Animal Care Facility Research Articles

Fear free design guidelines: exploration of quantitative acoustic criteria

Fear Free(r) is an organization that is dedicated to changing the landscape of veterinary medicine by educating veterinary professionals, architects, engineers, and others about the importance of considering the psychological impact of the built environment on animals. By involving an interdisciplinary team of veterinarians, architects, animal behaviorists, and others, the Fear Free Hospital Design Guideline has been developed to inform the design of animal care facilities. In partnering with Siebein Acoustic, new quantitative criteria can potentially be included as part of the Fear Free Design Guideline. The first step in reducing noise within any animal care environment is prevention, reducing or eliminating the stressors that cause dogs to bark. Metrics for measuring acoustic control include Reverberation Time, alpha bar, STC ratings, requiring a Site Noise Study if located in a sensitive area, the use of OITC ratings for the exterior building skin and mechanical criteria for the specific space types that are typical of animal care facilities. These criteria have been drafted to provide quantitative performance criteria to complement the design efforts that Fear Free is undertaking to transform animal care environments into healthy, vibrant spaces that promote the well-being and safety of all occupants, animals and humans alike.

Exploring a Role for Gut Microbiota to Modulate Aldosterone

Hypertension is associated with an increased risk of mortality for numerous conditions including heart disease, diabetes, and renal disease (D. Aune, Biomed Res Int, 2021). Hypertension is often viewed as idiopathic and treatment is seldom aimed at addressing an underlying mechanism; however, a recent study indicates that primary aldosteronism is an underappreciated cause of idiopathic hypertension (J. Brown, Ann Intern Med, 2020). Here, we investigate for the first time the influence of gut microbiota on aldosterone regulation. To pursue this, we used C57Bl/6 mice (n=20; males) housed in the Johns Hopkins Animal Care Facility and fed a specific pathogen-free diet. Whole blood from submandibular cheek bleeds were collected into K2EDTA-treated tubes at baseline and mice were allowed to recover. Mice were then treated with antibiotics (ABX; 1g/L ampicillin, 1g/L neomycin, and 0.5g/L vancomycin) in their drinking water ad libitum for a total of 7 days to dramatically suppress gut microbes. Whole blood via submandibular cheek bleeds were collected after 24hrs, and at day 7 on ABXs. Mice were sacrificed on day 7 of ABX. Plasma samples from baseline, 24hrs on ABX and 7 days on ABX were used to determine aldosterone concentration and plasma renin activity (PRA) via ELISA. In addition, 24hr urine samples were collected at baseline and at day 7 on ABXs. Statistics were calculated using paired, one-way ANOVA; data below are mean ± SD. Our results demonstrate that plasma aldosterone and PRA, as well as urine aldosterone, were significantly increased from baseline to 7 days on ABX treatment (plasma aldo (pg/mL): 295.1 ± 164.8 vs 634.9 ± 290.4, p= 0.0197; plasma PRA (ng Ang-1/mL/hr): 191.8 ± 137.6 vs 325.9 ± 141.5, p= 0.0108; urine aldo (pg/mL): 2019 ± 322.1 vs 2668 ± 292.0, p = 0.0047). However, there was no significant difference in plasma aldosterone from baseline to 24hrs on ABX treatment (295.1 ± 164.8 vs 434.5 ± 245.3, p= 0.1047). In contrast, we observed a significant increase in angiotensin I from baseline to 24hrs on ABX treatment (191.8 ± 137.6 vs 355.8 ± 139.6, p=0.0041), and this increase was sustained until day 7 (325.9 ± 141.5 vs baseline, p=0.0108). Preliminary data suggest aldosterone is also increased in the plasma of germ-free mice (without gut microbes) compared to conventionalized controls (750.4 ± 265.0, n= 6, vs 314.4 ± 260.3, n=4, p=0.0667), implying that gut microbiota normally act to suppress plasma aldosterone. Taken together, we demonstrate that in the absence of gut microbiota, plasma aldosterone, urine aldosterone, and PRA are significantly increased. Understanding how gut microbes influence aldosterone levels could provide valuable insights into the development and treatment of hypertension. This knowledge may open new avenues for therapeutic interventions, such as probiotics or dietary modifications, to help regulate blood pressure. William Townsend Porter Predoctoral Fellowship from the American Physiological Society (BNM), Johns Hopkins Post-baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP; R25GM109441 to ADM), the NIDDK Diabetic Complications Consortium (RRID:SCR_001415m www.diacomp.org, grants DK076169 and DK 115255 (subaward to JLP)) and American Heart Association Established Investigator Award (to JLP). This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

