UTILITY OF TUMOR NECROSIS FACTOR-α AND INTERLEUKIN-6 AS PREDICTORS OF NEONATAL MORTALITY IN WHITE-TAILED DEER

Ditchkoff, Stephen S.; Sams, Michael G.; Lochmiller, Robert L.; Leslie, David M.

doi:10.1644/1545-1542(2001)082<0239:uotnfa>2.0.co;2

Cited by 5 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 13 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…A high TNFα concentration also occurred in Fawn 23. Ditchkoff et al (2001) reported that neither TNFα nor IL-6 were reliable predictors of mortality in neonates <21 days of age. However, mean TNFα concentrations tended to be higher in fawns dying <21 days old, possibly due to internal parasitic infection.…”

Section: Dams Of Nonsurvivorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Blood profiles have value for assessing physiological development, nutritional, and disease status of neonates (Benjamin 1981, Rawson et al 1992, Sams et al 1996a, Ditchkoff et al 2001). We conducted hematological analyses within 48 hours of sampling at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) research laboratory in Grand Rapids, Minnesota (DelGiudice et al 1990b).…”

Section: Determination Of Body Conditionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We determined human-cytokine equivalents of Interleukin-6 (IL-6) using an enzyme-linked immunoassay (BioSource International, Inc., Camarillo, Calif.). Serum TNFα is a cytokine that mediates cellular interactions during immune responses and is associated with antitumor activity, lysis of virally infected cells, inflammatory responses, and production of IL-6 (Benjamin 1981, Ditchkoff et al 2001).…”

Section: Determination Of Body Conditionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Low risk of marking-induced abandonment in free-ranging white-tailed deer neonates

Powell

DelGiudice

Sampson

2005

Wildlife Society Bulletin

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Marking‐induced abandonment has been suggested as the most common cause of marking‐induced mortality of free‐ranging, newborn ungulates in North America. However, there has been no direct study of marking‐induced abandonment in free‐ranging ungulates, and its relevance to neonate survival is inconclusive. We describe our capture, marking, and monitoring of white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) neonates born to radiocollared dams in north‐central Minnesota over 5 springs (1997, 1999–2002), as it relates to marking‐induced or natural abandonment. We assumed that all neonates dying within 4 days post‐marking were possible occurrences of abandonment. We captured 89 neonates; 6 (7%) died within 4 days (4 to predation, 2 to unknown causes). We found no conclusive evidence of marking‐induced abandonment. Handling had no impact on neonate survival, even though nearly 40% of neonates were handled >15 minutes. Time of marking (post‐parturition) was similar among survivors and nonsurvivors; 48% of surviving neonates were captured <24 hours after birth. Eleven neonates (12%) were chased prior to capture, and all survived >4 days post‐capture. Hematology, serum indices of nutritional restriction, and body fat content of dams were similar among all neonates. Dams of nonsurviving fawns were older than dams of survivors (8.5 ± 2.1 vs. 5.6 ± 0.4 years). Neonates traveled a mean distance of 162 ± 8 m from their capture site <4 days post‐marking, and 76% of all radiocollared dam locations (n = 245) were <200 m from their neonates. Mean distance traveled between capture and mortality sites for nonsurvivors (159 ± 69 m, n = 6) was similar to mean travel distance of the surviving, radiotracked neonates (162 ± 8 m, n = 18) within 4 days post‐marking. Our findings suggest that risk of marking‐induced abandonment in white‐tailed neonates is minimal; thus, omission or censoring of suspected cases of marking‐induced abandonment in white‐tailed neonate survival studies may underestimate natural mortality rates.

show abstract

Section: Dams Of Nonsurvivorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Determination Of Body Conditionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Determination Of Body Conditionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Low risk of marking-induced abandonment in free-ranging white-tailed deer neonates

Powell

DelGiudice

Sampson

2005

Wildlife Society Bulletin

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is a cytokine secreted by T-cells [89] that functions as a major mediator in host immune responses including the production of interleukin-6 [90], lysis of virally infected cells, and antitumor activity [91]. Elevated TNF-α likely indicates the animal is stressed and undergoing an immune response [92], and long exposure to elevated levels has been associated with body wasting [92]. Neonatal white-tailed deer that died tended to have higher immunoreactive TNF-α levels than did survivors < 21-days old [92].…”

