Depletion of the Microbiota Has a Modest but Important Impact on the Fungal Burden of the Heart and Lungs during Early Systemic Infection in Neutropenic Mice.

The progression and systemic pathobiology of in the absence of a microbiota have not been described. Here, we describe the influence of the microbiota during the first 5 days of infection in germ-free or antibiotic-depleted mice. Depletion of the bacterial microbiota in both germ-free and antibiotic-depleted models results in a modest but important increase in the early stages of infection.

Minimum habitat thresholds required for conserving mountain lion genetic diversity.

Jointly considering the ecology (e.g., habitat use) and genetics (e.

Impact of Candida auris Infection in a Neutropenic Murine Model.

has become a global public health threat due to its multidrug resistance and persistence. Currently, there are limited murine models to study infection. Those models use a combination of cyclophosphamide and cortisone acetate, suppressing both innate and adaptive immunity.

Candida albicans Elicits Pro-Inflammatory Differential Gene Expression in Intestinal Peyer's Patches.

The details of how gut-associated lymphoid tissues such as Peyer's patches (PPs) in the small intestine play a role in immune surveillance, microbial differentiation and the mucosal barrier protection in response to fungal organisms such as Candida albicans are still unclear. We particularly focus on PPs as they are the immune sensors and inductive sites of the gut that influence inflammation and tolerance. We have previously demonstrated that CD11c phagocytes that include dendritic cells and macrophages are located in the sub-epithelial dome within PPs sample C.

Assessment of environmental and occupational exposure while working with multidrug resistant (MDR) fungus in an animal facility.

In less than a decade since its identification in 2009, the emerging fungal pathogen has become a major public health threat due to its multidrug resistant (MDR) phenotype, high transmissibility, and high mortality. Unlike other species, has acquired high levels of resistance to an already limited arsenal of antifungals. As an emerging pathogen, there are currently a limited number of documented murine models of infection.

PSOROPTES INFESTATION AND TREATMENT IN AN ISOLATED POPULATION OF BIGHORN SHEEP (OVIS CANADENSIS).

The authors captured bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) comprising a small population in the San Bernardino Mountains of California and evaluated the degree of infestation by mites of the genus Psoroptes for each individual. The animals were treated with two novel methods: amitraz-impregnated collars and cyfluthrin-impregnated ear tags and recaptured the following year to evaluate the effect of treatment. The authors compared data on degree of infestation for animals recaptured in the posttreatment year, detected no significant interyear differences in infestation severity scores among animals treated with amitraz or cyfluthrin, and could not detect any differences between treatment types.

Comparison of trace mineral concentrations in tail hair, body hair, blood, and liver of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in California.

Measuring trace mineral concentrations can be an important component of assessing the health of free-ranging deer. Trace mineral concentrations in liver most accurately reflect the trace mineral status of an individual, but, in live animals, whole blood or serum are the most commonly used sample types. Trace minerals measured in serum, such as copper, zinc, and iron, do not always accurately correlate to liver concentrations, and supplementary samples for evaluating the trace mineral status in live deer would be useful.

Serosurveillance for livestock pathogens in free-ranging mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus).

Routine disease surveillance has been conducted for decades in mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in California for pathogens shared between wildlife and domestic ruminants that may have implications for the animal production industry and wildlife health. Deer sampled from 1990 to 2007 (n = 2,619) were tested for exposure to six pathogens: bluetongue virus (BTV), epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV), bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), Leptospira spp., Anaplasma spp.

Zoonotic vector-borne bacterial pathogens in California mountain lions (Puma concolor), 1987-2010.

Sera collected from 442 mountain lions in 48 California counties between the years of 1987 and 2010 were tested using immunofluorescence assays and agglutination tests for the presence of antibodies reactive to Yersinia pestis, Francisella tularensis, Bartonella henselae, Borrelia burgdorferi, and Anaplasma phagocytophilum antigens. Data were analyzed for spatial and temporal trends in seropositivity. Seroprevalences for B.

Genetic structure of mountain lion () populations in California.

Analysis of 12 microsatellite loci from431 mountain lions ()revealed distinct genetic subdivision that wasassociated with geographic barriers andisolation by distance in California. Levels ofgenetic variation differed among geographicregions, and mountain lions that inhabitedcoastal areas exhibited less heterozygositythan those sampled inland. The San FranciscoBay and Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, theCentral Valley, and the Los Angeles Basinappeared to be substantial barriers to geneflow, and allele frequencies of populationsseparated by those features differedsubstantially.