DIAGNOSING AND CATEGORIZING LEPROSY IN LIVE EURASIAN RED SQUIRRELS (SCIURUS VULGARIS) FOR MANAGEMENT, SURVEILLANCE, AND TRANSLOCATION PURPOSES

Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, vol. 52, pp. 648–659

Abstract

, ERS) carcasses throughout the British Isles, and leprosy as a disease, have recently been reported using histological and molecular diagnostic methods. In 2016, the first longitudinal study of ERS affected by leprosy was initiated. One of the main challenges was the reliable diagnosis of leprosy in live ERS, which is important for (a) welfare and case management and (b) surveillance or pretranslocation screening efforts. We explored diagnostic methods ranging from detailed clinical assessment and informative categorization of observed lesions, thermal imaging, serology (antiphenolic glycolipid-I antibody [αPGL-I] detection) to molecular methods (polymerase chain reaction [PCR]). For PCR the ear was established as the optimal sampling site. Based on the experiences from this 2-yr study we propose an objective categorization system for clinical lesions and a diagnostic framework for the combination of the diagnostic tools we found to be effective in live ERS: clinical assessment, αPGL-I serology, and PCR. Thermal imaging did not offer additional information for leprosy diagnostics in ERS. We propose an amended definition of leprosy lesions in ERS as "skin areas of local hair loss, in which a firm-rubbery, glossy swelling develops, that may ulcerate" and standardized terminology for describing ERS leprosy status. The information presented forms the basis of a consistent, reliable diagnostic and reporting system for leprosy cases in ERS.

Authors 9

1. Anna‐Katarina Schilling corresponding Aachen Department of Infectious Diseases

   Leiden University · Roslin Institute · The University of Melbourne · Scotland's Rural College · Leiden University Medical Center · Moredun Research Institute · University of Edinburgh

   Affiliation as printed

   Moredun Research Institute, Pentland Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Midlothian, EH26 0PZ, UK

   The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, Edinburgh, EH25 9RG, UK

   Animal & Veterinary Sciences, SRUC, Roslin Institute Building, Easter Bush, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK (Farish, Mitchell)

   Department of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Centre, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands (Geluk, van Hooij)

   From The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, Edinburgh, EH25 9RG, UK (Schilling, McCurdy, Fish, Lurz, Meredith)

   Melbourne Veterinary School, University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia (Meredith)

   Moredun Research Institute, Pentland Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Midlothian, EH26 0PZ, UK (Stevenson, Schilling)

2. Kristen McCurdy corresponding Aachen Department of Infectious Diseases

   Leiden University · Roslin Institute · The University of Melbourne · Scotland's Rural College · Leiden University Medical Center · Moredun Research Institute · University of Edinburgh

   Affiliation as printed

   The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, Edinburgh, EH25 9RG, UK

   Animal & Veterinary Sciences, SRUC, Roslin Institute Building, Easter Bush, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK (Farish, Mitchell)

   Department of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Centre, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands (Geluk, van Hooij)

   From The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, Edinburgh, EH25 9RG, UK (Schilling, McCurdy, Fish, Lurz, Meredith)

   Melbourne Veterinary School, University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia (Meredith)

   Moredun Research Institute, Pentland Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Midlothian, EH26 0PZ, UK (Stevenson, Schilling)

3. Peter W. W. Lurz corresponding Aachen Department of Infectious Diseases

   Leiden University · Roslin Institute · The University of Melbourne · Scotland's Rural College · Leiden University Medical Center · Moredun Research Institute · University of Edinburgh

   Affiliation as printed

   The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, Edinburgh, EH25 9RG, UK

   Animal & Veterinary Sciences, SRUC, Roslin Institute Building, Easter Bush, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK (Farish, Mitchell)

   Department of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Centre, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands (Geluk, van Hooij)

   From The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, Edinburgh, EH25 9RG, UK (Schilling, McCurdy, Fish, Lurz, Meredith)

   Melbourne Veterinary School, University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia (Meredith)

   Moredun Research Institute, Pentland Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Midlothian, EH26 0PZ, UK (Stevenson, Schilling)

4. Annemieke Geluk corresponding Aachen Department of Infectious Diseases

   Leiden University · Roslin Institute · The University of Melbourne · Scotland's Rural College · Leiden University Medical Center · Moredun Research Institute · University of Edinburgh

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Centre, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands

   Animal & Veterinary Sciences, SRUC, Roslin Institute Building, Easter Bush, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK (Farish, Mitchell)

   Department of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Centre, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands (Geluk, van Hooij)

