A Helminth Survey of Northern Bobwhite Quail (Colinus virginianus) and Passerines in the Rolling Plains Ecoregion of Texas.

The Northern bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) is a popular game bird that has been experiencing a well-documented decline throughout Texas since the 1960s. While much of this decline has been attributed to habitat loss and fragmentation, recent studies have identified other factors that may also contribute to decreasing quail populations. Parasites, in particular, have become increasingly recognized as possible stressors of quail, and some species, particularly the eyeworm (Oxyspirura petrowi) and cecal worm (Aulonocephalus pennula) are highly prevalent in Texas quails. Eyeworm infection has also been documented in some passerines, suggesting helminth infection may be shared between bird species. However, the lack of comprehensive helminth surveys has rendered the extent of shared infection between quail and passerines in the ecoregion unclear. Thus, helminth surveys were conducted on bobwhite, scaled quail (Callipepla squamata), Northern mockingbirds (Mimus polyglottos), curve-billed thrashers (Toxistoma curvirostre), and Northern cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis) to contribute data to existing parasitological gaps for birds in the Rolling Plains ecoregion of Texas. Birds were trapped across 3 counties in the Texas Rolling Plains from March to October 2019. Necropsies were conducted on 54 individuals (36 quail and 18 passerines), and extracted helminths were microscopically identified. Nematode, cestode, and acanthocephalan helminths representing at least 10 helminth species were found. Specifically, A. pennula and O. petrowi had the highest prevalence, and O. petrowi was documented in all of the study species. This research adds to the body of knowledge regarding parasitic infections in quail and passerines of the Rolling Plains ecoregion and highlights the potential consequences of shared infection of eyeworms among these bird species.

"Weight of evidence" as a tool for evaluating disease in wildlife: An example assessing parasitic infection in Northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus).

The potential of parasites to affect host abundance has been a topic of heated contention within the scientific community for some time, with many maintaining that issues such as habitat loss are more important in regulating wildlife populations than diseases. This is in part due to the difficulty in detecting and quantifying the consequences of disease, such as parasitic infection, within wild systems. An example of this is found in the Northern bobwhite quail (Colinus virginanus), an iconic game bird that is one of the most extensively studied vertebrates on the planet. Yet, despite countless volumes dedicated to the study and management of this bird, bobwhite continue to disappear from fields, forest margins, and grasslands across the United States in what some have referred to as "our greatest wildlife tragedy". Here, we will discuss the history of disease and wildlife conservation, some of the challenges wildlife disease studies face in the ever-changing world, and how a "weight of evidence" approach has been invaluable to evaluating the impact of parasites on bobwhite in the Rolling Plains of Texas. Through this, we highlight the potential of using "weight of the evidence" to better understand the complex effects of diseases on wildlife and urge a greater consideration of the importance of disease in wildlife conservation.

Life-cycle of Oxyspirura petrowi (Spirurida: Thelaziidae), an eyeworm of the northern bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus).

BACKGROUND: Oxyspirura petrowi (Spirurida: Thelaziidae), a heteroxenous nematode of birds across the USA, may play a role in the decline of the northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) in the Rolling Plains Ecoregion of West Texas. Previous molecular studies suggest that crickets, grasshoppers and cockroaches serve as potential intermediate hosts of O. petrowi, although a complete study on the life-cycle of this nematode has not been conducted thus far. Consequently, this study aims to improve our understanding of the O. petrowi life-cycle by experimentally infecting house crickets (Acheta domesticus) with O. petrowi eggs, feeding infected crickets to bobwhite and assessing the life-cycle of this nematode in both the definitive and intermediate hosts. METHODS: Oxyspirura petrowi eggs were collected from gravid worms recovered from wild bobwhite and fed to house crickets. The development of O. petrowi within crickets was monitored by dissection of crickets at specified intervals. When infective larvae were found inside crickets, parasite-free pen-raised bobwhite were fed four infected crickets each. The maturation of O. petrowi in bobwhite was monitored through fecal floats and bobwhite necropsies at specified intervals. RESULTS: In this study, we were able to infect both crickets (n = 45) and bobwhite (n = 25) with O. petrowi at a rate of 96%. We successfully replicated and monitored the complete O. petrowi life-cycle in vivo, recovering embryonated O. petrowi eggs from the feces of bobwhite 51 days after consumption of infected crickets. All life-cycle stages of O. petrowi were confirmed in both the house cricket and the bobwhite using morphological and molecular techniques. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a better understanding of the infection mechanism and life-cycle of O. petrowi by tracking the developmental progress within both the intermediate and definitive host. To our knowledge, this study is the first to fully monitor the complete life-cycle of O. petrowi and may allow for better estimates into the potential for future epizootics of O. petrowi in bobwhite. Finally, this study provides a model for experimental infection that may be used in research examining the effects of O. petrowi infection in bobwhite.

