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Sex pheromones are known for only a few major click beetle (Coleoptera: Elateridae) pests in North America. These pheromones could be used to monitor, as well as control, adult beetles. Our objective was to identify the sex pheromone of female Selatosomus aeripennis destructor (Brown), a predominant elaterid pest species in farmland in the Canadian Prairie provinces. Headspace volatiles from a group of S. a. destructor females were collected and analyzed by coupled gas chromatography‐electroantennographic detection (GC‐EAD) and gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC‐MS). The GC‐EAD recordings revealed two candidate pheromone components that elicited weak (CPC‐1) or strong (CPC‐2) responses from adult male S. a. destructor antennae. The mass spectra of CPC‐1 and CPC‐2 indicated, and authentic standards confirmed, that they were the isomers (E)‐β‐farnesene and (Z,E)‐α‐farnesene, respectively. In three field experiments at various sites in Alberta, Canada, traps baited with synthetic (Z,E)‐α‐farnesene captured 7.1×, 6.8×, and 2.6× more males than unbaited control traps. In follow‐up experiments, traps baited with (Z,E)‐α‐farnesene captured significantly more males, but significantly fewer females, than unbaited control traps, indicating sex pheromone autodetection by females. (E)‐β‐Farnesene on its own was not attractive as a trap lure, and when added to (Z,E)‐α‐farnesene at a 20:1 ratio, it reduced the lure's attractiveness. Our data support the conclusion that (Z,E)‐α‐farnesene is the major sex pheromone component of S. a. destructor females, with both an intra‐ and inter‐sexual communication function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Echinococcus multilocularis (Em) is a zoonotic parasite considered a global emergent pathogen. Recent findings indicate that the parasite is expanding its range in North America and that European-type haplotypes are circulating in western Canada. However, genetic analyses are usually conducted only on a few parasites out of thousands of individuals within each definitive host, likely underestimating the prevalence of less common haplotypes. Moreover, mixed infections with several mtDNA haplotypes in the same host have been reported, but their relative abundance within the host was never estimated. We aimed to 1) estimate the frequency of co-infections of different Em haplotypes in coyotes (Canis latrans) and red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from western Canada and their relative abundance within the definitive hosts, 2) detect less prevalent haplotypes by sampling a larger proportion of the parasite subpopulation per host, and 3) investigate differences in the distribution of Em haplotypes in these main definitive hosts; foxes and coyotes. We extracted DNA from ~10% of the worm subpopulation per host (20 foxes and 47 coyotes) and used deep amplicon sequencing (NGS technology) on four loci, targeting the most polymorphic regions from the mitochondrial genes cox1 (814 bp), nad1 (344 bp), and cob (387 bp). We detected the presence of mixed infections with multiple Em haplotypes and with different Echinococcus species including Em and E. granulosus s.l. genotypes G8/G10, low intraspecific diversity of Em, and a higher abundance of the European-type haplotypes in both hosts. Our results suggest a population expansion of the European over the North American strain in Alberta and a limited distribution of some European-type haplotypes. Our findings indicate that deep amplicon sequencing represents a valuable tool to characterize Em in multiple hosts, to assess the current distribution and possible origins of the European strain in North America. The potential use of next-generation sequencing technologies is particularly important to understand the patterns of geographic expansion of this parasite. Author summary: Echinococcus multilocularis is a tiny tapeworm whose adults live in the intestines of wild and domestic canids and shed their eggs with the host feces. If accidentally ingested by people, eggs can cause human alveolar echinococcosis (AE), a highly lethal parasitic disease. Despite Em being common in North America, only two locally acquired AE human cases were reported in North America until 2013. However, in the last 6 years, 14 new cases have been detected in Alberta, Canada, and recent findings showed that the European strain of this parasite is now common in wildlife in this province, which could potentially increase the risk of infection in humans and domestic animals. In this study, we genetically characterized Em in coyotes and red foxes to assess the extent of the European-type strain distribution in three Canadian provinces. We used deep amplicon sequencing, an innovative approach that allows us to detect co-infections and the presence of less prevalent genetic variants by sampling a larger