   From The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, Edinburgh, EH25 9RG, UK (Schilling, McCurdy, Fish, Lurz, Meredith)

   Melbourne Veterinary School, University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia (Meredith)

   Moredun Research Institute, Pentland Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Midlothian, EH26 0PZ, UK (Stevenson, Schilling)

5. Anouk van Hooij corresponding Aachen Department of Infectious Diseases

   Leiden University · Roslin Institute · The University of Melbourne · Scotland's Rural College · Leiden University Medical Center · Moredun Research Institute · University of Edinburgh

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Centre, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands

   Animal & Veterinary Sciences, SRUC, Roslin Institute Building, Easter Bush, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK (Farish, Mitchell)

   Department of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Centre, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands (Geluk, van Hooij)

   From The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, Edinburgh, EH25 9RG, UK (Schilling, McCurdy, Fish, Lurz, Meredith)

   Melbourne Veterinary School, University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia (Meredith)

   Moredun Research Institute, Pentland Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Midlothian, EH26 0PZ, UK (Stevenson, Schilling)

6. Marianne Farish corresponding Aachen Department of Infectious Diseases

   Leiden University · Roslin Institute · The University of Melbourne · Scotland's Rural College · Leiden University Medical Center · Moredun Research Institute · University of Edinburgh

   Affiliation as printed

   Animal & Veterinary Sciences, SRUC, Roslin Institute Building, Easter Bush, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK

   Animal & Veterinary Sciences, SRUC, Roslin Institute Building, Easter Bush, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK (Farish, Mitchell)

   Department of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Centre, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands (Geluk, van Hooij)

   From The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, Edinburgh, EH25 9RG, UK (Schilling, McCurdy, Fish, Lurz, Meredith)

   Melbourne Veterinary School, University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia (Meredith)

   Moredun Research Institute, Pentland Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Midlothian, EH26 0PZ, UK (Stevenson, Schilling)

7. Malcolm A. Mitchell corresponding Aachen Department of Infectious Diseases

   Leiden University · Roslin Institute · The University of Melbourne · Scotland's Rural College · Leiden University Medical Center · Moredun Research Institute · University of Edinburgh

   Affiliation as printed

   Animal & Veterinary Sciences, SRUC, Roslin Institute Building, Easter Bush, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK

   Animal & Veterinary Sciences, SRUC, Roslin Institute Building, Easter Bush, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK (Farish, Mitchell)

   Department of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Centre, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands (Geluk, van Hooij)

   From The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, Edinburgh, EH25 9RG, UK (Schilling, McCurdy, Fish, Lurz, Meredith)

   Melbourne Veterinary School, University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia (Meredith)

   Moredun Research Institute, Pentland Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Midlothian, EH26 0PZ, UK (Stevenson, Schilling)

8. Karen Stevenson corresponding Aachen Department of Infectious Diseases

   Leiden University · Roslin Institute · The University of Melbourne · Scotland's Rural College · Leiden University Medical Center · Moredun Research Institute · University of Edinburgh

   Affiliation as printed

   Moredun Research Institute, Pentland Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Midlothian, EH26 0PZ, UK

   Animal & Veterinary Sciences, SRUC, Roslin Institute Building, Easter Bush, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK (Farish, Mitchell)

   Department of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Centre, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands (Geluk, van Hooij)

   From The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, Edinburgh, EH25 9RG, UK (Schilling, McCurdy, Fish, Lurz, Meredith)

   Melbourne Veterinary School, University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia (Meredith)

   Moredun Research Institute, Pentland Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Midlothian, EH26 0PZ, UK (Stevenson, Schilling)

9. Anna Louise Meredith corresponding Aachen Department of Infectious Diseases

   Leiden University · Roslin Institute · The University of Melbourne · Scotland's Rural College · Leiden University Medical Center · Moredun Research Institute · University of Edinburgh

   Affiliation as printed

   Melbourne Veterinary School, University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia

   The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, Edinburgh, EH25 9RG, UK, anna.meredith@unimelb.edu.au

   Animal & Veterinary Sciences, SRUC, Roslin Institute Building, Easter Bush, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK (Farish, Mitchell)

   Department of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Centre, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands (Geluk, van Hooij)

   From The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, Edinburgh, EH25 9RG, UK (Schilling, McCurdy, Fish, Lurz, Meredith)

   Melbourne Veterinary School, University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia (Meredith)

   Moredun Research Institute, Pentland Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Midlothian, EH26 0PZ, UK (Stevenson, Schilling)