM, Brook MJ, Brubaker M, Fischer JB, Koons DN, Matz AC, Murphy MA, Rizzolo DJ, Scott LC, Sinnett DR, Thompson JM, Lenoch JB, Torchetti MK, Stallknecht DE, Poulson RL, Ramey AM
J Wildl Dis · 2025 Oct · PMID 40947535 · Publisher ↗
In 2021-22, clade 2.3.4.4b highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses were introduced by wild birds into North America, leading to geographically widespread disease. In response to HPAI outbreaks throughout late 20...
In 2021-22, clade 2.3.4.4b highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses were introduced by wild birds into North America, leading to geographically widespread disease. In response to HPAI outbreaks throughout late 2021 and early 2022, we recorded observations of sick and dead birds, estimated abundance of carcasses, collected swab and sera samples to detect viruses, and monitored bird nesting on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta region of Alaska to document potential effects of disease. Thirty-six reports of sick and dead birds were registered across the region. Nineteen carcasses were opportunistically collected for diagnostic testing, of which 12 were confirmed to be infected with clade 2.3.4.4b HPAI viruses. Carcass abundance estimates from line-distance sampling provided evidence that the most common species of dead birds from the western Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta region were Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii minima), Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus), and Black Brant (Branta bernicla nigricans). Only one paired cloacal and oropharyngeal swab sample from a Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) tested positive for clade 2.3.4.4b HPAI virus, out of 464 live-captured duck and goose samples. Of 195 sera samples from waterfowl screened for antibodies reactive to influenza A viruses, antibodies were found in 41-98% of samples collected from Emperor Goose (Anser canagicus), Cackling Goose, Black Brant, and Spectacled Eider (Somateria fischeri). In addition, 15-98% of the same sera samples were reactive to a clade 2.3.4.4b H5 antigen. Fewer Black Brant and Emperor Goose nests were found on long-term study plots during 2022 than in previous years. Collectively, we found that HPAI viruses affected at least seven species of wild birds inhabiting the region during 2022. The full scope of impacts of HPAI at this location during 2022 is unknown, but our data indicate that acute effects to avian population health on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta region were likely modest.
Ranavirus-Positive Hatchling Eastern Box Turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina) Suggest Vertical Transmission without Observed Disease.
Rimple RJ, Lance SL, Buhlmann KA … +2 more , Kohl MT, Tuberville TD
J Wildl Dis · 2025 Oct · PMID 40936392 · Publisher ↗
Ranaviruses (Iridoviridae) are highly virulent emerging pathogens that affect a wide range of ectotherms, including fishes, amphibians, and reptiles. In turtles, ranaviruses have contributed to deadly epizootic events in...
Ranaviruses (Iridoviridae) are highly virulent emerging pathogens that affect a wide range of ectotherms, including fishes, amphibians, and reptiles. In turtles, ranaviruses have contributed to deadly epizootic events in wild and captive populations. Despite ranaviruses being pathogens of major concern, their transmission is poorly understood in reptiles and the potential for vertical transmission (from mother to offspring) remains unaddressed. We investigated vertical transmission of ranavirus in eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina) by screening 25 reproductive females and their offspring (n=74). We collected samples from adult females up to four times during the 2022 reproductive season and, in some cases, for up to 3 yr prior. We collected samples from offspring at hatch in 2022 and approximately 8 mo later. We documented seven reproductive females with positive ranavirus detections, although no females tested positive at more than one time point and all detections occurred 2-3 yr before reproductive monitoring in 2022. We documented nine hatchlings from six clutches with positive ranavirus detections, seven of which were produced by four females without a documented history of ranavirus detection. None of the ranavirus-positive hatchlings exhibited clinical signs of disease throughout an 8-mo captive rearing period; five of seven initially positive hatchlings were negative at release, and all survived until release. Hatchlings in which we detected ranavirus exhibited low viral loads, and we found no evidence that they transmitted the virus to their clutchmates during captive rearing. Collectively, our results suggest that vertical transmission of ranavirus is possible in box turtles, but we found no evidence that the low viral loads we observed resulted in disease. Further research is needed to determine the precise mode of vertical transmission in turtles and to understand the potential individual and population-level effects of maternally derived infections.
Retrospective Analysis of Parasites in Wild-Caught Eastern Newts (Notophthalmus viridescens) Experimentally Exposed to Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans.
