Vertebrate Pests

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Kurt C Vercauteren - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • toxicity of sodium nitrite based Vertebrate pesticides for european starlings sturnus vulgaris
    PLOS ONE, 2021
    Co-Authors: Scott J Werner, Shelagh T Deliberto, Hailey E Mclean, Katherine E Horak, Kurt C Vercauteren
    Abstract:

    In the 21st century, invasive animals rank second only to habitat destruction as the greatest threat to global biodiversity. Socially-acceptable and cost-effective strategies are needed to reduce the negative economic and environmental impacts of invasive animals. We investigated the potential for sodium nitrite (SN; CAS 7632-00-0) to serve as an avian toxicant for European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris L.). We also assessed the non-target hazard of an experimental formulation of SN that is being developed as a toxicant for invasive wild pigs (Sus scrofa L.). In gavage experiments with European starlings, we identified a lowest observed adverse effect level (LOAEL) for mortality of 2.40% technical SN (w/v; 120 mg SN/kg body mass) and a no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) for mortality of 1.30% technical SN (65 mg/kg). The exposure of ten starlings to the experimental formulation of SN (10% SN pig toxicant) resulted in one starling mortality during four days of exposure to the toxic bait. Sodium nitrite toxicity presented a moderate hazard to European starlings; thus, the future development of SN as an avian toxicant is dependent upon its cost-effectiveness. We discuss the management of toxic effects and non-target hazards of SN for wild birds, including best practices for toxic baiting of Vertebrate Pests and management of invasive wild pigs.

  • Optimal bait density for delivery of acute toxicants to Vertebrate Pests
    Journal of Pest Science, 2020
    Co-Authors: Kim M. Pepin, Nathan P. Snow, Kurt C Vercauteren
    Abstract:

    Oral baiting is a fundamental method for delivering toxicants to pest species. Planning baiting strategies is challenging because bait-consumption rates depend on dynamic processes including space use and demographics of the target species. To determine cost-effective strategies for optimizing baiting, we developed a spatially explicit model of population dynamics using field-based measures of wild-pig ( Sus scrofa ) space use, bait consumption, and mortality probabilities. The most cost-effective baiting strategy depended strongly on the population reduction objective and initial density. A wide range of baiting strategies were cost-effective when the objective was 80% population reduction. In contrast, only a narrow range of baiting strategies allowed for a 99% reduction. Cost-effectiveness was lower for low densities of wild pigs because of the increased effort for locating target animals. Bait avoidance due to aversive conditioning from sub-lethal dosing had only minor effects on cost-effectiveness when the objective was an 80% reduction, whereas the effect was much stronger when the objective was 99% population reduction. Our results showed that a bait-based toxicant could be cost-effective for substantially reducing populations of wild pigs, but for elimination it may be most cost-effective to integrate additional management techniques following initial toxicant deployment. The nonlinear interaction of cost-effectiveness, initial population size, and reduction objective also emphasized the importance of considering the dynamics of space use and bait consumption for predicting effective baiting strategies. Although we used data for an acute toxicant and wild-pig consumption rates, our framework can be readily adapted to other Vertebrate pest species and toxicant characteristics.

  • biological management control of Vertebrate Pests advances in the last quarter century
    Proceedings of the Vertebrate Pest Conference, 1994
    Co-Authors: Scott E Hygnstrom, Kurt C Vercauteren, Thomas R Schmaderer
    Abstract:

    Author(s): Hygnstrom, Scott E.; VerCauteren, Kurt C.; Schmaderer, Thomas R. | Abstract: In 1967, Howard provided a review of biological control of Vertebrate Pests. The term "biological control" was borrowed from the field of entomology, where it has been traditionally defined as "the reduction in number or density of Pests through biological processes such as predation, pathogens, habitat modification, and fertility control." Current philosophy in wildlife damage management advocates "the reduction of damage to a tolerable level" rather than "the reduction of the number or density of Vertebrate Pests." Therefore we abdicate the term "biological control" and encourage the use of a new term, "biological management" of wildlife damage. Advances in science in the past 25 years have led to the testing and potential development of several biological methods for controlling wildlife damage and nuisance problems. We provide a nonexhaustive review of research in the following areas: secondary plant defense compounds, morphological plant defenses, predator odors, predation aversion compounds, pheromones, habitat modification, introduced and endemic predators, micro- and macroparasites, and fertility control through chemosterilants, genetic manipulation, and immunocontraception. No methods have been fully developed or are without problems. Several constraints associated with the development of biological management strategies are discussed.

Leila Nicholson - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • benign rabbit calicivirus in new zealand
    Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 2017
    Co-Authors: Edward C. Holmes, Leila Nicholson, Jackie E Mahar, Tanja Strive, Tao Zheng, Vernon K Ward, Janine A Duckworth
    Abstract:

