Bioaccumulation of Pathogen Exposure in Top Predators

Advances in pathogen detection technologies have allowed more thorough characterization of infections free-ranging wildlife.In well-studied predators like Puma concolor, multiple occurrences spillover following consumption reservoir hosts as prey been observed.Outcomes predator exposures to infectious agents harbored by vary, but rarely result widespread disease.Models disease transmission largely considered behavior the context effects species, versus consequences predator.However, certain prey-transmitted can high mortality rates, sometimes with significant negative impacts on conservation vulnerable/threatened species. Predator–prey interactions present heightened opportunities for spillover, are at risk exposure prey. Epizootics morbidity and recorded prey-to-predator events, which had implications sensitive Using felids a detailed case study, we documented both virulent clinically silent apex transfer microbes from We draw these examples others examine mechanisms that determine frequency outcome prey-based pathogens. propose predator–prey dynamics should be thoroughly empirical research dynamic modeling approaches order reveal answers outstanding questions relating bioaccumulation. Bioaccumulation (see Glossary) toxicants is recognized species top food chains [1.Rattner B.A. History wildlife toxicology.Ecotoxicology. 2009; 18: 773-783Crossref PubMed Scopus (72) Google Scholar]. By contrast, cumulative or additive resulting predatory has not widely considered. Exposures parasites during hunting, capture, ingestion accumulate over predator’s lifetime, posing burden exceed dose load, potentially infection. Furthermore, hunting feeding behaviors expose an increasing number variety time, presenting opportunity superinfection (i.e., infection strains), synergistic co-infection, and/or emergence new genetic variants arise through recombination other means [2.Wrangham R. et al.Chimpanzee predation ecology microbial exchange.Microb. Ecol. Health Dis. 2000; 12: 186-188Google Scholar,3.Leendertz F.H. al.Interspecies simian foamy virus natural predator-prey system.J. Virol. 2008; 82: 7741-7744Crossref (56) Despite this risk, there paucity literature estimates recipients based upon their behavior, surprising lack scholarly work directly evaluated phenomenon. This opinion examines omission uses study highlight varied outcomes important overlooked aspect medicine ecology. 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Sections organized correspond predator.AgentPredatorPreyOutcome predatorEvidence routeRefsNonproductive infectionPrion (PrPCWD/chronic disease)Coyote latrans)Deer (Odocoileus virginianus Odocoileus hemionus), elk (Cervus elaphus), moose (Alces alces)Nonproductive infection, prionsExperimental[18.Nichols Scholar]Productive subclinical infectionFIVPuma(Puma concolor)Bobcat(Lynx rufus)Productive infectionPhylogenetic[13.Lee Scholar,34.Franklin viruses among bobcats pumas.J. 81: 10961-10969Crossref (54) Scholar]FFVPuma(P. concolor)Domestic cat(Felis catus)Productive infectionPhylogenetic[14.Kraberger Scholar]SalmonellosisRed fox (Vulpes vulpes), carnivoresNumerous speciesProductive infectionNatural experimental[79.Chiari al.Isolation identification Salmonella spp. red foxes vulpes) badgers (Meles meles) northern Italy.Acta Vet. Scand. 56: 86Crossref (13) Scholar,80.Handeland K. al.Natural Typhimurium vulpes).Vet. 132: 129-134Crossref (27) variable clinical outcomeParvovirusesNumerous outcomePhylogenetic[19.Behdenna Scholar]Anthrax (Bacillus anthracis)Wolf lupus), wildlifePlains bison), various ruminantsProductive outcomeNatural observation[22.Blackburn Scholar]Haemoplasmosis (Candidatus Mycoplasma spp.)Bobcat (L. rufus) puma (P. (F. outcomePhylogenetic[35.Kellner pathways erythrocytic bacterial cats felids.Ecol. 2018; 8: 9779-9792Crossref (16) infectionFeLVPuma(P. cat(F. infectionPhylogenetic[6.Chiu Scholar,36.Cunningham M.W. al.Epizootiology management puma.J. 44: 537-552Crossref (52) Scholar]Toxoplasma gondiiSouthern sea otter(Enhydrea lutris nereis)Snails, filter-feeding marine bivalvesProductive experimental[81.Mazzillo F.F. mechanism ocean: otter land-parasite Toxoplasma gondii.PLoS One. 2013; 8e82477Crossref (25) Scholar,82.Miller al.Type X gondii mussel terrestrial carnivores coastal California: linkages mammals, runoff toxoplasmosis otters.Int. Parasitol. 38: 1319-1328Crossref (161) Scholar]Rabies virusAfrican lion leo), leopard pardus), spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta)Domestic dog familiaris)Productive infectionPhylogenetic, observation[55.Butler al.Free-ranging dogs familiaris) rural Zimbabwe: competition large carnivores.Biol. Conserv. 2004; 115: 369-378Crossref (189) Scholar]Canine Black-footed nigripes), carnivoresDomestic (C. familiaris), Prairie (Cynomys spp.), rodentsProductive observation[10.Roelke-Parker Scholar,11.Williams Scholar]Plague (Yersinia pestis)Black-footed (M. Canadian canadensis), concolor)Prairie observation[8.Wild Scholar,83.Elbroch L.M. al.Plague, pumas Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.Environ. 47: 75-78Crossref (3) Scholar]Bovine (Mycobacterium bovis)Coyotes latrans)White-tailed deer (O. virginianus)Productive observation[21.Atwood Scholar]Bluetongue carnivoresRuminants, shrews, some observation[84.Alexander K.A. al.Evidence bluetongue carnivores.Am. Trop. Med. Hyg. 1994; 51: 568-576Crossref (74) Scholar]African horse sickness virusDomestic carnivoresEquid observation[85.Alexander al.African carnivores.Vet. 1995; 133-140Crossref (23) Scholar]a Evidence predator. 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