Heather Fenton

University of Georgia

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Michael J. Yabsley

University of Georgia

Kevin D. Niedringhaus

University of Pennsylvania

Emily Jenkins

University of Saskatchewan

Elizabeth J. Elsmo

University of Georgia

Nicole M. Nemeth

University of Georgia

Kayla J. Buhler

Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences

Christopher A. Cleveland

University of Georgia

Mark G. Ruder

University of Georgia

M. Kevin Keel

University of California, Davis

ÉB

Émilie Bouchard

University of Saskatchewan

Cooperative Institutions

University of Georgia

University of Saskatchewan

University of California, Davis

University of Florida

Georgia College & State University

University of Calgary

Cornell University

Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine

Zoological Society of San Diego

University of Prince Edward Island

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Pathology in Practice

Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (2022)

Alexandra K. Ford Tatiane Terumi Negrão Watanabe Heather Fenton John R. Dunn H. L. Shivaprasad

In collaboration with the American College of Veterinary Pathologists.

10.2460/javma.20.12.0677

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Citations (0)

Granulomatous Inflammation of the Muzzle in White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus) Associated With Mannheimia granulomatis

Veterinary Pathology (2020)

M. Kevin Keel Shamus P. Keeler Justin D. Brown Heather Fenton Brandon Munk

Since 2002, reports of deer with swollen muzzles from throughout the United States have resulted in significant interest by wildlife biologists and wildlife enthusiasts. The condition was identified in 25 white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus) and 2 mule deer ( O. hemionus). Microscopic lesions consisted of severe, granulomatous or pyogranulomatous inflammation of the muzzle, nasal planum, and upper lip, as well as similar but less severe inflammation of the hard palate. Lymphadenitis of regional lymph nodes was common and granulomatous pneumonia was present in one individual. Splendore-Hoeppli material was typical in the center of inflammatory foci. Other than the single instance of pneumonia, systemic disease was not evident. Various bacterial species were isolated in culture, most of which were not morphologically consistent with the colonies of small, gram-negative bacteria observed in the center of the granulomas. Amplification and sequencing of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene from tissues of affected deer resulted in the identification of Mannheimia granulomatis. Laser capture microdissection was used to confirm that the colonies in the inflammatory foci were M. granulomatis. The cases described here are reminiscent of a bovine disease in Brazil and Argentina, locally called lechiguana. Although the inflammation of lechiguana is mostly truncal, the microscopic lesions are very similar and are also attributed to M. granulomatis. It is unclear if this is an emerging infectious disease of deer, or if it is a sporadic, uncommon condition that has only recently been recognized.

Odocoileus

Muzzle

10.1177/0300985820948825

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Citations (3)

Anseriformes, Ciconiiformes, Charadriiformes, and Gruiformes

Elsevier eBooks (2018)

Heather Fenton Rita McManamon Elizabeth W. Howerth

Charadriiformes

Anseriformes

Captivity

Uria aalge

10.1016/b978-0-12-805306-5.00029-8

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Citations (6)

ASSAYS FOR DETECTION AND IDENTIFICATION OF THE CAUSATIVE AGENT OF MANGE IN FREE-RANGING BLACK BEARS (URSUS AMERICANUS)

Journal of Wildlife Diseases (2018)

Sarah K. Peltier Justin D. Brown Mark A. Ternent Heather Fenton Kevin D. Niedringhaus

Three mite species ( Demodex ursi, Ursicoptes americanus, and Sarcoptes scabiei) have been associated with mange in black bears ( Ursus americanus). Since the early 1990s, the number and geographic distribution of mange cases in black bears in Pennsylvania, US has increased; however, the causative mites have yet to be completely defined. We evaluated several diagnostic approaches for detection and identification of mites in 72 black bears with severe lesions consistent with mange. Sarcoptes scabiei was morphologically identified in skin scrapes from 66 of the bears; no mites were identified in the remaining six. Histopathologic lesions consistent with sarcoptic mange were observed in 39 of 40 bear skin samples examined, and intralesional mites were observed in samples from 38 of these bears. Samples were collected from a subset of the 72 bears for PCR testing targeting both the internal transcribed spacer (ITS)-2 region and cytochrome c oxidase I ( cox1) gene including 69 skin scrapes ( ITS-2 only), 56 skin biopsies ( ITS-2 and cox1), and 36 fecal samples ( ITS-2 and cox1). Skin scrapes were a more sensitive sample for PCR detection than either skin biopsies or fecal samples, and the ITS-2 primers proved more sensitive than cox1. Using a commercial indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, antibodies to S. scabiei were detected in 45/49 (92%) black bears with confirmed mange and 0/62 (0%) cubs with no gross lesions suggestive of mange and which were born to seronegative sows. Sarcoptes scabiei was the predominant mite associated with mange in black bears in Pennsylvania. Diagnostically, cytologic examination of skin scrapes was the most effective approach for diagnosing active mite infestations in black bears. The evaluated serologic assay accurately detected antibodies to S. scabiei in most bears with confirmed S. scabiei infestations. Additional research is needed to determine the usefulness of this approach for larger scale surveys and for asymptomatic bears.