Demers TC, Miller DL, Gray MJ … +3 more , Zhu X, Wu T, Sheley WC
J Wildl Dis · 2025 Oct · PMID 40936389 · Publisher ↗
Amphibians are experiencing extinction rates over 200 times the background extinction rate. One emerging infectious disease contributing to amphibian declines is caused by the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium salamandriv...
Amphibians are experiencing extinction rates over 200 times the background extinction rate. One emerging infectious disease contributing to amphibian declines is caused by the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal), which has caused mass die-offs of fire salamanders (Salamandra salamandra) in Europe and could pose a major threat to North American salamander biodiversity if introduced to the continent. A recent study investigated the effects of pathogen dose and environmental temperature on Bsal chytridiomycosis disease progression in wild-caught Notophthalmus viridescens (eastern newts). During that study, necropsy and histologic examination revealed that many newts were infected with multiple parasites. We performed a retrospective analysis on the 41 eastern newts from that study to evaluate whether parasite load was related to Bsal load, environmental temperature, or host survival. In this study 34% (15/41) of newts were infected with nematodes and 22% (9/41) were infected with protozoans. Nematode loads were greatest in newts held at cooler temperatures. Additionally, there was a significant correlation between the overall parasite load and the survival time of newts infected with Bsal. Our results suggest that environmental temperature and parasite infection may interact to increase infection tolerance, which is consistent with recent results reported for Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. Our results highlight the importance of studying micro- and macroparasite interactions and their possible impacts on host survival.
SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in Wild Mammals from Atlantic Forest Region in Misiones province, Argentina.
Kuhlmann PA, Di Nucci DL, Valdez SN … +7 more , Marfia JI, Smith I, Miranda MV, Sanchez Fernandez C, Grassi E, Ruuth E, Salvatierra KA
J Wildl Dis · 2025 Oct · PMID 40936388 · Publisher ↗
There is evidence that both domestic and wild animals are susceptible to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus causing COVID-19 in humans. However, the extent of infection in native wild...
There is evidence that both domestic and wild animals are susceptible to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus causing COVID-19 in humans. However, the extent of infection in native wild mammals and the most susceptible species to SARS-CoV-2 remain unclear. We assessed SARS-CoV-2 exposure in native wild mammals from the Misiones region, a subtropical area in northeastern Argentina, within the Upper Paraná Atlantic Forest ecoregion. A descriptive, cross-sectional study was designed using serum samples from wild mammals that entered the Centro de Rescate, Rehabilitación y Recría de Fauna Silvestre Güirá Oga for veterinary care between December 2019 and March 2022. Epidemiological data were obtained from veterinary records, and antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 were detected using a novel bridge multispecies ELISA. A total of 115 serum samples from 26 wild mammal species were analyzed, revealing antibodies in 20 samples and a seroprevalence of 17.4% (95% confidence interval 11.5-25.3%). Antibodies were detected in 13 species, including native wild mammals in Argentina. These findings indicate that certain wildlife species may be infected by this virus, but do not provide evidence that any of the tested animals are reservoirs for SARS-CoV-2, as the study only addressed exposure. The results underscore the importance of continued surveillance to understand the ecological impacts of SARS-CoV-2, prevent zoonotic transmission, and protect both wildlife and human health.
Current Biosecurity Practices in the Handling and Sampling of Cervids: A Cross-Sectional Survey.
Yustyniuk V, Keller GA, Schwabenlander MD … +3 more , Bondo KJ, Christensen SA, Wolf TM
J Wildl Dis · 2025 Oct · PMID 40915642 · Publisher ↗
Effective biosecurity practices are essential for mitigating the risks of pathogen transmission in human-wildlife interactions, yet it is unclear how infection control policies are put into action by those working with w...