Section: Tumor Necrosis Factor-αmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Elevated TNF-α likely indicates the animal is stressed and undergoing an immune response [92], and long exposure to elevated levels has been associated with body wasting [92]. Neonatal white-tailed deer that died tended to have higher immunoreactive TNF-α levels than did survivors < 21-days old [92]. Similarly, in Minnesota white-tailed deer fawn nonsurvivors through 1 week and between 2-4 weeks old tended to have higher TNF-α levels [65].…”

Section: Tumor Necrosis Factor-αmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors influencing predation on juvenile ungulates and natural selection implications

Barber‐Meyer¹,

Mech²

2008

Wildl. Biol. Pract

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Juvenile ungulates are generally more vulnerable to predation than are adult ungulates other than senescent individuals, not only because of their relative youth, fragility, and inexperience, but also because of congenital factors. ) extensive review of predation on juvenile ungulates concluded that research was needed to determine the predisposition of these juveniles to predation. Since then, various characteristics that potentially predispose juvenile ungulates have emerged including blood characteristics, morphometric and other condition factors, and other factors such as birth period, the mother's experience, and spatial and habitat aspects. To the extent that any of the physical or behavioral traits possessed by juvenile ungulates have a genetic or heritable and partly independent epigenetic component that predisposes them to predation, predators may play an important role in their natural selection. We review the possible influence of these characteristics on predisposing juvenile ungulates to predation and discuss natural selection implications and potential selection mechanisms. Although juvenile ungulates as a class are likely more vulnerable to predation than all but senescent adults, our review presents studies indicating that juveniles with certain tendencies or traits are killed more often than others. This finding suggests that successful predation on juveniles is more selective than is often assumed. Because we are unable to control for (or in some cases even measure) the myriad of other possible vulnerabilities such as differences in sensory abilities, intelligence, hiding abilities, tendency to travel, etc., finding selective predation based on the relatively few differences we can measure is noteworthy and points to the significant role that predation on juveniles has in the natural selection of ungulates. Future research should compare characteristics, especially those known to influence survival, between animals killed by predators versus those killed by other sources as well as survivors versus non-survivors to better understand predation's role in natural selection.

show abstract

Survival, Birth Characteristics, and Cause‐Specific Mortality of White‐Tailed Deer Neonates

et al. 2009

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Understanding survival of and factors that may predispose newborn deer (Odocoileus spp.) to mortality contribute to improved understanding of population dynamics. We captured free‐ranging white‐tailed deer neonates (n = 66) of radiocollared females that survived severe (Winter Severity Index [WSI] = 153) and mild (WSI = 45) winters 2000–2001 and 2001–2002. Mean dates of birth (26 May ± 1.7 [SE] days and 26 May ± 1.3 days) and estimated birth‐masses of 2.8 ± 0.1 kg and 3.0 ± 0.1 kg were similar between springs 2001 (n = 31) and 2002 (n = 35), respectively. Neonate survival was similar between years; pooled mortality rates of neonates were 0.14, 0.11, and 0.20 at 0–1 weeks, 2–4 weeks, and 5–12 weeks of age, respectively, and overall survival rate for neonates to 12 weeks of age was 0.47. Predation accounted for 86% of mortality; the remaining 14% of deaths were attributed to unknown causes. Black bears (Ursus americanus) were responsible for 57% and 38% of predation of neonates in springs 2001 and 2002, respectively, whereas bobcats (Felis rufus) accounted for 50% in 2002. Wolves (Canis lupus) accounted for only 5% of predator‐related deaths. Low birth‐mass, smaller body size, and elevated concentrations of serum urea nitrogen (26.1 ± 2.6 mg/dL vs 19.3 ± 0.8 mg/dL) and tumor necrosis factor‐α (82.6 ± 78.6 pg/mL vs. 2.3 ± 0.5 pg/mL) were associated with neonates that died within 1 week of birth. Even though we did not detect a direct relation between winter severity and birth or blood characteristics of neonates, evidence suggests that birth‐mass and key serum indices of neonate nutrition were associated with their early mortality. Thus, managers can make more informed predictions regarding survival and cause‐specific mortality of fawns and adjust management strategies to better control deer population goals.

show abstract

UTILITY OF TUMOR NECROSIS FACTOR-α AND INTERLEUKIN-6 AS PREDICTORS OF NEONATAL MORTALITY IN WHITE-TAILED DEER

Cited by 5 publications

References 13 publications

Low risk of marking-induced abandonment in free-ranging white-tailed deer neonates

Low risk of marking-induced abandonment in free-ranging white-tailed deer neonates

Factors influencing predation on juvenile ungulates and natural selection implications

Survival, Birth Characteristics, and Cause‐Specific Mortality of White‐Tailed Deer Neonates

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About