Mange

Sarcoptes scabiei

10.7589/2017-06-148

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Citations (18)

Trichinella nativa and Trichinella T6 in arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) from northern Canada

International Journal for Parasitology Parasites and Wildlife (2020)

Robin Owsiacki Kayla J. Buhler Rajnish Sharma Marsha Branigan Heather Fenton

Parasitic zoonotic nematodes of the genus Trichinella circulate in wildlife and domestic hosts worldwide through the ingestion of infected meat. Due to their role as scavengers and predators in terrestrial and marine arctic ecosystems, Arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) are ideal sentinels for the detection of Trichinella spp. In this study, we determined the prevalence, larval intensity, and species of Trichinella from 91 trapped Arctic foxes collected around the northern Canadian communities of Sachs Harbour (Ikaahuk) on Banks Island (n = 23), and Ulukhaktok and Cambridge Bay (Ikaluktutiak) on Victoria Island (n = 68). Using pepsin-HCl digestion, larvae of Trichinella spp. were recovered from the left forelimb muscle (flexor carpi ulnaris) in 19 of the 91 foxes (21% prevalence, 95% CI: 14–30%). For the first time in Arctic foxes in Canada, Trichinella species were identified using multiplex PCR that was followed up with PCR-RFLP to distinguish between T. nativa and T. chanchalensis. All infected foxes harbored T. nativa, and one fox was co-infected with Trichinella T6; the latter is a new host record. Age of the fox was significantly associated with Trichinella spp. infection and the odds of being infected were three times higher in foxes ≥2 years of age (p = 0.026), indicating cumulative exposure with age. While Arctic foxes are seldom harvested for human consumption, they serve as sentinel hosts of Trichinella spp., confirming the presence of the parasite in wildlife in the region.

Trichinella

Arctic fox

10.1016/j.ijppaw.2020.11.006

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Citations (3)

Lesions associated withBartonella taylorii–like bacterium infection in a free-ranging, young-of-the-year raccoon from Prince Edward Island, Canada

Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation (2021)

Heather Fenton Scott McBurney Elizabeth J. Elsmo Christopher A. Cleveland Michael J. Yabsley

A young-of-the year, female raccoon was presented with clinical signs of weakness and tremors. The raccoon was euthanized, and autopsy findings included poor body condition, diffuse lymphadenopathy, and pale, firm kidneys with petechial hemorrhages throughout the renal cortex. Histologic lesions included systemic fibrinoid vascular necrosis and severe renal lesions, including lymphoplasmacytic interstitial nephritis and fibrinosuppurative glomerulonephritis. Inflammatory vascular lesions were also present within the uvea, heart, lymph nodes, and the lamina propria of the gastric wall. Ancillary testing was negative for Borrelia burgdorferi, Leptospira sp., Aleutian disease virus, canine distemper virus, feline coronavirus, porcine circovirus 2, and rabies virus. Transmission electron microscopy revealed large numbers of ~1.3 × 0.35 µm bacterial rods surrounded by a trilaminar cell wall located within the glomeruli and associated with aggregates of fibrin and vascular damage. Analysis of partial citrate synthase gene and 16S-23S ribosomal RNA intergenic spacer region sequences from kidney tissue confirmed that the organism was a Bartonella spp. that was related to numerous Bartonella spp. from shrews in Europe. This group formed a sister clade to the genetically diverse Bartonella taylorii group that has been reported from a wide range of Eurasian rodent and flea species.

Bartonella

Canine distemper

10.1177/1040638720988515

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Citations (4)

Hepatic fibrosis and mineralization in a free-ranging barren-ground caribou (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus) from the Northwest Territories.

PubMed (2022)

Heather Fenton H Dean Cluff Barry Blakley Jamie L. Rothenburger

Due to concerns about the appearance of portions of liver from a harvested adult, male barren-ground caribou (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus), samples were submitted for diagnostic investigation. The gross and histologic findings were consistent with severe hepatic fibrosis and mineralization. Concentrations of vitamin E in the liver were also deficient. Disease investigations in wildlife of detectable abnormalities such as this provide important information for understanding the role of disease as populations change, as well as for safety of human food sources.Fibrose hépatique et minéralisation chez un caribou de la toundra (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus) en liberté provenant des Territoires du Nord-Ouest. En raison de préoccupations concernant l’apparence de portions de foie provenant d’un caribou de la toundra mâle adulte (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus), des échantillons ont été soumis à des fins d’enquête diagnostique. Les résultats macroscopiques et histologiques étaient compatibles avec une fibrose hépatique sévère et une minéralisation. Les concentrations de vitamine E dans le foie étaient également déficientes. Les enquêtes sur les maladies de la faune sauvage portant sur des anomalies détectables telles que celle-ci fournissent des informations importantes pour comprendre le rôle des maladies à mesure que les populations changent, ainsi que pour la sécurité des sources de nourriture humaine.(Traduit par Dr Serge Messier).

