Evaluation of Fecal Sample Pooling for Real-Time RT-PCR Testing SARS-CoV-2 in Animals.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, veterinary diagnostic laboratories tested both human and animal samples and needed to ensure that they could accurately perform large numbers of diagnostic tests in a timely manner. Sample pooling, a methodology used effectively for over 80 years as a surveillance tool for screening large numbers of potentially infected individuals, was employed. Given its sensitivity, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is more suitable for employing this strategy, as compared to other less sensitive testing methods.

Hematology, Plasma Biochemistry, Protein Electrophoresis, and Pathogen Surveillance in Headstarted and Wild-Reared Populations of Blanding's Turtles (Emydoidea blandingii) in Three Northern Illinois, USA, Counties.

Blanding's turtles (Emydoidea blandingii) are a species of conservation concern throughout their natural range. Headstarting is a common chelonian conservation technique in which neonates are reared in managed-care settings before release, but health assessments are rarely incorporated. From 2020 to 2021 we assessed headstarted turtle health pre-release and 1 mo, 1 yr, and 2 yr after release using physical examination, hematology, plasma biochemistry, protein electrophoresis, and pathogen detection.

Evaluating the Efficacy of Disinfectant Methods against Emydomyces testavorans, a Fungus Associated with Shell Disease in Freshwater Aquatic Turtles.

is an onygenalean fungus associated with shell and skin lesions in chelonians and is increasingly linked to morbidity and mortality. Effective disinfection methods are a critical component of biosecurity protocols to prevent and manage emydomycosis; however, disinfectant efficacy against E. testavorans is unknown.

HEALTH ASSESSMENT OF SPOTTED () AND PAINTED () TURTLES IN CAPE COD, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A, WITH DETECTION OF A NOVEL ADENOVIRUS.

Freshwater turtles face numerous anthropogenic threats worldwide. Health assessments are a key component of chelonian population assessment and monitoring but are under reported in many species. The purpose of this study was to characterize the health of spotted turtles (; n = 30) and painted turtles (; n = 24) at Camp Edwards, a military base in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, using physical examinations, hematology, plasma heavy metal analyses, and pathogen surveillance via PCR.

LACK OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN A POINT-OF-CARE BLOOD URIC ACID METER AND A BENCHTOP CHEMISTRY ANALYZER IN EASTERN BOX TURTLES ().

Uric acid (UA) is excreted as an end product of protein metabolism in many reptiles, including some chelonians. Elevated plasma UA concentrations can occur due to many physiologic and pathologic changes, and determining plasma UA concentrations is part of a complete general health assessment in this taxon. UA concentrations are typically measured using benchtop chemistry analyzers, but point-of-care (POC) UA meters have also been developed for human use.

Emydomyces testavorans Surveillance in Multiple Free-Ranging Terrestrial and Aquatic Chelonian Species in Illinois, USA.

The order Onygenales contains multiple fungal pathogens that affect free-ranging and zoo-housed reptilian species. Emydomyces testavorans, an onygenalean fungus associated with skin and shell disease, has been sporadically detected in aquatic chelonians. Because of the recent discovery of this organism, little is known about its prevalence in free-ranging chelonians.

Development and analytical validation of a novel quantitative PCR assay for the detection of Trachemys herpesvirus 1.

Emerging infectious diseases are a threat that contributes to the decline of global chelonian species. Herpesviruses are among the most impactful pathogens described in chelonians and are frequently associated with a range of presentations across hosts with the potential for severe morbidity and mortality. Trachemys herpesvirus 1 (TrHV1) has been reported in red-eared and yellow-bellied sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans and Trachemys scripta scripta, respectively) but is largely understudied.

COMPARING THE EFFECTS OF DIPOTASSIUM ETHYLENEDIAMINETETRAACETIC ACID AND LITHIUM HEPARIN ON HEMATOLOGIC VALUES IN BLANDING'S TURTLES (), PAINTED TURTLES (), AND COMMON SNAPPING TURTLES ().

