clove and Animal-Diseases

Aquacultivated sea cucumbers often suffer from SKin Ulceration Diseases (SKUDs). SKUDs have been observed in six holothuroid species from nine countries. All SKUDs present a similar symptom-the skin ulceration-and can be induced by bacteria, viruses, or abiotic factors. We here provide an update on SKUDs in holothuroids and analyse the case of the SKUD observed in Holothuria scabra in Madagascar. Field observations revealed a seasonality of the disease (i.e. wintertime maximum peak). Morphological analyses of integument ulcers showed that sea cucumbers react by forming a collagen fibre plug. Metagenomic analyses revealed a higher proportion of Vibrionaceae (Gammaproteobacteria) in ulcers in comparison to the healthy integument of the same individuals. Experimental infection assays were performed with ulcer crude extracts and bacteria isolated from these extracts (e.g. Vibrio parahaemolyticus) but did not significantly induce skin ulceration. Our results suggest that the disease is not induced by a pathogen or, at the very least, that the pathogen is not found within the ulcers as the disease is not transmissible by contact. An initial cause of the SKUD in Madagascar might be the repeated and prolonged exposures to cold temperatures. Opportunistic bacteria could settle in the dermis of ulcerated individuals and promote the ulcer extension. We propose a general nomenclature for SKUDs based on the acronym of the disease, the affected sea cucumber species (e.g. Hs for Holothuria scabra), the concerned region using an ISO code 3166-2 (e.g. MG for Madagascar), the description date (e.g. 20 for the year 2020), and, when known, the inducing agent (first letter of the general taxon, b for bacteria, v for virus in currently known cases; a a if it is an abiotic inducing parameter; nothing if the inducing cause has not been precisely identified). The disease described in this work will be designated under the name SKUD Hs-MG-20.

Topics: Animal Diseases; Animals; Disease Susceptibility; Echinodermata; Holothuria; Immunohistochemistry; Madagascar; Skin; Skin Ulcer; Symptom Assessment

Introduced carnivores exert considerable pressure on native predators through predation, competition and disease transmission. Recent research shows that exotic carnivores negatively affect the distribution and abundance of the native and endangered carnivores of Madagascar. In this study, we provide information about the frequency and distribution of interactions between exotic (dogs and cats) and native carnivores (Eupleridae) in the Betampona Natural Reserve (BNR), Madagascar, using noninvasive camera trap surveys. Domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) were the most frequently detected carnivore species within the BNR, and we found that indirect interactions between exotic and native carnivores were frequent (n = 236). Indirect interactions were more likely to occur near the research station (incidence rate ratio = 0.91), which may constitute a disease transmission hot spot for carnivores at BNR. The intervals between capture of native and exotic carnivores suggest that there is potential for pathogen transmission between species in BNR. These capture intervals were significantly shorter near the edge of the reserve (P = 0.04). These data could be used to implement biosecurity measures to monitor interactions and prevent disease transmission between species at the domestic animal and wildlife interface.

Topics: Animal Diseases; Animals; Animals, Domestic; Animals, Wild; Carnivora; Madagascar; Risk Factors; Spatio-Temporal Analysis

Surveillance of animal diseases in developing countries faces many constraints. Innovative tools and methods to enhance surveillance in remote and neglected areas should be defined, assessed and applied in close connection with local farmers, national stakeholders and international agencies. The authors performed a narrative synthesis of their own publications about surveillance in Madagascar and Cambodia. They analysed the data in light of their fieldwork experiences in the two countries' very challenging environments. The burden of animal and zoonotic diseases (e.g. avian influenza, African swine fever, Newcastle disease, Rift Valley fever) is huge in both countries which are among the poorest in the world. Being poor countries implies a lack of human and financial means to ensure effective surveillance of emerging and endemic diseases. Several recent projects have shown that new approaches can be proposed and tested in the field. Several advanced participatory approaches are promising and could be part of an innovative method for improving the dialogue among different actors in a surveillance system. Thus, participatory modelling, developed for natural resources management involving local stakeholders, could be applied to health management, including surveillance. Data transmission could benefit from the large mobile-phone coverage in these countries. Ecological studies and advances in the field of livestock surveillance should guide methods for enhancing wildlife monitoring and surveillance. Under the umbrella of the One Health paradigm, and in the framework of a risk-based surveillance concept, a combination of participatory methods and modern technologies could help to overcome the constraints present in low-income countries. These unconventional approaches should be merged in order to optimise surveillance of emerging and endemic diseases in challenging environments.

Topics: Animal Diseases; Animals; Animals, Domestic; Cambodia; Developing Countries; Ecology; Humans; Madagascar; Population Surveillance; Poverty; Zoonoses

Kankana manampoka n. gen., n. sp. (Monogenea, Polystomatidae), is described from the urinary bladder of the narrow-mouthed frog Platypelis pollicaris. This is the first record of a polystome from the Microhylidae and the third polystome genus from Madagascar, next to Metapolystoma and Madapolystoma. The extensive uterus and presence of hamuli resemble Metapolystoma but the vitellarium confined to the lateral fields in Kankana is different. Madapolystoma also has an extensive uterus but contain only up to 32 advanced developed larvae. Based on the extensive uterus filling the body proper and the vitellarium confined to two lateral fields posterior in the body this new polystome resembles Eupolystoma known from Africa and India. However, unlike Eupolystoma, the gonads are in the middle of the body, vaginae are lacking and a pair of hamuli is present. A molecular phylogenetic analysis of concatenated 18S and 28S ribosomal RNA gene sequences supplemented by genetic distances inferred from 28S and COI sequences showed that this new genus is more related to Madapolystoma, a genus only reported from Madagascar, than to Eupolystoma known from Africa and India and Metapolystoma known from Africa and Madagascar.

Topics: Animal Diseases; Animals; Base Sequence; Female; Larva; Madagascar; Male; Molecular Sequence Data; Ovary; Phylogeny; Platyhelminths; Ranidae; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S; RNA, Ribosomal, 28S; Species Specificity; Testis; Trematode Infections; Urinary Bladder; Uterus

Topics: Animal Diseases; Animals; Bacterial Infections; Bibliographies as Topic; Biochemical Phenomena; Biochemistry; Entomology; Food; Hematology; Humans; Madagascar; Mycoses; Parasitic Diseases; Pharmacology; Venoms; Virus Diseases