This page has only limited features, please log in for full access.

Dr. Gareth Pearce
Animal Health and Welfare Group, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK

Basic Info

Basic Info is private.

Research Keywords & Expertise

0 Animal Health
0 Animal Welfare
0 Social Networks
0 Aquatic Animals
0 farm animals

Fingerprints

Social Networks

Honors and Awards

The user has no records in this section


Career Timeline

The user has no records in this section.


Short Biography

The user biography is not available.
Following
Followers
Co Authors
The list of users this user is following is empty.
Following: 0 users

Feed

Conference paper
Published: 12 October 2020 in Bioscientifica Proceedings
Reads 0
Downloads 0
ACS Style

P. E. Hughes; Gareth Pearce; A. M. Paterson. Mechanisms mediating the stimulatory effects of the boar on gilt reproduction. Bioscientifica Proceedings 2020, 1 .

AMA Style

P. E. Hughes, Gareth Pearce, A. M. Paterson. Mechanisms mediating the stimulatory effects of the boar on gilt reproduction. Bioscientifica Proceedings. 2020; ():1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

P. E. Hughes; Gareth Pearce; A. M. Paterson. 2020. "Mechanisms mediating the stimulatory effects of the boar on gilt reproduction." Bioscientifica Proceedings , no. : 1.

Journal article
Published: 18 June 2016 in Journal of the World Aquaculture Society
Reads 0
Downloads 0

© Copyright by the World Aquaculture Society 2016.Social network analysis (SNA) was used to quantify the role of behavioral interactions on the frequency and severity of fin damage in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, parr subjected to a short feed restriction period of 10 d. Dorsal fin erosion was observed in both feed-restricted (FR) and control (C) groups of fish, but was significantly more frequent and severe in FR groups. FR fish had a significantly lower weight, length, and poorer body condition in comparison to C groups. Social networks based on aggressive interactions showed significantly higher overall degree-centrality, clustering coefficients, out and in-degree centralities in FR groups. This led to the formation of clusters of fish into initiators and receivers of aggression. Only the receivers of aggression exhibited dorsal fin damage, while initiators did not. Initiators and receivers of aggression in FR groups retained their roles even after control conditions were restored, suggesting that short periods of feed restriction can lead to permanent modifications in aggressive behavior. This study demonstrates the applied value of using SNA to investigate the longer term effects that aggressive behavioral interactions have on fin damage and welfare in Atlantic salmon.This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Wiley via https://doi.org/ 10.1111/jwas.1232

ACS Style

Hernán Alberto Cañon Jones; Chris Noble; Børge Damsgård; Gareth P. Pearce. Evaluating the Effects of a Short-Term Feed Restriction Period on the Behavior and Welfare of Atlantic Salmon,Salmo salar, parr Using Social Network Analysis and Fin Damage. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society 2016, 48, 35 -45.

AMA Style

Hernán Alberto Cañon Jones, Chris Noble, Børge Damsgård, Gareth P. Pearce. Evaluating the Effects of a Short-Term Feed Restriction Period on the Behavior and Welfare of Atlantic Salmon,Salmo salar, parr Using Social Network Analysis and Fin Damage. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society. 2016; 48 (1):35-45.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Hernán Alberto Cañon Jones; Chris Noble; Børge Damsgård; Gareth P. Pearce. 2016. "Evaluating the Effects of a Short-Term Feed Restriction Period on the Behavior and Welfare of Atlantic Salmon,Salmo salar, parr Using Social Network Analysis and Fin Damage." Journal of the World Aquaculture Society 48, no. 1: 35-45.

Research article
Published: 21 July 2015 in PLOS ONE
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Antimicrobial resistance remains a growing and significant concern in human and veterinary medicine. Current laboratory methods for the detection and surveillance of antimicrobial resistant bacteria are limited in their effectiveness and scope. With the rapidly developing field of whole genome sequencing beginning to be utilised in clinical practice, the ability to interrogate sequencing data quickly and easily for the presence of antimicrobial resistance genes will become increasingly important and useful for informing clinical decisions. Additionally, use of such tools will provide insight into the dynamics of antimicrobial resistance genes in metagenomic samples such as those used in environmental monitoring. Here we present the Search Engine for Antimicrobial Resistance (SEAR), a pipeline and web interface for detection of horizontally acquired antimicrobial resistance genes in raw sequencing data. The pipeline provides gene information, abundance estimation and the reconstructed sequence of antimicrobial resistance genes; it also provides web links to additional information on each gene. The pipeline utilises clustering and read mapping to annotate full-length genes relative to a user-defined database. It also uses local alignment of annotated genes to a range of online databases to provide additional information. We demonstrate SEAR’s application in the detection and abundance estimation of antimicrobial resistance genes in two novel environmental metagenomes, 32 human faecal microbiome datasets and 126 clinical isolates of Shigella sonnei. We have developed a pipeline that contributes to the improved capacity for antimicrobial resistance detection afforded by next generation sequencing technologies, allowing for rapid detection of antimicrobial resistance genes directly from sequencing data. SEAR uses raw sequencing data via an intuitive interface so can be run rapidly without requiring advanced bioinformatic skills or resources. Finally, we show that SEAR is effective in detecting antimicrobial resistance genes in metagenomic and isolate sequencing data from both environmental metagenomes and sequencing data from clinical isolates.

