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Item A cross-sectional investigation of Leptospira at the wildlife-livestock interface in New Zealand(PLOS, 2023-09-06) Moinet M; Oosterhof H; Nisa S; Haack N; Wilkinson DA; Aberdein D; Russell JC; Vallée E; Collins-Emerson J; Heuer C; Benschop J; Stevenson BThere has been a recent upsurge in human cases of leptospirosis in New Zealand, with wildlife a suspected emerging source, but up-to-date knowledge on this topic is lacking. We conducted a cross-sectional study in two farm environments to estimate Leptospira seroprevalence in wildlife and sympatric livestock, PCR/culture prevalence in wildlife, and compare seroprevalence and prevalence between species, sex, and age groups. Traps targeting house mice (Mus musculus), black rats (Rattus rattus), hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) and brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) were set for 10 trap-nights in March-April 2017 on a dairy (A) and a beef and sheep (B) farm. Trapped wild animals and an age-stratified random sample of domestic animals, namely cattle, sheep and working dogs were blood sampled. Sera were tested by microagglutination test for five serogroups and titres compared using a Proportional Similarity Index (PSI). Wildlife kidneys were sampled for culture and qPCR targeting the lipL32 gene. True prevalence in mice was assessed using occupancy modelling by collating different laboratory results. Infection profiles varied by species, age group and farm. At the MAT cut-point of ≥ 48, up to 78% of wildlife species, and 16-99% of domestic animals were seropositive. Five of nine hedgehogs, 23/105 mice and 1/14 black rats reacted to L. borgpetersenii sv Ballum. The sera of 4/18 possums and 4/9 hedgehogs reacted to L. borgpetersenii sv Hardjobovis whilst 1/18 possums and 1/9 hedgehogs reacted to Tarassovi. In ruminants, seroprevalence for Hardjobovis and Pomona ranged 0-90% and 0-71% depending on the species and age group. Titres against Ballum, Tarassovi and Copenhageni were also observed in 4-20%, 0-25% and 0-21% of domestic species, respectively. The PSI indicated rodents and livestock had the most dissimilar serological responses. Three of nine hedgehogs, 31/105 mice and 2/14 rats were carrying leptospires (PCR and/or culture positive). True prevalence estimated by occupancy modelling in mice was 38% [95% Credible Interval 26, 51%] on Farm A and 22% [11, 40%] on Farm B. In the same environment, exposure to serovars found in wildlife species was commonly detected in livestock. Transmission pathways between and within species should be assessed to help in the development of efficient mitigation strategies against Leptospira.Item Some aspects of the ecology of the hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus L.) in the Manawatu, New Zealand: a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Zoology at Massey University(Massey University, 1972) Parkes, John PatersonDuring the period from 1/1/70 to 24/6/71, 150 hedgehogs were marked and 356 resightings were recorded in a study area covering 16.28 hectares of pasture and trees. Population size and density are estimated and the seasonal changes in activity are described. The sex ratio of the population and the apparent changes in this ratio due to behavioural dimorphism between sexes are discussed in relation to the body weights of the animals and to hibernation and breeding season. No detailed age structure is presented for the present population. The breeding season and the number and size of the litters are discussed, as are the causes of mortality in the population. Dispersal of the population is seen as an important demographic parameter, and the sexual and seasonal influences upon movement are discussed. Home ranges are investigated using two statistical methods; the convex polygon method and a probability ellipse method. The shape and size of individual's ranges are described using the first method, while the second method is used to describe synthesised ranges for males, females and Juveniles. The nest site and food locations are discussed in terms of foci of activity, and seasonal changes in movements were investigated and an argument is advanced on the hedgehog's territorial behaviour and social structure.Item A study of tuberculosis in hedgehogs so as to predict the location of tuberculous possums : a thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Veterinary Studies at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand(Massey University, 1998) Gorton, Robyn JaneHedgehogs are spillover hosts for Mycobacterium bovis, which means the prevalence of disease in the hedgehog is directly related to the prevalence of disease in a local reservoir population such as the possum. Possums have home ranges similar to that of hedgehogs and on large farms, locating a tuberculous hedgehog coud substantially reduce the area where extensive control is required to eliminate tuberculosis from the wild animal population. Male animals usually have a larger home range than females and this is true of the hedgehog. In utilising the knowledge of a hedgehog’s home range, female hedgehogs could provide a specific local indicator of the presence of tuberculous possums and male hedgehogs could locate the general region on the farm with tuberculous possums. The hedgehog could also be considered a temporal indicator of tuberculosis in the wild animal population especially where there has been a history of tuberculosis. The longevity of the hedgehog is reasonably short (2-3 years in the wild) and should sufficient control of other tuberculous animals occur then the disease will also disappear from the hedgehog population. Hedgehogs from this study were noted to be carriers of Salmonella enteriditis, Sarcoptes scabiei. This is believed to be the first report of these pathogens associated with hedgehogs in New Zealand.Item Hedgehogs as Amplifying Hosts of Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus, China.(2022-12) Zhao C; Zhang X; Si X; Ye L; Lawrence K; Lu Y; Du C; Xu H; Yang Q; Xia Q; Yu G; Xu W; Yuan F; Hao J; Jiang J-F; Zheng ASevere fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) is a tickborne bandavirus mainly transmitted by Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks in East Asia, mostly in rural areas. As of April 2022, the amplifying host involved in the natural transmission of SFTSV remained unidentified. Our epidemiologic field survey conducted in endemic areas in China showed that hedgehogs were widely distributed, had heavy tick infestations, and had high SFTSV seroprevalence and RNA prevalence. After experimental infection of Erinaceus amurensis and Atelerix albiventris hedgehogs with SFTSV, we detected robust but transitory viremias that lasted for 9-11 days. We completed the SFTSV transmission cycle between hedgehogs and nymph and adult H. longicornis ticks under laboratory conditions with 100% efficiency. Furthermore, naive H. longicornis ticks could be infected by SFTSV-positive ticks co-feeding on naive hedgehogs; we confirmed transstadial transmission of SFTSV. Our study suggests that the hedgehogs are a notable wildlife amplifying host of SFTSV in China.