The role of species ecology in predicting Toxoplasma gondii prevalence in wild and domesticated mammals globally

PLoS Pathogens, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 20(1), С. e1011908 - e1011908

Опубликована: Янв. 10, 2024

Macroecological approaches can provide valuable insight into the epidemiology of globally distributed, multi-host pathogens. Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan that infects any warm-blooded animal, including humans, in almost every habitat worldwide. its hosts through oocysts environment, carnivory tissue cysts within intermediate host prey and vertical transmission. These routes infection enable specific predictions regarding ecological life history traits should predispose taxa to higher exposure and, thus rates T . Using prevalence data compiled from 485 studies representing 533 free-ranging wild mammalian species, we examined how (habitat type, trophic level) (longevity, vagility, gestation duration torpor) influence globally. We also compared between domesticated species same taxonomic families using 540 domestic cattle, sheep, pigs. Across wildlife, found average was 22%, which comparable global human estimate. Among guilds, terrestrial had lower than aquatic with freshwater having an increased marine species. Dietary niches were influential, carnivores risk other feeding groups have reduced cyst their diet. With respect influential traits, more vagile wildlife rates, perhaps because cumulative during movement areas varying environmental loads. Domestic farmed confamilial Through macroecological approach, determined relative significance transmission generalist pathogen, demonstrating for carnivorous highlighting importance preventing pathogen pollution environments. increasingly understood be primarily anthropogenically-associated whose dissemination enhanced by ecosystem degradation subsidisation free-roaming cats. Adopting restoration approach reduce one world’s most common parasites would synergistically contribute initiatives conservation, feline welfare, climate change, food security public health.

Язык: Английский

---

Predation of wildlife by domestic cats in a Neotropical city: a multi-factor issue

Biological Invasions, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 24(5), С. 1539 - 1551

Опубликована: Фев. 9, 2022

Язык: Английский

---

Critical Problems for Research in Animal Sheltering, a Conceptual Analysis

Frontiers in Veterinary Science, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 9

Опубликована: Апрель 1, 2022

Animal shelter research has seen significant increases in participation over the past several decades from academic organizations, private public entities, and even corporations that aims to improve programs, processes, operations, outcomes for various stakeholders/participants involved a system (animals, humans, community, wildlife, environment). These efforts are scattered through huge variety of different areas challenging define scope organizations seeking start new lines inquiry. This work enumerate some most critical outstanding problems animal sheltering conceptual framework is intended help direct conversations toward topics highest impact (with quality possible). To this end, we seven (7) key research: behavior, adoptions special needs populations, medical conditions, disease transmission, ecology, wellness (one health), public-private-academic-corporate collaboration. Within each these areas, review specific highlight examples successes area decades. We close with discussion were not detailed manuscript but, nonetheless, deserve mention. Through enumeration, hope spur conversation around innovative methodologies, technologies, concepts both practice sheltering.

Язык: Английский

---

Characteristics of cat semi-owners

Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 25(9)

Опубликована: Сен. 1, 2023

Objectives Unowned ‘stray’ domestic cats threaten wildlife, as well create a community nuisance and contribute to high rates of euthanasia in animal shelters. These can experience poor welfare, the pet cat population compromise attempts control feral cats. However, many unowned are cared for by semi-owners who do not consider they own these cats; therefore, potentially important target human behaviour change interventions. The present study aimed describe characteristics compare with general owners non-cat inform future management Methods An online questionnaire open all residents New South Wales, Australia was developed advertised. Respondents were asked ‘do you care other free-roaming or stray (not including own)?’, whether owned cats, about their home agreement 15 capability, social opportunity motivation (COM) items relating containment. Results Questionnaire responses received from 8708 people, 588 (7%). Semi-owners significantly more likely be female, live urban areas, lower socioeconomic areas rent home. Most also than non-semi-owners. Conclusions relevance valuable potential audience Understanding that often have might already overwhelmed cat-caring responsibilities disproportionately backgrounds should guide intervention design. A nuanced approach is needed prioritises wellbeing ‘buy in’. Any recognise face multiple, complex barriers neutering claiming ownership for, especially cost, trust authorities.