Effective biosecurity practices are essential for mitigating the risks of pathogen transmission in human-wildlife interactions, yet it is unclear how infection control policies are put into action by those working with wildlife. We evaluated biosecurity practices among professionals working with cervids in the US and Canada via an electronic survey conducted between March 2024 and June 2024. The objectives were to identify pathogens of concern, describe current biosecurity protocols, evaluate the appropriateness of disinfecting practices, and explore associations between biosecurity practices and factors such as profession, regional disease status, and the nature of interactions with cervids. Survey respondents were primarily ecologists or biologists (47%), veterinarians (46%), and managers or wildlife capture professionals lacking those backgrounds (6%). Respondents identified chronic wasting disease (CWD) and SARS-CoV-2 as primary pathogens of concern, with CWD being the most frequently targeted for disinfection, even in nonendemic areas. Although most respondents indicated the use of biosecurity protocols, adherence was inconsistent, particularly in free-living settings. Professionals working with captive cervids were significantly more likely to consistently follow biosecurity protocols than those working exclusively with free-living cervids. Use of personal protective equipment was common. Veterinarians were more likely than managers lacking an ecology, biology, or veterinary background to disinfect cervid sampling equipment between individual animals. Those working in regions where CWD was endemic were more likely to have formal biosecurity policies and cleaning and disinfection protocols compared with those in nonendemic areas. Our study also identified biosecurity protocol gaps, with some respondents using ineffective disinfectants or suboptimal concentrations against reported pathogens of concern. These findings highlight the need for standardized, evidence-based guidelines when developing and implementing cervid biosecurity protocols, particularly regarding effective disinfectant use.
Pathologic Characterization of Highly Pathogenic H5N1 Avian Influenza Virus Infections in Wild Mammals in Alaska, USA.
Beckmen KB, Burek Huntington KA, Spraker T … +1 more , Ellis J
J Wildl Dis · 2025 Oct · PMID 40908665 · Publisher ↗
This report describes highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAI) H5N1 infections in carnivores in Alaska, USA between 2022 and 2024, including a black bear (Ursus americanus), a brown bear (Ursus arctos), and the fir...
This report describes highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAI) H5N1 infections in carnivores in Alaska, USA between 2022 and 2024, including a black bear (Ursus americanus), a brown bear (Ursus arctos), and the first known report of HPAI in an ermine (Mustela ermina). The two bears were cubs, and the ermine was a young adult. The black bear and ermine were euthanized after demonstrating neurologic signs, including circling, blindness, ataxia, or seizures. The brown bear was found dead. Gross lesions included swelling and congestion of the brain in both bears. Microscopically, all three individuals exhibited severe, nonsuppurative necrotizing meningoencephalitis, which was most prominent in the gray matter. Nonneuropathic microscopic lesions shared between both bears were multifocal random hepatic necrosis with lymphoplasmacytic hepatitis and mild interstitial pneumonia with bronchitis. The spectrum of additional lesions in individual animals consisted of acute necrosis within multiple other organs, including skeletal muscle, pancreas, kidney, retina, adrenal glands, and intestine. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated positive staining within neurons and glial cells in the brain, enterocytes and neurons of the myenteric plexus in the intestine, rare bronchiolar epithelial cells, renal tubular epithelial cells, and myocyte nuclei. Two HPAI-positive red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and one positive Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) with incomplete histopathology are briefly discussed, as they demonstrate potential for co-infections with HPAI and canine distemper virus or rabies virus.
Survey of Coyotes (Canis latrans) for Vector-Borne and Bacterial Pathogens in South Carolina and Tennessee, USA.
Baker E, Dennis MM, Miller D … +5 more , Rajeev S, Abouelkhair MA, Jensen A, Black C, Gerhold R
J Wildl Dis · 2025 Oct · PMID 40903015 · Publisher ↗
Coyotes (Canis latrans) can serve as hosts for many pathogens of concern and may be useful for monitoring the prevalence and emergence of these pathogens. We collected serum and/or whole blood antemortem from 43 coyotes...
Coyotes (Canis latrans) can serve as hosts for many pathogens of concern and may be useful for monitoring the prevalence and emergence of these pathogens. We collected serum and/or whole blood antemortem from 43 coyotes from South Carolina, USA, and collected samples from opportunistically collected carcasses from 71 Tennessee, USA and 15 South Carolina, USA coyotes. We tested samples with SNAP 4Dx PLUS rapid ELISA tests for Ehrlichia spp., Anaplasma spp., Dirofilaria immitis, and Borrelia burgdorferi and with microscopic agglutination tests for Leptospira spp. Real-time and conventional PCR for B. burgdorferi were performed on Ixodes scapularis ticks from Tennessee coyotes, detecting B. burgdorferi DNA in 5% of tested ticks. We found 43% (28/65) of Tennessee coyotes were seropositive for B. burgdorferi compared to only 2% (1/52) of South Carolina coyotes. Coyotes were also seropositive for Ehrlichia spp. (66% [43/65] in Tennessee; 21% [11/52] in South Carolina) and Anaplasma spp. (26% [14/65] in Tennessee). Three Tennessee coyotes were PCR-positive for Leptospira spp., including two sequences most similar to Leptospira santarosai and one most similar to Leptospira interrogans. A total of 25% of coyotes (23/91) were seropositive for Leptospira spp., and interstitial nephritis was associated with Leptospira spp. seropositivity. This study demonstrates the expanded geographic range of B. burgdorferi in the southeast and the high prevalence of zoonotic pathogens in the coyote populations of Tennessee and South Carolina.
