Ventral dermatitis in rowi (Apteryx rowi) caused by cutaneous capillariasis
In 2013 there was an outbreak of crusting ventral dermatitis among a group of juvenile rowi (Apteryx rowi), a species of the endangered New Zealand kiwi, that were being raised on an off-shore island sanctuary. Biopsies taken at the time found nematodes migrating within the epidermis of affected ski...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2020-12-01
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| Series: | International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213224420300936 |
| _version_ | 1819060342329704448 |
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| author | Adrienne F. French Fernanda Castillo-Alcala Kristene R. Gedye Matthew A. Knox Wendi D. Roe Brett D. Gartrell |
| author_facet | Adrienne F. French Fernanda Castillo-Alcala Kristene R. Gedye Matthew A. Knox Wendi D. Roe Brett D. Gartrell |
| author_sort | Adrienne F. French |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In 2013 there was an outbreak of crusting ventral dermatitis among a group of juvenile rowi (Apteryx rowi), a species of the endangered New Zealand kiwi, that were being raised on an off-shore island sanctuary. Biopsies taken at the time found nematodes migrating within the epidermis of affected skin but the specific identity and origin of the organisms was not established, and sporadic cases of similar skin disease continue to occur on the island. On examination of additional sections from the original skin biopsies, adult nematodes and eggs were identified, the histomorphology of which was consistent with Capillaria sensu lato. PCR was performed on DNA extracted from archived formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue blocks of skin from eight affected rowi, using primers targeting the 18S region of nuclear ribosomal DNA and the COI gene of mitochondrial DNA of capillarid nematodes. The 18S sequences from all rowi samples were identical and matched sequences from members of the genus Eucoleus. In contrast, two distinct capillarid COI sequences were obtained, in one case both from the same rowi skin biopsy. While there were no close matches, both COI sequences also aligned nearest to sequences identified as Eucoleus spp. It is considered unlikely that two different nematode species are involved in the rowi skin lesions and the possible amplification of a COI pseudogene or “numt” is discussed. A species-level identification of the capillarid nematodes causing skin disease in rowi was not obtained, however based on histological evaluation the infections include reproductively-active adult nematodes. This finding indicates the possibility of perpetuation of the skin disease in the absence of the original source, as well as raising potential for the transfer of infection from the island when the juvenile rowi are translocated to their new habitats. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T14:25:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c706f018725f4a14ad848cc6ae079050 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2213-2244 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T14:25:28Z |
| publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife |
| spelling | doaj.art-c706f018725f4a14ad848cc6ae0790502022-12-21T19:00:40ZengElsevierInternational Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife2213-22442020-12-0113160170Ventral dermatitis in rowi (Apteryx rowi) caused by cutaneous capillariasisAdrienne F. French0Fernanda Castillo-Alcala1Kristene R. Gedye2Matthew A. Knox3Wendi D. Roe4Brett D. Gartrell5School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Private Bag 11- 222, Palmerston North, New Zealand; Corresponding author.School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Private Bag 11- 222, Palmerston North, New ZealandSchool of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Private Bag 11- 222, Palmerston North, New ZealandSchool of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Private Bag 11- 222, Palmerston North, New ZealandSchool of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Private Bag 11- 222, Palmerston North, New ZealandSchool of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Private Bag 11- 222, Palmerston North, New ZealandIn 2013 there was an outbreak of crusting ventral dermatitis among a group of juvenile rowi (Apteryx rowi), a species of the endangered New Zealand kiwi, that were being raised on an off-shore island sanctuary. Biopsies taken at the time found nematodes migrating within the epidermis of affected skin but the specific identity and origin of the organisms was not established, and sporadic cases of similar skin disease continue to occur on the island. On examination of additional sections from the original skin biopsies, adult nematodes and eggs were identified, the histomorphology of which was consistent with Capillaria sensu lato. PCR was performed on DNA extracted from archived formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue blocks of skin from eight affected rowi, using primers targeting the 18S region of nuclear ribosomal DNA and the COI gene of mitochondrial DNA of capillarid nematodes. The 18S sequences from all rowi samples were identical and matched sequences from members of the genus Eucoleus. In contrast, two distinct capillarid COI sequences were obtained, in one case both from the same rowi skin biopsy. While there were no close matches, both COI sequences also aligned nearest to sequences identified as Eucoleus spp. It is considered unlikely that two different nematode species are involved in the rowi skin lesions and the possible amplification of a COI pseudogene or “numt” is discussed. A species-level identification of the capillarid nematodes causing skin disease in rowi was not obtained, however based on histological evaluation the infections include reproductively-active adult nematodes. This finding indicates the possibility of perpetuation of the skin disease in the absence of the original source, as well as raising potential for the transfer of infection from the island when the juvenile rowi are translocated to their new habitats.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213224420300936KiwiApteryxCutaneous nematodiasisCapillariaEucoleus |
| spellingShingle | Adrienne F. French Fernanda Castillo-Alcala Kristene R. Gedye Matthew A. Knox Wendi D. Roe Brett D. Gartrell Ventral dermatitis in rowi (Apteryx rowi) caused by cutaneous capillariasis International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife Kiwi Apteryx Cutaneous nematodiasis Capillaria Eucoleus |
| title | Ventral dermatitis in rowi (Apteryx rowi) caused by cutaneous capillariasis |
| title_full | Ventral dermatitis in rowi (Apteryx rowi) caused by cutaneous capillariasis |
| title_fullStr | Ventral dermatitis in rowi (Apteryx rowi) caused by cutaneous capillariasis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ventral dermatitis in rowi (Apteryx rowi) caused by cutaneous capillariasis |
| title_short | Ventral dermatitis in rowi (Apteryx rowi) caused by cutaneous capillariasis |
| title_sort | ventral dermatitis in rowi apteryx rowi caused by cutaneous capillariasis |
| topic | Kiwi Apteryx Cutaneous nematodiasis Capillaria Eucoleus |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213224420300936 |
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