Collaborative Research: Identifying the Flow and Control of Pathogens from the Land to the Sea: Tracking Toxoplasma from Cats to Sea Otters

合作研究：确定病原体从陆地到海洋的流动和控制：追踪从猫到海獭的弓形虫

• 批准号: 0525675
• 负责人: Richard Ostfeld
• 金额: $ 2.93万
• 依托单位: Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Inc.
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2005
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2005-09-01 至 2008-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0525675&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Identifying; Flow; Control

ABSTRACTEF - 0525765The primary goal of this research is to understand the ecological determinants of transmission of the pathogen Toxoplasma gondii from terrestrial hosts to the threatened southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) population and to use these data in predictive models to evaluate the impact of changes in host abundance, infection prevalence, water management, habitat structure (terrestrial and aquatic) and prey selection. The study and model development will focus on this protozoan parasite because T. gondii is the major cause of death in southern sea otters, and otters serve as a valuable sentinel for marine pollution with this important human pathogen. Focusing on two coastal sites where T. gondii infections and mortality in sea otters are prevalent, this integrated study has three components that link terrestrial ecology to land use patterns and ultimately to sea otter ecology. Investigators from University of California at Davis, California State University at Fresno, Institute of Ecosystems Study, and University of British Columbia will predict terrestrial environmental contamination with oocysts and risk of exposure to T. gondii based on the prevalence of infection in domestic felids and wild rodent populations. The investigators hypothesize that there is a distinct spatial pattern of risk for otters because land runoff forms well-defined zones at specific locations in coastal waters, and high oocyst concentrations are expected in these zones. Finally, they propose to study whether individual otter diet and movements can predict the risk of exposure and death from protozoal encephalitis caused by T. gondii infection. Data from the three components will permit evaluating the impact of alternative control strategies using simulation modeling to test whether reduction of putative risk factors will reduce site-specific incidence and prevalence of T. gondii in otters. This project is unique in its multidisciplinary and comprehensive approach - incorporating terrestrial and marine ecologists, oceanographers, epidemiologists, and parasitologists to investigate the ecology of an important environmental pathogen at the interface of terrestrial and aquatic systems. In terms of the broader impacts of this study, this project emphasizes graduate student training in research and outreach. Overall, 4 Ph.D. and 2 Masters students will be mentored in research and outreach efforts. The simulation model will permit evaluation of different control strategies to reduce pathogen pollution of the near shore marine environment. This will benefit the threatened southern sea otter population that is struggling to recover, as well as other marine wildlife and humans in coastal areas. Sea otters are a flagship species with extremely high visibility, which provides a unique opportunity to inform the public about the land-sea interface and pathogen pollution. A public website www.seaotterresearch.org will be expanded to include specific information on the goals of this study and to publicize the findings in a public-friendly format with special interactive sections devoted to younger students (K-8), land and water resource managers, and cat owners. A brochure explaining risks of toxoplasmosis, suggested best practices for cat owners, and methods to reduce environmental exposure to T. gondii will be provided to the cat-owning public through pet product retailers and veterinarians in coastal areas. Sea otter bookmarks with the web address will also be provided at no cost through pet product retailers and schools in the high impact areas. Public town hall meetings will be organized and attended by senior personnel and students at both study sites to inform and discuss with local residents the rationale, design and findings of the study. Each of the graduate students involved in the project will be trained in public relations/speaking and will be required to make at least 2 presentations per year at schools and public meetings in high-risk communities. In addition, to original research publications, students will present the results of this research at national scientific conferences.

摘要 - 0525765这项研究的主要目标是了解病原体弓形虫从陆地宿主传播到受威胁的南方海獭（EnHydra lutris nereis）种群的生态决定因素，并在预测模型中使用这些数据来评估变化的影响宿主丰度、感染流行率、水管理、栖息地结构（陆地和水生）和猎物选择。研究和模型开发将集中在这种原生动物寄生虫上，因为弓形虫是南部海獭死亡的主要原因，而水獭是这种重要的人类病原体海洋污染的重要哨兵。这项综合研究重点关注弓形虫感染和海獭死亡率普遍的两个沿海地区，包括三个部分，将陆地生态与土地利用模式以及最终与海獭生态联系起来。 来自加州大学戴维斯分校、加州州立大学弗雷斯诺分校、生态系统研究所和不列颠哥伦比亚大学的研究人员将根据家养猫科动物和野生猫科动物的感染流行情况来预测卵囊对陆地环境的污染以及接触弓形虫的风险啮齿动物种群。 研究人员假设，水獭的风险存在明显的空间模式，因为土地径流在沿海水域的特定位置形成明确的区域，并且预计这些区域的卵囊浓度很高。 最后，他们建议研究水獭个体的饮食和运动是否可以预测接触弓形虫感染引起的原虫脑炎和死亡的风险。 来自三个组成部分的数据将允许使用模拟模型来评估替代控制策略的影响，以测试假定风险因素的减少是否会减少水獭中弓形虫的特定地点发病率和流行率。该项目的独特之处在于其多学科和综合方法——将陆地和海洋生态学家、海洋学家、流行病学家和寄生虫学家结合起来，研究陆地和水生系统交界处重要环境病原体的生态学。 就本研究的更广泛影响而言，该项目强调研究生的研究和推广培训。总共有 4 个博士学位。 2名硕士生将接受研究和推广工作的指导。该模拟模型将允许评估不同的控制策略，以减少近岸海洋环境的病原体污染。这将有利于正在努力恢复的受威胁的南部海獭种群，以及沿海地区的其他海洋野生动物和人类。海獭是一种能见度极高的旗舰物种，为向公众宣传陆地-海洋界面和病原体污染提供了独特的机会。 公共网站 www.seautterresearch.org 将进行扩展，以包含有关本研究目标的具体信息，并以公众友好的形式公布研究结果，并设有专门针对年轻学生（K-8）、土地和水资源的特殊互动部分经理和猫主人。沿海地区的宠物产品零售商和兽医将向养猫公众提供一本小册子，解释弓形虫病的风险、为猫主人建议的最佳做法以及减少弓形虫环境暴露的方法。带有网址的海獭书签也将通过高影响地区的宠物产品零售商和学校免费提供。两个研究地点的高级人员和学生将组织并参加公开市政厅会议，向当地居民通报并讨论研究的基本原理、设计和结果。参与该项目的每位研究生都将接受公共关系/演讲方面的培训，并被要求每年在学校和高风险社区的公开会议上至少进行两次演讲。此外，除了原创研究出版物外，学生还将在全国科学会议上展示这项研究成果。