    The Czech v351 strain of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV1) is used in Australia and New Zealand as a biological control agent for rabbits, which are important and damaging introduced Vertebrate Pests in these countries. However, nonpathogenic rabbit caliciviruses (RCVs) can provide partial immunological cross-protection against lethal RHDV infection and thus interfere with effective rabbit biocontrol. Antibodies that cross-reacted against RHDV antigens were found in wild rabbits before the release of RHDV1 in New Zealand in 1997, suggesting that nonpathogenic RCVs were already present in New Zealand. The aim of this study was to confirm the presence of nonpathogenic RCV in New Zealand and describe its geographical distribution. RCV and RHDV antibody assays were used to screen serum samples from 350 wild rabbits from 14 locations in New Zealand. The serological survey indicated that both RCV and RHDV are widespread in New Zealand wild rabbits, with antibodies detected in 10 out of 14 and 12 out of 14 populations, respectively. Two closely related RCV strains were identified in the duodenal tissue from a New Zealand wild rabbit (RCV Gore-425A and RCV Gore-425B). Both variants are most closely related to Australian RCV strains, but with 88% nucleotide identity, they are genetically distinct. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the New Zealand RCV strains fall within the genetic diversity of the Australian RCV isolates, indicating a relatively recent movement of RCVs between Australia and New Zealand.IMPORTANCE Wild rabbits are important and damaging introduced Vertebrate Pests in Australia and New Zealand. Although RHDV1 is used as a biological control agent, some nonpathogenic RCVs can provide partial immunological cross-protection against lethal RHDV infection and thus interfere with its effectiveness for rabbit control. The presence of nonpathogenic RCVs in New Zealand wild rabbits has been long hypothesized, but earlier attempts to isolate a New Zealand RCV strain have been unsuccessful. Therefore, it is important to determine if such nonpathogenic viruses exist in New Zealand rabbits, especially considering the proposed introduction of new RHDV strains into New Zealand as biocontrols.

Janine A Duckworth - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • benign rabbit calicivirus in new zealand
    Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 2017
    Co-Authors: Edward C. Holmes, Leila Nicholson, Jackie E Mahar, Tanja Strive, Tao Zheng, Vernon K Ward, Janine A Duckworth
    Abstract:

    The Czech v351 strain of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV1) is used in Australia and New Zealand as a biological control agent for rabbits, which are important and damaging introduced Vertebrate Pests in these countries. However, nonpathogenic rabbit caliciviruses (RCVs) can provide partial immunological cross-protection against lethal RHDV infection and thus interfere with effective rabbit biocontrol. Antibodies that cross-reacted against RHDV antigens were found in wild rabbits before the release of RHDV1 in New Zealand in 1997, suggesting that nonpathogenic RCVs were already present in New Zealand. The aim of this study was to confirm the presence of nonpathogenic RCV in New Zealand and describe its geographical distribution. RCV and RHDV antibody assays were used to screen serum samples from 350 wild rabbits from 14 locations in New Zealand. The serological survey indicated that both RCV and RHDV are widespread in New Zealand wild rabbits, with antibodies detected in 10 out of 14 and 12 out of 14 populations, respectively. Two closely related RCV strains were identified in the duodenal tissue from a New Zealand wild rabbit (RCV Gore-425A and RCV Gore-425B). Both variants are most closely related to Australian RCV strains, but with 88% nucleotide identity, they are genetically distinct. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the New Zealand RCV strains fall within the genetic diversity of the Australian RCV isolates, indicating a relatively recent movement of RCVs between Australia and New Zealand.IMPORTANCE Wild rabbits are important and damaging introduced Vertebrate Pests in Australia and New Zealand. Although RHDV1 is used as a biological control agent, some nonpathogenic RCVs can provide partial immunological cross-protection against lethal RHDV infection and thus interfere with its effectiveness for rabbit control. The presence of nonpathogenic RCVs in New Zealand wild rabbits has been long hypothesized, but earlier attempts to isolate a New Zealand RCV strain have been unsuccessful. Therefore, it is important to determine if such nonpathogenic viruses exist in New Zealand rabbits, especially considering the proposed introduction of new RHDV strains into New Zealand as biocontrols.

Alec J Redwood - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • biological control of Vertebrate Pests using virally vectored immunocontraception
    Journal of Reproductive Immunology, 2006
    Co-Authors: Christopher M Hardy, Lyn A Hinds, Peter J Kerr, Megan L Lloyd, Alec J Redwood
    Abstract:

    Species-specific viruses are being genetically engineered to produce contraceptive biological controls for pest animals such as mice, rabbits and foxes. The virus vaccines are intended to trigger an autoimmune response in the target animals that interferes with their fertility in a process termed virally vectored immunocontraception. Laboratory experiments have shown that high levels of infertility can be induced in mice infected with recombinant murine cytomegalovirus and ectromelia virus expressing reproductive antigens as well as in rabbits using myxoma virus vectors. The strategies used to produce and deliver species-specific immunocontraceptive vaccines to free-living wildlife are presented in this review. Discussion includes coverage of the likely safety of the proposed vaccines as well as the implications of the approach for fertility control in other species.

M Sherley - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • is sodium fluoroacetate 1080 a humane poison
    Animal Welfare, 2007
    Co-Authors: M Sherley
    Abstract:

    Sodium fluoroacetate (1080) is widely used for the control of Vertebrate Pests in Australia. While the ecological impact of 1080 baiting on non-target species has been the subject of ongoing research, the animal welfare implications of this practice have received little attention. Literature relevant to the humaneness of 1080 as a Vertebrate pest control agent is reviewed in this paper. Previous authors have largely concentrated on the perception of pain during 1080 toxicosis, giving limited attention to other forms of distress in their assessments. Authors who suggest that 1080 is a humane poison largely base their conclusions on the argument that convulsive seizures seen in the final stages of 1080 toxicosis indicate that affected animals are in an unconscious state and unable to perceive pain. Other authors describe awareness during seizures or periodic lucidity that suggests central nervous system (CNS) disruption cannot be assumed to produce a constant pain-free state. Some literature report that 1080 poisoning in humans is painless and free of distress, but this is contradicted by other clinical studies. Using available data an attempt is made to reassess the humaneness of 1080 using the following criteria: speed and mode of action, appearance and behaviour of affected animals, experiences of human victims, long-term effect on survivors, and welfare risk to non-target animals. It is concluded that sodium fluoroacetate should not be considered a humane poison, and there is an urgent need for research into improving the humaneness of Vertebrate control methods in Australia.