Progress 09/01/05 to 08/31/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Patents: Brucella abortus proteins and Methods of Use Thereof. Gerard P. Andrews and John E. Lowry. U.S. Provisional Patent Application #: 61267361. Filed 7 Dec., 2009. Presentations: Maichak, E.J., et al. 2004. Ecology of Parturition in Elk on Muddy Creek Feedground: a Proposal. Wildlife Society, WY Conference. Dubois, WY *Barbknecht, A.E. 2006. Ecology of elk parturition in the brucellosis endemic area of Wyoming. Central Plains Society of Mammalogists. Edmond, OK *Barbknecht, A.E. May 2006, 2007, and 2008. Jackson Hole Elk Studies Update. JHCESG. Jackson, WY *Barbknecht, A.E. 2007. Elk calving behavior in the GYE. AMK Ranch, UW Station Seminar Series. Jackson, WY *Barbknecht, A.E., et al. 2007. Ecology of elk abortion and parturition in the brucellosis endemic area of Wyoming. Wildlife Society, National Conference. Tucson, AZ; Ecology of elk parturition in the brucellosis endemic area of Wyoming. Central Plains Society of Mammalogists. Springfield, MO; Ecology of elk parturition across winter feeding opportunities in the brucellosis endemic area of Wyoming. The Wildlife Society, Wyoming Conference. Lander, WY *Lowry, J.E., et al. 2007. Identification of novel virulence genes up-regulated during Brucella abortus infection in Wyoming elk. 60th Brucellosis Research Conference and the 88th Annual CRWAD, Chicago, IL *Barbknecht, A.E. 2008, Ecology of elk parturition across winter feeding opportunities in the brucellosis endemic area of Wyoming. Thesis seminar, ISU. Ames, IA, Ecology of elk parturition across winter feeding opportunities in the brucellosis endemic area of Wyoming. Public presentation, Iowa State Univ, electronic connection, state and federal agencies, public, and press. Ames, IA and Jackson WY * Rogerson, Jared D. September 2008. Elk/cattle commingling during winter and spring with respect to disease transmission. Pathways to Success: Integrating Human Dimensions into F&W Management Conference and Training (invited). Estes Park, CO *Scurlock, B.M. 2006. BFH Brucellosis Management Update. JHCESG: Annual Meeting. Jackson WY; Pinedale Elk Herd BMAP Update. Public meeting for livestock producers. Pinedale, WY; Vaginal Implant Transmitter Study. WY G&F Commission Meeting. Thermopolis, WY; Brucellosis Research Update. WY Governor's BCT meeting. Lander, WY; Afton elk herd BMAP. Public meeting for livestock producers, Afton, WY; Wyoming's elk feedgrounds; pros/cons and disease management. WYOGA meeting (invited). Thermopolis, WY *Scurlock B.M. 2007. WGFD's BFH Program. WY Legislature-TRW committee. Pinedale, WY; Brucellosis Research Update. WY Governor's BCT. Lander, WY; The Afton elk herd BMAP and Wyoming's BFH program. Public meeting. Thayne, WY *Scurlock B.M. 2008. Brucellosis Research Update. WY Governor's BCT meeting. Lander, WY; WGFD's Brucellosis Management Program. APHIS DBE Refresher Training Course. Bozeman, MT; Brucellosis Research Update. WY Governor's BCT meeting. Boulder, WY; BFH Program, Brucellosis Field Research Update. Wyoming G&F Commission Meeting. Jackson, WY *Scurlock, B.M. 2009. Elk Feedgrounds and Brucellosis Management of elk in Wyoming. WYOGA meeting. Lander, WY. PARTICIPANTS: People who did the work, including graduate students and other professionals. Master's theses funded in part by study: 1) Lowry, J. E., University of Wyoming, Identification of Novel Gene Products Associated with Virulence of Brucella abortus Using Gene Discovery and Targeted Approaches. 2008; 2)Fluegel AM, University of Wyoming, Validation of diagnostic assays and development of molecular epidemiological tools for brucellosis - 2008; 3) Barbknecht, A. E., Iowa State University, Ecology of elk parturition across winter feeding opportunities in the brucellosis endemic area of Wyoming; 4) Linn-Meadows, L.L., University of Wyoming, graduation: summer 2010. TARGET AUDIENCES: Scientific community; wildlife managers; livestock producers in Greater Yellowstone area. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Dr. Larry Goodridge left UW for a position at CSU. His part of grant was taken over by Dr. Gerald P. Andrews
Impacts
a. Ecology of elk abortion and parturition in GYA: The study documented that brucellosis seroprevalence of elk on WGFD feedgrounds is positively correlated with longer periods of artificial feeding in winter, particularly on "unimproved" feedgrounds. A higher proportion of infected elk was found on unimproved feedgrounds and a lower one in free-ranging elk. The most important transmission events occurred on feedground feedlines. b. Development of lateral flow chute-side testing device for B. abortus: Dr. Andrews' laboratory successfully employed a gene discovery methodology to identify novel B. abortus antigens expressed during infection in elk. Sera collected from seropositive Wyoming elk were pooled and absorbed against in vitro-grown cultures of B. abortus. 35,000 E. coli clones, expressing B. abortus DNA, were screened and yielded 10 genes with immunoreactive products, including seven secreted proteins. Three were examined by Western blot against elk serum samples. Seroreactivity was more frequent for two of these products in naturally-infected animals, compared to vaccinated and uninfected elk. Antibody to these two antigens is a marker for natural infection. A feasibility study is underway to evaluate these antigens in a commercial, field-deployable lateral flow device. c. Validation of diagnostic assays and development of new assays for B. abortus: All adult female elk on two Wyoming Game and Fish Department feed grounds were serologically tested for brucellosis in winters of 2005 and 06. B. abortus was isolated from 9/22 seropositive elk. Biovars 1 and 4 were represented. Immuhistochemistry was insensitive for detecting B. abortus in culture-positive elk. The detection limit for the PCR assay was 1 x10^4 organisms/mL tissue homogenate. A PCR-based multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeats analysis (MLVA) was used for the first time to genotype B. abortus isolates from elk and cattle in the GYA.
Publications
- Barbknecht, A.E., et al. 2010. Elk parturition site selection at local and landscape scales in western Wyoming. J Mammal (in preparation).
- Barbknecht, A.E., et al. 2007. Ecology of elk abortion and parturition in the brucellosis endemic area of Wyoming: Project Report. 22 pp. Available online.
- Andrews, G.P. 2008. Veterinary Sciences-applied process identifies "signatures" of infection in Wyoming elk. Reflections (University of Wyoming College of Agriculture magazine).
- Maichak, E.J., et al. 2009. Effects of management, behavior, and scavenging on risk of brucellosis transmission in elk of western Wyoming. J Wildl Dis 45(2):398-410.
- Cross, P.C., et al. 2009. Effects of management and climate on elk brucellosis in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Ecol Appl 17(4):957-964.
- Lowry, J.E., et al. 2009. Identification of Brucella abortus genes in elk (Cervus elaphus) using in vivo-induced antigen technology (IVIAT) reveals novel markers of infection. Vet Microbiol. Published online Oct 2009.
- Barbknecht, A.E., et al. 2009. Effectiveness of vaginal implant transmitters for locating elk parturition sites. Journal of Wildlife Management. J Wildl Management 73(1):144-148.
- Barbknecht, A.E., et al. 2010. Relationships of winter feeding opportunities for elk to spatial patterns of parturition sites with implications for disease transmission risk. J Wildlife Dis (in preparation).
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