325,488 research outputs found
Comparison of the activity of selamectin, imidacloprid and fipronil for the treatment of cats infested experimentally with Ctenocephalides felis felis and Ctenocephalides felis strongylus
No full textTwenty adult, domestic short hair cats were randomly allocated into four groups of five cats and housed in separated cages. Each cat was infested with 25 fleas Ctenocephalides felis felis and 25 Ctenocephalides felis strongylus and 2 days later (day 0) the cats in group 1, 2 and 3 received a spot on application of selamectin, imidacloprid or fipronil, respectively, while the cats in group four were not treated. The cats were combed 48 h later, the fleas were removed, counted and their subspecies were determined. All the cats were reinfested with the same number of the two subspecies of fleas on days 7, 14, 21, 29 and 35. The efficacy of each treatment was calculated 48 h after each infestation. The mean number of fleas on the control cats was 16.4 C. f. felis and 13.4 C. f. strongylus. The three treatments were effective for the first 31 days for C. f. felis and for the full 37 days for C. f. strongylus. Over the first 31 days, the efficacy of selamectin ranged from 89 to 100% and 85 to 100% against C. f. felis and C. f. strongylus, respectively, the efficacy of imidacloprid ranged from 76 to 100% and 92 to 100% and the efficacy of fipronil ranged from 98 to 100% and 97 to 100% against C. f. felis and C. f. strongylus. There were no significant differences between the control of C. f. felis and C. f. strongylus by the three products
Ökophysiologie der verwilderten Hauskatze (Felis catus) in Australien
No full textFeral cats (Felis catus), introduced into Australia with European settlers in the 19th century, colonized the entire Australian continent in less than 100 years, including the Australian arid zone which covers more than 70% of the continent. Feral cats are responsible for the decline and extinction of a number of native species and the failure of a number of reintroduction attempts, especially in the arid zone. Many ecological studies on feral cats have been conducted on home range size and movement patterns in different environments, abundance and diet, with the aim of gaining a better understanding about their successful invasion of the Australian continent. There are no physiological studies on the feral cat to date. However, there is evidence that there is a strong interrelation between physiology and abiotic factors such as climate. Thus, distribution, habitat, and dispersal of species can not fully be understood without background knowledge of physiology. This PhD aims to contribute to a better understanding of three physiological parameters: metabolism, body mass and body temperature patterns. These parameters may possibly identify physiological adaptation to different climate zones, seasonal conditions and island isolation.Die verwilderte Hauskatze (Felis catus) kommt weltweit in allen vom Menschen besiedelten Gebieten vor. In Australien und auf zahlreichen Inseln weltweit haben Katzen entscheidend zur Ausrottung einheimischer Tierarten beigetragen und werden für das Scheitern von Wiedereinbürgerungsversuchen einheimischer bedrohter Arten verantwortlich gemacht. Katzen sind in der Lage, sich auch unter extremen Bedingungen (unvorhersagbare Regenfälle und Nahrungsverfügbarkeit, Extremtemperaturen) in nahezu jedem Lebensraum äußerst erfolgreich auszubreiten. Die Grundlagen dieser extremen Anpassungsfähigkeit sind derzeit noch nicht vollständig geklärt, es wird jedoch angenommen, dass eine Vielzahl verschiedener Faktoren (z.B. Physiologie und Verhalten), für den Erfolg als invasive Art verantwortlich gemacht werden können. Die hier vorliegende Doktorarbeit befasst sich mit den verschiedenen potentiell möglichen physiologischen Anpassungsfähigkeiten bezüglich verschiedener Klimazonen, Jahreszeiten, Inselisolation und Gefangenschaft. Hierfür werden der Energiehaushalt (basale Stoffwechselrate, BMR), Körpermasse sowie Temperaturregulation verwilderter Hauskatzen aus verschiedensten Lebensräumen Australiens untersucht und miteinander verglichen
Roaming habits of pet cats on the suburban fringe in Perth, Western Australia: What size buffer zone is needed to protect wildlife in reserves?
