Abstract：
Comprehensive disease surveillance has not been conducted in elk (Cervus canadensis) in Tennessee, US, since their reintroduction to the state 20 yr ago. We identified causes of death, estimated annual survival, and identified pathogens of concern in elk at the North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area (NCWMA), Tennessee, US. In 2019 and 2020, we captured 29 elk (21 females, eight males) using chemical immobilization and fitted individuals with GPS collars with mortality sensors. Elk that died between February 2019 and February 2022 were necropsied to identify causes of death; these included disease associated with meningeal worm (Parelaphostrongylus tenuis; n=3), poaching (n=1), vehicular collision (n=1), legal hunter harvest (n=1), and unknown due to carcass degradation (n=3). Using data from GPS collars and known-fate survival models, we estimated an average yearly survival rate of 80.2%, indicating that survival had not significantly increased from soon after elk reintroduction (79.9%). We collected blood, tissue, feces, and ectoparasites opportunistically from anesthetized elk for health surveillance. We identified lone star ticks (Amblyomma americanum; n=53, 85.5%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 73.72-92.75), American dog ticks (Dermacentor variabilis; n=8, 12.9%; 95% CI, 6.13-24.40), and black-legged ticks (Ixodes scapularis; n=1, 1.6%; 95% CI, 0.08-9.83). We detected evidence of exposure to Anaplasma marginale (100%; 95% CI, 84.50-100.00), Leptospira interrogans (70.4%; 95% CI, 49.66-85.50), Toxoplasma gondii (55.6%; 95% CI, 35.64-73.96), epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (51.9%; 95% CI, 32.35-70.84), and Theileria cervi (25.9%; 95% CI, 11.78-46.59). Johne\'s disease (Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis) is potentially established within the population, but has not been previously documented in eastern elk populations. Disease associated with P. tenuis was a primary cause of death, and more research is needed to understand its ecology and epidemiology. Research to determine population implications of other detected pathogens at the NCWMA is warranted.
摘要：
尚未在田纳西州的麋鹿（Cervuscanadensis）进行全面的疾病监测，US,自从他们20年前重新加入该州以来。我们确定了死亡原因,估计年生存率，并确定了北坎伯兰野生动物管理区（NCWMA）麋鹿中值得关注的病原体，田纳西州,US.在2019年和2020年，我们捕获了29只麋鹿(21只雌性，八名男性）使用化学固定，并为个人配备了带有死亡率传感器的GPS项圈。对在2019年2月至2022年2月之间死亡的麋鹿进行尸检，以确定死亡原因；这些包括与脑膜蠕虫相关的疾病（Pareladhhostrongylustenuis；n=3），偷猎(n=1)，车辆碰撞（n=1），合法猎人收获(n=1)，由于car体降解而未知（n=3）。利用GPS项圈和已知生存模型的数据，我们估计年平均生存率为80.2%，表明从麋鹿重新引入后不久，生存率并没有显着提高（79.9％）。我们采集了血,组织,粪便,和外寄生虫从麻醉麋鹿中机会性地进行健康监测。我们确定了孤星蜱(Amblyommaamericanum；n=53，85.5%；95%置信区间[CI]，73.72-92.75),美国犬蜱(Dermacentorvariabilis;n=8,12.9%;95%CI,6.13-24.40),和黑腿蜱（肩胛骨Ixodes；n=1，1.6%；95%CI，0.08-9.83）。我们检测到暴露于边缘无性体的证据（100%；95%CI，84.50-0.00），问号钩端螺旋体（70.4%；95%CI，49.66-85.50），弓形虫（55.6％；95％CI，35.64-73.96），流行病出血性疾病病毒（51.9%；95%CI，32.35-70.84），和塞维氏菌（25.9%；95%CI，11.78-46.59）。约翰氏病（鸟分枝杆菌亚种。副结核病)可能在人群中建立，但以前没有在东部麋鹿种群中记录过。与P.tenuis相关的疾病是死亡的主要原因，需要更多的研究来了解其生态学和流行病学。有必要进行研究以确定NCWMA中其他检测到的病原体的种群含义。
