The Experts below are selected from a list of 360 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Ulrike Zieger - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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bartonella henselae in small indian mongooses Herpestes Auropunctatus from grenada west indies
Veterinary Microbiology, 2018Co-Authors: David A Jaffe, Bruno B Chomel, Rickie W Kasten, Edward B Breitschwerdt, Ricardo G Maggi, Ashleigh Mcleish, Ulrike ZiegerAbstract:Abstract Many mammals are established hosts for the vector borne bacterial genus, Bartonella. Small Indian mongooses (Herpestes Auropunctatus) have only been reported as a possible host for Bartonella henselae in southern Japan. Confirming Bartonella presence in mongooses from other regions in the world may support their role as potential reservoirs of this human pathogen. Specifically, documenting Bartonella in Caribbean mongooses would identify a potential source of zoonotic risk with mongoose-human contact in the New World. Using serological and molecular techniques, we investigated B. henselae DNA and specific antibody prevalence in 171 mongooses from all six parishes in Grenada, West Indies. Almost a third (32.3%, 54/167) of the tested mongooses were B. henselae seropositive and extracted DNA from 18/51 (35.3%) blood pellets were PCR positive for the citrate synthase (gltA) and/or the β subunit of RNA polymerase (rpoB) genes. All sequences were identical to B. henselae genotype I, as previously reported from Japan. This study confirms the role of small Indian mongooses as a natural reservoir of B. henselae in the New World.
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natural exposure of bats in grenada to rabies virus
Infection ecology & epidemiology, 2017Co-Authors: Ulrike Zieger, Sonia Cheetham, Leith B Leisermiller, Vanessa Matthewbelmar, Hooman Goharriz, Sharlene E Santana, Anthony R FooksAbstract:ABSTRACTIntroduction: Grenada is a rabies endemic country, where terrestrial rabies is maintained in the small Indian mongoose (Herpestes Auropunctatus). The role of bats in the epidemiology of rabies in Grenada is unknown. A 1974 report described one rabies virus positive Jamaican fruit bat (Artibeus jamaicensis), and a high seroprevalence in this species. In the current study, the natural exposure to rabies virus in Grenadian bats was re-evaluated. It is postulated that bats serve as a natural rabies reservoir, probably circulating a bat-specific rabies virus variant.Material and methods: Bats were trapped in 2015 in all six parishes of Grenada using mist- and hand nets. For the detection of rabies virus in brain tissue, the direct fluorescent antibody test (dFAT) and the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were used. Serum neutralizing antibodies were determined using the fluorescent antibody virus neutralization test (FAVN).Results and discussion: Brain tissue and sera from 111 in...
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Natural exposure of bats in Grenada to rabies virus
Taylor & Francis Group, 2017Co-Authors: Ulrike Zieger, Sonia Cheetham, Hooman Goharriz, Sharlene E Santana, Leith Leiser-miller, Vanessa Matthew-belmar, Anthony R FooksAbstract:Introduction: Grenada is a rabies endemic country, where terrestrial rabies is maintained in the small Indian mongoose (Herpestes Auropunctatus). The role of bats in the epidemiology of rabies in Grenada is unknown. A 1974 report described one rabies virus positive Jamaican fruit bat (Artibeus jamaicensis), and a high seroprevalence in this species. In the current study, the natural exposure to rabies virus in Grenadian bats was re-evaluated. It is postulated that bats serve as a natural rabies reservoir, probably circulating a bat-specific rabies virus variant. Material and methods: Bats were trapped in 2015 in all six parishes of Grenada using mist- and hand nets. For the detection of rabies virus in brain tissue, the direct fluorescent antibody test (dFAT) and the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were used. Serum neutralizing antibodies were determined using the fluorescent antibody virus neutralization test (FAVN). Results and discussion: Brain tissue and sera from 111 insectivorous and frugivorous bats belonging to four species were tested (52 Artibeus jamaicensis, two Artibeus lituratus, 33 Glossophaga longirostris, 24 Molossus