Alternate Evolutionary Trajectories Following a Pathogen Spillover into a Novel Host: The Case of Mycoplasma gallisepticum in House Finches (Haemorhous mexicanus).
Dhondt AA, Dobson AP, Dhondt KV … +3 more , Hochachka WM, Ellner SP, Hawley DM
J Wildl Dis · 2025 Oct · PMID 40838321 · Publisher ↗
Few studies exist in which host-pathogen systems have been studied within months of their emergence and followed for many years, making it possible to test the virulence-transmission hypothesis and to determine if a path...
Few studies exist in which host-pathogen systems have been studied within months of their emergence and followed for many years, making it possible to test the virulence-transmission hypothesis and to determine if a pathogen becomes more or less virulent over time. Around 1994 the bacterium Mycoplasma gallisepticum jumped from poultry to House Finches (Haemorhous mexicanus) and other wild birds in the US. Bacterial virulence increased as it rapidly spread across eastern North America, causing House Finch abundance to decline by half. The new M. gallisepticum variants that eventually colonized the western US had lost a substantial part of their genome and had a reduced virulence. In our study, initial survival of M. gallisepticum was lower in eastern US than in western US isolates, and birds with a higher bacterial load showed higher transmission rates, but this relationship differed between birds inoculated with eastern versus western isolates. Western isolates were less pathogenic (similar pathogen loads caused less-severe disease) than eastern isolates and had lower transmission rates for a given bacterial load. Our study provides insights into how pathogens spreading after a host shift and across a continent may respond to novel evolutionary pressures in diverse ways.
Chemical Immobilization of Free-Ranging Chilla (Lycalopex griseus) and Culpeo (Lycalopex culpaeus) Foxes with Ketamine-Dexmedetomidine and Reversal with Atipamezole.
Ahumada C, Hernández F, Manqui J … +1 more , Acosta-Jamett G
J Wildl Dis · 2024 Aug · PMID 40833027 · Publisher ↗
This study assessed a chemical immobilization protocol in two species of free-ranging foxes. A total of 44 chilla (Lycalopex griseus) and 70 culpeo (Lycalopex culpaeus) foxes were captured in northern Chile. Animals were...
This study assessed a chemical immobilization protocol in two species of free-ranging foxes. A total of 44 chilla (Lycalopex griseus) and 70 culpeo (Lycalopex culpaeus) foxes were captured in northern Chile. Animals were immobilized using ketamine-dexmedetomidine, and dexmedetomidine was reversed with one of two atipamezole:dexmedetomidine ratios (high [10:1] and low [5:1]). The administered doses were ketamine at 2.79±0.09 and 2.73±0.07 mg/kg, dexmedetomidine at 55.10±1.90 and 54.16±1.48 μg/kg, and atipamezole at 596.61±25.05 μg/kg (high ratio) and 247.95±12.14 μg/kg (low ratio) for chillas, and 573.16±21.28 μg/kg (high ratio) and 246.48±7.12 μg/kg (low ratio) for culpeos, respectively. Times for induction procedure length, latency period (at high and low atipamezole:dexmedetomidine ratios), recovery, and total immobilization duration were recorded, as were body temperature (BT), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), and oxygen-hemoglobin saturation (SpO2). Linear mixed models, with animal ID as random effect and age and sex as covariates, were used to evaluate variations of physiologic parameters over time. A Wilcoxon test was performed to compare the latency period between sex, age, and atipamezole ratios. In chilla foxes, HR, RR, and BT decreased over time, with SpO2 stable at 91-93%. In culpeo foxes, HR and BT decreased, while RR and SpO2 remained constant at 19-21 breaths/min and 90-98%. Juveniles exhibited higher HR, RR, and SpO2 than adults, but adults had higher body temperatures. No significant differences were found in monitored values between sexes in either species. Reversal of dexmedetomidine with atipamezole resulted in a quick, smooth, and complete recovery, with no significant differences between reversal times for either ratio of atipamezole. In conclusion, our protocol of 2.7 mg/kg of ketamine and 55 μg/kg of dexmedetomidine, reversed with either 250 μg/kg or 500 μg/kg of atipamezole, produced smooth and adequate physiological responses in chilla and culpeo foxes immobilized in field conditions.
