Effects of experimental flea removal and plague vaccine treatments on survival of northern Idaho ground squirrels and two coexisting sciurids

Goldberg, Amanda R.; Conway, Courtney J.; Biggins, Dean E.

doi:10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01489

Cited by 14 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…Nearly 45,000 blood samples collected from a wide variety of wildlife from 2005 to 2018 found Y. pestis antibodies in 18 wildlife species in 17 Western states (Bevins et al 2021 ). These observations are broadly supported by other studies demonstrating that Y. pestis can be maintained in varied ecosystems with low transmission and variable host mortality rates, with occasional epizootics (Lowell et al 2015 , Kosoy et al 2017 , Ramakrishnan 2017 , Vogler et al 2017 , Biggins et al 2021c , Goldberg et al 2021 ).…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 75%

“…Plague manipulation experiments with various treatments have improved survival for eight species of mammals in highly variable ecosystems (Biggins et al 2010 , 2021c , Matchett et al 2010 , Ramakrishnan 2017 , Goldberg et al 2021 ). Split area, paired plot study designs in such studies, where edge effects were likely substantial, still demonstrated improved survival from plague treatments.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Oral Sylvatic Plague Vaccine Does Not Adequately Protect Prairie Dogs (Cynomys spp.) for Endangered Black-Footed Ferret (Mustela nigripes) Conservation

Matchett

Stanley

McCollister

et al. 2021

Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases

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The plague bacterium Yersinia pestis is lethal to endangered black-footed ferrets ( Mustela nigripes , BFF) and the prairie dogs ( Cynomys spp., PD) on which they depend for habitat and prey. We assessed the effectiveness of an oral sylvatic plague vaccine delivered in baits to black-tailed PD ( Cynomys ludovicianus , BTPD) from 2013 to 2017 on the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge (CMR) in northcentral Montana. We permanently marked BTPD on four paired vaccine ( N = 1,349 individuals) and placebo plots ( N = 926; 7,027 total captures). We analyzed capture–recapture data under a Cormack–Jolly–Seber model to estimate annual apparent survival. Overall, survival averaged 0.05 lower on vaccine plots than on paired placebo plots. Immediately before noticeable die-offs and detecting plague on pairs CMR1 and CMR2, 89% of BTPD sampled on vaccine plots had consumed at least one bait and the immune systems of 40% were likely boosted by consuming baits over multiple years. Survival to the following year was 0.16 and 0.05 on the vaccine plots and 0.19 and 0.06 on the placebo plots for pairs CMR1 and CMR2, respectively. These rates were markedly lower than 0.63, the overall average estimate on those same plots during the previous 3 years. PD populations subjected to such large die-offs would not be expected to sustain a BFF population. An overriding limitation to achieving sufficient protection rests with vaccine delivery constraints. Late summer/fall bait distribution results in the highest bait uptake rates. However, the PD birth pulse each spring can double the size of populations in most years, greatly reducing the proportion of vaccinates in populations and diminishing potential herd immunity benefits. In addition to nonvaccinated juveniles and PD that do not consume bait, incomplete vaccine protection and time required for immunity to develop leaves a large majority of PD populations vulnerable to plague for 6–7 months or more each year.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 75%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Oral Sylvatic Plague Vaccine Does Not Adequately Protect Prairie Dogs (Cynomys spp.) for Endangered Black-Footed Ferret (Mustela nigripes) Conservation

Matchett

Stanley

McCollister

et al. 2021

Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases

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“…In addition, vaccination of black-footed ferrets against plague resulted in a >200% increase in survival, again, when there was little evidence of plague transmission on those colonies (Matchett et al 2010). The increased survival in this and other studies (Biggins et al 2021, Goldberg et al 2021) is likely indicative of persistent, low-level Y. pestis transmission that is difficult to detect; transmission that primarily occurs outside the scope of traditional data sets on human case investigations and visible wildlife mortality events.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 64%