222 nm far-UVC light markedly reduces the level of infectious airborne virus in an occupied room

An emerging intervention for control of airborne-mediated pandemics and epidemics is whole-room far-UVC (200–235 nm). Laboratory studies have shown that 222-nm light inactivates airborne pathogens, potentially without harm to exposed occupants. While encouraging results have been reported in benchtop studies and in room-sized bioaerosol chambers, there is a need for quantitative studies of airborne pathogen reduction in occupied rooms. We quantified far-UVC mediated reduction of aerosolized murine norovirus (MNV) in an occupied mouse-cage cleaning room within an animal-care facility. Benchtop studies suggest that MNV is a conservative surrogate for airborne viruses such as influenza and coronavirus. Using four 222-nm fixtures installed in the ceiling, and staying well within current recommended regulatory limits, far-UVC reduced airborne infectious MNV by 99.8% (95% CI: 98.2–99.9%). Similar to previous room-sized bioaerosol chamber studies on far-UVC efficacy, these results suggest that aerosolized virus susceptibility is significantly higher in room-scale tests than in bench-scale laboratory studies. That said, as opposed to controlled laboratory studies, uncertainties in this study related to airflow patterns, virus residence time, and dose to the collected virus introduce uncertainty into the inactivation estimates. This study is the first to directly demonstrate far-UVC anti-microbial efficacy against airborne pathogens in an occupied indoor location.

Sutterella and its metabolic pathways positively correlate with vaccine-elicited antibody responses in infant rhesus macaques.

It is becoming clearer that the microbiota helps drive responses to vaccines; however, little is known about the underlying mechanism. In this study, we aimed to identify microbial features that are associated with vaccine immunogenicity in infant rhesus macaques. We analyzed 16S rRNA gene sequencing data of 215 fecal samples collected at multiple timepoints from 64 nursery-reared infant macaques that received various HIV vaccine regimens. PERMANOVA tests were performed to determine factors affecting composition of the gut microbiota throughout the first eight months of life in these monkeys. We used DESeq2 to identify differentially abundant bacterial taxa, PICRUSt2 to impute metagenomic information, and mass spectrophotometry to determine levels of fecal short-chain fatty acids and bile acids. Composition of the early-life gut microbial communities in nursery-reared rhesus macaques from the same animal care facility was driven by age, birth year, and vaccination status. We identified a Sutterella and a Rodentibacter species that positively correlated with vaccine-elicited antibody responses, with the Sutterella species exhibiting more robust findings. Analysis of Sutterella-related metagenomic data revealed five metabolic pathways that significantly correlated with improved antibody responses following HIV vaccination. Given these pathways have been associated with short-chain fatty acids and bile acids, we quantified the fecal concentration of these metabolites and found several that correlated with higher levels of HIV immunogen-elicited plasma IgG. Our findings highlight an intricate bidirectional relationship between the microbiota and vaccines, where multiple aspects of the vaccination regimen modulate the microbiota and specific microbial features facilitate vaccine responses. An improved understanding of this microbiota-vaccine interplay will help develop more effective vaccines, particularly those that are tailored for early life.

The Impact of Head Position on Neurological and Histopathological Outcome Following Controlled Automated Reperfusion of the Whole Body (CARL) in a Pig Model.