ACS Style

Will Rowe; Kate S. Baker; David Verner-Jeffreys; Craig Baker-Austin; Jim J. Ryan; Duncan Maskell; Gareth Pearce. Search Engine for Antimicrobial Resistance: A Cloud Compatible Pipeline and Web Interface for Rapidly Detecting Antimicrobial Resistance Genes Directly from Sequence Data. PLOS ONE 2015, 10, e0133492 .

AMA Style

Will Rowe, Kate S. Baker, David Verner-Jeffreys, Craig Baker-Austin, Jim J. Ryan, Duncan Maskell, Gareth Pearce. Search Engine for Antimicrobial Resistance: A Cloud Compatible Pipeline and Web Interface for Rapidly Detecting Antimicrobial Resistance Genes Directly from Sequence Data. PLOS ONE. 2015; 10 (7):e0133492.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Will Rowe; Kate S. Baker; David Verner-Jeffreys; Craig Baker-Austin; Jim J. Ryan; Duncan Maskell; Gareth Pearce. 2015. "Search Engine for Antimicrobial Resistance: A Cloud Compatible Pipeline and Web Interface for Rapidly Detecting Antimicrobial Resistance Genes Directly from Sequence Data." PLOS ONE 10, no. 7: e0133492.

Journal article
Published: 01 April 2015 in Journal of Dairy Science
Reads 0
Downloads 0

The right brain hemisphere, connected to the left eye, coordinates fight and flight behaviors in a wide variety of vertebrate species. We investigated whether left eye vision predominates in dairy cows' interactions with other cows and humans, and whether dominance status affects the extent of visual lateralization. Although we found no overall lateralization of eye use to view other cows during interactions, cows that were submissive in an interaction were more likely to use their left eye to view a dominant animal. Both subordinate and older cows were more likely to use their left eye to view other cattle during interactions. Cows that predominantly used their left eye during aggressive interactions were more likely to use their left eye to view a person in unfamiliar clothing in the middle of a track by passing them on the right side. However, a person in familiar clothing was viewed predominantly with the right eye when they passed mainly on the left side. Cows predominantly using their left eyes in cow-to-cow interactions showed more overt responses to restraint in a crush compared with cows who predominantly used their right eyes during interactions (crush scores: left eye users 7.9, right eye users 6.4, standard error of the difference=0.72). Thus, interactions between 2 cows and between cows and people were visually lateralized, with losing and subordinate cows being more likely to use their left eyes to view winning and dominant cattle and unfamiliar humans.

ACS Style

C.J.C. Phillips; H. Oevermans; K.L. Syrett; A.Y. Jespersen; G.P. Pearce. Lateralization of behavior in dairy cows in response to conspecifics and novel persons. Journal of Dairy Science 2015, 98, 2389 -2400.

AMA Style

C.J.C. Phillips, H. Oevermans, K.L. Syrett, A.Y. Jespersen, G.P. Pearce. Lateralization of behavior in dairy cows in response to conspecifics and novel persons. Journal of Dairy Science. 2015; 98 (4):2389-2400.

Chicago/Turabian Style

C.J.C. Phillips; H. Oevermans; K.L. Syrett; A.Y. Jespersen; G.P. Pearce. 2015. "Lateralization of behavior in dairy cows in response to conspecifics and novel persons." Journal of Dairy Science 98, no. 4: 2389-2400.

Research article
Published: 13 August 2013 in PLOS ONE
Reads 0
Downloads 0

There is increasing concern for the well-being of cetacean populations around the UK. Tattoo skin disease (characterised by irregular, grey, black or yellowish, stippled cutaneous lesions) caused by poxvirus infection is a potential health indicatora potential health indicator for cetaceans. Limited sequence data indicates that cetacean poxviruses (CPVs) belong to an unassigned genus of the Chordopoxvirinae. To obtain further insight into the phylogenetic relationships between CPV and other Chordopoxvirinae members we partially characterized viral DNA originating from tattoo lesions collected in Delphinidae and Phocoenidae stranded along the UK coastline in 1998–2008. We also evaluated the presence of CPV in skin lesions other than tattoos to examine specificity and sensitivity of visual diagnosis. After DNA extraction, regions of the DNA polymerase and DNA topoisomerase I genes were amplified by PCR, sequenced and compared with other isolates. The presence of CPV DNA was demonstrated in tattoos from one striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba), eight harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) and one short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) and in one ‘dubious tattoo’ lesion detected in one other porpoise. Seventeen of the 18 PCR positive skin lesions had been visually identified as tattoos and one as a dubious tattoo. None of the other skin lesions were PCR positive. Thus, visual identification had a 94.4% sensitivity and 100% specificity. The DNA polymerase PCR was most effective in detecting CPV DNA. Limited sequence phylogeny grouped the UK samples within the odontocete poxviruses (CPV group 1) and indicated that two different poxvirus lineages infect the Phocoenidae and the Delphinidae. The phylogenetic tree had three major branches: one with the UK Phocoenidae viruses, one with the Delphinidae isolates and one for the mysticete poxvirus (CPV group 2). This implies a radiation of poxviruses according to the host suborder and the families within these suborders.