molossus). Rabies virus antigen and genomic RNA were not detected in brain tissues. Rabies virus neutralizing antibodies were detected in the sera of eight A. jamaicensis in four of the six parishes. Bats in Grenada continue to show natural exposure to rabies virus. As rabies virus was not isolated in this study, serology alone is not sufficient to determine the strain of rabies virus circulating in A. jamaicensis bats in Grenada. Conclusion: Artibeus jamaicensis appears to play a role as a reservoir bat species, which is of public health concern in Grenada. Dispersion of bats to neighboring islands is possible and serological bat surveys should be initiated in these neighboring states, especially in those areas that are free of rabies in terrestrial mammals
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The Phylogeography of Rabies in Grenada, West Indies, and Implications for Control
2016Co-Authors: Ulrike Zieger, Hooman Goharriz, Ravindra Sharma, Alfred Chikweto, Keshaw Tiwari, Denise A. Marston, Muzzamil Sayyid, Bowen Louison, Katja Voller, Andrew C. BreedAbstract:In Grenada, West Indies, rabies is endemic, and is thought to be maintained in a wildlife host, the small Indian mongoose (Herpestes Auropunctatus) with occasional spillover into other hosts. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to improve understanding of rabies epidemiology in Grenada and to inform rabies control policy. Mongooses were trapped island-wide between April 2011 and March 2013 and examined for the presence of Rabies virus (RABV) antigen using the direct fluorescent antibody test (dFAT) and PCR, and for serum neutralizing antibodies (SNA) using the fluorescent antibody virus neutralization test (FAVN). An additional cohort of brain samples from clinical rabies suspects submitted between April 2011 and March 2014 were also investigated for the presence of virus. Two of the 171 (1.7%) live-trapped mongooses were RABV positive by FAT and PCR, and 20 (11.7%) had SNAs. Rabies was diagnosed in 31 of the submitted animals with suspicious clinical signs: 16 mongooses, 12 dogs, 2 cats and 1 goat. Our investigation has revealed that rabies infection spread from the northeast to the southwest of Grenada within the study period. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the viruses from Grenada formed a monophyletic clade within the cosmopolitan lineage with a common ancestor predicted to have occurred recently (6–23 years ago), and are distinct from those found in Cuba and Puerto Rico, where mongoos
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influence of land use and climate on salmonella carrier status in the small indian mongoose Herpestes Auropunctatus in grenada west indies
Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 2015Co-Authors: Steven Miller, Ulrike Zieger, Claudia Ganser, Andrew S Satterlee, Brittany Bankovich, Victor A Amadi, Harry Hariharan, Diana Stone, Samantha M WiselyAbstract:Invasive mammals can be important reservoirs for human pathogens. A recent study showed that 12% of mongooses carried Salmonella spp. in their large intestines. We investigated whether anthropogenic, environmental and climatic variables predicted Salmonella status in mongooses (Herpestes Auropunctatus) in Grenada. Using multivariate logistic regression and contingency table analysis, we found that increased human density, decreased distance from roads, and low monthly precipitation were associated with increased probability of Salmonella carriage. Areas with higher human density likely support a higher abundance of mongooses because of greater food availability. These areas also are a likely source for infection to mongooses due to high densities of livestock and rodents shedding Salmonella. The higher probability of Salmonella carriage in mongooses during drier months and closer to roadsides is likely due to water drainage patterns and limited water availability. Although the overall prevalence of Salmonella in mongooses was moderate, the strong patterns of ecologic correlates, combined with the high density of mongooses throughout Grenada suggest that the small Indian mongoose could be a useful sentinel for Salmonella surveillance. Its affinity for human-associated habitats suggests that the small Indian mongoose is also a risk factor in the maintenance and possible spread of Salmonella species to humans and livestock in Grenada.