Язык: Английский

---

The principles driving gene drives for conservation

Environmental Science & Policy, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 135, С. 36 - 45

Опубликована: Май 4, 2022

Gene drive technology is an emerging biotechnology with the potential to address some of most intractable global biodiversity conservation issues. Scientists are exploring gene applications for managing invasive species and building resilience in keystone threatened by climate change. The possibility use these purposes has triggered significant interest how govern its development eventual applications. This includes a plethora documents prescribing governance principles, which can be sensible response gap created technologies help shore up legitimacy. We conducted qualitative documentary analysis examine range substance principles drive. Such aimed better understand aspirations guiding scientists other experts imagine their responsibility this field. found collection recommendations prescriptions that could organised into set seven intended shape conservation: broad empowered engagement; public acceptance; decision-making informed ranging considerations, state international collaboration; ethical frameworks; diverse expertise; responsible self-regulation developers. lay bare emergent analyzing way they valued, prioritized, strengths weaknesses. By identifying prescriptive stakeholders further interrogate merits shortcomings identify more concrete ways frameworks might embody them.

Язык: Английский

---

Emerging laws must not protect stray cats and their impacts

Conservation Science and Practice, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 4(7)

Опубликована: Май 4, 2022

Our moral circles—that is, the entities believed as worthy of concern and thus deserving considerations—have historically expanded beyond humans to include also nonhuman beings (Crimston et al., 2018). As a result, various emerging legal instruments around world have been granting rights animals. However, inclusion animals within circles is subjected important biases, with preference for charismatic, familiar, beautiful vertebrates (Klebl 2021). We argue that embracing such biases may jeopardize biodiversity conservation. In February 2022, Spanish government approved draft law elaborated by Ministry Social Rights 2030 Agenda restructure most human–animal interactions (https://www.mdsocialesa2030.gob.es/servicio-a-la-ciudadania/proyectos-normativos/documentos/AP_LEY_ANIMALES.pdf). it focuses on few domestic species, conflicts several European laws key management strategies The pays particular attention stray-cat colonies, high-density groups unowned cats sustained an artificial provision resources. It intends grant them protection support, both nutritional veterinary (to be provided public local administrations), recognize official status their voluntary caretakers. Moreover, prohibits elimination, replacing culling (which has successfully eradicated cat populations certain islands; Nogales 2004) fertility control (Trap-Neuter-Return/Release, TNR), which considered more ethical. TNR only enables population reduction when applied at high rates over long time-frames in spatial contiguity, very costs, compensatory effects should simultaneously managed (Gunther 2022). Such complex, frequently unaffordable would result perpetuating or even increasing already number stray cities rural areas, maintaining (in short-term) then boosting (over longer time frames) devastating impacts biodiversity. Although challenging, medium-term objective environmental disappearance feral including monitored through quantitative indicators related colonies cats. To achieve this target, raise societal awareness about detrimental exert health (Figure 1) effective communication (Dubois 2017). implicated than quarter contemporary bird, mammal, reptile extinctions worldwide, damaging invasive predators (Doherty 2016). Predation cause small mammal bird mortality, ahead roadkill, poisoning, human hunters (Trouwborst 2020). Contrary popular belief, well-fed colony still hunt wild prey (Plimpton 2021), because densities, stray-cats often are times greater native Cat particularly severe islands, will undoubtedly hinder conservation endemic Canary Balearic faunas 2). Besides predation, act vectors reservoirs numerous diseases can endanger wildlife (Meli 2010) harm (Milne Stray-cat play role disease dynamics due density individuals intense owned contradictory same charged meeting goals Agenda, halting loss, proposing enhancement sustainment powerful driver loss. sometimes trigger ethical challenges, prioritizing well-being fates favored animal species populations, ecosystem functioning, global promote homogeneous impoverished biotas dominated handful privileged (Griffin While attending welfare issues, unequivocally seek reduce negative free-roaming minimizing numbers shortest limiting outdoor access much possible. authors like thank all researchers who kindly contributed discussion problem Spain. declare no interest. All discussed wrote paper. Spanish) found at: https://www.mdsocialesa2030.gob.es/servicio-a-la-ciudadania/proyectos-normativos/documentos/AP_LEY_ANIMALES.pdf.

