Concurrent Infection of Skunk Adenovirus-1, Listeria monocytogenes, and a Regionally Specific Clade of Canine Distemper Virus in One Gray Fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) and Concurrent Listeriosis and Canine Distemper in a Second Gray Fox

Abstract

One free-ranging Gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) underwent autopsy following neurologic disease, with findings including morbilliviral inclusions and associated lesions in numerous tissues, adenoviral intranuclear inclusions in bronchial epithelial cells, and septic pleuropneumonia, hepatitis, splenitis, and meningoencephalitis. Molecular diagnostics on fresh lung identified a strain within a distinct clade of canine distemper that is currently unique to wildlife in New England, as well as the emerging multi-host viral pathogen skunk adenovirus-1. Bacterial culture of fresh liver resulted in a pure growth of Listeria monocytogenes, with whole genome sequencing indicating that the isolate had a vast array of antimicrobial resistance and virulence-associated genes. One year later, a second fox was euthanized for inappropriate behavior in a residential area, and diagnostic workup revealed canine distemper and septic L. monocytogenes, with the former closely related to the distemper virus found in the previous fox and the latter divergent from the L. monocytogenes from the previous fox.

High Prevalence of Antibodies against Canine Parvovirus and Canine Distemper Virus among Coyotes and Foxes from Pennsylvania: Implications for the Intersection of Companion Animals and Wildlife

“…The lower CDV seropositivity in gray foxes is consistent with a study of CDV Ab prevalence in foxes from Wisconsin that reported CDV Ab prevalence values of 11% and 0% for red ( N = 57) and gray ( N = 32) foxes, respectively ( 17 ). Gray foxes have been demonstrated to be susceptible to infection with high lethality ( 18 ). Hence, the lower number of CDV-positive gray foxes may be due to fewer animals surviving infection.…”

Use of Bacteriophage Amended with CRISPR-Cas Systems to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance in the Bacterial Foodborne Pathogen Listeria monocytogenes

“…L. monocytogenes exhibits innate resistance to nalidixic acid, oxacillin, and certain third–generation cephalosporins but is not commonly resistant to antibiotics employed for treatment [ 9 , 10 , 11 ]. However, there are several reports of resistance to clinically-relevant antibiotics in L. monocytogenes and other Listeria species [ 10 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]. Thus, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in this serious human and animal pathogen is of concern, in agreement with the global trend of growing AMR challenges in agriculture and the food chain [ 15 , 16 ].…”

Complete genome analysis confirms that the pygmy marmoset adenovirus is a variant of the skunk adenovirus 1 – Short communication

“…Later, the virus was also detected in pet pygmy hedgehogs with bronchopneumonia in the USA (Needle et al, 2019). Most recently, SkAdV-1 has also been reported from North American porcupines (Erethizon dorsatum) with respiratory diseases (Balik et al, 2020) and from grey fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) (Needle et al, 2020 A few years before the isolation of SkAdV-1 in Canada, a yet unknown AdV had been isolated from the internal organs of a dead pygmy marmoset (Callithrix pygmaea) originating from a Hungarian zoo; prior to its death the marmoset showed severe respiratory signs (G al et al, 2013). A PCRamplified fragment from the DNA polymerase gene has been sequenced.…”

“…The homologues of ORF A can be found only in chiropteran, canine and equine-1 AdVs. The SkAdV also seems to be widely distributed, since it was reported from three continents (Asia, Europe and North America) from captive (zoo and pets) and wild animals (G al et al, 2013;Kozak et al, 2015;Madarame et al, 2016;Balik et al, 2020;Needle et al, 2020). SkAdV-1 was detected from dead or diseased animals, usually displaying respiratory disease signs (G al et al, 2013;Madarame et al, 2016;Needle et al, 2019;Ochiai et al, 2020).…”