Arijana Barun - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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possible character displacement of an introduced mongoose and native marten on adriatic islands croatia
Journal of Biogeography, 2015Co-Authors: Daniel Simberloff, Arijana Barun, Nikola Tvrtkovic, Shai Meiri, Zoran TadicAbstract:ABSTRACT Aim Character displacement and release can occur quickly in novel environ-ments and communities. Species introductions are ‘natural experiments’ inwhich evolutionary changes can be studied as community composition varies.We asked whether morphologies of the introduced small Indian mongoose(Herpestes Auropunctatus) and the larger native stone marten (Martes foina) onAdriatic islands where they are sympatric or allopatric are consistent withhypotheses of character displacement and release, respectively.Location The mongoose is native to Asia and has been introduced to over 60islands. We measured specimens from several island groups and the nativeregion. The marten is native to Eurasia and several European islands, and wehave measurements throughout most of its native range.Methods We measured skull length and the maximum diameter of the uppercanine tooth in both species on Adriatic islands and compared these traits withthose in other sites.Results The mongoose has smaller canines and skulls on the three Adriaticislands it co-occupies with the marten compared with other islands of intro-duction, consistent with the hypothesis of character displacement. It is not lar-ger on the Adriatic island where it is the sole carnivore than on other Adriaticislands, which contradicts the hypothesis of character release. Marten skulls areshorter on three islands with no mongooses than on one island where themongoose is present, consistent with the hypothesis of character release. How-ever, marten canine diameters are similar across Adriatic islands.Main conclusions On Adriatic islands, interspecific competition between themongoose and the marten is most likely what maintains small size in the mon-goose and prevents the character release observed on other islands of introduc-tion lacking mammalian competitors. The marten may have undergonecharacter displacement because of the mongoose introduction on at least oneAdriatic island and possibly all three islands where the species co-occur.KeywordsAdriatic islands, body size, character release, co-existence, competition,Herpestes Auropunctatus, insular carnivores, mammals, Martes foina, sexualdimorphism
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can genetic data confirm or refute historical records the island invasion of the small indian mongoose Herpestes Auropunctatus
Biological Invasions, 2013Co-Authors: Arijana Barun, Matthew L Niemiller, Benjamin M Fitzpatrick, James A Fordyce, Daniel SimberloffAbstract:Many studies aimed at reconstructing the invasion history of a species rely, in part, on inferences based on patterns of genetic variation. These inferences warrant careful interpretation, however. In particular, given the time scale of most invasions, the typical demography of invasive species in their invaded range, and the available molecular tools, the underlying assumptions of population genetic models will often be violated. Given this fact, we examined the potential of population genetic data for reconstructing the history of serial introductions of the small Indian mongoose, Herpestes Auropunctatus. We used simulations to test the power of existing microsatellite data for testing the credibility of historical introduction records. Although our results are generally consistent with most historical records for H. Auropunctatus, the existing data have low power to reject alternative historical hypotheses. Simulations of a wide range of founder population sizes show broadly overlapping results, making rather different historical scenarios of introductions difficult to rule out with typical datasets. We advocate caution in the use of molecular population genetics to infer the history of invasive species, and we suggest extensive simulations as a tool to evaluate, in advance, this approach for addressing important research questions.
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impact of the introduced small indian mongoose Herpestes Auropunctatus on abundance and activity time of the introduced ship rat rattus rattus and the small mammal community on adriatic islands croatia
NeoBiota, 2011Co-Authors: Arijana Barun, Daniel Simberloff, Nikola Tvrtkovic, Michel PascalAbstract:The small Indian mongoose (Herpestes Auropunctatus) is one of the world’s 100 worst invasive species (IUCN 2000). It has negative impacts on several small mammals on islands where it was introduced. We assess the abundance of small mammal populations and the activity time of introduced ship rats (Rattus rattus) on three mongoose-infested and three mongoose-free islands in the Adriatic Sea, Croatia. We set up three transects on each island with a trapping system consisting of 30 small live traps to capture small mammals under 30 grams and 30 larger traps to capture ship rats and mongooses, on each transect. Our results support an already large but mostly speculative literature that suggests inability of the small Indian mongoose to reduce high abundances of introduced R. rattus. Further, we suggest that the low abundance of native small mammals is probably not solely caused by the mongoose but also by high R. rattus populations on all six islands. In addition, we provide evidence that R. rattus has changed its activity time to become more nocturnal on mongoose-infested islands, possibly to avoid predation by the mongoose. As R. rattus became more nocturnal, the diurnal mongoose may have become the main predator on amphibians, reptiles, and poultry.
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a review of small indian mongoose management and eradications on islands
Occasional Papers of the IUCN Species Survival CommissionOccasional Papers of the IUCN Species Survival Commission, 2011Co-Authors: Arijana Barun, C C Hanson, K J Campell, Daniel SimberloffAbstract:The small Indian mongoose (Herpestes Auropunctatus) is one of the world’s 100 worst invasive species. It is a generalist feeder blamed for many declines and extirpations of vertebrates on islands. Native to Asia, it has been introduced to at least 64 islands (Pacifi c and Indian Oceans, Caribbean and Adriatic Seas) and the mainland (Europe, South America, Australia and North America). Most introductions were in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to control rats in sugar cane fi elds, but also to control snakes. Although recent mongoose introductions are few, the risk of intentional or accidental spread remains high, and many island taxa are susceptible to their effects. The mongoose has been eradicated from at least six islands (≤115 ha: Buck, Fajou, Leduck, Praslin, Codrington and Green) by trapping and secondary poisoning, but eradication has proven challenging. Two earlier island eradication campaigns against mongoose failed on Buck (182 ha) and Pineros (390 ha) and campaigns are currently underway on the large islands of Amami-Oshima and northern Okinawa. Attempts to control the mongoose were numerous in the past, and several programmes are underway using trapping and/or poisoning. New techniques are being developed and show promise for eradication. The mongoose can be eradicated with current approaches on small islands with the aim of benefi ting endemic species or preventing further introductions. More effi cient methods and strategies are needed for successful eradication on larger islands and may facilitate containment of mongoose on the European and South American mainlands.