ACS Style

Barbara A. Blacklaws; Anna M. Gajda; Sabine Tippelt; Paul D. Jepson; Rob Deaville; Marie-Francoise Van Bressem; Gareth P. Pearce. Molecular Characterization of Poxviruses Associated with Tattoo Skin Lesions in UK Cetaceans. PLOS ONE 2013, 8, e71734 .

AMA Style

Barbara A. Blacklaws, Anna M. Gajda, Sabine Tippelt, Paul D. Jepson, Rob Deaville, Marie-Francoise Van Bressem, Gareth P. Pearce. Molecular Characterization of Poxviruses Associated with Tattoo Skin Lesions in UK Cetaceans. PLOS ONE. 2013; 8 (8):e71734.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Barbara A. Blacklaws; Anna M. Gajda; Sabine Tippelt; Paul D. Jepson; Rob Deaville; Marie-Francoise Van Bressem; Gareth P. Pearce. 2013. "Molecular Characterization of Poxviruses Associated with Tattoo Skin Lesions in UK Cetaceans." PLOS ONE 8, no. 8: e71734.

Journal article
Published: 30 April 2012 in Applied Animal Behaviour Science
Reads 0
Downloads 0
ACS Style

Hernan Cañon Jones; Chris Noble; Børge Damsgård; Gareth Pearce. Investigating the influence of predictable and unpredictable feed delivery schedules upon the behaviour and welfare of Atlantic salmon parr (Salmo salar) using social network analysis and fin damage. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 2012, 138, 132 -140.

AMA Style

Hernan Cañon Jones, Chris Noble, Børge Damsgård, Gareth Pearce. Investigating the influence of predictable and unpredictable feed delivery schedules upon the behaviour and welfare of Atlantic salmon parr (Salmo salar) using social network analysis and fin damage. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 2012; 138 (1-2):132-140.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Hernan Cañon Jones; Chris Noble; Børge Damsgård; Gareth Pearce. 2012. "Investigating the influence of predictable and unpredictable feed delivery schedules upon the behaviour and welfare of Atlantic salmon parr (Salmo salar) using social network analysis and fin damage." Applied Animal Behaviour Science 138, no. 1-2: 132-140.

Research article
Published: 17 February 2012 in PLOS ONE
Reads 0
Downloads 0

A case-control investigation was undertaken to determine management and health related factors associated with pleurisy in slaughter pigs in England and Wales. The British Pig Executive Pig Health Scheme database of abattoir pathology was used to identify 121 case (>10% prevalence of pleurisy on 3 or more assessment dates in the preceding 24 months) and 121 control units (≤5% prevalence of pleurisy on 3 or more assessment dates in the preceding 24 months). Farm data were collected by postal questionnaire. Data from respondents (70 cases and 51 controls) were analysed using simple logistic regression models with Bonferroni corrections. Limited multivariate analyses were also performed to check the robustness of the overall conclusions. Management factors associated with increased odds of pleurisy included no all-in all-out pig flow (OR 9.3, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.3–29), rearing of pigs with an age difference of >1 month in the same airspace (OR 6.5 [2.8–17]) and repeated mixing (OR 2.2 [1.4–3.8]) or moving (OR 2.2 [1.5–3.4]) of pigs during the rearing phase. Those associated with decreased odds of pleurisy included filling wean-to-finish or grower-to-finish systems with piglets from ≤3 sources (OR 0.18 [0.07–0.41]) compared to farrow-to-finish systems, cleaning and disinfecting of grower (ORs 0.28 [0.13–0.61] and 0.29 [0.13–0.61]) and finisher (ORs 0.24 [0.11–0.51] and 0.2 [0.09–0.44]) accommodation between groups, and extended down time of grower and finisher accommodation (OR 0.84 [0.75–0.93] and 0.86 [0.77–0.94] respectively for each additional day of downtime). This study demonstrated the value of national-level abattoir pathology data collection systems for case control analyses and generated guidance for on-farm interventions to help reduce the prevalence of pleurisy in slaughter pigs.

ACS Style

Henrike C. Jäger; Trevelyan J. McKinley; James L. N. Wood; Gareth Pearce; Susanna Williamson; Benjamin Strugnell; Stanley Done; Henrike Habernoll; Andreas Palzer; Alexander W. Tucker. Factors Associated with Pleurisy in Pigs: A Case-Control Analysis of Slaughter Pig Data for England and Wales. PLOS ONE 2012, 7, e29655 .

AMA Style

Henrike C. Jäger, Trevelyan J. McKinley, James L. N. Wood, Gareth Pearce, Susanna Williamson, Benjamin Strugnell, Stanley Done, Henrike Habernoll, Andreas Palzer, Alexander W. Tucker. Factors Associated with Pleurisy in Pigs: A Case-Control Analysis of Slaughter Pig Data for England and Wales. PLOS ONE. 2012; 7 (2):e29655.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Henrike C. Jäger; Trevelyan J. McKinley; James L. N. Wood; Gareth Pearce; Susanna Williamson; Benjamin Strugnell; Stanley Done; Henrike Habernoll; Andreas Palzer; Alexander W. Tucker. 2012. "Factors Associated with Pleurisy in Pigs: A Case-Control Analysis of Slaughter Pig Data for England and Wales." PLOS ONE 7, no. 2: e29655.

Journal article
Published: 31 August 2011 in Applied Animal Behaviour Science
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Social network analysis of behavioural interactions was used to quantify the effect of high (HD, 30 kg m−3) and low (LD, 8 kg m−3) stocking densities on the frequency and severity of fin damage in Atlantic salmon. Dorsal fin damage (erosion, splits, fin index) was significantly higher in HD compared to LD groups with higher amounts of dorsal fin erosion. The prevalence of dorsal fin splitting was also significantly higher in HD groups. No other fins were affected by fin damage irrespective of density. Social networks based on aggressive interactions showed that HD groups exhibited higher centrality, clustering coefficient, in-degree centrality, out-degree centrality and were less dense than LD groups. High centralities and clustering coefficients indicated a distinctive separation of fish within HD groups into initiators of aggression (out-degree four times higher than in-degree) and receivers of aggression (in-degree four times higher than out-degree). This separation of roles was seen only in HD groups where initiators had higher out-degree centrality while receivers showed high in-degree centrality. Initiators of aggressive interactions had less fin erosion, higher final weights and higher body lengths than receivers of aggression. Fish in HD groups were significantly less aggressive than fish in LD groups in terms of the total number of aggressive behaviours observed but they exhibited significantly more overt aggression in terms of biting frequency. This can explain the occurrence of higher levels of fin damage in HD groups. Fish in LD groups had lower final weights, final body lengths and body condition than those in HD groups. This study shows that fish grew better and were in better condition when held at higher densities, but has significantly more overt aggression and fin damage than fish at lower densities. Density therefore has a differential detrimental effect upon performance and welfare depending upon the choice of welfare indicator (e.g. growth and condition vs. aggression and fin damage).

ACS Style

Hernán Alberto Cañon Jones; Chris Noble; Børge Damsgård; Gareth P. Pearce. Social network analysis of the behavioural interactions that influence the development of fin damage in Atlantic salmon parr (Salmo salar) held at different stocking densities. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 2011, 133, 117 -126.

AMA Style

Hernán Alberto Cañon Jones, Chris Noble, Børge Damsgård, Gareth P. Pearce. Social network analysis of the behavioural interactions that influence the development of fin damage in Atlantic salmon parr (Salmo salar) held at different stocking densities. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 2011; 133 (1):117-126.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Hernán Alberto Cañon Jones; Chris Noble; Børge Damsgård; Gareth P. Pearce. 2011. "Social network analysis of the behavioural interactions that influence the development of fin damage in Atlantic salmon parr (Salmo salar) held at different stocking densities." Applied Animal Behaviour Science 133, no. 1: 117-126.

Journal article
Published: 01 August 2011 in Preventive Veterinary Medicine
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Empirical studies that integrate information on host contact patterns with infectious disease transmission over time are rare. The aims of this study were to determine the relative importance of intra-group social interactions in the transmission of tuberculosis (TB; Mycobacterium bovis infection) in a population of wild meerkats (Suricata suricatta) in South Africa, and to use this information to propose an evidence-based intervention strategy to manage this disease. Detailed behavioural observations of all members of eight meerkat groups (n = 134 individuals) were made over 24 months from January 2006 to December 2007. Social network analysis of three types of interaction (aggression, foraging competitions and grooming) revealed social structure to be very stable over time. Clustering of interactions was positively correlated with group size for both aggression (r = 0.73) and grooming interactions (r = 0.71), suggesting that infections may spread locally within clusters of interacting individuals but be limited from infecting all members of large groups by an apparent threshold in connections between different clusters. Repeated biological sampling every three months of all members of one social group (n = 37 meerkats) was undertaken to quantify individual changes in M. bovis infection status. These empirical data were used to construct a dynamic network model of TB transmission within a meerkat group. The results indicated that grooming (both giving and receiving) was more likely than aggression to be correlated with M. bovis transmission and that groomers were at higher risk of infection than groomees. Intervention strategies for managing TB in meerkats that focus on those individuals engaging in the highest amount of grooming are therefore proposed.

ACS Style

Julian A. Drewe; Ken T.D. Eames; Joah Madden; Gareth Pearce. Integrating contact network structure into tuberculosis epidemiology in meerkats in South Africa: Implications for control. Preventive Veterinary Medicine 2011, 101, 113 -120.

AMA Style

Julian A. Drewe, Ken T.D. Eames, Joah Madden, Gareth Pearce. Integrating contact network structure into tuberculosis epidemiology in meerkats in South Africa: Implications for control. Preventive Veterinary Medicine. 2011; 101 (1-2):113-120.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Julian A. Drewe; Ken T.D. Eames; Joah Madden; Gareth Pearce. 2011. "Integrating contact network structure into tuberculosis epidemiology in meerkats in South Africa: Implications for control." Preventive Veterinary Medicine 101, no. 1-2: 113-120.

Journal article
Published: 26 April 2011 in Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Individuals in social groups interact with numerous other group members in a polyadic network. Interactions can depend on the individual's own attributes (age, sex, status etc.), on their partner's attributes, and the group's network of social interactions. Previous studies tend to look at a subset of dyadic interactions, focusing on particular classes of individuals. We used social network analysis to explore how an individual wild meerkat's (Suricata suricatta) attributes related to their positions in three different interaction networks (grooming, dominance interactions, and foraging competitions) across eight groups. We asked whether individuals within groups associated assortatively and whether individuals with similar attributes occupied similar network positions. Differences in an individual's attributes did not consistently influence association patterns across different interaction network types. However, within network types, some attributes were especially influential across all groups. Grooming networks revealed negative assortativity by age and mass. Dominance networks revealed dominant–subordinate associations and high assortativity between males. Dominant individuals exhibited higher levels of dominance interactions and were aggressive to more different individuals than subordinates. Heavier individuals received higher levels of dominance interactions. Foraging competition networks revealed that younger and lighter individuals received higher overall levels of competitions and from more group members. Our observations were similar to focused studies on dyadic interactions but also revealed subtle differences. Future descriptions of social interactions should account for networks of social interactions occurring within a group and should be cautious about treating individuals with similar attributes as functionally similar with respect to their position within a social network.

ACS Style

J. R. Madden; J. A. Drewe; Gareth Pearce; T. H. Clutton-Brock. The social network structure of a wild meerkat population: 3. Position of individuals within networks. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 2011, 65, 1857 -1871.

AMA Style

J. R. Madden, J. A. Drewe, Gareth Pearce, T. H. Clutton-Brock. The social network structure of a wild meerkat population: 3. Position of individuals within networks. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. 2011; 65 (10):1857-1871.

Chicago/Turabian Style

J. R. Madden; J. A. Drewe; Gareth Pearce; T. H. Clutton-Brock. 2011. "The social network structure of a wild meerkat population: 3. Position of individuals within networks." Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 65, no. 10: 1857-1871.

Journal article
Published: 30 November 2010 in Applied Animal Behaviour Science
Reads 0
Downloads 0

The role of behavioural interactions in the development of fin damage amongst Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) undergoing feed-restriction was investigated using social network analysis. Dorsal fin damage, particularly erosion, was seen only in groups subjected to feed-restriction. The amount of dorsal fin damage was positively correlated with aggression and fin-biting. Feed-restricted fish exhibited significantly lower weight gain, reduced growth-rate and body condition but no differences in total length. Social networks based on aggressive interactions in feed-restriction groups showed significantly lower distance, and higher density, higher clustering coefficient and higher in and out degree centrality. These findings indicated higher and more intense aggressive interactions in feed-restricted fish. A distinctive separation of roles according to aggression was found in feed-restriction groups where initiators had high out-degree centrality and receivers had high in-degree centrality. Fish initiating aggressive interactions had less fin damage, gained more weight and attained more central positions within the school. Fish receiving aggression had more fin damage and gained less weight. Association networks in the feed-restricted groups had significantly lower values for transitivity and distance with a tendency for higher centrality. These findings indicate higher levels of interaction and an imbalance in their relationships. We demonstrated the value of social network analysis in investigating behavioural interactions associated with aggression and the development of fin damage in Atlantic salmon.

ACS Style

Hernán Alberto Cañon Jones; Linda A. Hansen; Chris Noble; Børge Damsgård; Donald M. Broom; Gareth Pearce. Social network analysis of behavioural interactions influencing fin damage development in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) during feed-restriction. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 2010, 127, 139 -151.

AMA Style

Hernán Alberto Cañon Jones, Linda A. Hansen, Chris Noble, Børge Damsgård, Donald M. Broom, Gareth Pearce. Social network analysis of behavioural interactions influencing fin damage development in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) during feed-restriction. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 2010; 127 (3-4):139-151.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Hernán Alberto Cañon Jones; Linda A. Hansen; Chris Noble; Børge Damsgård; Donald M. Broom; Gareth Pearce. 2010. "Social network analysis of behavioural interactions influencing fin damage development in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) during feed-restriction." Applied Animal Behaviour Science 127, no. 3-4: 139-151.

Journal article
Published: 23 July 2009 in Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Knowledge of the structure of networks of social interactions is important for understanding the evolution of cooperation, transmission of disease, and patterns of social learning, yet little is known of how environmental, ecological, or behavioural factors relate to such structures within groups. We observed grooming, dominance, and foraging competition interactions in eight groups of wild meerkats (Suricata suricatta) and constructed interaction networks for each behaviour. We investigated relationships between networks for different social interactions and explored how group attributes (size and sex ratio), individual attributes (tenure of dominants), and ecological factors (ectoparasite load) are related to variation in network structure. Network structures varied within a group according to interaction type. Further, network structure varied predictably with group attributes, individual attributes, and ecological factors. Networks became less dense as group size increased suggesting that individuals were limited in their number of partners. Groups with more established dominant females were more egalitarian in their grooming and foraging competition interactions, but more despotic in their dominance interactions. The distribution of individuals receiving grooming became more skewed at higher parasite loads, but more equitable at low parasite loads. We conclude that the pattern of interactions between members of meerkat groups is not consistent between groups but instead depends on general attributes of the group, the influence of specific individuals within the group, and ecological factors acting on group members. We suggest that the variation observed in interaction patterns between members of meerkat groups may have fitness consequences both for individual group members and the group itself.

ACS Style

Joah R. Madden; Julian A. Drewe; Gareth Pearce; Tim H. Clutton-Brock. The social network structure of a wild meerkat population: 2. Intragroup interactions. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 2009, 64, 81 -95.

AMA Style

Joah R. Madden, Julian A. Drewe, Gareth Pearce, Tim H. Clutton-Brock. The social network structure of a wild meerkat population: 2. Intragroup interactions. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. 2009; 64 (1):81-95.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Joah R. Madden; Julian A. Drewe; Gareth Pearce; Tim H. Clutton-Brock. 2009. "The social network structure of a wild meerkat population: 2. Intragroup interactions." Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 64, no. 1: 81-95.

Original paper
Published: 27 May 2009 in Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Groups of individuals frequently interact with each other, but typically analysis of such interactions is restricted to isolated dyads. Social network analysis (SNA) provides a method of analysing polyadic interactions and is used to analyse interactions between individuals. We use a population of 12 groups (ca. 250 animals) of wild meerkats (Suricata suricatta) to test whether SNA can also be used to describe and elucidate patterns of inter-group interactions. Using data collected over 24 months, we constructed two sets of networks, based on direct encounters between groups and instances of roving males visiting other groups. We analysed replicated networks of each type of interaction to investigate similarities between networks of different social interactions as well as testing their stability over time. The two network types were similar to each other when derived from long-term data, but showed significant differences in structure over shorter timescales where they varied according to seasonal and ecological conditions. Networks for both types of inter-group interaction constructed from data collected over 3 months reliably described long-term (12- and 24-month) patterns of interactions between groups, indicating a stable social structure despite variation in group sizes and sex ratios over time. The centrality of each meerkat group in roving interactions networks was unaffected by the sex ratio of its members, indicating that male meerkats preferentially visit geographically close groups rather than those containing most females. Indeed, the strongest predictors of network structure were spatial factors, suggesting that, in contrast to analyses of intra-group interactions, analyses of inter-group interactions using SNA must take spatial factors into account.

ACS Style

J. A. Drewe; J. R. Madden; G. P. Pearce. The social network structure of a wild meerkat population: 1. Inter-group interactions. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 2009, 63, 1295 -1306.

AMA Style

J. A. Drewe, J. R. Madden, G. P. Pearce. The social network structure of a wild meerkat population: 1. Inter-group interactions. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. 2009; 63 (9):1295-1306.

Chicago/Turabian Style

J. A. Drewe; J. R. Madden; G. P. Pearce. 2009. "The social network structure of a wild meerkat population: 1. Inter-group interactions." Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 63, no. 9: 1295-1306.

