{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,5]],"date-time":"2026-10-05T22:01:49Z","timestamp":1791237709541,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":49,"publisher":"Wildlife Disease Association","issue":"4","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Journal of Wildlife Diseases"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,18]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>We investigated the prevalence, cyst density, and any associated pathologic changes of Besnoitia spp. in the testis, peritesticular structures, and udder skin of migratory caribou (Rangifer tarandus). Possible risk factors for infection, cyst density, and inflammation were investigated. Samples from 149 male and 229 female caribou were collected from seven different herds across Canada, Alaska (US), and Greenland, 2007\u201309. Biopsies were taken from the udder skin in females and from the epididymis, scrotal skin, testis (seminiferous tubules and tunica albuginea), and spermatic cord in males. The cyst density (cysts per square millimeters) of Besnoitia spp. in each tissue, as well as the type of associated inflammation, were determined by histopathologic examination. Individual (age class) and environmental (season and herd) risk factors were investigated for infection, cyst density, and inflammation. Besnoitia spp. cysts were detected in 22.2, 20.4, 11.2, 31.3, 10.4, and 8.0% of the sections of epididymis, scrotal skin, seminiferous tubules, spermatic cord, tunica albuginea, and udder skin, respectively. The median cyst densities varied from 0.07 cysts\/mm2 in the seminiferous tubules to 1.02 cysts\/mm2 in the udder skin. Age class and season were risk factors for infection, so adults and subadults were more at risk than calves, and infection was more prevalent in the fall months (September to December) relative to other seasons. Subadults, however, demonstrated a higher cyst density compared with adults and calves. During the winter months, a higher risk of inflammation was present compared with other seasons. Overall, the intensity of inflammation was light to mild, and both pericystic and concomitant inflammation were commonly present. Further research should determine whether these parasitic cysts and the associated inflammation influence the functionality of the testis, peritesticular structures, and udder and thus reproduction.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.7589\/jwd-d-25-00005","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,18]],"date-time":"2025-11-18T14:15:50Z","timestamp":1763475350000},"page":"991-1000","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["BESNOITIA SPP. INFECTION OF THE TESTIS, PERITESTICULAR STRUCTURES, AND UDDER SKIN IN MIGRATORY CARIBOU (RANGIFER TARANDUS)"],"prefix":"10.7589","volume":"61","author":[{"given":"Laura","family":"Van Driessche","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, Centre qu\u00e9b\u00e9cois sur la sant\u00e9 des animaux sauvages, Universit\u00e9 de Montr\u00e9al, Facult\u00e9 de m\u00e9decine v\u00e9t\u00e9rinaire, 3200 rue Sicotte, St-Hyacinthe, Qu\u00e9bec J2S 2M2, Canada"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Julie","family":"Ducrocq","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, Centre qu\u00e9b\u00e9cois sur la sant\u00e9 des animaux sauvages, Universit\u00e9 de Montr\u00e9al, Facult\u00e9 de m\u00e9decine v\u00e9t\u00e9rinaire, 3200 rue Sicotte, St-Hyacinthe, Qu\u00e9bec J2S 2M2, Canada"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Susan","family":"Kutz","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University of Calgary, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, 3330 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1, Canada"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Brett","family":"Elkin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Government of the Northwest Territories, Environment and Climate Change, PO Box 1320, 5102-50th Avenue, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories X1A 3S8, Canada"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jo\u00eblle","family":"Taillon","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Direction g\u00e9n\u00e9rale de la gestion de la faune, Minist\u00e8re de l'Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs, Qu\u00e9bec, Qu\u00e9bec G1S 4X4, Canada"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Steeve D.","family":"C\u00f4t\u00e9","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Universit\u00e9 Laval, Caribou Ungava, D\u00e9partement de biologie, and Centre des \u00e9tudes nordiques. Pavillon Alexandre-Vachon, 1045 avenue de la M\u00e9decine, Qu\u00e9bec, Qu\u00e9bec G1V 0A6, Canada"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Vincent","family":"Brodeur","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Direction de la gestion de la faune du Nord-du-Qu\u00e9bec, Minist\u00e8re de l'Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs, Chibougamau, Qu\u00e9bec G8P 2Z3, Canada"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Christine","family":"Cuyler","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Kivioq 2, PO Box 570, Nuuk 3900, Greenland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"St\u00e9phane","family":"Lair","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, Centre qu\u00e9b\u00e9cois sur la sant\u00e9 des animaux sauvages, Universit\u00e9 de Montr\u00e9al, Facult\u00e9 de m\u00e9decine v\u00e9t\u00e9rinaire, 3200 rue Sicotte, St-Hyacinthe, Qu\u00e9bec J2S 2M2, Canada"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"4415","reference":[{"key":"31","unstructured":"LG. 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