Язык: Английский

---

Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Role of Felids as Intermediate Hosts in the Life Cycle of Neospora caninum Based on Serological Data

Acta Parasitologica, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 68(1), С. 266 - 276

Опубликована: Янв. 30, 2023

Язык: Английский

---

Seasonal habitat selection and ranging of domestic cats (Felis catus) in rural and urban environments

Animal Biotelemetry, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 12(1)

Опубликована: Май 20, 2024

Abstract Domestic cats ( Felis catus ) thrive at high densities alongside humans in urban and rural environments are responsible for excessive wildlife predation worldwide. As urbanisation farmland expands, domestic inevitably reach previously unoccupied habitats, management plans will rely on understanding cat ranging behaviours. Cat movements habitat selection may differ depending their surroundings, consequently, we sought to assess how male female behaviours varied during different seasons urban, suburban, environments. In cities the UK, location of 56 owned (26 F:30 M) was recorded every 5 min a total 5237 h using GPS collars (454 ± 25 fixes over c. 4 days per individual). Urban exhibited similar patterns home ranges, maximum distances travelled from owner’s house, selection, where they selected built-up areas with good cover avoided open spaces. Cats spent an average 75% time outside owners’ house or garden therefore had great potential encounter wild prey. Males were almost twice as active than other males but all crepuscular activity compared cathemeral diurnal females. summer, smaller ranges more nocturnal, poentially concentrating impacts around core hotter months. Similarities across urban–rural gradient suggest can be equally applied well farmland. Buffer exclusion zones 750 m protected would exclude 95% cats, specialised management, such periodic confinement specific periods, could prove effective vulnerable prey species’ breeding seasons. These findings improve our is affected by under seasonal variation, used tailor strategies new species populations exposed predation.

Язык: Английский

---

A conciliatory and persuasive social campaign changes owner behavior to reduce cats' hunting

Conservation Science and Practice, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 6(7)

Опубликована: Июнь 29, 2024

Abstract Solutions to the cats‐hunting‐wildlife environmental conflict could benefit from social science approaches. Our Theory of Planned Behavior questionnaire—informed by an elicitation survey cat owners at veterinary clinics about their attitudes, norms, and beliefs regarding bringing cats inside night—surveyed 158 across 20 veterinarian in four cities. It revealed that wildlife conservation was not influential on owner intention but veterinarians, safety, peers, household members were. Thus, we designed a marketing campaign with two treatments: (1) veterinarian/cat safety message or (2) social/family norm message. Thirty‐four received one posters served as control group. Customers ( n = 510) “cat welfare” then pamphlet advocated message, follow‐up email telephone 3–6 weeks later (69% response rate). Campaign messaging significantly increased number who reported night compared The most effective. Although rudimentary, generated measurable changes behavior. Conservation campaigns informed co‐benefits for may reduce cats' hunting be conciliatory ways transcending conflict.

Язык: Английский

---

Reintroduction of small game by hunters as an element of shaping biodiversity

Ochrona Srodowiska i Zasobów Naturalnych - Environmental Protection and Natural Resources, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Фев. 27, 2025

Abstract This study addresses the issue of small game populations, which have shown a significant decline in numbers over last decades. Populations hares, pheasants and partridges are subject to hunting management by hunters changing environmental legal conditions. Hunting individual species based on annual assessment their allows for optimizing activities regarding decisions shooting, limiting or suspending hunting, possible reintroduction animals areas where populations at risk. These also include planning intensifying fight against predators, one critical ecosystem elements influencing described species’ population dynamics. It should be noted that decade, involvement repopulation natural ecosystems with has decreased. is due both economic factors related operation clubs increasing fees as well cyclical difficulties. Nevertheless, no group other than been undertaking continuing initiatives many years. However, smaller scale, they perfectly line protection development biodiversity.

Язык: Английский

---