Ferret hematology and related disorders

This article summarizes the general topic of ferret hematology, including discussion of restraint for phlebotomy and phlebotomy sites, red and white blood cell morphology, interpretation of the hemogram, and normal and abnormal factors affecting the hemogram. In addition, the apparent lack of blood groups and techniques for bone marrow aspirates and blood transfusion are addressed. There is much still to be learned about the ferret and its diseases. We often depend on tests as simple as the complete blood cell count to help guide us in our diagnosis and treatments of this patient.     

A real-time polymerase chain reaction assay for the detection of the myxozoan parasite Henneguya ictaluri in channel catfish

Proliferative gill disease (PGD), caused by the myxozoan parasite Henneguya ictaluri, is the most prevalent parasitic infection affecting commercial channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) aquaculture. There are currently no effective chemotherapeutic or biological control measures for PGD, which often peaks during the spring and fall when water temperatures are between 16-25 degrees C. The current diagnostic techniques of gross examination of gill clip wet mounts and histopathology are subject to false-negatives during the early stages of infection, and the quantifiable nature of end-point polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is subjective. Consequently, a rapid and more sensitive quantitative real-time PCR assay was developed for the detection of H. ictaluri during the early stages of infection in channel catfish. A 23 base-pair TaqMan probe was designed based on previously published H. ictaluri PCR protocols. The sensitivity of the assay was the equivalent of a single H. ictaluri actinospore, and in a pond challenge study, quantitative real-time PCR proved to be more sensitive than gross examination, microscopic examination of gill clip wet mounts, and histopathologic examination of gill tissue sections. Future applications of this assay will focus on developing methodologies to be used in conjunction with current pond-monitoring protocols to evaluate potential treatments and better manage this significant seasonal disease.     

Indicators of success for smart law enforcement in protected areas: A case study for Russian Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) reserves

Although considerable conservation resources have been committed to develop and use law enforcement monitoring and management tools such as SMART, measures of success are ill‐defined and, to date, few reports detail results post‐implementation. Here, we present 4 case studies from protected areas with Amur tigers (Panthera tigris altaica) in Russia, in which indicators of success were defined and evaluated at each. The ultimate goal was an increase in tiger numbers to 1 individual/100 km² at each site. We predicted that improvements in law enforcement effectiveness would be followed by increases in prey numbers and, subsequently, tiger numbers. We used short‐term and long‐term indicators of success, including: (i) patrol team effort and effectiveness; (ii) catch per unit effort indicators (to measure reductions in threats); and (iii) changes in target species numbers. In addition to implementing a monitoring system, we focused on improving law enforcement management using an adaptive management process. Over 4 years, we noted clear increases in patrol effort and a partial reduction in threats. Although we did not detect clear trends in ungulate numbers, tiger populations remained stable or increased, suggesting that poaching of tigers may be more limiting than prey depletion. Increased effectiveness is needed before a clear reduction in threats can be noted, and more time is needed before detecting responses in target populations. Nonetheless, delineation of concrete goals and indicators of success provide a means of evaluating progress and weaknesses. Such monitoring should be a central component of law enforcement strategies for protected areas.     

The potential role of wild and feral animals as reservoirs of foot-and-mouth disease

We investigated the potential role of feral pigs and wild deer as FMD reservoirs with a susceptible-latent-infected-recovered geographic-automata model, using spatially referenced data from southern Texas, USA. An uncontrolled FMD outbreak initiated in feral pigs and in wild deer might infect up to 698 (90% prediction interval 181, 1387) and 1557 (823, 2118) cattle and affect an area of 166 km(2) (53, 306) and 455 km(2) (301, 588), respectively. The predicted spread of FMD virus infection was influenced by assumptions we made regarding the number of incursion sites and the number of neighborhood interactions between herds. Our approach explicitly incorporates the spatial relationships between domesticated and non-domesticated animal populations, providing a new framework to explore the impacts, costs, and strategies for the control of foreign animal diseases with a potential wildlife reservoir.     

The effect of a piperonyl butoxide/tau-fluvalinate mixture on pollen beetle (Meligethes aeneus) and honey bees (Apis mellifera)

BACKGROUND: Previous work has characterised pyrethroid resistance in pollen beetle (Meligethes aeneus F.) as principally an oxidative mechanism. Piperonyl butoxide (PBO) can synergise this resistance in the field, but its effects on the honey bee are thought to be unacceptable. RESULTS: A field trial in Poland was conducted to show that a mixture of PBO and tau‐fluvalinate at the registered rate gave increased and longer‐lasting control of resistant pollen beetle. Four days after spraying with tau‐fluvalinate, only 20% of pollen beetles were controlled, compared with 70% if the tau‐fluvalinate/PBO mixture was used. No detriment to honey bee health was observed using the same mixture. CONCLUSIONS: PBO, if used in conjunction with a pyrethroid of relatively low bee toxicity, can successfully overcome pyrethroid resistance in pollen beetle without incurring an increased loss of honey bees, even if they are present at the time of spraying. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry