Agri-dogs: Using Canines for Earlier Detection of Laurel Wilt Disease Affecting Avocado Trees in South Florida

Mendel, Julian; Burns, Christina; Kallifatidis, Beatrice; Evans, Edward A.; Crane, Jonathan H.; Furton, Kenneth G.; Mills, DeEtta K.

doi:10.21273/horttech03791-17

Cited by 16 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…As such, the use of detection dogs for CWD surveillance could be an effective method to identify infected areas. If trained on a wide variety of samples, dogs can identify their trained disease target odour in samples that vary in source location, disease stage, sex, age, and other demographic factors [ 25–29 ]. This flexibility is important, given the wide variety of samples that could be found in natural settings.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Canine detection of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in laboratory and field settings

Mallikarjun

Swartz

Kane

et al. 2023

Prion

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Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a fatal transmissible spongiform encephalopathy that affects both free-ranging and farmed cervid species, including mule deer, white-tailed deer, and elk ( Odocoileus hemionus, Odocoileus virginianus , and Cervus canadensis ). Due to the long incubation period and variability of clinical signs, CWD can expand and spread to new areas before they reach diagnostically detectable levels. Antemortem testing methods currently available can be difficult to obtain and to be applied to the large numbers required for adequate surveillance. However, key volatile biomarkers could be harnessed for non-invasive antemortem surveillance. Detection dogs are the most effective tool currently available for volatile detection; dogs can effectively complete wildlife surveys at rates surpassing that of humans. This study is the first to demonstrate that trained detection dogs can be used as an antemortem test for CWD. First, we trained three dogs to differentiate between CWD-positive and CWD-negative white-tailed deer faeces in a laboratory setting. Dogs spent significantly more time at the positive sample than the negative samples, suggesting that they differentiated between the positive and negative volatile signatures. We then trained the same dogs to search for CWD-positive faecal samples in a more naturalistic field setting. In the field, dogs found 8/11 CWD-positive samples and had an average false detection rate of 13%. These results suggest that dogs can be trained to differentiate CWD-positive faeces from CWD-negative faeces in both laboratory and field settings. Future studies will compare canine accuracy to other antemortem methods, as well as improved canine training methods.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Canine detection of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in laboratory and field settings

Mallikarjun

Swartz

Kane

et al. 2023

Prion

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“…Entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana x x Balakrishnan et al (1994); Castrillo et al (2011Castrillo et al ( , 2013Castrillo et al ( , 2016 2019) (Mendel et al 2018). Based on these promising results, future efforts should consider expanding the utility of canine detection to locate chemical volatiles involved in Xylosandrus ambrosia beetle infestations.…”

Section: Xylosandrus Germanusmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recent advances toward the sustainable management of invasive Xylosandrus ambrosia beetles

et al. 2021

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We provide an overview of both traditional and innovative control tools for management of three Xylosandrus ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), invasive species with a history of damage in forests, nurseries, orchards and urban areas. Xylosandrus compactus, X. crassiusculus and X. germanus are native to Asia, and currently established in several countries around the globe. Adult females bore galleries into the plant xylem inoculating mutualistic ambrosia fungi that serve as food source for the developing progeny. Tunneling activity results in chewed wood extrusion from entry holes, sap outflow, foliage wilting followed by canopy dieback, and branch and trunk necrosis. Maintaining plant health by reducing physiological stress is the first recommendation for long-term control. Baited traps, ethanol-treated bolts, trap logs and trap trees of selected species can be used to monitor Xylosandrus species. Conventional pest control methods are mostly ineffective against Xylosandrus beetles because of the pests’ broad host range and rapid spread. Due to challenges with conventional control, more innovative control approaches are being tested, such as the optimization of the push–pull strategy based on specific attractant and repellent combinations, or the use of insecticide-treated netting. Biological control based on the release of entomopathogenic and mycoparasitic fungi, as well as the use of antagonistic bacteria, has yielded promising results. However, these technologies still require validation in real field conditions. Overall, we suggest that management efforts should primarily focus on reducing plant stress and potentially be combined with a multi-faceted approach for controlling Xylosandrus damage.

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“…Other potential management options explored in recent years include the application of visible-near infrared reflectance spectra on avocado leaves as a non-destructive sensing tool for detection of laurel wilt [142], and detection of laurel wilt in avocado using lowaltitude aerial imaging for rapid detection, which could be a potentially valuable tool in mitigating laurel wilt threat in commercial avocado production [143]. Other survey and detection methods include the use of detector dogs [144] and the use of multi-spectral sensors for aerial detection of rapid death caused by tree diseases such as wilts [145]. As scientists explore the genetics of host resistance, development of early detection tools and other emerging technologies, additional management options may become available to help address the expanding threats of nonnative species.…”

Section: Survey and Detectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Laurel Wilt: Current and Potential Impacts and Possibilities for Prevention and Management

Olatinwo

Fraedrich

Mayfield

2021

Forests

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In recent years, outbreaks of nonnative invasive insects and pathogens have caused significant levels of tree mortality and disturbance in various forest ecosystems throughout the United States. Laurel wilt, caused by the pathogen Raffaelea lauricola (T.C. Harr., Fraedrich and Aghayeva) and the primary vector, the redbay ambrosia beetle (Xyleborus glabratus Eichhoff), is a nonnative pest-disease complex first reported in the southeastern United States in 2002. Since then, it has spread across eleven southeastern states to date, killing hundreds of millions of trees in the plant family Lauraceae. Here, we examine the impacts of laurel wilt on selected vulnerable Lauraceae in the United States and discuss management methods for limiting geographic expansion and reducing impact. Although about 13 species belonging to the Lauraceae are indigenous to the United States, the highly susceptible members of the family to laurel wilt are the large tree species including redbay (Persea borbonia (L.) Spreng) and sassafras (Sassafras albidum (Nutt.) Nees), with a significant economic impact on the commercial production of avocado (Persea americana Mill.), an important species native to Central America grown in the United States. Preventing new introductions and mitigating the impact of previously introduced nonnative species are critically important to decelerate losses of forest habitat, genetic diversity, and overall ecosystem value.

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Agri-dogs: Using Canines for Earlier Detection of Laurel Wilt Disease Affecting Avocado Trees in South Florida

Cited by 16 publications

References 37 publications

Canine detection of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in laboratory and field settings

Canine detection of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in laboratory and field settings

Recent advances toward the sustainable management of invasive Xylosandrus ambrosia beetles

Laurel Wilt: Current and Potential Impacts and Possibilities for Prevention and Management

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