Influenza Virus A (H1N1) in Giant Anteaters (<i>Myrmecophaga tridactyla</i>)

Nofs, Sally A.; Abd-Eldaim, Mohamed; Thomas, Kathy V.; Toplon, David; Rouse, Dawn; Kennedy, Melissa

doi:10.3201/eid1507.081574

Cited by 18 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Good hygiene and husbandry practices used within the enclosures of the badger, binturong, and ferret failed to prevent infection, which suggests pandemic (H1N1) 2009 is efficiently transmitted to these species. Descriptions of infection in giant anteaters and cheetahs kept under similar conditions also support high transmissibility of influenza A viruses to animals, as do ongoing findings for swine ( 3 , 4 , 8 ). …”

supporting

confidence: 58%

Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 Virus in 3 Wildlife Species, San Diego, California, USA

Schrenzel¹,

Tucker²,

Stalis³

et al. 2011

Emerg. Infect. Dis.

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supporting

confidence: 58%

Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 Virus in 3 Wildlife Species, San Diego, California, USA

Schrenzel¹,

Tucker²,

Stalis³

et al. 2011

Emerg. Infect. Dis.

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“…Members of this family that regularly infect humans include influenza virus types A, B and C [1,2]. Influenza A viruses (Box 1) also naturally infect a variety of other animal species, including birds, pigs, horses, seals, whales, mink, giant anteaters, cats and dogs [3–5], whilst influenza B and C viruses appear predominantly (but not exclusively) limited to humans (reviewed in [4]). Disease caused by influenza viruses is often an acute, highly contagious, respiratory illness that usually affects the upper respiratory tract (i.e., the nose, throat and bronchi).…”

Section: Influenza Virusesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Innate Immune Evasion Strategies of Influenza Viruses

2009

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Influenza viruses are globally important human respiratory pathogens. These viruses cause seasonal epidemics and occasional worldwide pandemics, both of which can vary significantly in disease severity. The virulence of a particular influenza virus strain is partly determined by its success in circumventing the host immune response. This article briefly reviews the innate mechanisms that host cells have evolved to resist virus infection, and outlines the plethora of strategies that influenza viruses have developed in order to counteract such powerful defences. The molecular details of this virus–host interplay are summarized, and the ways in which research in this area is being applied to the rational design of protective vaccines and novel antivirals are discussed.

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“…Previous studies of giant anteater nutrition include research on metabolic rate (Stahl et al., ), diet matrix effects on nutrient digestibility and faecal quality (Gull et al., ), baseline levels of serum α‐tocopherol values as a measure of vitamin E status (Nofs, Dierenfeld, & Leuchner, ), and a study on blood and plasma TAU concentrations in anteaters with and without dietary TAU supplementation (Teare et al., ). Given prior research linking vitamin E deficiency and TAU deficiency with the development of cardiomyopathy in other species, as well as the observation of patterns in the development of cardiomyopathy in giant anteaters similar to those observed in TAU‐deficient domestic cats, further research is needed to better understand TAU metabolism, dietary TAU needs and possible effects of TAU deficiency in giant anteaters.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of increasing taurine and methionine supplementation on urinary taurine excretion in a model insectivore, the giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla)

Nofs¹,

Dierenfeld²,

Backus

2017

Animal Physiology Nutrition

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SummaryThe giant anteater (Mymercophaga tridactyla) is a highly specialized insectivore for which nutrient requirements are not clearly established, making diet formulation challenging for this species. Multiple clinical reports suggest anteaters have an obligate dietary taurine (TAU) requirement. Sulphur amino acid (SAA) metabolism in adult anteaters was evaluated using noninvasive methods to measure TAU synthesis potential from dietary methionine (MET) and a basal diet containing on a dry matter (DM) basis 1.7 mg TAU/kg DM and 6.9 g MET/kg DM. Urinary equilibrium times for TAU excretion were determined by feeding the basal diet with or without 1.5 g/kg DM supplemental TAU (crossover design; n = 4). Effects of supplemental dietary TAU (1.7, 2.0, 2.4, 2.7, 3.0, 3.3 g/kg DM) or MET (6.9, 9.0, 11.2 g/kg DM) on urinary TAU were evaluated (randomized block trials; n = 5 or 4 respectively). All urinary values (TAU, MET, unbound inorganic sulphate) were normalized to creatinine (CRT). Results indicate urinary TAU equilibrium in anteaters requires at least 2 weeks of feeding. Urinary ratio of TAU to CRT (TAU:CRT) increased as dietary TAU content increased from 1.7 to 3.0 g/kg DM, consistent with renal homoeostatic modulation of TAU excretion. Our data indicate that TAU needs were met by TAU in the basal diet or by de novo synthesis. Supplemental MET resulted in ~five-to eightfold increases in urinary TAU:CRT excretion, further supporting existence of mechanisms for TAU synthesis from dietary SAA in anteaters. Adult anteaters appear able to synthesize TAU when diets contain adequate SAA, but dietary TAU may be critical if protein intakes are low or of poor quality. This study may provide guidance on choice of domestic canids vs. felids as suitable physiologic models for improved nutrition in giant anteaters, and also outlines a noninvasive method for assessing TAU status/metabolism that may be useful across (Van Vleet & Ferrans, 1986).Vitamin E and TAU deficiencies as causal factors in the development of cardiomyopathy have been reported for several species. In a case of cardiomyopathy in flying foxes (Pteropus spp.) under human care, plasma vitamin E levels were reported to be unmeasurable in bats clinically diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, and critically low to unmeasurable in bats in the same group without a cardiomyopathy diagnosis (Heard, Buergelt, Snyder, Voges, & Dierenfeld, 1996). In this case, TAU plasma levels were reported as above 20 nmol/ml, concentrations not commonly associated with TAU-deficiency cardiomyopathy in domes- Although in many species TAU is a byproduct of cysteine degradation, cats, some dogs, foxes and some primate species may lack the capacity to synthesize sufficient amounts of TAU to maintain adequate levels (reviewed in Schaffer, Ito, & Azuma, 2014). The reported effects of TAU deficiency include tapetal and retinal degeneration, immune deficiency, muscle atrophy, premature ageing, impaired reproduction and cardiac dysfunction (Schaffer et al., 2014). Domestic cats appear to have low enz...

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Influenza Virus A (H1N1) in Giant Anteaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla)

Abstract: In February 2007, an outbreak of respiratory disease occurred in a group of giant anteaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) at the Nashville Zoo. Isolates from 2 affected animals were identified in March 2007 as a type A influenza virus related to human influenza subtype H1N1.

Cited by 18 publications

References 10 publications

Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 Virus in 3 Wildlife Species, San Diego, California, USA

Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 Virus in 3 Wildlife Species, San Diego, California, USA

Innate Immune Evasion Strategies of Influenza Viruses

Effect of increasing taurine and methionine supplementation on urinary taurine excretion in a model insectivore, the giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla)

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