Journal article
Published: 01 January 2009 in Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Accurate diagnosis of Mycobacterium bovis infection (bovine tuberculosis [bTB]) in live animals is notoriously problematic. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the diagnostic potential of 2 new serologic tests (multiantigen print immunoassay [MAPIA] and lateral flow immunoassay rapid test [RT]) in comparison with mycobacterial culture of tracheal washes for determining M. bovis infection status in a free-ranging population of wild meerkats ( Suricata suricatta). During a longitudinal study lasting 2.5 years, 240 individually identifiable meerkats were each sampled up to 8 times under anesthesia every 3 months. Diagnostic accuracy was determined through Bayesian and maximum likelihood estimations of sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratios for each diagnostic test when used independently and in parallel to classify the disease status of individual meerkats in the absence of a gold standard. Culture of tracheal washes was highly specific (0.99; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.77, 1.00) but of low sensitivity (0.36; 95% CI = 0.24, 0.50) for diagnosing M. bovis-infected individuals. The longitudinal nature of the study with repeated sampling of the same individual animals served simultaneously to improve chances of detecting infection and increase confidence in a negative result in individual animals repeatedly testing negative. Although MAPIA and RT were individually of limited diagnostic use, interpreting the results of these 2 tests in parallel produced estimates of sensitivity (0.83; 95% CI = 0.67, 0.93) and specificity (0.73; 95% CI = 0.62, 0.82) high enough to usefully inform decision making when determining exposure to bTB in wild meerkats and potentially other species in which bTB poses a diagnostic challenge.

ACS Style

Julian A. Drewe; Gillian S. Dean; Anita Michel; Gareth Pearce. Accuracy of Three Diagnostic Tests for Determining Mycobacterium Bovis Infection Status in Live-Sampled Wild Meerkats (Suricata Suricatta). Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation 2009, 21, 31 -39.

AMA Style

Julian A. Drewe, Gillian S. Dean, Anita Michel, Gareth Pearce. Accuracy of Three Diagnostic Tests for Determining Mycobacterium Bovis Infection Status in Live-Sampled Wild Meerkats (Suricata Suricatta). Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation. 2009; 21 (1):31-39.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Julian A. Drewe; Gillian S. Dean; Anita Michel; Gareth Pearce. 2009. "Accuracy of Three Diagnostic Tests for Determining Mycobacterium Bovis Infection Status in Live-Sampled Wild Meerkats (Suricata Suricatta)." Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation 21, no. 1: 31-39.

Journal article
Published: 01 January 2009 in Journal of Comparative Pathology
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Pathological lesions associated with Mycobacterium bovis infection (bovine tuberculosis; bTB) in free-living meerkats (Suricata suricatta) in the Kalahari Desert of South Africa are described. The pathology of bTB in meerkats was determined through detailed post-mortem examinations of 57 animals (52 meerkats showing clinical signs of bTB, and five not showing signs of disease). Lymph nodes and tissue lesions thought to be associated with bTB were cultured for mycobacteria. All 52 bTB-infected meerkats showed gross or microscopical granulomatous lesions, but M. bovis was cultured from only 42% (22/52) of these animals. The majority (96%, 50/52) of diseased meerkats had lesions in multiple sites, the pattern of which suggested haematogenous spread of M. bovis infection in this species. The histological characteristics of the tuberculous lesions, together with the gross pathology and the wide range of body systems affected, indicate that infection in meerkats is acquired principally via the respiratory and oral routes, whereas excretion is most likely via the respiratory tract and suppurating skin wounds. Urine and faeces appear to be unlikely sources of infection. The findings of this study provide information on the transmission, pathogenesis and epidemiology of bTB in meerkats that is likely to be relevant to the understanding of M. bovis infection in other social mammal species such as the European badger (Meles meles).

ACS Style

J.A. Drewe; A.K. Foote; R.L. Sutcliffe; G.P. Pearce. Pathology of Mycobacterium bovis Infection in Wild Meerkats (Suricata suricatta). Journal of Comparative Pathology 2009, 140, 12 -24.

AMA Style

J.A. Drewe, A.K. Foote, R.L. Sutcliffe, G.P. Pearce. Pathology of Mycobacterium bovis Infection in Wild Meerkats (Suricata suricatta). Journal of Comparative Pathology. 2009; 140 (1):12-24.

Chicago/Turabian Style

J.A. Drewe; A.K. Foote; R.L. Sutcliffe; G.P. Pearce. 2009. "Pathology of Mycobacterium bovis Infection in Wild Meerkats (Suricata suricatta)." Journal of Comparative Pathology 140, no. 1: 12-24.

Book chapter
Published: 10 December 2008 in Management of Disease in Wild Mammals
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Emerging infectious diseases have become an important challenge for wildlife ecologists and managers. Management actions to control these diseases are usually directed at the parasite, the host population, or a key component of the environment, with the goal of reducing disease exposure and transmission. Control methods directed at the host population, however, remain limited in approach (e.g. vaccination, population reduction, test-and-remove) and scope, by financial, logistical, ethical and political constraints. Furthermore, these control methods have often been implemented without due consideration of how host ecology and behaviour may influence disease dynamics. This chapter highlights how host population structure and social organisation affect parasite transmission and prevalence. Traditionally, variation in disease prevalence among species, genders, and ages may have been explained by immunological differences in susceptibility. However, ecological and behavioural factors can also affect the rates and routes of parasite transmission and potential control options. Using this information, future control efforts may be improved by focusing on subsets of individuals, areas, environmental factors, or times of year that are most important in the propagation and persistence of a pathogen.