Introduction: Based on extracorporeal circulation, targeted reperfusion strategies have been developed to improve survival and neurologic recovery in refractory cardiac arrest: Controlled Automated Reperfusion of the whoLe Body (CARL). Furthermore, animal and human cadaver studies have shown beneficial effects on cerebral pressure due to head elevation during conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Our aim was to evaluate the impact of head elevation on survival, neurologic recovery and histopathologic outcome in addition to CARL in an animal model. Methods: After 20 min of ventricular fibrillation, 46 domestic pigs underwent CARL, including high, pulsatile extracorporeal blood flow, pH-stat acid-base management, priming with a colloid, mannitol and citrate, targeted oxygen, carbon dioxide and blood pressure management, rapid cooling and slow rewarming. N = 25 were head-up (HUP) during CARL, and N = 21 were supine (SUP). After weaning from ECC, the pigs were extubated and followed up in the animal care facility for up to seven days. Neuronal density was evaluated in neurohistopathology. Results: More animals in the HUP group survived and achieved a favorable neurological recovery, 21/25 (84%) versus 6/21 (29%) in the SUP group. Head positioning was an independent factor in neurologically favorable survival (p < 0.00012). Neurohistopathology showed no significant structural differences between HUP and SUP. Distinct, partly transient clinical neurologic deficits were blindness and ataxia. Conclusions: Head elevation during CARL after 20 min of cardiac arrest independently improved survival and neurologic outcome in pigs. Clinical follow-up revealed transient neurologic deficits potentially attributable to functions localized in the posterior perfusion area, whereas histopathologic findings did not show corresponding differences between the groups. A possible explanation of our findings may be venous congestion and edema as modifiable contributing factors of neurologic injury following prolonged cardiac arrest.

UV irradiance effects on komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) vitamin D3, egg production, and behavior: A case study.

Modifications to UV irradiance for indoor housed herpetofauna can affect behavior and physiology. Low ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiance can result in vitamin D3 deficiency resulting in calcium metabolism disorders including metabolic bone disease and immune suppression. High UVB can result in skin and eye issues, which can be severe enough to cause shock and death. Using tools available for the assessment of UV light, including Ferguson zones and the UV working tool designed by the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquaria, we redesigned lighting in our indoor komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) habitat to better suit the UV requirements of this species, while studying changes in behavior and physiology. We measured serum vitamin 25-hydroxy D3 values in one male and one female komodo dragon before and after they were housed in indoor and outdoor habitats. We also measured behavior changes in our male komodo as he moved from an outdoor habitat, to an indoor habitat with changing UV irradiance. Our female komodo showed a 98% increase in vitamin D3 values after being moved outdoors, and laid her first clutch of eggs. Our male dragon's vitamin D3 remained consistent 200 days after moving inside. He did show increased activity when higher UV irradiance was available. Importantly, we found the UV lamps we used stopped producing desired UV irradiance within 3.5 months of regular use. We suggest all animal care facilities develop UV monitoring programs to research output and longevity of UVB lamps used in indoor herpetofauna habitats.

Haemosporidians in Non-Passerine Birds of Colombia: An Overview of the Last 20 Years of Research

The Neotropics are highly diverse in avian species. Neotropical countries contribute a large part of the estimated diversity of haemosporidian parasites reported for the planet’s tropical zones. However, sampling is limited and biased, illustrated by only 30% of the genetic records (barcodes) from non-passerines, most of them not linked to a nominal species. This paper aimed to perform the molecular and morphological characterization of the haemosporidians that infect non-passerine birds from Colombia deposited in the biological collection named “Grupo de Estudio Relación Parásito Hospedero (GERPH)”. We analyzed 1239 samples from twelve biomes and two animal care facilities. Phylogenetic relationships using barcodes and mitochondrial genomes were estimated. In addition, the reports of haemosporidian infections in non-passerine birds from the Neotropics recorded after 1978 were summarized. We reported the presence of thirteen morphological haemosporidian species, four potential new species deposited in GERPH, a host range expansion for two Plasmodium species, and a barcode sequence for Haemoproteus caprimulgi. We confirmed the species associated with 56 molecular lineages reported in other neotropical countries at the genus level. Thus, biological collections and curated databases such as MalAvi are essential to support integrative approaches demanded in modern taxonomy.

Behaviour Real-Time Spatial Tracking Identification (BeRSTID) used for Cat Behaviour Monitoring in an Animal Shelter

Efficiently tracking animal behaviour in an animal shelter has direct lifesaving applications. Individualized care and early recognition of distress in cats are often missed. However, monitoring behaviour is a challenge as time and financial resources are often limited, and the size and needs of animal populations within shelters are commonly in flux. Our research required a method of behavioural observation that was simple, accessible, used limited human and computer resources and allowed for real-time feedback. Here, we present BeRSTID, an open-source behaviour real-time spatial tracking identification system demonstrated on six cats in an animal shelter using unique 2D fiducial markers. The markers were attached to custom veterinary paper identification collars for feedback on individual animal behaviour over time. Our findings show that BeRSTID correlated closely to human-coded data in both real-time and post-event processing modes of eating and drinking behaviours of cats in naturalistic shelter environments. By building upon a lateral concept of marker tracking for direct applied use in a new context, we present a low-barrier user-friendly solution using common technologies that can track animals for research and, with further development, may help improve welfare in animal care facilities such as shelters. Extensions of BeRSTID may be generalized to track unique subjects in varied environments for multiple use cases.

The “Second Life” of laboratory rats (Rattus norvegicus): Assessment of social behavior of a colony of rats based on social network analysis

ABSTRACT Rattus norvegicus is a social animal and holds a significant economic value, considering its use in scientific research. Here, we use the Social Network Analysis (SNA) approach to study the social interactions of a group of rats held in a post-laboratory animal care facility. We collected interaction data during four study periods, for a total of 60 days. At the group level, rats presented two communities for each study period, consisting mainly of littermates. At individual level, we found that the rats preferred to interact with individuals of the same strain and laboratory of origin and with littermates. At temporal level, we studied how stable social interactions were over time. During the first study period, we found high social stability, whereas the introduction of new individuals in the subsequent period caused social rearrangements; however, the initial social stability was restored. Our findings have shown that studying the social behavior of rats using SNA is a valuable tool for advancing our understanding of the social system of this species, which has the potential to enhance management and welfare practices.

Disaster event effects on cat and dog populations within United States animal care facility services: A cross sectional study

It is unclear how disaster events, which are expected to increase due to climate change, will affect animal care services. Understanding the impacts they have on cat and dog populations, and how to integrate animal welfare into disaster preparedness, can facilitate disaster response and improve population health outcomes. Federal Emergency Management (FEMA) disaster data were merged with shelter intake data from SAC (Shelter Animals Count) to compare total number of animals and total number of animals euthanized the month of disaster to the subsequent month and to the same month in the subsequent year. Analyses were stratified by animal (dog /cat), disaster (hurricane/fire), and animal care service type and compared using Wilcoxon Signed Rank test. On average, government animal services (GAS) in counties experiencing a hurricane report an increase in dogs in the facility the month (p&lt;0.05) and year (p&lt;0.05) after a hurricane. In contrast, government contract (GC) and non-government contract (NGC) organizations report fewer cats the month after (both p&lt;0.001) a hurricane. While fire in the county had limited effect on dog occupancy across all facility types, more organizations reported higher numbers of cats the month of a fire compared with the month after (GC p&lt;0.001, GAS p&lt;0.05) and more cats euthanized the month (GC p&lt;0.01) and year (GC p&lt;0.05, GAS p&lt;0.05) after a fire. These findings indicate significant fluctuations in animal service needs during and after disaster events. Using a One Health approach to incorporate animal service organizations in human climate adaptation planning can increase community resilience during disaster events.

Using Classical and Operant Conditioning to Train a Shifting Behavior in Juvenile False Water Cobras (Hydrodynastes gigas).

Simple SummaryPositive reinforcement training, a form of operant conditioning that rewards learners for specific behaviors to increase the frequency of that behavior, is widely used as a management tool in modern zoological facilities. This type of training offers several benefits, including improved safety, reduction in animal stress, increased choice and control, and many others. Snakes have been shown to learn using operant conditioning, yet the use of positive reinforcement training is not a widespread practice for these animals. A shaping plan, which describes the steps necessary to achieve the ultimate behavioral goal of following a target into a secondary container from their primary enclosure, was developed for false water cobras (Hydrodynastes gigas). Snakes were given food rewards for performing behaviors related to each goal detailed in the plan. Completion of this shaping plan resulted in a reduction of stress behaviors as the training progressed, as well as a decrease in time between the presentation and snakes interacting with the target.All animals have the capacity to learn through operant conditioning and other types of learning, and as a result, zoos and other animal care facilities have shifted towards the use of positive reinforcement training to shape the behavior of animals under their care. Training offers animals the choice to participate in their own husbandry routines and veterinary procedures, while also providing mental stimulation. By adopting these practices, the welfare of animals in human care has improved, but it has not been applied equally across taxa. Snakes are frequently overlooked in the discussion of choice and control in a captive setting, likely due to the historical misinterpretation of their intelligence and behavioral needs. In this study, a shaping plan was developed for 28 juvenile false water cobras (Hydrodynastes gigas), a rear-fanged venomous species, from four clutches. Snakes were rewarded with food when completing behaviors related to the ultimate goal of following a target into a shift container. The purpose of this study is to incorporate the trained behaviors in routine husbandry practices, while preventing unnecessary stress in the snakes and risk to the keeper.