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Impact of the introduced small indian mongoose (Herpestes Auropunctatus) on abundance and activity time of the introduced ship rat (Rattus rattus) and the small mammal community on Adriatic islands, Croatia
NeoBiota, 2011Co-Authors: Arijana Barun, Daniel Simberloff, Nikola Tvrtkovic, Michel PascalAbstract:Impact of the introduced small indian mongoose (Herpestes Auropunctatus) on abundance and activity time of the introduced ship rat (Rattus rattus) and the small mammal community on Adriatic islands, Croatia
Daniel Simberloff - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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possible character displacement of an introduced mongoose and native marten on adriatic islands croatia
Journal of Biogeography, 2015Co-Authors: Daniel Simberloff, Arijana Barun, Nikola Tvrtkovic, Shai Meiri, Zoran TadicAbstract:ABSTRACT Aim Character displacement and release can occur quickly in novel environ-ments and communities. Species introductions are ‘natural experiments’ inwhich evolutionary changes can be studied as community composition varies.We asked whether morphologies of the introduced small Indian mongoose(Herpestes Auropunctatus) and the larger native stone marten (Martes foina) onAdriatic islands where they are sympatric or allopatric are consistent withhypotheses of character displacement and release, respectively.Location The mongoose is native to Asia and has been introduced to over 60islands. We measured specimens from several island groups and the nativeregion. The marten is native to Eurasia and several European islands, and wehave measurements throughout most of its native range.Methods We measured skull length and the maximum diameter of the uppercanine tooth in both species on Adriatic islands and compared these traits withthose in other sites.Results The mongoose has smaller canines and skulls on the three Adriaticislands it co-occupies with the marten compared with other islands of intro-duction, consistent with the hypothesis of character displacement. It is not lar-ger on the Adriatic island where it is the sole carnivore than on other Adriaticislands, which contradicts the hypothesis of character release. Marten skulls areshorter on three islands with no mongooses than on one island where themongoose is present, consistent with the hypothesis of character release. How-ever, marten canine diameters are similar across Adriatic islands.Main conclusions On Adriatic islands, interspecific competition between themongoose and the marten is most likely what maintains small size in the mon-goose and prevents the character release observed on other islands of introduc-tion lacking mammalian competitors. The marten may have undergonecharacter displacement because of the mongoose introduction on at least oneAdriatic island and possibly all three islands where the species co-occur.KeywordsAdriatic islands, body size, character release, co-existence, competition,Herpestes Auropunctatus, insular carnivores, mammals, Martes foina, sexualdimorphism
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can genetic data confirm or refute historical records the island invasion of the small indian mongoose Herpestes Auropunctatus
Biological Invasions, 2013Co-Authors: Arijana Barun, Matthew L Niemiller, Benjamin M Fitzpatrick, James A Fordyce, Daniel SimberloffAbstract:Many studies aimed at reconstructing the invasion history of a species rely, in part, on inferences based on patterns of genetic variation. These inferences warrant careful interpretation, however. In particular, given the time scale of most invasions, the typical demography of invasive species in their invaded range, and the available molecular tools, the underlying assumptions of population genetic models will often be violated. Given this fact, we examined the potential of population genetic data for reconstructing the history of serial introductions of the small Indian mongoose, Herpestes Auropunctatus. We used simulations to test the power of existing microsatellite data for testing the credibility of historical introduction records. Although our results are generally consistent with most historical records for H. Auropunctatus, the existing data have low power to reject alternative historical hypotheses. Simulations of a wide range of founder population sizes show broadly overlapping results, making rather different historical scenarios of introductions difficult to rule out with typical datasets. We advocate caution in the use of molecular population genetics to infer the history of invasive species, and we suggest extensive simulations as a tool to evaluate, in advance, this approach for addressing important research questions.
