title: THE OCCURRENCE OF PATHOGENS IN AN ENDANGERED POPULATION OF AMERICAN BADGERS (TAXIDEA TAXUS JACKSONI) IN ONTARIO, CANADA.
abstract: American badgers ( Taxidea taxus jacksoni) at the periphery of the species' range in Ontario, Canada, are listed as endangered because of an estimated population size of <200 mature individuals. The main threats faced by this population include habitat loss and road mortality. However, on 18 November 2013, a radio-implanted badger was found nonresponsive in an agricultural field with signs consistent with canine distemper virus infection, which was subsequently confirmed. This prompted our investigation into the occurrence of pathogens in this endangered carnivore to better quantify the level of risk infectious disease poses to population persistence. We examined serum samples from nine live-trapped individuals and 27 whole badger specimens submitted for postmortem examination. We found evidence of exposure to canine distemper virus, canine parvovirus, and leptospires. However, infection associated with disease was not the leading cause of mortality. Future research into the effects of disease on kit survival and a comprehensive understanding of disease severity and spread from reservoir populations (e.g., raccoons [ Procyon lotor ] and striped skunks [ Mephitis mephitis ]) to badgers will be of particular importance to the conservation of this endangered population.
authors.affiliation: 1   Ontario Badger Project, Trent University, 1600 W Bank Drive, Peterborough, Ontario K9J 0G2, Canada.|2   Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road E, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada.
authors.forename: Danielle M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Ethier
authors.affiliation: 1   Ontario Badger Project, Trent University, 1600 W Bank Drive, Peterborough, Ontario K9J 0G2, Canada.
authors.forename: Joshua B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Sayers
authors.affiliation: 3   Forensic Science Department, Trent University, 1600 W Bank Drive, Peterborough, Ontario K9J 0G2, Canada.
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Kyle
authors.affiliation: 4   Science and Research Branch, Wildlife Research and Monitoring Section, Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, 1600 W Bank Drive, Peterborough, Ontario K9J 0G2, Canada.
authors.forename: Joseph J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Nocera
authors.affiliation: 5   Animal Health Laboratory, University of Guelph, 419 Gordon Street, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada.
authors.forename: Davor
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ojkic
authors.affiliation: 6   Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road E, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada.
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Campbell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004216:Distemper; D004217:Distemper Virus, Canine / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000662:veterinary; D012889:Mephitidae; D045969:Mustelidae / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology; D009864:Ontario; D017993:Parvovirus, Canine / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011821:Raccoons; D014481:United States
keywords: American badgers; canine adenovirus; canine distemper virus; canine parvovirus; leptospirosis; species at risk