Radiant catalytic ionization improves the microbiological status of rodent facilities without affecting the prooxidative status of mice.

The main microbial contaminants of rooms in which laboratory rodents are housed are bacteria and fungi. Restriction of microbial growth to below threshold levels requires the application of various sophisticated antimicrobial techniques that must be effective and safe for the animals. Some of the most commonly used techniques, including chemical disinfection, ventilation, filtration, sterilization and radiation, are not always sufficiently effective. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the efficacy of a modern technique (i.e. radiant catalytic ionization (RCI)) on the microbiological status of an animal care facility, and the health of the mice housed therein. The experiment, conducted over seven days, compared an experimental room with an RCI system permanently turned on with a negative control room. At the completion of the experiment, the number of bacteria in the RCI room air and on its walls was lower than that in the control room (p < 0.01 in both cases). Values of the basic prooxidative parameter, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances concentration, in tissues of mice from the RCI room were within allowed boundaries. Hence, application of an RCI system proved to be an ideal technique to ensure high hygienic standards in animal rooms without any adverse effects on the animals housed therein.

The organoid: A research model for ovarian cancer.

ABSTRACTEpithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is a heterogeneous disease with a variety of distinct clinical and molecular characteristics. The currently available and common research models for EOC include tumor cell lines and patient-derived xenografts. However, these models have certain shortcomings: establishing a cell line is time-consuming, loss of genetic traits after long-term culture is a possibility, and investment is required in terms of animal care facilities. Therefore, better research models are required. Organoid technology was originally developed from colorectal cancer. Tumor organoid is a three-dimensional culture system and can help accurately recapture the tumor phenotype from the original tumor. Tumor organoid systems can overcome the above-mentioned shortcomings of the currently available research models. The organoid model can be used for culturing ovarian cancer subtypes, screening drugs, assessing genomes, and establishing biobanks. However, the currently available organoid models can only culture one type of cells, epithelial cells. Therefore, an organoid-on-a-chip device can be developed in the future to provide a microenvironment for cell–cell, cell–matrix, and cell–media interactions. Thus, organoid models can be used in ovarian cancer research and can generate a simulated in vivo system, enabling studies on the heterogeneity of ovarian cancer.

Regulation of transgelin and GST-pi proteins in the tissues of hamsters exposed to sodium arsenite

Regulation of transgelin and GST-pi proteins in the tissues of hamsters exposed to sodium arsenite

Does and duration of exposure time dependent regulation of proteins in the urinary bladder of hamsters exposed to sodium arsenite

Does and duration of exposure time dependent regulation of proteins in the urinary bladder of hamsters exposed to sodium arsenite

Target Training Juvenile False Water Cobras (Hydrodynastes gigas)

Because all animals have the capacity to learn through operant conditioning and other types of learning, zoos and other animal care facilities have shifted towards the utilization of positive reinforcement training to shape the behavior of animals in captivity. Training provides animals the choice to participate in their own husbandry routines and veterinary procedures. While the adoption of these practices has improved the welfare of animals in human care, it has not been applied equally across taxa. Snakes are often overlooked in the discussion of choice and control in a captive setting, likely due to the historical misinterpretation of their intelligence and needs. In general, there is an overall lack of documentation of reptile training. In this study, a shaping plan was developed for juvenile false water cobras (Hydrodynastes gigas), a rear-fanged venomous species. Using behavioral approximations, snakes were rewarded with food when completing behaviors related to the ultimate goal of willingly entering a shift container. At this point in the training process, all snakes have made significant progress towards reliably performing this behavior. The purpose of this project is to use the trained behaviors to allow for routine husbandry practices, such as enclosure cleaning and weighing, while preventing unnecessary stress in the snakes, as well as risk to the keeper.

Model Systems for the Study of Malignant Melanoma.

