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.

本研究的主要目的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）和猎物选择变化的影响。研究和模型开发将集中在这种原生动物寄生虫，因为T。刚地氏病是导致南部海獭死亡的主要原因，海獭是监测这种重要的人类病原体对海洋污染的重要哨兵。以两个沿海站点为重点，T。由于海獭的弓形虫感染和死亡率普遍，这项综合研究有三个组成部分，将陆地生态与土地利用模式联系起来，并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省大学的研究人员将预测卵囊对陆地环境的污染和接触T.根据家猫和野生啮齿动物种群的感染率， 研究人员假设，水獭有一个独特的空间风险模式，因为陆地径流在沿海沃茨的特定位置形成了明确的区域，预计这些区域的卵囊浓度很高。 最后，他们建议研究个体水獭的饮食和运动是否可以预测接触和死于由T。弓形虫感染 来自这三个组成部分的数据将允许使用模拟建模来评估替代控制策略的影响，以测试减少假定的风险因素是否会降低特定地点的T发病率和患病率。水獭体内的弓形虫该项目的独特之处在于其多学科和全面的方法-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，以调查陆地和水生系统界面的重要环境病原体的生态学。 就本研究的广泛影响而言，本项目强调研究生在研究和推广方面的培训。总的来说，4个博士学位和2名硕士生将在研究和推广工作的指导。模拟模型将允许评估不同的控制策略，以减少病原体污染的近海岸海洋环境。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。海獭是一种具有极高可见度的旗舰物种，这为向公众通报陆地-海洋界面和病原体污染提供了独特的机会。 将扩大一个公共网站www.seaotterresearch.org，以包括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，其中有专门针对年轻学生（K-8）、土地和水资源管理人员以及猫主人的特别互动部分。一本解释弓形虫病风险的小册子，为猫主人建议了最佳做法，以及减少环境暴露于弓形虫的方法。将通过宠物产品零售商和沿海地区的兽医向养猫的公众提供弓形虫。带有网址的海獭书签也将通过宠物产品零售商和高影响地区的学校免费提供。两个研究地点的高级人员和学生将组织和参加公开市政厅会议，向当地居民通报和讨论研究的基本原理、设计和结果。参与该项目的每个研究生都将接受公共关系/演讲培训，并要求每年在高风险社区的学校和公共会议上至少做2次演讲。此外，除了原始研究出版物，学生还将在国家科学会议上展示这项研究的结果。