proportion of the parasite subpopulation per host. Our study showed an overwhelming prevalence of the European strain over the native North American strain in both hosts, and a limited geographical distribution of some European genetic variants, likely due to multiple introduction events of this invasive strain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Zoonoses associated with urban wildlife are increasingly concerning for human health and include the recent emergence of alveolar echinococcosis (AE) in North America. AE develops following infection with the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis. In Alberta, up to 65% of urban coyotes (Canis latrans) are infected with E. multilocularis, and infected scats contain eggs that can be accidentally ingested by people. Our goal was to determine the predictors of infection prevalence and intensity in coyote scats in Edmonton, Canada, and to identify the predictors of coyote scat deposition and content, especially as related to anthropogenic food sources and infrastructure. Methods: To study infection prevalence and intensity, volunteers collected 269 scats, which were tested for E. multilocularis using polymerase chain reaction. We compared infection prevalence and shedding intensity by habitat and scat content. To determine predictors of scat presence and content, we used snow tracking to identify 1263 scats. We compared landscape characteristics at scats and available points, and among scats with different contents. We used negative binomial regression to predict scat abundance in city-delineated green spaces. Results: 26.0% of tested scats were positive for E. multilocularis (n = 70), and infection was twice as common as expected near compost and 1.3x more common than expected when scats contained anthropogenic food. Scats were more common than expected near other scats (80% within 1mof scats, 27% at 11.5 m), buildings (19% at buildings, 16% at 80 m), and the camps of people experiencing homelessness (24% at camps, 20% at 60 m). Scats frequently contained fruit (52.9%), anthropogenic material (36.7%), and birdseed (16.0%), and scats containing anthropogenic material often occurred near human infrastructure, supporting a relationship between anthropogenic attractants and scat accumulation. Discussion: These results suggest that abundant food sources and anthropogenic food increase coyote aggregation, increasing both scat abundance and infection rates, which in turn increases risk of exposure to zoonotic parasites for humans. Risk to humans might be reduced by preventing coyote access to anthropogenic and aggregated food sources and educating people who are likely to encounter infected soil or vegetation, including gardeners, park users, and people experiencing homelessness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The bertha armyworm (BAW), Mamestra configurata, is a significant pest of canola (Brassica napus L. and B. rapa L.) in western North America that undergoes cyclical outbreaks every 6–8 years. During peak outbreaks millions of dollars are spent on insecticidal control and, even with control efforts, subsequent damage can result in losses worth millions of dollars. Despite the importance of this pest insect, information is lacking on the dispersal ability of BAW and the genetic variation of populations from across its geographic range which may underlie potential differences in their susceptibility to insecticides or pathogens. Here, we examined the genetic diversity of BAW populations during an outbreak across its geographic range in western North America. First, mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase 1 (CO1) barcode sequences were used to confirm species identification of insects captured in a network of pheromone traps across the range, followed by haplotype analyses. We then sequenced the BAW genome and used double-digest restriction site associated DNA sequencing, mapped to the genome, to identify 1000s of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) markers. CO1 haplotype analysis identified 9 haplotypes distributed across 28 sample locations and three laboratory-reared colonies. Analysis of genotypic data from both the CO1 and SNP markers revealed little population structure across BAW’s vast range. The CO1 haplotype pattern showed a star-like phylogeny which is often associated with species whose population abundance and range has recently expanded and combined with pheromone trap data, indicates the outbreak may have originated from a single focal point in central Saskatchewan. The relatively recent introduction of canola and rapid expansion of the canola growing region across western North America, combined with the cyclical outbreaks of BAW caused by precipitous population crashes, has likely selected for a genetically homogenous BAW population adapted to this crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]