Since the first resection of melanoma by Hunter in 1787, efforts to treat patients with this deadly malignancy have been ongoing. Initial work to understand melanoma biology for therapeutics development began with the employment of isolated cancer cells grown in cell cultures. However, these models lack in vivo interactions with the tumor microenvironment. Melanoma cell line transplantation into suitable animals such as mice has been informative and useful for testing therapeutics as a preclinical model. Injection of freshly isolated patient melanomas into immunodeficient animals has shown the capacity to retain the genetic heterogeneity of the tumors, which is lost during the long-term culture of melanoma cells. Upon advancement of technology, genetically engineered animals have been generated to study the spontaneous development of melanomas in light of newly discovered genetic aberrations associated with melanoma formation. Culturing melanoma cells in a matrix generate tumor spheroids, providing an in vitro environment that promotes the heterogeneity commonplace with human melanoma and displaces the need for animal care facilities. Advanced 3D cultures have been created simulating the structure and cellularity of human skin to permit in vitro testing of therapeutics on melanomas expressing the same phenotype as demonstrated in vivo. This review will discuss these models and their relevance to the study of melanomagenesis, growth, metastasis, and therapy.

Telmisartan detection by UV spectrophotometry in mice drinking water.

Animal models are often used to test the safety and efficacy of drugs in cell culture and body systems. Several researchers deliver drugs to rodents in drinking water, although it has some limitations. For instance, drug stability, water consumption, and body mass fluctuation may change drug dose. Thus, we investigated telmisartan (TEL) stability in mice drinking water by UV spectrophotometry, and if water intake and body mass were fluctuated then it changes the predicted drug dose. The results showed that UV spectrophotometry could detect TEL at the wavelength of 300nm, and the concentration curve was set between 1.25 and 60µg/mL. Also, it remained stable in mice drinking water for 7 days at the predicted concentration. Mice gained weight after 8 weeks on a high-fat high-sucrose diet, and it was reduced by TEL 5mg/kg/day after 3 weeks. Although water intake remained stable, not adjusting the TEL concentration weekly by body mass would lead to higher consumption of TEL by mice. In conclusion, we demonstrated that body mass and water intake fluctuations significantly change the amount of drug that the animal receives, which would add bias to the experiment. TEL remains stable for at least 7 days in wrapped mice water bottles in the animal care facility, and UV spectrophotometry proved to be a simple and low-cost method to detect TEL in mice drinking water.

Presence of Syphacia muris in Wistar Rats of a Conventional Animal Care Facility and Treatment for the Eradication of this Parasitosis

Presence of Syphacia muris in Wistar Rats of a Conventional Animal Care Facility and Treatment for the Eradication of this Parasitosis

Dog importation and changes in canine intestinal nematode prevalence in Colorado, USA, 2013\u20132017

BackgroundAnimal rescue and animal welfare organizations are relocating thousands of dogs per year following natural disasters and in attempts to provide greater adoption opportunities. Many dogs are sourced from the southeastern USA, which historically has a high prevalence rate for many parasites and parasitic diseases. The Colorado Department of Agriculture Pet Animal Care Facilities Act (PACFA) requires animal shelters and animal welfare organizations to report annually a variety of statistics including the numbers of dogs imported into Colorado from out of state. The Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) provides data nationally, down to the state and county level, on a variety of common parasitic and vector borne diseases. These data make it possible to track changes in parasite prevalence over several years.MethodsTest results for canine roundworm, hookworm and whipworm were collected from the CAPC maps for 2013–2017. Dog importation data for 2014–2017 was collected from PACFA reports. For evaluation of the statistical significance of prevalence changes when comparing 2013 to 2017, 2 × 2 contingency tables were constructed with both positive and negative test results for each year and the data assessed using Chi-square tests to determine if the 2017 prevalence was significantly different than the 2013 prevalence for roundworm, hookworm and whipworm.ResultsSignificant increases in intestinal nematode prevalence occurred in Colorado from 2013 to 2017. The prevalence of canine roundworm rose 35.60%, the prevalence of canine hookworm rose 137.33% and the prevalence of canine whipworm rose 63.68%. From 2014 to 2017, over 114,000 dogs were transported into Colorado from out-of-state, by more than 130 animal shelters and rescue organizations. Three of the larger organizations reported that the majority of their dogs were obtained from New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma. Texas and Oklahoma have historically much higher parasite prevalence than Colorado.ConclusionsVeterinarians in areas with historically low parasite prevalence where dogs from high parasite prevalence areas are arriving for adoption may need to reevaluate their recommendations regarding fecal examination and deworming frequencies as historic levels of intestinal parasite infection may no longer be accurate assessments of future infection risks.