Traumatic Complex Hawkins Type IV Talar Fracture: A Case Report.

Fracture-dislocations of the talus are one of the most complex injuries involving the foot and ankle. These injuries are often accompanied by additional traumatic orthopedic injuries, avascular necrosis, and infection. When approaching limb reconstruction and salvage, the overall prognosis and functionality of the limb are key factors to consider. In the present report, we draw attention to the importance of a multidisciplinary team approach for formulating a treatment plan that incorporates the talar injury and associated injuries or pathologic features. We also reviewed the published data related to avascular necrosis of the talus, open talar fracture management, and treatment outcomes.

A modified fixation technique for a decompressional shortening osteotomy: a retrospective analysis.

A long metatarsal and/or metatarsophalangeal joint dislocation associated with a digital contracture is a surgical challenge. Without appropriate surgical correction, the patient will be predisposed to numerous complications, including persistent subluxation or dislocation, recurrent metatarsalgia, dorsiflexory contracture of the digit, transfer lesions, and inadequate pain relief. The results of the present surgical treatment options have varied, with the most common complication being a floating toe. The purpose of our study was to introduce a decompression, shortening, lesser metatarsal osteotomy with a modified fixation technique using a T-plate and to report our results. Additionally, we have discussed trigonometric analysis of metatarsal declination and shortening. We retrospectively reviewed the outcomes of 30 consecutive patients with 33 osteotomies who had been treated surgically for pathologic features associated with a long metatarsal and varying biomechanical abnormalities. Before surgery, all the patients had been treated conservatively for a minimum of 3 months. The surgical procedure included a dorsal to plantar V-shaped shortening osteotomy of a lesser metatarsal that was fixated with a T plate. The patients were assessed radiographically and using the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Lesser Metatarsophalangeal-Interphalangeal Scale and visual analog scale. The mean age at surgery was 53 (range 37 to 75) years, with a mean follow-up period of 9.1 (range 6 to 15.4) months. The average shortening of the metatarsal was 2.7 mm. One patient (3%) had had asymptomatic delayed union and 2 patients (6%) hypertrophic nonunion. No incidence of malunion or avascular necrosis was identified. Five cases (15.2%) of hardware failure occurred. The mean American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society score was 76.7 postoperatively. The visual analog scale score had improved from 6.7 to 1.7. Of the 30 patients, 72% rated the overall surgical experience as excellent or good. In conclusion, the modified fixation technique for decompression, shortening metatarsal osteotomy using a T plate is a viable option when choosing a procedure to address a long, prominent metatarsal and/or digital contracture at the metatarsophalangeal joint and results in a low incidence of floating toe complications.

A virtual community: concerns of patients with pulmonary hypertension.

Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) is a complex disorder characterized by elevated pressures in the pulmonary artery that cause right heart failure and eventually leads to death. Treatment regimens can be complex and mortality is high. The purpose of this study was to determine how people with PH are using an online Discussion Board. Qualitative descriptive methodology was used to analyze a convenience sample of self-identified patients with PH. Internet posts to an online Discussion Board from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010 were analyzed for common themes. Five hundred forty-nine individuals with PH posted to the Discussion Board. Four themes emerged: Uncertainty and Concern, Guidance and Validation, Support, and Refocusing Life. People with PH are using the Internet to answer questions about PH and seeking support. Future research needs to be conducted to further explore the needs and concerns of people with PH to provide tailored interventions.

Disseminated intravascular coagulation, meningococcal infection, and ischemic changes affecting the lower extremities: a case study.

A middle-aged woman presented from an outside hospital with a diagnosis of Neisseria meningitidis and meningococcemia. A nonpalpable purpuric skin rash evolved into multiple wounds, with gradual necrosis of bilateral lower and upper extremities. Throughout the course of hospitalization, the patient developed ventricular tachycardia, normocytic anemia, thrombocytosis, Clostridium difficile infection, depression, and transient right eye blindness. The finding of decreased CH50 in the complement cascade was considered as the potential cause of the meningococcemia. The subsequent ischemia and necrosis of extremities were attributed to the systemic effect and trauma ensuing from N. meningitidis.