FLEA CONTROL ON PRAIRIE DOGS (CYNOMYS SPP.) WITH FIPRONIL BAIT PELLETS: POTENTIAL PLAGUE MITIGATION TOOL FOR RAPID FIELD APPLICATION AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION.

Sylvatic plague is a widespread, primarily flea-vectored disease in western North America. Because plague is highly lethal to endangered black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes, BFFs) and the prairie dogs (Cynomys spp., PDs) on which BFFs depend for habitat and prey, minimizing the impacts of plague is a priority at BFF reintroduction sites. We developed a new, flour-based bait pellet containing 0.84 mg of fipronil and weighing ∼1.25 g (FipBits). We measured the degree and duration of flea control on black-tailed PDs (C. ludovicianus) in Montana and on Gunnison's PDs (C. gunnisoni) in Arizona, USA from 2018-2020. FipBits were distributed on treated plots one time at a rate of 125/ha. Fleas were virtually eliminated in Montana from 1 mo posttreatment to 1 yr later and remained substantially depressed 2 yr posttreatment. With the split colony design, we probably underestimated the degree of flea control achieved with FipBits due to crossover edge effects along the arbitrary line dividing the plots. Flea control in Arizona was significant from 1 mo posttreatment to 1 yr later, but flea abundance had recovered by 2 yr posttreatment. Flea control was evaluated from 2020-2021 in South Dakota, USA on four plots treated with three concentrations of fipronil in FipBits (0.68, 0.71, and 0.83 mg/FipBit). Fleas were essentially eliminated for 10 mo on the 0.83-mg plot and were substantially reduced on the two 0.71-mg plots. Fleas were reduced on the 0.68-mg plot, but the degree of control was less than observed on other treated plots. Impacts of plague on PDs and BFFs would probably be greatly reduced by the levels of flea control observed with FipBits. Options for expanded FipBit evaluations are being pursued for what may become a highly practical, affordable, and effective plague mitigation tool.

Correction to: Association of PM2.5 concentration with health center outpatient visits for respiratory diseases of children under 5 years old in Lima, Peru.

The original version of this article [1], published on 15 January 2020, contained incorrect name of the co- author. In this Correction the affected part of the article is shown.

Association of PM2.5 concentration with health center outpatient visits for respiratory diseases of children under 5 years old in Lima, Peru.

BACKGROUND: Lima is one of the more polluted cities in Latin America. High levels of PM2.5 have been shown to increase health center outpatient visits of respiratory diseases. METHODS: Health center outpatient visits for children < 5 years for childhood respiratory disease (acute lower respiratory infections (ALRI), pneumonia and acute bronchiolitis/asthma) from 498 public clinics in Lima were available on a weekly basis from 2011 to 2015 from Peru's Ministry of Health (MINSA). The association between the average weekly concentrations of PM2.5 was evaluated in relation to the number of weekly health center outpatient visits for children. Weekly PM2.5 values were estimated using a recently developed model that combined data observed from ground monitors, with data from space satellite and meteorology. Ground monitoring data came from 10 fixed stations of the Peruvian National Service of Meteorology and Hydrology (SENAMHI) and from 6 mobile stations located in San Juan de Miraflores by Johns Hopkins University. We conducted a time-series analysis using a negative binomial model. RESULTS: We found a significant association between exposure to PM2.5 and all three types of respiratory diseases, across all age groups. For an interquartile increase in PM2.5, we found an increase of 6% for acute lower respiratory infections, an increase of 16-19% for pneumonia, and an increase of 10% for acute bronchiolitis / asthma. CONCLUSIONS: Higher emissions of environmental pollutants such as PM2,5 could be a trigger for the increase of health center outpatients visits for respiratory diseases (ALRI, pneumonia and asthma), which are themselves risk factors for mortality for children in Lima province, Peru.

Sylvatic Plague Vaccine Partially Protects Prairie Dogs (Cynomys spp.) in Field Trials.