Hematology is a routine component of clinical management in veterinary patients. Anticoagulant choice can profoundly influence morphologic assessment of erythrocytes, leukocytes, thrombocytes, and their subsequent quantification. Previous chelonian studies suggest that lithium heparin (LH) is a superior anticoagulant due to hemolysis resulting from dipotassium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (dEDTA) in some species.

Otariid gammaherpesvirus 1 in South American fur seals (Arctocephalus australis) and a novel related herpesvirus in free-ranging South American sea lions (Otaria byronia): Prevalence and effects of age, sex, and sample type.

Otariid gammaherpesvirus 1 (OtGHV1) is associated with high rates of urogenital carcinoma in free-ranging California sea lions (Zalophus californianus; CSL), and until recently was reported only in the Northern Hemisphere. The objective of this study was to survey free-ranging South American sea lions (Otaria byronia; SASL) and South American fur seals (Arctocephalus australis: SAFS) in Punta San Juan, Peru for OtGHV1 and to determine prevalence characteristics. Twenty-one percent (14/67) of urogenital swabs collected over three years (2011, 2014, 2015) from live pinnipeds of both species tested positive with a pan-herpesvirus conventional PCR.

Development and analytical characteristics of a quantitative real-time PCR assay for detection of spheniscid alphaherpesvirus 1 in penguins.

Herpesviruses are associated with disease in many penguin species. Herpesvirus-associated lesions can cause significant morbidity and mortality in penguins and have been identified in African penguins (), Humboldt penguins (), and a little blue penguin () infected with spheniscid alphaherpesvirus 1 (SpAHV1). Further investigation is necessary to understand the impact of herpesviruses on penguin health, but there are no rapid, sensitive, and specific methods for detecting and quantifying herpesviral load.

COMPARING THE EFFECTS OF LITHIUM HEPARIN AND DIPOTASSIUM ETHYLENEDIAMINETETRAACETIC ACID ON HEMATOLOGIC VALUES IN PRAIRIE RATTLESNAKES () AND LAKE ERIE WATER SNAKES ().

Anticoagulants prevent clotting of blood samples and preserve cellular morphology for hematologic evaluations, but studies comparing anticoagulants are limited in snakes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of lithium heparin (LH) and dipotassium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) on hematologic values in prairie rattlesnakes (PR; , n = 16) and Lake Erie water snakes (LEWS; , n = 21). Venipuncture was performed and blood samples were immediately aliquoted into LH and EDTA microtainers.

CUTANEOUS MYIASIS AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO WELLNESS IN EASTERN BOX TURTLES () IN CAPE COD, MASSACHUSETTS.

Eastern box turtles () face a variety of anthropogenic, infectious, and environmental threats and have been affected by high morbidity and mortality disease events. Wellness parameters in free-ranging eastern box turtles with a high prevalence of myiasis on Cape Cod, MA, were documented to identify epidemiologic trends or associations with several health parameters. There were 109 samples collected from 59 individual box turtles over the course of 4 mon.

CONTROLLED CLINICAL TRIAL USING TERBINAFINE NEBULIZATION TO TREAT WILD LAKE ERIE WATERSNAKES () WITH OPHIDIOMYCOSIS.

Ophidiomycosis (snake fungal disease) is an important infectious disease caused by the fungus . To mitigate the disease's impact on individual snakes, a controlled clinical trial was conducted using terbinafine nebulization to treat snakes with ophidiomycosis. Fifty-three wild-caught Lake Erie watersnakes () with apparent ophidiomycosis (skin lesions present, qPCR positive for ) were divided into treatment and control groups: treatment snakes were nebulized with a 2 mg/ml terbinafine solution for 30 min daily for 30 d; control snakes received nebulization with 0.

Genetic mechanisms and biological processes underlying host response to ophidiomycosis (snake fungal disease) inferred from tissue-specific transcriptome analyses.