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New Records of California Serogroup Virus in Aedes Mosquitoes and First Detection in Simulioidae Flies from Northern Canada and Alaska

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) (2021)

Carol‐Anne Villeneuve Kayla J. Buhler Mahmood Iranpour Ellen Avard Antonia Dibernardo

Abstract An expected consequence of climate warming is an expansion of the geographic distribution of biting insects and associated arthropod-borne diseases (arboviruses). Emerging and reemerging arboviruses that can affect human health are likely to pose significant consequences for Northern communities where access to health resources is limited. In the North American Arctic, little is known about arboviruses. Thus, in 2019, we sampled biting insects in Nunavik (Kuujjuaq), Nunavut (Igloolik, Karrak Lake and Cambridge Bay), Northwest Territories (Igloolik and Yellowknife) and Alaska (Fairbanks). The main objective was to detect the presence of California serogroup viruses (CSGv) – a widespread group of arboviruses across North America and that is known to cause a wide range of symptoms, ranging from mild febrile illness to fatal encephalitis. Biting insects were captured twice daily for a 7-day period in mid-summer, using a standardized protocol consisting of 100 figure-eight movements of a sweep net. Captured specimens were separated by genus (mosquitoes) or by superfamily (other insects), and then grouped into pools of 75 by geographical locations. In total, 5079 Aedes mosquitoes and 1014 Simulioidae flies were caught. We report the detection of CSGv RNA in mosquitoes captured in Nunavut (Karrak Lake) and Nunavik (Kuujjuaq). We also report, for the first time in North America, the presence of CSGv RNA in Simulioidae flies. These results highlight the potential of biting insects for tracking any future emergence of arboviruses in the North, thereby providing key information for public health in Northern communities.

Biting

Mosquito control

10.1101/2021.03.22.433603

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Citations (1)

Congenital cataract and spherophakia leading to starvation in a free-ranging muskox neonate from the Northwest Territories, Canada

Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation (2021)

Julia E. Case Rae-Leigh Amanda Pederzolli Edward G. Clark Heather Fenton Susan Kutz

A muskox neonate (Ovibos moschatus) that died of starvation was diagnosed with congenital lenticular anomalies that included spherophakia and hypermature cataract associated with probable lens-induced lymphocytic uveitis and neutrophilic keratitis. Impaired sight as a result of cataract and associated inflammation likely contributed to abandonment and starvation, although maternal death cannot be excluded definitively. Ocular lesions, such as congenital cataracts and spherophakia in neonates, may be important factors affecting survival in free-ranging animals.

Abandonment (legal)

10.1177/10406387211057470

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Eosinophilic meningoencephalitis associated with rat lungworm ( Angiostrongylus cantonensis ) migration in two nine-banded armadillos ( Dasypus novemcinctus ) and an opossum ( Didelphis virginiana ) in the southeastern United States

International Journal for Parasitology Parasites and Wildlife (2017)

Martha Frances Dalton Heather Fenton Christopher A. Cleveland Elizabeth J. Elsmo Michael J. Yabsley

Angiostrongylus cantonensis, the rat lungworm, was the cause of neural larval migrans in two nine-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) and one Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) from the southeastern United States. Histologic findings in all three cases included eosinophilic meningoencephalitis with variable numbers of nematode larvae in the meninges or the neuroparenchyma. In two of the three cases, nematodes were extracted from brain tissue via a "squash prep" method. Identification of the nematodes was confirmed by amplification and sequence analysis of the partial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene from all three cases. Sequences (704bp) from the two cases from Louisiana were identical and 99.7% similar to nematodes detected in the armadillo from Florida. As A. cantonensis is now considered endemic in the southern United States, it should be considered as an important differential for any wild or domestic animal or human patient with neurological signs and eosinophilic meningitis. Many wildlife species frequently consume snails and slugs and could serve as sentinels for the detection of this parasite in regions where the presence of this parasite has not been confirmed. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of neural larval migrans due to A. cantonensis in an armadillo and provides additional documentation that this nematode can cause disease in wildlife species in the southeastern United States.

Lungworm

Xenarthra

Dasypus novemcinctus

Angiostrongyliasis

Paratenic

Didelphis

10.1016/j.ijppaw.2017.05.004

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Citations (21)