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.

AbstractEf -0525765这项研究的主要目标是了解病原体弓形虫的生态决定因素从陆地宿主到威胁的南海水獭（Enhyhydra lutris nereis）的人群（Enhyhydra lutris nereis）人群，并在预测模型中使用这些数据来评估宿主的影响，以评估宿主的影响良好的型号和型结构，并养成了型号，水平，水分，水，水，水，水，水，水，水，水，水，水，水，水，水，水。该研究和模型的开发将集中在这种原生动物寄生虫上，因为T. gondii是南海水獭死亡的主要原因，并且水獭用这种重要的人类病原体是海洋污染的宝贵哨兵。这项综合研究的重点关注两个沿海水獭的感染和死亡率的沿海地区，其综合研究具有三个组成部分，可以将陆地生态学与土地使用模式联系起来，并最终与海洋水獭生态学联系起来。 加利福尼亚分校的加利福尼亚州立大学弗雷斯诺戴维斯分校，生态系统研究所和不列颠哥伦比亚大学的研究人员将预测，基于家庭养育和野生啮齿动物种群感染的流行，会预测具有卵囊的陆地环境污染以及暴露于T. gondii的风险。 研究人员假设水獭存在明显的空间风险模式，因为在沿海水域的特定位置形成了定义明确的区域，并且在这些区域中预计卵囊浓度很高。 最后，他们建议研究单个水獭饮食和运动是否可以预测由T. gondii感染引起的原生动物脑炎暴露和死亡的风险。 来自三个组件的数据将允许使用仿真建模来评估替代控制策略的影响，以测试降低假定的风险因素是否会降低位点特异性的发病率和Otters T. gondii的流行。该项目在其多学科和全面的方法中是独一无二的 - 结合了陆地和海洋生态学家，海洋学家，流行病学家和寄生虫学家，以研究陆地和水生系统界面上重要的环境病原体的生态学。 在这项研究的更广泛影响方面，该项目强调了研究和外展的研究生培训。总体而言，4博士学位还有2名硕士学生将受到研究和外展工作的指导。模拟模型将允许评估不同的控制策略，以减少近海海洋环境的病原体污染。这将使受到威胁的南海水獭人口以及努力恢复的努力以及沿海地区的其他海洋野生动植物和人类受益。海獭是一种具有极高可见性的旗舰物种，它提供了一个独特的机会，可以向公众了解陆地界面和病原体污染。 公共网站www.seaotterresearch.org将进行扩展，以包括有关本研究目标的具体信息，并以公共友好的格式宣传研究结果，其中包含专门针对年轻学生（K-8），土地和水资源管理者和猫业主的特殊互动部分。一本解释弓形虫病风险的小册子，建议对猫主的最佳做法以及减少环境暴露于T. gondii的方法的方法，并通过沿海地区的宠物产品零售商和兽医向猫咪的公众提供。还将通过高影响力地区的宠物零售商和学校免费提供带有网址的海獭书签。公共市政厅会议将由两个研究站点的高级人员和学生组织和参加，以告知和讨论研究的基本原理，设计和发现。参与该项目的每个研究生将接受公共关系/讲话的培训，并将被要求每年至少在高风险社区的学校和公共会议上进行至少2个演讲。此外，对于原始研究出版物，学生将在国家科学会议上介绍这项研究的结果。