Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis ofPenicillium marneffei strains isolated from AIDS patients in Thailand

Results of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis using three different primers showed that 16 strains ofPenicillium marneffei isolated from AIDS patients in Thailand belonged to a genetically homogenous group, but different slightly from an isolate from bamboo rat in China. Six PCR fragments (from about, 200 to 600 bp) that were commonly observed in the RAPD fingerprint of all strains were extracted and sequented. Usefulness of this sequence information for identification ofP. marneffei is discussed.     

Influence of females on conflict among wild rats

Ten male wild rats, Rattus norvegicus , trapped as adults, ("residents") were each kept singly in large cages. During each of four weeks they were exposed daily, on five successive days, for 15 min, to a strange adult male of the same species. In weeks 1 and 3 the residents were alone; in weeks 2 and 4 two adult females were present. A further four males were similarly studied for three weeks; in weeks 1 and 3 females were present, and in week 2 they were absent. All residents except two attacked strange males more when females were present, though the females played no direct part in the encounters. There was evidence of a positive correlation between a 'threat posture' and the duration of attack. The theoretical implications of these observations are discussed.     

Penicillium marneffei: an insurgent species among the penicillia

Most species of Penicillium are considered relatively benign with respect to causing human disease. However, one species, P. marneffei, has emerged as a significant pathogen particularly among individuals who live in Southeast Asia and are concurrently infected with the human immunodeficiency virus. While environmental and epidemiological studies have yet to resolve the reason for the heightened virulence of P. marneffi, one characteristic does distinguish this fungus from other Penicillium species. Whereas the latter grow as monomorphic moulds bearing typical asexual propagules (conidia), P. marneffei is thermally dimorphic. At room temperature, P. marneffei exhibits the morphology characteristic of the genus. In contrast to other Penicillia, though, P. marneffei grows as a yeast-like entity (arthroconidium) when found in diseased tissue or cultivated at 37 degrees C. Studies in our laboratory have focused on the differential gene expression between the mould and arthroconidial phases. Many of the genes whose expression differs during mould-to-arthrocondium transition are related to energy metabolism. A better understanding of gene expression during morphogenesis in P. marneffei may help detect unique target sites or cellular processes that can be exploited in the development of antifungal agents or immunomodulation therapies.     

Comparative immobilization of wild felids in Thailand

We immobilized individuals of four free-ranging felid species, leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis), clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), Asiatic golden cat (Catopuma temminckii), and marbled cat (Pardofelis marmorata) with ketamine hydrochloride and xylazine hydrochloride (KH-XH) and with tiletamine hydrochloride and zolazepam hydrochloride (TH-ZH) between March 1998 and July 2002. Mean (+/-SD) dose of KH and XH was 26.51+/-5.71 mg/kg and 1.89+/-0.43 mg/kg, respectively (n=25), and mean dose of TH-ZH was 11.61+/-3.39 mg/kg (n=28). Dose was significantly correlated with induction time (P<0.001) and duration of anesthesia (P<0.05), but not with recovery time. There were significant differences between the drug combinations in time to induction (P<0.03) and time to anesthesia (P<0.01); recovery times were not significantly different. We conclude that immobilization of these felids with TH-ZH and KH-XH is effective and safe, but TH-ZH is preferred because of the smaller volume of drug necessary for sedation, faster time to induction, and absence of prolonged muscle rigidity during anesthesia.     

Feather damage due to mycotic infections in wild turkeys

Wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) from Pearl River Wildlife Management Area, St. Tammany Parish and from adjacent St. Helena Parish, Louisiana (USA) were observed to have broken and frayed rectrices. The condition was noted in 21% of 90 wild turkeys harvested by hunters during the springs of 1985 through 1988 from the Pearl River Wildlife Management Area. Damage to feathers ranged from mild to severe. Histologic and microbiologic study of five birds disclosed colonization and invasion of the rachis sheath and pulp by fungi of the genera Aspergillus, Curvularia, Cladosporium, Dactylella, Exophiala, Helminthosporium and Trichophyton and by Streptomyces. Sterilized normal rectrices from wild turkeys were inoculated with these organisms and subsequently developed damage that was histologically compatible with field cases. The condition was diagnosed as a multiple etiology mycosis. Successful colonization and invasion of experimentally inoculated feathers required addition of moisture and elevation of relative humidity within the cultures. The apparent high moisture requirements of the fungi suggest that late winter and early spring flooding may be a probable predisposing factor for this condition.     

Erratum to: Lack of evidence of paratuberculosis in wild canids from Southwestern Europe

European Journal of Wildlife Research -     

Cryptosporidial infections in captive wild animals

Neonatal diarrhea was an important cause of morbidity and mortality in a hand-rearing facility for exotic ruminants at the San Diego Wild Animal Park. Studies undertaken to determine the causes of the problem revealed that oocysts of Cryptosporidium sp. were demonstrable in auramine O stained fecal smears from 52 of 183 (28.4%) animals examined. Cryptosporidial infection was identified in 21 of 40 species of exotic ruminants with diarrhea. In addition, cryptosporidia were associated with gastroenteric disease in two primates and two reptiles. It was observed also that auramine O stained coccidial oocysts of the genus Eimeria, which were present in five of 183 (2.7%) of the specimens examined.     

Development of PCR assays to detect iridovirus infections among captive and wild populations of Missouri River sturgeon

The Missouri River sturgeon iridovirus (MRSIV) is an important factor contributing to losses during the hatchery rearing of juvenile pallid Scaphirhynchus albus and shovelnose S. platorynchus sturgeon. As the virus has not been isolated in cell culture, current detection procedures rely upon a combination of light and electron microscopy. Detection of characteristic virus-infected cells in the integument, usually of the fins, in hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained tissue sections provides a presumptive finding. Confirmation requires observation by electron microscopy of characteristic doubly enveloped hexagonal virions of the appropriate size in the host cell cytoplasm. To improve these diagnostic procedures, a conventional polymerase chain reduction (PCR) assay was developed as a sensitive and specific method for detection of MRSIV DNA as found in numerous tissues of both naturally and experimentally infected pallid and shovelnose sturgeon. Sequences of amplicons obtained from testing of wild-caught shovelnose sturgeon and juvenile pallid sturgeon during hatchery outbreaks were identical, suggesting that the viruses found in both sturgeon are similar or closely related. In addition, a TaqMan PCR was developed that allowed estimates of the concentrations of MRSIV DNA present in the tissues of pallid and shovelnose sturgeon during acute and persistent infection. These new PCR assays are improved methods to detect MRSIV, but equally importantly, they provide insights into to the biology of the agent for more effective management of viral diseases in captive and wild Missouri River sturgeon populations.     

Occurrence of Yersinia enterocolitica in wild animals.

Yersinia species were isolated from 16 of 495 small wild animals and from 1 of 38 foxes. The animals were trapped in seven regions of Hokkaido, Japan. Of the 17 strains isolated, 9 were Yersinia enterocolitica O6; 2 were Y. enterocolitica O5A; 1 was Y. enterocolitica, O4; 1 was Y. enterocolitica O9; 1 was Yersinia pseudotuberculosis IVB; and 3 were sucrose-negative strains. Yersinia pestis was not isolated. The O6 organism was most prevalent in large red-back mice (Clethrionomys rufocanus bedfordiae) and showed significant differences in its mode of distribution according to region. Incidence of the O6 organism in the ileum of the animal was threefold that in the cecum, and the organism was recovered at approximately 10(5) cells per g of cecal contents per c. rufocanus bedfordiae animal.