Emerging infectious diseases in wildlife species caused by pathogenic fungi are of growing concern, yet crucial knowledge gaps remain for diseases with potentially large impacts. For example, there is detailed knowledge about host pathology and mechanisms underlying response for chytridiomycosis in amphibians and white-nose syndrome in bats, but such information is lacking for other more recently described fungal infections. One such disease is ophidiomycosis, caused by the fungus Ophidiomyces ophidiicola, which has been identified in many species of snakes, yet the biological mechanisms and molecular changes occurring during infection are unknown.

Factors Predicting Apparent Ophidiomycosis in Wild Brown Watersnakes (Nerodia taxispilota).

Ophidiomycosis, also known as snake fungal disease, is caused by Ophidiomyces ophidiicola and is a threat to snake conservation worldwide. Ophidiomycosis has been reported throughout much of the eastern US, and outbreaks have been associated with local population declines of already strained populations. Previous studies report significant variability in ophidiomycosis among species sampled, with higher prevalence typically observed in Nerodia spp.

COMPARISON OF HEMATOLOGIC DIFFERENCES WITH LITHIUM HEPARIN AND DIPOTASSIUM ETHYLENEDIAMINETETRAACETIC ACID IN EUROPEAN STARLINGS ().

Preservation of blood through use of anticoagulants allows delayed assessment of hematologic health and is commonly employed in veterinary health assessments. The two most common anticoagulants are lithium heparin (LH) and dipotassium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), and their effects can vary widely between species. The hematologic effects of these anticoagulants on blood from European starlings () have not been established, and these birds could serve as models for passerine species both in managed collections and in the wild.

Evaluating Different Methods For Determining Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate In Free-Living Blanding's Turtles (Emydoidea Blandingii).

Characterizing host factors affecting individual health can be important in the conservation of many chelonians, including the Blanding's turtle (Emydoidea blandingii). However, many routine clinical pathology tests do not reliably detect differences in health status in reptiles. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) has been shown to characterize inflammation in many species, including tortoises, and may be useful in assessing Blanding's turtles.

Genome sequence of type strain 16-2883 (ATCC TSD-145), an onygenalean fungus associated with freshwater aquatic turtle shell lesions.

is an onygenalean keratinophilic fungus associated with shell and skin lesions in freshwater aquatic turtles. The genome sequence presented here includes five contigs (ranging in size from 2.8 to 9.

Development and application of a qPCR-based genotyping assay for Ophidiomyces ophidiicola to investigate the epidemiology of ophidiomycosis.

Ophidiomycosis (snake fungal disease) is an infectious disease caused by the fungus Ophidiomyces ophidiicola to which all snake species appear to be susceptible. Significant variation has been observed in clinical presentation, progression of disease, and response to treatment, which may be due to genetic variation in the causative agent. Recent phylogenetic analysis based on whole-genome sequencing identified that O.

Environmental temperature influences ophidiomycosis progression and survival in experimentally challenged prairie rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis).

Ophidiomycosis is a prevalent and intermittently pervasive disease of snakes globally caused by the opportunistic fungal pathogen, Ophidiomyces ophidiicola. Host response has yet to be fully explored, including the role of temperature in disease progression and hematologic changes. This study enrolled twelve adult prairie rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis) in an experimental challenge with O.

Island of misfit tortoises: waif gopher tortoise health assessment following translocation.

Translocation, the intentional movement of animals from one location to another, is a common management practice for the gopher tortoise (). Although the inadvertent spread of pathogens is a concern with any translocation effort, waif tortoises-individuals that have been collected illegally, injured and rehabilitated or have unknown origins-are generally excluded from translocation efforts due to heightened concerns of introducing pathogens and subsequent disease to naïve populations. However, repurposing these long-lived animals for species recovery is desirable when feasible, and introducing waif tortoises may bolster small populations facing extirpation.