Sylvatic plague, caused by Yersinia pestis, frequently afflicts prairie dogs (Cynomys spp.), causing population declines and local extirpations. We tested the effectiveness of bait-delivered sylvatic plague vaccine (SPV) in prairie dog colonies on 29 paired placebo and treatment plots (1-59 ha in size; average 16.9 ha) in 7 western states from 2013 to 2015. We compared relative abundance (using catch per unit effort (CPUE) as an index) and apparent survival of prairie dogs on 26 of the 29 paired plots, 12 with confirmed or suspected plague (Y. pestis positive carcasses or fleas). Even though plague mortality occurred in prairie dogs on vaccine plots, SPV treatment had an overall positive effect on CPUE in all three years, regardless of plague status. Odds of capturing a unique animal were 1.10 (95% confidence interval [C.I.] 1.02-1.19) times higher per trap day on vaccine-treated plots than placebo plots in 2013, 1.47 (95% C.I. 1.41-1.52) times higher in 2014 and 1.19 (95% C.I. 1.13-1.25) times higher in 2015. On pairs where plague occurred, odds of apparent survival were 1.76 (95% Bayesian credible interval [B.C.I.] 1.28-2.43) times higher on vaccine plots than placebo plots for adults and 2.41 (95% B.C.I. 1.72-3.38) times higher for juveniles. Our results provide evidence that consumption of vaccine-laden baits can protect prairie dogs against plague; however, further evaluation and refinement are needed to optimize SPV use as a management tool.

Efecto neuroprotector de la semilla de Prunus dulcis Almendra sobre el tejido nervioso en ratones inducidos a estrés por desorientación motora / Neuroprotective effect of the seed of Prunus dulcis Almond on nerve tissue in mice induced to stress of motor disorientation

Objetivo: Determinar el efecto neuroprotector de la administración de la semilla de Prunus dulcis “almendra” sobre el tejido nervioso en ratones inducidos a estrés por desorientación motora. Diseño: Estudio analítico, transversal, experimental y prospectivo. Lugar: Laboratorios del Centro de Investigación de Bioquímica y Nutrición Alberto Guzmán Barrón, Facultad de Medicina, UNMSM, Lima, Perú. Materiales: Ratones albinos BALB/c (Mus musculus) machos y Prunus dulcis “almendra”. Métodos: Se utilizó 42 ratones, según expertos, de 3 meses de edad y 31 ± 4,49 de peso, distribuidos aleatoriamente en seis grupos (n=7). Todos los grupos recibieron la misma dieta balanceada y agua ad libitum durante 5 días. Recibieron los siguientes tratamientos, por cinco días, vía peroral: grupo I y II: suero fisiológico (NaCI 0,9g por ciento 10mL/kg), grupo III: vitamina E 400mg/kg, grupo IV: almendra 100 mg/kg, grupo V: almendra 500 mg/kg y grupo VI: almendra 1000 mg/kg; 12 horas antes de finalizar el Tto., se cortaron los bigotes de los ratones, excepto al grupo 1; y luego de 12 horas se realizó el sacrificio. Principales medidas de los resultados: Nivel de lipoperoxidación expresado en sustancias reactivas al ácido tiobarbitúrico (TBARs) y nivel de Grupos sulfhídrilos no proteicos (GS-NP), además de cambios histopatológicos de tejido de cerebro y cerebelo. Resultados: La administración de Prunus dulcis “almendra” aumenta significativamente (p<0.05) los niveles de GS-NP en todos los grupos (excepto G VI) en comparación con el G II en cerebro; los niveles de TBARs disminuyen significativamente (p<0.05) en el grupo V y VI comparado con el grupo II, y en relación a los cambios histológicos se observa una mejora leve en el G V en comparación con el G II. Conclusiones: La administración de la suspensión de la semilla del Prunus dulcis "almendra" expresó un efecto neuroprotector en los indicadores bioquímicos (TBARs y GS-NP), sobre el tejido nervioso en ratones inducidos a estrés por...

Objective: Determine the neuroprotective effect of administration of Prunus dulcis seed "almond" on the nervous tissue in motor stress induced disorientation mice. Design: Analytical, transverse, experimental and prospective study. Location: Laboratories of the Research Center of Biochemistry and Nutrition Alberto Guzman Barron, Faculty of Medicine, UNMSM, Lima, Peru. Materials: Mice albinos BALB / c (Mus musculus) males and Prunus dulcis “almond”. Methods: 42 mice was used, experts say, 3 months and 31 ± 4,49 in weight, randomized into six groups (n=7). AII groups received the same balanced diet and water ad libitum for 5 days. They received the following treatments for five days, perorally: group I and II: saline (NaCI 0.9g per cent 10 mL/kg), group III: Vitamin E 400 mg/kg, group IV: almond 100 mg/kg, group V: almond 500 mg/kg and group VI: almond 1000 mg/kg; 12 hours before the end of treatment cut whiskers of mice, except the group 1; and after 12 hours they were sacrificed. Main outcome measures: Level of lipid peroxidation expressed in thiobarbituric acid (TBARS) and level of non-protein sulfhydryl groups (GS-NP) substances in addition to histo-pathological changes of brain tissue and cerebellum. Results: Administration of Prunus dulcis “almond” significantly increased (p<0.05) levels of GS-NP in all groups (except G VI) compared to the G II in brain; TBARS levels decreased significantly (p<0.05) in the V and VI group compared with group II, and in relation to the histological changes seen a slight improvement in the G V compared to G II. Conclusions: The administration of the suspension of Prunus dulcis seed “almond” demonstrated the neuroprotective effect in biochemical (TBARs y GS-NP) on the nervous tissue in mice induced to stress motor disorientation.