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impact of the introduced small indian mongoose Herpestes Auropunctatus on abundance and activity time of the introduced ship rat rattus rattus and the small mammal community on adriatic islands croatia
NeoBiota, 2011Co-Authors: Arijana Barun, Daniel Simberloff, Nikola Tvrtkovic, Michel PascalAbstract:The small Indian mongoose (Herpestes Auropunctatus) is one of the world’s 100 worst invasive species (IUCN 2000). It has negative impacts on several small mammals on islands where it was introduced. We assess the abundance of small mammal populations and the activity time of introduced ship rats (Rattus rattus) on three mongoose-infested and three mongoose-free islands in the Adriatic Sea, Croatia. We set up three transects on each island with a trapping system consisting of 30 small live traps to capture small mammals under 30 grams and 30 larger traps to capture ship rats and mongooses, on each transect. Our results support an already large but mostly speculative literature that suggests inability of the small Indian mongoose to reduce high abundances of introduced R. rattus. Further, we suggest that the low abundance of native small mammals is probably not solely caused by the mongoose but also by high R. rattus populations on all six islands. In addition, we provide evidence that R. rattus has changed its activity time to become more nocturnal on mongoose-infested islands, possibly to avoid predation by the mongoose. As R. rattus became more nocturnal, the diurnal mongoose may have become the main predator on amphibians, reptiles, and poultry.
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a review of small indian mongoose management and eradications on islands
Occasional Papers of the IUCN Species Survival CommissionOccasional Papers of the IUCN Species Survival Commission, 2011Co-Authors: Arijana Barun, C C Hanson, K J Campell, Daniel SimberloffAbstract:The small Indian mongoose (Herpestes Auropunctatus) is one of the world’s 100 worst invasive species. It is a generalist feeder blamed for many declines and extirpations of vertebrates on islands. Native to Asia, it has been introduced to at least 64 islands (Pacifi c and Indian Oceans, Caribbean and Adriatic Seas) and the mainland (Europe, South America, Australia and North America). Most introductions were in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to control rats in sugar cane fi elds, but also to control snakes. Although recent mongoose introductions are few, the risk of intentional or accidental spread remains high, and many island taxa are susceptible to their effects. The mongoose has been eradicated from at least six islands (≤115 ha: Buck, Fajou, Leduck, Praslin, Codrington and Green) by trapping and secondary poisoning, but eradication has proven challenging. Two earlier island eradication campaigns against mongoose failed on Buck (182 ha) and Pineros (390 ha) and campaigns are currently underway on the large islands of Amami-Oshima and northern Okinawa. Attempts to control the mongoose were numerous in the past, and several programmes are underway using trapping and/or poisoning. New techniques are being developed and show promise for eradication. The mongoose can be eradicated with current approaches on small islands with the aim of benefi ting endemic species or preventing further introductions. More effi cient methods and strategies are needed for successful eradication on larger islands and may facilitate containment of mongoose on the European and South American mainlands.
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Impact of the introduced small indian mongoose (Herpestes Auropunctatus) on abundance and activity time of the introduced ship rat (Rattus rattus) and the small mammal community on Adriatic islands, Croatia
NeoBiota, 2011Co-Authors: Arijana Barun, Daniel Simberloff, Nikola Tvrtkovic, Michel PascalAbstract:Impact of the introduced small indian mongoose (Herpestes Auropunctatus) on abundance and activity time of the introduced ship rat (Rattus rattus) and the small mammal community on Adriatic islands, Croatia
Are R. Berentsen - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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placebo oral rabies vaccine bait uptake by small indian mongooses Herpestes Auropunctatus in southwestern puerto rico
Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 2020Co-Authors: Are R. Berentsen, Ad Vos, Steffen Ortmann, Richard B Chipman, Kathleen M Nelson, Kenneth S Gruver, Frank Boyd, Steven F Volker, Amy J Davis, Amy T GilbertAbstract:Abstract The small Indian mongoose (Herpestes Auropunctatus) is a rabies reservoir in areas of the Caribbean including Puerto Rico, but no rabies vaccination program targeting this host exists. We ...