Surveys for Three Pathogens Reveal No Chytrid Detections But First Detection of Ranavirus in Southern Torrent Salamanders (Rhyacotriton variegatus) in Northern California, USA.
Sandoval MV, Kerby JL, Kiemnec-Tyburczy KM
J Wildl Dis · 2025 Oct · PMID 40804785 · Publisher ↗
This study investigated the prevalence of widely researched amphibian pathogens within the Rhyacotritonidae, a salamander family endemic to the Pacific Northwest of the USA. We tested skin swabs (n=309) from southern tor...
This study investigated the prevalence of widely researched amphibian pathogens within the Rhyacotritonidae, a salamander family endemic to the Pacific Northwest of the USA. We tested skin swabs (n=309) from southern torrent salamanders (Rhyacotriton variegatus) in northern California, USA, for the presence of three pathogens: Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans, and ranavirus (frog virus 3-like). Using quantitative PCR assays, we detected ranavirus DNA in 16% of swabs but did not detect either Batrachochytrium spp. Prevalence of ranavirus ranged from 0% to 40%, and was significantly different across nine sites in Humboldt and Del Norte counties. Viral load was significantly and positively associated with the water temperature of the microhabitat. Nevertheless, overall viral loads were generally low (none higher than 782 viral particles per swab), and we did not observe any animals exhibiting clinical signs typically associated with ranavirus disease. Further research is needed to determine if this species can develop ranavirus-associated disease.
Leprosy in Missouri, USA: Are Armadillos (Dasypus mexicanus) Carrying the Causative Agent Mycobacterium leprae?
Robbins LW, Dyer JA, Warner GA … +3 more , Stryjewska BM, Pena MT, Lahiri R
J Wildl Dis · 2025 Oct · PMID 40716761 · Publisher ↗
The Mexican long-nosed nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus mexicanus) has continued to expand its range since it was first documented in Texas, US, in the mid-1800s. It dispersed north and east and was found in Missouri, USA,...
The Mexican long-nosed nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus mexicanus) has continued to expand its range since it was first documented in Texas, US, in the mid-1800s. It dispersed north and east and was found in Missouri, USA, starting in the 1980s. This species is known to contract leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease, caused by Mycobacterium leprae. Infected armadillos are considered to be a zoonotic source of leprosy in the US. A recent case (2021) of leprosy in a native Missourian who had a history of contacts with armadillos appears to have been locally acquired. However, no data were available on the presence or prevalence of leprosy in wild armadillos from Missouri. We sampled various tissues from 64 armadillos, 39 road killed and 25 hunter killed/culled, from southwestern and central Missouri in summer 2022 to determine the local prevalence of M. leprae. Two animals were PCR positive for M. leprae, providing evidence that this pathogen is moving northward along with the range expansion of Mexican long-nosed armadillos.
Characterizing the Performance of Multiple Testing Modalities to Detect Emydomyces testavorans in Blanding's Turtles (Emydoidea blandingii).
Moorhead KA, Burke DM, Adamovicz LA … +4 more , Anchor GC, Graser W, Glowacki G, Allender MC
J Wildl Dis · 2025 Oct · PMID 40717659 · Publisher ↗
Emydomyces testavorans is a recently described fungus associated with significant shell disease in chelonians, including Illinois state-endangered Blanding's turtles (Emydoidea blandingii). Characterizing the epidemiolog...