The innate immune response may be important for surviving plague in wild Gunnison's prairie dogs.

Prairie dogs (Cynomys spp.) are highly susceptible to Yersinia pestis, with ≥99% mortality reported from multiple studies of plague epizootics. A colony of Gunnison's prairie dogs (Cynomys gunnisoni) in the Aubrey Valley (AV) of northern Arizona appears to have survived several regional epizootics of plague, whereas nearby colonies have been severely affected by Y. pestis. To examine potential mechanisms accounting for survival in the AV colony, we conducted a laboratory Y. pestis challenge experiment on 60 wild-caught prairie dogs from AV and from a nearby, large colony with frequent past outbreaks of plague, Espee (n = 30 per colony). Test animals were challenged subcutaneously with the fully virulent Y. pestis strain CO92 at three doses: 50, 5,000, and 50,000 colony-forming units (cfu); this range is lethal in black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus). Contrary to our expectations, only 40% of the animals died. Although mortality trended higher in the Espee colony (50%) compared with AV (30%), the differences among infectious doses were not statistically significant. Only 39% of the survivors developed moderate to high antibody levels to Y. pestis, indicating that mechanisms other than humoral immunity are important in resistance to plague. The ratio of neutrophils to lymphocytes was not correlated with plague survival in this study. However, several immune proteins with roles in innate immunity (VCAM-1, CXCL-1, and vWF) were upregulated during plague infection and warrant further inquiry into their role for protection against this disease. These results suggest plague resistance exists in wild populations of the Gunnison's prairie dog and provide important directions for future studies.

Population differences in host immune factors may influence survival of Gunnison's prairie dogs (Cynomys gunnisoni) during plague outbreaks.

Over the past 40 yr, epizootics of plague (Yersinia pestis) in northern Arizona have reduced populations of the Gunnison's prairie dog (Cynomys gunnisoni), with the exception of a large population found in the Aubrey Valley (AV). To examine potential mechanisms accounting for their survival, we collected prairie dog serum samples in 2005-2006 from AV and a neighboring population near Seligman (SE), Arizona. We quantified gene expression at 58 diverse immune proteins using a multiplexed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay panel. We found a subset of proteins important in coagulation and inflammation (tissue factor [TF], calbindin [Cal], and thrombopoietin [TPO]) and T-cell responses (CD40L and CD40) that were present in AV at levels two to eight times greater than SE. These results suggest that AV and SE animals might differ in their ability to mount an immune response.

Quality of life in American Indian women with arthritis or diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated quality of life (QOL) in American Indian women with different chronic diseases. METHOD: Sixty American Indian women with diabetes mellitus (DM), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or both DM and RA (DM + RA), and healthy control women received evaluations of joint motion, hand strength dexterity, pain, activity and participation limitations and QOL. RESULTS: The DM + RA and RA groups had significantly more pain, less joint motion, decreased hand strength, and more activity limitations. Participation was similar for all groups except the DM + RA group. Past and present QOL were similar; however, the DM + RA group reported significantly decreased future QOL. CONCLUSION: Results suggest that the presence of more than one chronic disease affects activity and participation. Factors that related to QOL were different for each disease group, with the exception of pain. Identification of factors related to QOL can help occupational therapists identify areas for intervention.

Quality of life in American Indian and White women with and without rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine quality of life (QOL) in American Indian and White women with and without rheumatoid arthritis. METHOD: This cross-sectional study included 64 women in four groups: American Indians with rheumatoid arthritis, healthy American Indians, Whites with rheumatoid arthritis, and healthy Whites. Participants received evaluations of pain, joint motion, hand function, daily task performance, community participation, and QOL. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in QOL between the participants with rheumatoid arthritis and the healthy control groups but not between the American Indian and White groups. Current health and emotional-social function related to QOL in all groups. Dexterity also correlated with QOL in the two groups with rheumatoid arthritis. Performance of daily activities correlated with 0OL in all groups except the healthy White groups. Community participation did not correlate with COL. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that rheumatoid arthritis in American Indian and White women does affect COL and that QOL does not seem to be influenced by ethnicity. Factors that related to QOL also were similar for both groups with rheumatoid arthritis.