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immunogenicity of ontario rabies vaccine for small indian mongooses Herpestes Auropunctatus
Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 2020Co-Authors: Are R. Berentsen, Robert T. Sugihara, Shylo R Johnson, Christine K Ellis, Israel L Leinbach, Amy T GilbertAbstract:Oral rabies vaccination is the principal strategy used to control rabies in wildlife. No oral rabies vaccine is licensed for small Indian mongooses (Herpestes Auropunctatus). The Ontario Rabies Vaccine Bait (ONRAB) is a human adenovirus type-5 rabies glycoprotein recombinant vaccine licensed for rabies control in striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) in Canada and is under experimental evaluation in the US. We evaluated varying doses of ONRAB vaccine by direct instillation into the oral cavity with three groups of 10 mongooses: Group 1 received 109.5 TCID50, group 2 received 108.8 TCID50, and group 3 received 108.5 TCID50 of vaccine. Six control mongooses were sham-vaccinated with culture media. We collected a serum sample prior to vaccination and on days 14 and 30 postvaccination (PV). We quantified the level of rabies virus neutralizing antibodies (RVNA) from mongoose sera and compared titers among vaccinated groups and time points PV, where values greater than or equal to 0.1 IU/mL were considered positive. On day 14 PV, 87% (26 of 30, 95% confidence interval 70-95%) of vaccinates had seroconverted, whereas all vaccinates demonstrated RVNA by day 30 PV. There was a marginal effect of vaccine dose on group means of log-transformed RVNA titers at day 14 PV (F=2.5, P=0.099), but not day 30 PV. Sham-vaccinated animals were seronegative during all time points.
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flavor preference of oral rabies vaccine baits by small indian mongooses Herpestes Auropunctatus in southwestern puerto rico
Proceedings of the Vertebrate Pest Conference, 2020Co-Authors: Are R. Berentsen, Amy J Davis, Amy T Gilbert, Fabiola B Torrestoledo, Mel J RiverarodriguezAbstract:Author(s): Berentsen, Are R.; Torres-Toledo, Fabiola B.; Davis, Amy J.; Gilbert, Amy T.; Rivera-Rodriguez, Mel J. | Abstract: The small Indian mongoose is an invasive pest species and rabies reservoir in Puerto Rico and other islands in the Caribbean. In the United States and Europe, rabies in wild carnivores is largely controlled through oral rabies vaccination (ORV), but no ORV program for mongooses exists. The oral rabies vaccine currently licensed for use in wild carnivores in the United States has not been reported as immunogenic for mongooses. A mongoose-specific bait has been developed but field-based bait flavor preference trials have not been performed in Puerto Rico. We evaluated removal of egg-flavored (treatment) vs. unflavored (control), water-filled placebo ORV baits in a subtropical dry forest in southwestern Puerto Rico from 2014-2015. During six trials at four plots we distributed 350 baits (175 treatment and 175 control) and monitored baits for five days or until at least 50% of baits had been removed or were rendered unavailable to mongooses due to inundation by fire ants. The estimated overall probability of bait removal within five days was 85% (95% CI 75-91%) and 45% (95% CI 35-55%) for treatment and control baits, respectively. Removal rate estimates in the spring were 95% (95% CI 86-98%) and 63% (95% CI 49-76%) for treatment and control baits, respectively. Removal rate estimates in autumn were 68% (95% CI 58-77%) and 30% (95% CI 22-39%) for treatment and controls, respectively. Model estimates suggest that treatment and season were more influential on bait removal rates than diel period or experimental day, although bait removal rates were higher at night than during the day, suggesting non-target bait removal by nocturnal rodents. Our results suggest that egg-flavored baits were preferred by mongooses over unflavored baits. During operational ORV bait application, non-target bait removal should be taken into consideration when calculating bait application rates.