Emydomyces testavorans is a recently described fungus associated with significant shell disease in chelonians, including Illinois state-endangered Blanding's turtles (Emydoidea blandingii). Characterizing the epidemiology of this pathogen requires accurate detection; however, E. testavorans is challenging to detect and optimal antemortem sampling strategies have not been identified. In total, 90 juvenile Blanding's turtles from two populations naturally infected with E. testavorans were used to determine the detection performance of different testing approaches and establish optimal sampling strategies in the context of commonly encountered clinical and management scenarios. Turtles received comprehensive physical examinations and computed tomography scans to document grossly apparent and/or radiographic shell lesions. Multiple sample types were tested for E. testavorans via quantitative PCR (qPCR), including shell swabs, combined cloacal-oral swabs, combined cloacal-oral-shell swabs (COSSs) swabs, and tank water samples. Latent class modeling was used to determine the sensitivity and specificity of each detection method in the absence of a gold standard test. Using multiple tests often increases information available to decision-makers; therefore, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were calculated for two E. testavorans detection methods interpreted either in series or in parallel. Latent class modeling demonstrated that COSS and water qPCRs were highly sensitive (98.0 and 94.0%, respectively) and adequately specific (74.9 and 88.3%, respectively) for E. testavorans; thus, these testing methods are recommended for routine surveillance where use of multiple methods is not possible. In wild and head-started Blanding's turtle populations where false negatives are costly, qPCR testing of two COSS samples interpreted in parallel maximized sensitivity (sensitivity=100%, specificity=56.1%) and is recommended for E. testavorans surveillance when multiple tests are available. This study provides objective measures to guide effective E. testavorans testing and inform future epidemiologic studies, support chelonian medicine, and empower conservation managers, ultimately safeguarding turtle health in managed care and wild settings.
Hematologic and Biochemical Analytes in Free-Ranging Marsican Brown Bears (Ursus arctos marsicanus) in the Central Apennines, Italy.
Getuli L, Quaglia G, Toro M … +7 more , D'Aurelio N, Giansante D, Di Pirro V, Zenobio V, Di Sabatino D, De Massis F, Gentile L
J Wildl Dis · 2025 Oct · PMID 40708496 · Publisher ↗
We investigated blood from 39 free-ranging Marsican brown bears (Ursus arctos marsicanus), a critically endangered brown bear subspecies. Bears were 1-15 yr old and sampled from January 1991 to May 2023. We found signifi...
We investigated blood from 39 free-ranging Marsican brown bears (Ursus arctos marsicanus), a critically endangered brown bear subspecies. Bears were 1-15 yr old and sampled from January 1991 to May 2023. We found significantly lower mean corpuscular hemoglobin and mean corpuscular volume in subadults than in adults (P<0.10) and higher cholesterol (P<0.10) in males than in females.
Detection of Rickettsia-Infected Argas (Persicargas) giganteus on Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) from the Northeastern USA.
Yabsley MJ, Thompson AT, Friedeman N … +7 more , Richmond KC, Gereg I, Chinnici NL, Koon Koon DS, Jones HH, Howey-Newcomb A, Miller EA
J Wildl Dis · 2025 Oct · PMID 40685144 · Publisher ↗
Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus), piscivorous raptors with extensive global distributions, can undergo extensive migrations. Migratory species can transport ectoparasites, including ticks, to new regions. Many soft ticks (Arg...
Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus), piscivorous raptors with extensive global distributions, can undergo extensive migrations. Migratory species can transport ectoparasites, including ticks, to new regions. Many soft ticks (Argasidae) are ornithophilic and occur in bird nests, occasionally causing nest abandonment and chick mortality through pathogen transmission, blood loss, or paralysis. Argas spp. soft ticks are distributed worldwide, with several species in the USA, predominately in the western USA. Argas (Persicargas) giganteus, has been documented on numerous passerine and raptor species in the western USA and parts of Mexico. We detected A. giganteus on two Ospreys from Pennsylvania and Washington, DC, USA, representing a significant recognized range expansion. Genetic analysis confirmed that ticks from both birds were A. giganteus: internal transcribed spacer 2, 12S rRNA, and 16S rRNA gene sequences were 100, 100, and 99.7% similar to A. giganteus, respectively. Most ticks tested (7/8, 88%) were Rickettsia spp. positive; six sequences were Rickettsia hoogstraalii, with one most similar (99.5%) to Rickettsia monacensis. Although A. giganteus is not known to infest people, R. monacensis is a cause of spotted fever rickettsiosis; the pathogenicity of R. hoogstraalii in humans is poorly understood. Furthermore, A. giganteus can probably cause tick paralysis in raptors, especially in young birds. Therefore, continued surveillance for A. giganteus and Rickettisa spp. is warranted, particularly because this tick and associated pathogens seem to be emerging in the eastern US.
Outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic H5N1 Influenza A Virus infection in Black Vultures (Coragyps atratus), USA, 2022.
Cunningham MW, Brown J, Hardman R … +16 more , Loerzel S, Kluever BM, Zachariah TT, Donnelly KA, Poulson RL, Nemeth NM, Van Why K, Sargent R, Driscoll CP, Tegeler AK, Zhou L, Guzman-Vargas V, Lenoch J, Ruder MG, Bommineni YR, Stallknecht DE
J Wildl Dis · 2025 Oct · PMID 40639804 · Publisher ↗
Mortalities in Black Vultures (Coragyps atratus) caused by A/goose/Guangdong/1/1996 2.3.4.4b lineage highly pathogenic (HP) influenza A virus (IAV) H5N1 (HP H5N1) were detected in Florida, USA, on 14 February 2022. By th...
Mortalities in Black Vultures (Coragyps atratus) caused by A/goose/Guangdong/1/1996 2.3.4.4b lineage highly pathogenic (HP) influenza A virus (IAV) H5N1 (HP H5N1) were detected in Florida, USA, on 14 February 2022. By the end of 2022, at least 2,674 and 5,707 deaths where HP H5N1 infection was confirmed or suspected had been documented in Florida and the USA as a whole, respectively. Reported vulture mortalities at die-off locations nationwide ranged from 1 to 700. In Florida and Pennsylvania, USA, antibodies to both H5 and N1 subtypes of IAV were detected in apparently healthy Black Vultures sampled ≤12 mo after mortality events. Antibodies to these subtypes were not detected in Black Vultures at sites in Kentucky and Tennessee, USA, where HP H5N1 was not detected, nor in Pennsylvania vultures sampled before HP H5N1 introduction into North America. Infections in vultures probably originated through scavenging of infected bird carcasses, but once in the vulture population, HP H5N1 infections may have been maintained by conspecific scavenging. Black Vultures can serve as an indicator species for HP H5N1 in North America, and they may sustain an outbreak after infection rates have declined in other species.
Fatal Infection in a Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) with Leptospira interrogans Related to the Australis Serogroup in France.
Thenon N, Le Guyader M, Decors A … +4 more , Degrange B, Lemberger K, Ayral F, Le Net R
J Wildl Dis · 2025 Oct · PMID 40605733 · Publisher ↗
We necropsied a red fox (Vulpes vulpes) with gross and histologic lesions suggestive of leptospirosis, with intralesional argyrophilic bacteria. Real-time PCR detected Leptospira spp. in multiple organs. We identified Le...
We necropsied a red fox (Vulpes vulpes) with gross and histologic lesions suggestive of leptospirosis, with intralesional argyrophilic bacteria. Real-time PCR detected Leptospira spp. in multiple organs. We identified Leptospira interrogans related to the Australis serogroup by typing the 16S rRNA and Lfb1 genes and by multilocus sequence typing.
Shell Lesion Prevalence and Bacteriome Associations in Threatened Western Pond Turtles (Actinemys marmorata and Actinemys pallida) in California, USA.
Green N, Norwood A, Sidhe C … +16 more , Mutlow A, Aymen J, Stiles R, Bushell J, Lim T, Culver E, Reeder N, Timmer M, Connelly F, Charbonneau J, McCall W, Koenig L, Stein M, Geist N, Lambert MR, Hernández-Gómez O
J Wildl Dis · 2025 Jul · PMID 40474779
Bacteriome characterization studies can provide insights into the microbial ecology associated with disease. We collected western pond turtles (Actinemys marmorata and Actinemys pallida) from six San Francisco Bay Area,...