No full textWe radiotracked 18 pet cats Felis catus from rural and urban areas within the City of Armadale, Western Australia, both at night and during the day between August 2003 and February 2005 to estimate the size of buffer zone required to reduce incursions by pet cats into native bushland. Home ranges of rural cats ranged from 0.07ha to 2.86ha, while those of urban cats were 0.01 ha to 0.64ha. Male and female cats had similar home ranges and there was no evidence of seasonal differences in home ranges.The longest linear distance moved by any cat was 300m, so allowing a 20% margin for estimation error a buffer zone of 360m is needed to reduce incursions by pet cats into native bushland in this municipality
Bartonella infections in fleas (Siphonaptera : Pulicidae) and lack of Bartonellae in ticks (Acari : Ixodidae) from Hungary
No full textFleas (95 Pulex irritans, 50 Ctenocephalides felis, 45 Ctenocephalides canis) and ixodid ticks (223 Ixodes ricinus, 231 Dermacentor reticulatus, 204 Haemaphysalis concinna) were collected in Hungary and tested, in assays based on PCR, for Bartonella infection. Low percentages of P. irritans (4.2%) and C. felis (4.0%) were found to be infected. The groEL sequences of the four isolates from P. irritans were different from all the homologous sequences for bartonellae previously stored in GenBank but closest to those of Bartonella sp. SE-Bart-B (sharing 96% identities). The groEL sequences of the two isolates from C. felis were identical with those of the causative agents of cat scratch disease, Bartonella henselae and Bartonella clarridgeiae, respectively. The pap31 sequences of B. henselae amplified from Hungarian fleas were identical with that of Marseille strain. No Bartonella-specific amplification products were detected in C. canis, L ricinus, D. reticulatus and H. concinna pools
Cape Town's cats: reassessing predation through kitty-cams
No full textIncludes bibliographical references.Domestic cats (Felis catus) are abundant generalist predators that exploit a wide range of prey within and adjacent to the urban matrix. Cats are known to have contributed to the extinction and endangerment (mostly on islands) of a number of indigenous species, including birds, small mammals, reptiles and amphibians. Most research on this important topic has been carried out in the developed world, predominantly in Australia, New Zealand, the U.K., the U.S. and Canada with only four studies carried out in Africa. Of these, two studies in Cape Town suggest that domestic cats have a big impact on wildlife but these studies may have underestimated predation because they failed to account for the proportion of prey not returned to participants’ homes. In this study I used kitty-cams in an attempt to provide a prey correction factor for urban cats in Cape Town, South Africa. I investigated hunting of wildlife by free-ranging domestic cats in Newlands, a suburb of Cape Town, South Africa over 5 weeks in 2013. I monitored 13 cats (6 deep-urban and 7 urban-edge) by questionnaire survey, asking cat owners to record all prey items returned by their cats. A total of 43 prey items were returned, 42% of which were small mammals, 30% invertebrates, 12% reptiles, 9% amphibians and 7% birds. Combining these data with two similar survey studies carried out in Cape Town I estimated that a total of 118 cats caught an average of 0.04 prey items per cat per day. Ten of the 13 cats were also monitored for 3 weeks using kitty-cam video cameras. Participating cats wore a video camera and all activity was analysed for prey captures and behavioural activity patterns
Evidence of exposure to Rickettsia felis in Australian patients
No full textAbstractRickettsia felis is an emerging zoonosis, causing flea-borne spotted fever (FBSF). Serological diagnosis is typically confounded by cross-reactivity with typhus group rickettsiae and prior to the development of specific serological methods, cases of FBSF in Australia were misdiagnosed.Patient sera tested between August 2010 and December 2013 and known to be seropositive to R. typhi by immunofluorescence antibody testing (IFAT) were subsequently retested against R. felis using an R. felis-specific IFAT. Sera of 49 patients were of a sufficient quality to be included in re-analysis. A classification of FBSF and murine typhus (MT) was attributed to fourteen and seven patients respectively, based on a minimum four-fold higher antibody titre to R. felis than to R. typhi and vice versa. Twenty-eight patients were classified as indeterminate for either R. felis or R. typhi (antibody titres within two-fold of one another).Historically, it is likely that Australian patients clinically ill with FBSF were misdiagnosed. It is important that medical practitioners consider FBSF as part of their differential diagnoses, and obtain relevant history with regard to patient's exposure to domestic pets and their fleas. Australian microbiology diagnostic laboratories should include serological testing for R. felis as part of the diagnostic panel for febrile diseases. Veterinarians are encouraged to increase their awareness of this emerging zoonosis and advocate flea control in pets
Rickettsiales and rickettsial diseases in Australia
No full textCurrently, there are 12 known Rickettsiales species in Australia. However research into the diversity and range of these agents in Australia is still far from complete.
A sero-epidemiological study was undertaken around the city of Launceston in Tasmania, Australia to determine the level of exposure to spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsia among the local cat and dog population. The study showed that over 50% of the dogs and cats tested were positive for SFG rickettsiae antibodies. However, no correlation was observed between the animals’ health and seropositivity at the time of testing.