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analysis of iophenoxic acid analogues in small indian mongoose Herpestes Auropunctatus sera for use as an oral rabies vaccination biological marker
Journal of Visualized Experiments, 2019Co-Authors: Are R. Berentsen, Robert T. Sugihara, Cynthia G. Payne, Ad Vos, Steffen Ortmann, Steven F Volker, Israel L Leinbach, Amy T GilbertAbstract:The small Indian mongoose (Herpestes Auropunctatus) is a reservoir of rabies virus (RABV) in Puerto Rico and comprises over 70% of animal rabies cases reported annually. The control of RABV circulation in wildlife reservoirs is typically accomplished by a strategy of oral rabies vaccination (ORV). Currently no wildlife ORV program exists in Puerto Rico. Research into oral rabies vaccines and various bait types for mongooses has been conducted with promising results. Monitoring the success of ORV relies on estimating bait uptake by target species, which typically involves evaluating a change in RABV neutralizing antibodies (RVNA) post vaccination. This strategy may be difficult to interpret in areas with an active wildlife ORV program or in areas where RABV is enzootic and background levels of RVNA are present in reservoir species. In such situations, a biomarker incorporated with the vaccine or the bait matrix may be useful. We offered 16 captive mongooses placebo ORV baits containing ethyl-iophenoxic acid (et-IPA) in concentrations of 0.4% and 1% inside the bait and 0.14% in the external bait matrix. We also offered 12 captive mongooses ORV baits containing methyl-iophenoxic acid (me-IPA) in concentrations of 0.035%, 0.07% and 0.14% in the external bait matrix. We collected a serum sample prior to bait offering and then weekly for up to eight weeks post offering. We extracted Iophenoxic acids from sera into acetonitrile and quantified using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. We analyzed sera for et-IPA or me-IPA by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. We found adequate marking ability for at least eight and four weeks for et- and me-IPA, respectively. Both IPA derivatives could be suitable for field evaluation of ORV bait uptake in mongooses. Due to the longevity of the marker in mongoose sera, care must be taken to not confound results by using the same IPA derivative during consecutive evaluations.
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Evaluation of the palatability and toxicity of candidate baits and toxicants for mongooses (Herpestes Auropunctatus)
European Journal of Wildlife Research, 2017Co-Authors: Robert T. Sugihara, William C. Pitt, Are R. Berentsen, Cynthia G. PayneAbstract:The small Indian mongoose ( Herpestes Auropunctatus ) is an invasive pest species responsible for damage to native avian, reptile, and amphibian species on Hawaii, Croatia, Mauritius, and several Caribbean Islands, among other regions. Mongoose control has been pursued through a variety of means, with varying success. One toxicant, diphacinone, has been shown to be effective in mongooses and is co-labeled in a rodenticide bait for mongoose control in Hawaii; however, preliminary observations indicate low performance as a mongoose toxicant due likely to poor consumption. We evaluated the efficacy and palatability of 10 commercial rodenticide baits, technical diphacinone powder, and two alternative acute toxicants against mongooses in laboratory feeding trials. We observed poor acceptance and subsequent low overall mortality, of the hard grain-based pellets or block formulations typical of most of the commercial rodenticide baits. The exception was Tomcat® bait blocks containing 0.1% bromethalin, an acute neurotoxin, which achieved up to 100% mortality. Mortality among all other commercial rodenticide formulations ranged from 10 to 50%. Three-day feedings of 0.005% technical diphacinone formulated in fresh minced chicken achieved 100% mortality. One-day feedings of para-aminopropiophenone (PAPP), a chemical that reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood, achieved 100% mortality at concentrations of 0.10 to 0.15%. Bait acceptance of two sodium nitrite formulations (similar toxic mode of action as PAPP) was relatively poor, and mortality averaged 20%. In general, commercially produced rodenticide baits were not preferred by mongooses and had lower mortality rates compared to freshly prepared meat bait formulations. More palatable baits had higher consumption and achieved higher mortality rates. The diphacinone bait registered for rat and mongoose control in Hawaii achieved 20% mortality and was less effective than some of the other commercial or candidate fresh bait products evaluated in this study.
Martynl. Gorman - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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dispersion and foraging of the small indian mongoose Herpestes Auropunctatus carnivora viverridae relative to the evolution of social viverrids
Journal of Zoology, 2010Co-Authors: Martynl. GormanAbstract:The Small Indian mongoose in Fiji is sedentary, solitary and has overlapping home ranges. It is highly predaceous with 60 % by weight of the prey being vertebrate. It is argued that while social groups in cats, hyenas and dogs allow exploitation of large prey, in viverrids they allow group defence.
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An analysis of the contents of the anal scent pockets of Herpestes Auropunctatus (Carnivora: Viverridae)
Journal of Zoology, 2009Co-Authors: Martynl. Gorman, David B. Nedwell, Roger M. SmithAbstract:The structure of the anal organ of Herpestes Auropunctatus is described. The scent is analysed and is shown to contain a series of saturated carboxylic acids. The acids are shown to be the product of bacterial metabolism, the species involved are isolated and identified.