Search

Clinical metrics of baseline health in sentinel seabird species can offer insight into marine ecosystem dynamics, individual and population health, and assist in wildlife rehabilitation and conservation efforts. Protein electrophoresis is useful for detecting changes in acute phase proteins and immunoglobulin levels that may indicate subtle inflammatory responses and/or infectious disease. Serum biochemistry can highlight nutritional status, metabolic derangements, and organ injury and function. However, baseline values for such health parameters are largely unknown for many seabird species. Therefore, the objective of this study is to establish baseline clinical health reference intervals for serum protein electrophoresis, acute phase proteins including serum amyloid A and haptoglobin, and biochemistry parameters in the rhinoceros auklet (Cerorhinca monocerata), a key sentinel species in the North Pacific. From 2013 to 2019, 178 wild, apparently healthy breeding adult rhinoceros auklets were captured across four breeding colonies in British Columbia, Canada (Lucy Island, Pine Island, Triangle Islands, and SGang Gwaay) and from one colony in Washington, United States (Protection Island). Reference intervals were calculated for protein electrophoresis fractions and acute phase proteins (n = 163), and serum biochemistry (n = 35) following established guidelines by the American Society of Veterinary Clinical Pathology. Animals were also assessed for the presence of antibodies to the influenza A virus. Approximately 48% (70/147) of sampled birds were seropositive for influenza A virus, with a prevalence of 50% (6/12) in 2013, 75% (47/63) in 2014, and 24% (17/72) in 2019. This work provides clinical baseline health metrics of a key North Pacific sentinel species to help inform marine ecosystem monitoring, recovery, and rehabilitation efforts in the Pacific Northwest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Capillaria hepatica (syn. Calodium hepaticum ) (Bancroft, 1893) is a nematode, which colonises the liver of a wide range of hosts including humans. The worldwide prevalence of infection in the genus Rattus can be as high as 100% and the Norway rat ( R. norvegicus ) and black rat ( R. rattus ) are considered the main host species. This study is the first to investigate the epidemiology of C. hepatica infection in wild rats trapped in various geographical locations in Hong Kong. Four species of trapped rats were identified, with 65% being R. norvegicus , followed by 30% R. tanezumi (Asian house rat), 4% R. andamanensis (Sikkim rat), and 1% Niviventer huang (South China white-bellied rat). The overall prevalence of C. hepatica infection was 36.7% (81/221) (95% CI 30.4-43.4) and R. norvegicus was the most common rat species trapped during this study, with the highest prevalence of C. hepatica infection. Two risk factors for host infection were skin wounds and geographical region , whilst sex, body weight, stage of development, and presence of ectoparasites were not risk factors for this infection. Gross hepatic lesions were absent in 17% of infected rats and when present, were not pathognomonic for the infection. Infected rats lacked severe hepatic inflammation or fibrosis, indicating that rats tolerate the infection well. Egg production was observed in the livers of 69% of infected rats, which emphasizes their role as reservoirs of this zoonotic parasite. Several infected rats in this study were trapped inside residential buildings, which highlights the zoonotic risk of C. hepatica to humans following the potential ingestion of embryonated eggs from contaminated food, water, or soil., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest in this study., (© 2024 The Authors.)