Ixodes tasmani ticks collected from Tasmanian devils in Tasmania were tested for the presence of SFG and typhus group (TG) rickettsiae using a specific real time PCR (qPCR), and 55% were found to be positive. The gltA, rompA, rompB and sca4 genes were then sequenced. Using the current criteria this new rickettsia qualified as a Candidatus species, and was named Candidatus Rickettsia tasmanensis, after the location from which it was first detected.
Soft ticks of the species Argas dewae were collected from bat roosting boxes north of Melbourne. Of the ten ticks collected, seven (70%) were positive for SFG rickettsiae using the qPCR mentioned above. An isolate was obtained using cell culture isolation methods and the rrs, gltA, rompA, rompB and sca4 genes were sequenced. Using the current criteria this new rickettsia qualified as a novel species, and was tentatively named Rickettsia argasii sp. nov. after the tick genus from which it was isolated.
Four family members and their neighbour living in metropolitan Victoria became ill after exposure to a flea-infested kitten. Initial serological analysis indicated a typhus group (TG) rickettsial infection. However, testing of fleas from the group of cats in Lara, Victoria, where the kitten originated, revealed the presence of R. felis, the agent of cat flea typhus. This was the first case of human infection with R. felis in Australia and the first detection of R. felis in fleas in Victoria.
A tourist returning to Australia from the United Arab Emirates was diagnosed with a scrub typhus group (STG) rickettsial infection and the agent was isolated from their blood. Analysis of the rrs and 47kDa genes showed significant divergence compared to all available strains of Orientia tsutsugamushi. Due to the degree of genetic divergence and the geographically unique origin of this isolate it was considered to be a new species, which has been tentatively named Orientia chuto, with ‘chuto’ being Japanese for ‘Middle East’.
Dogs in central and northern Australia were tested for Anaplasma platys using a specifically designed real-time PCR (qPCR) assay. Of the 68 dogs tested, 27 (40%) were positive for A. platys DNA, including six dogs from Western Australia. This was the first report of A. platys in Western Australia.
These studies offer an insight into the range and diversity of Rickettsiales and rickettsial diseases previously unrecognised in Australia
Ocorrência de Ctenocephalides felis felis (Bouché, 1835) em caprinos no Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil.
No full textResumo - Primeiro registro de Siphonaptera da espécie Ctenocephalides felis felis parasitando caprinos jovens (12,3%), procedentes de propriedades rurais, no Município de Mossoró, na região semiárida do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil. Abstract - First report of Ctenocephalides felis felis (Siphonaptera) infesting young goats (12.3%), from rural properties, in the town of Mossoro, a semi-arid region of Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil.Título em inglês - Occurrence of Ctenocephalides felis felis (Bouché, 1835) in goats from in Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil
The status of the species Lactobacillus rogosae Holdeman and Moore, 1974. Request for an Opinion.
No full textA brief history of the species Lactobacillus rogosae is presented. It was ascertained that the type strain and other existing strains are not available in any established culture collection; therefore, they cannot be included in any scientific study. This matter is referred to the Judicial Commission, asking for an Opinion on the status of the species
Serological evidence of exposure to Rickettsia felis and Rickettsia typhi in Australian veterinarians
No full textBACKGROUND: Rickettsia felis and Rickettsia typhi are emerging arthropod-borne zoonoses causing fever and flu-like symptoms. Seroprevalence and risk factors associated with exposure to these organisms was explored in Australian veterinarians. METHODS: One hundred and thirty-one veterinarians from across Australia were recruited to participate in a cross-sectional survey. Veterinarians provided a single blood sample and answered a questionnaire on potential risk factors influencing their exposure to R. felis and R. typhi. Indirect microimmunofluorescence antibody testing (IFAT) was used to identify evidence of serological exposure of the participants to R. felis and R. typhi. Results were analyzed and a logistical regression model performed to predict risk factors associated with seropositivity. RESULTS: In total, 16.0% of participants were seropositive to R. felis, 4.6% to R. typhi and 35.1% seropositive to both, where cross-reactivity of the IFAT between R. felis and R. typhi precluded a definitive diagnosis. Veterinarians residing within the south-eastern states of Victoria and Tasmania were at a higher risk of exposure to R. felis or generalised R. felis or R. typhi exposure. Older veterinarians and those that recommended flea treatment to their clients were found to be significantly protected from exposure. CONCLUSIONS: The high exposure to R. felis amongst veterinary professionals suggests that flea-borne spotted fever is an important cause of undifferentiated fever conditions that may not be adequately recognized in Australia
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