Plague Exposure in Mammalian Wildlife Across the Western United States

Bevins

Chandler

Barrett

et al. 2021

Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases

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Plague is caused by a bacterial pathogen (Yersinia pestis) that can infect a wide range of mammal species, but its presence in wildlife is often underappreciated. Using a large-scale data set (n = 44,857) that details the extent of Y. pestis exposure in wildlife, we document exposure in 18 wildlife species, including coyotes (Canis latrans), bobcats (Lynx rufus), and black bears (Ursus americanus). Evidence of plague activity is widespread, with seropositive animals detected in every western state in the contiguous United States. Pathogen monitoring systems in wildlife that are both large scale and long-term are rare, yet they open the door for analyses on potential shifts in distribution that have occurred over time because of climate or land use changes. The data generated by these long-term monitoring programs, combined with recent advances in our understanding of pathogen ecology, offer a clearer picture of zoonotic pathogens and the risks they pose.

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“…One common use of insecticides is to control vector-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue, leishmaniasis, chaga disease, and plague (van den Berg et al 2012). These control efforts are effective at minimising human and wildlife diseases by reducing the abundance of the disease vectors and, thus, reducing disease transmission (Seery et al 2003;Eads and Biggins 2019;Biggins et al 2021a;Goldberg et al 2021a). The effects of application of these chemicals may have unforeseen consequences on non-target co-existing species via both direct and indirect pathways (Bourguet and Guillemaud 2016); however, such effects have rarely been examined.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Plague reduces survival of black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes), Utah prairie dogs (C. parvidens), and other species of conservation concern (Biggins et al 2010;Matchett et al 2010;Russell et al 2019). Deltamethrin is an effective conservation tool for reducing the incidence of plague in these species by controlling flea abundance (Seery et al 2003;Eads and Biggins 2019;Biggins et al 2021a;Goldberg et al 2021a), resulting in greater survival of target species (Biggins et al 2010(Biggins et al , 2021bMatchett et al 2010;Goldberg et al 2021a). However, the effects of the insecticide on sympatric nontarget small mammals are mostly unknown.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Deltamethrin reduces survival of non-target small mammals

et al. 2022

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Context Vector-borne diseases have caused global pandemics and were responsible for more human deaths than all other causes combined in prior centuries. In the past 60 years, prevention and control programs have helped reduce human mortality from vector-borne diseases, but impacts of those control programs on wildlife populations are not well documented. Insecticides are used to reduce vector-borne diseases in several critically endangered animal populations. Although insecticides are often effective at controlling targeted vectors, their effects on non-target species have rarely been examined. Aims To evaluate the impact of deltamethrin (an insecticide) on sympatric non-target species in areas affected by sylvatic plague, a lethal flea-borne zoonosis. Methods We compared flea control and the effect of deltamethrin application on survival of non-target small mammals (Peromyscus maniculatus, Chaetodipus hispidus, Microtus spp., and Reithrodontomys megalotis) at three study locations in South Dakota, Colorado, and Idaho, USA. Key results Deltamethrin treatments were more effective in reducing fleas on P. maniculatus and Microtus spp. than C. hispidus. Following burrow, nest, and bait-station applications of deltamethrin dust, apparent small mammal survival was greater for non-treatment animals than for flea-reduction animals. However, the magnitude of the difference between treated and non-treated animals differed among host species, study location, time interval, and treatment application method. Conclusions Our results suggest that considering the impact of deltamethrin on co-occurring non-target species before widespread application in future insecticide applications is warranted. Implications Insecticide application methods warrant consideration when designing plague management actions.

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Effects of experimental flea removal and plague vaccine treatments on survival of northern Idaho ground squirrels and two coexisting sciurids

Cited by 14 publications

References 44 publications

Oral Sylvatic Plague Vaccine Does Not Adequately Protect Prairie Dogs (Cynomys spp.) for Endangered Black-Footed Ferret (Mustela nigripes) Conservation

Oral Sylvatic Plague Vaccine Does Not Adequately Protect Prairie Dogs (Cynomys spp.) for Endangered Black-Footed Ferret (Mustela nigripes) Conservation

Plague Exposure in Mammalian Wildlife Across the Western United States

Deltamethrin reduces survival of non-target small mammals

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