Bacteriome characterization studies can provide insights into the microbial ecology associated with disease. We collected western pond turtles (Actinemys marmorata and Actinemys pallida) from six San Francisco Bay Area, California, USA, ponds; assessed their shells for lesions; and collected shell swabs and keratin scrape samples to evaluate bacteriome differences between the whole shell (swabs) and the affected tissues (scrapes). We quantified shell lesion type and prevalence by using visual inspections of photographs collected of the plastron and carapace and then applied 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing to characterize the associated bacteriomes of shells that observed pits, ulcerations, or no lesions. We observed shell lesions at high frequencies throughout our sites, with larger individuals (>100-mm plastron length) more likely to possess injuries. We saw no differences in alpha diversities between shells presenting with lesions and those on which we did not observe lesions; however, swab samples showed higher bacterial richness than keratin scrapes. The bacterial composition within the scrapes was influenced by pond location and then lesion presence. We observed a higher relative abundance of Actinobacteriota, Bacteroidota, Cyanobacteria, and Deinococcota in the shell keratin microflora of turtles with shell lesions. Because western pond turtles are under consideration for listing under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 in the USA, understanding patterns of shell disease pathologies and the bacteria associated with disease is imperative for the management of current populations.
Using Multivariate Analyses to Explore Host-Pathogen Coevolution in Complex Trait Space.
Ruden RM, Henschen AE, Langager MM … +2 more , Hawley DM, Adelman JS
J Wildl Dis · 2025 Jul · PMID 40452551 · Publisher ↗
Lesion severity scores are often used to monitor individual health outcomes following the incursion of certain wildlife diseases. However, collapsing a complex trait such as pathology onto a single axis can mask critical...
Lesion severity scores are often used to monitor individual health outcomes following the incursion of certain wildlife diseases. However, collapsing a complex trait such as pathology onto a single axis can mask critical information about host-pathogen interactions. In this study, we apply multivariate techniques (shape and community analyses) to explore potential patterns of coevolution in a well-studied wildlife disease system: House Finches (Haemorhous mexicanus) infected with Mycoplasma gallisepticum, a bacterium that causes conjunctival pathology that is visible and facilitates transmission. We captured hatch-year House Finches from two USA populations that differ in their history of pathogen exposure: a Virginia population that has experienced seasonal epizootics for >25 yr and a Hawaii population that is naïve to the pathogen. We then experimentally infected the birds with one of two isolates that varied in virulence. The Virginia birds showed milder distortions of the eye rim, reflected as shorter distances traveled through disease space, across isolates than did the Hawaii birds. Although birds expressed an overlapping suite of pathologic descriptors, the high-virulence isolate caused Virginia birds to express certain pathologies at different frequencies, leading to depauperate communities, compared with the Hawaii birds in which pathologies were expressed more evenly. Notably, eversion was expressed in nearly half of all Virginia eye-days (number of days an eye was sampled) with pathology in response to the high-virulence isolate despite relatively mild lesion severity scores. This may indicate that pathologies that can enhance host competence without compromising host fitness will be maintained and even selected for during host-pathogen coevolution, especially in wildlife populations trending toward disease tolerance.
Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in Giant Anteaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) in Mato Grosso Do Sul, Brazil.
Alexandre MP, de Souza CV, Mathias LDSFR … +12 more , Bernardo RN, Batista VO, Ullmann LS, Yogui DR, Alves MH, Kluyber D, Caiaffa MG, Desbiez ALJ, Freire RL, Jurkevicz RMB, Barros LD, Galhardo JA
J Wildl Dis · 2025 Jul · PMID 40452550 · Publisher ↗
Surveillance is an important component of One Health; however, disease surveillance in wild animals is hindered by challenges in obtaining and preserving adequate biological samples from free-ranging animals. The protozo...
Surveillance is an important component of One Health; however, disease surveillance in wild animals is hindered by challenges in obtaining and preserving adequate biological samples from free-ranging animals. The protozoan Toxoplasma gondii is the etiologic agent causing toxoplasmosis, a worldwide zoonosis with a high prevalence in Brazil. There is limited literature on toxoplasmosis in giant anteaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla); therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence of T. gondii in M. tridactyla from midwest Brazil. Blood samples from 71 free-ranging animals from the Cerrado (n=65) and Pantanal (n=6) biomes in Mato Grosso do Sul state, were collected from 2016 to 2021, as part of Wild Animals Conservation Institute (ICAS) studies. A modified agglutination test was used to detect anti-T. gondii antibodies. Overall, 62% (44/71) of free-ranging anteaters tested positive, with titers ranging from 16 to 4,096, confirming exposure of giant anteaters in this area of Brazil to T. gondii. Anti-T. gondii antibodies were detected in anteaters from both the Pantanal wetland and Cerrado savanna biomes, indicating the presence of T. gondii in both.
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