Publications by authors named "Nicholas P Doidge"

Amphibians are experiencing declines globally, with emerging infectious diseases as one of the main causes. Haematological parameters present a useful method for determining the health status of animals and the effects of particular diseases, but the interpretation of differential cell counts relies on knowing the normal ranges for the species and factors that can affect these counts. However, there is very little data on either normal haematological parameters or guides for blood cell types for free-ranging frog species across the world.

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Once rodents have been successfully eradicated from Lord Howe Island, Australia, the critically endangered Lord Howe Island stick insect (Dryococelus australis (Montrouzier)) may be reintroduced, a century after it was thought to have become extinct. In captive populations of D. australis, elevated mortalities have been associated with bacterial pathogens.

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Article Synopsis
  • A study at Melbourne Zoo observed unexpected deaths in an endangered stick insect species, Dryococelus australis, between 2014 and 2019, prompting an investigation into the cause.
  • Researchers isolated Serratia spp. bacteria from sick and dead insects, suggesting that the infections were responsible for the mortalities, and identified a predominant strain profile through genotyping.
  • Further analysis and experimental infection in honey bees confirmed the isolated strain (AM923) as S. ureilytica, highlighting its potential pathogenicity and leading to the development of a PCR assay for detecting similar entomopathogenic bacteria in insects.
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The bacterium Serratia marcescens can cause opportunistic infections in humans and in animals. In veterinary settings, the diversity, reservoirs and modes of transmission of this pathogen are poorly understood. The phenotypes and genotypes of Serratia spp.

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