ACS Style

Paul Cross; Julian Drewe; Victoria Patrek; Gareth Pearce; Michael D. Samuel; Richard J. Delahay. Wildlife Population Structure and Parasite Transmission: Implications for Disease Management. Management of Disease in Wild Mammals 2008, 9 -29.

AMA Style

Paul Cross, Julian Drewe, Victoria Patrek, Gareth Pearce, Michael D. Samuel, Richard J. Delahay. Wildlife Population Structure and Parasite Transmission: Implications for Disease Management. Management of Disease in Wild Mammals. 2008; ():9-29.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Paul Cross; Julian Drewe; Victoria Patrek; Gareth Pearce; Michael D. Samuel; Richard J. Delahay. 2008. "Wildlife Population Structure and Parasite Transmission: Implications for Disease Management." Management of Disease in Wild Mammals , no. : 9-29.

Journal article
Published: 31 December 2007 in Research in Veterinary Science
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Associations between serum concentrations of haptoglobin, pathological lung lesions indicative of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (EP) or Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (PL) infection at slaughter and previous rearing environment were investigated in 510 pigs (90–100 kg live weight) from 17 farms in England. Haptoglobin concentrations were significantly higher in pigs showing pathological signs of EP infection compared to those without signs of this disease (EP positive median 0.43 mg ml−1 vs. EP negative median 0.26 mg ml−1, p < 0.01). However, there were no significant associations between serum haptoglobin concentrations and pathological signs of PL. The presence of solid partitions compared with barred or similar open partitions was associated with a decrease of 0.44 mg ml−1 farm mean haptoglobin concentration, whilst an increase in pen size of 10 m2 was associated with a decrease of 0.08 mg ml−1 farm mean haptoglobin concentration. The findings indicate that pathological signs of EP were associated with increased serum haptoglobin at slaughter, which in turn was influenced by components of the farm environment.

ACS Style

J.R. Amory; A.M. MacKenzie; P.D. Eckersall; M.J. Stear; G.P. Pearce. Influence of rearing conditions and respiratory disease on haptoglobin levels in the pig at slaughter. Research in Veterinary Science 2007, 83, 428 -435.

AMA Style

J.R. Amory, A.M. MacKenzie, P.D. Eckersall, M.J. Stear, G.P. Pearce. Influence of rearing conditions and respiratory disease on haptoglobin levels in the pig at slaughter. Research in Veterinary Science. 2007; 83 (3):428-435.

Chicago/Turabian Style

J.R. Amory; A.M. MacKenzie; P.D. Eckersall; M.J. Stear; G.P. Pearce. 2007. "Influence of rearing conditions and respiratory disease on haptoglobin levels in the pig at slaughter." Research in Veterinary Science 83, no. 3: 428-435.

Journal article
Published: 01 December 2007 in Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture
Reads 0
Downloads 0
ACS Style

Hilary Rc Kelly; Helen M Browning; Jon El Day; Anne Martins; Gareth P Pearce; Christopher Stopes; Sandra A Edwards. Effect of breed type, housing and feeding system on performance of growing pigs managed under organic conditions. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 2007, 87, 2794 -2800.

AMA Style

Hilary Rc Kelly, Helen M Browning, Jon El Day, Anne Martins, Gareth P Pearce, Christopher Stopes, Sandra A Edwards. Effect of breed type, housing and feeding system on performance of growing pigs managed under organic conditions. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. 2007; 87 (15):2794-2800.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Hilary Rc Kelly; Helen M Browning; Jon El Day; Anne Martins; Gareth P Pearce; Christopher Stopes; Sandra A Edwards. 2007. "Effect of breed type, housing and feeding system on performance of growing pigs managed under organic conditions." Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 87, no. 15: 2794-2800.

Website
Published: 05 January 2007 in Equine Veterinary Journal
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Treatment for bacteraemia in foals must be started before the identity of the causative organism is known. Information aiding selection of effective antimicrobials should improve outcome.

ACS Style

K. T. T. Corley; G. Pearce; K. G. Magdesian; W. D. Wilson. Bacteraemia in neonatal foals: clinicopathological differences between Gram-positive and Gram-negative infections, and single organism and mixed infections. Equine Veterinary Journal 2007, 39, 84 -89.

AMA Style

K. T. T. Corley, G. Pearce, K. G. Magdesian, W. D. Wilson. Bacteraemia in neonatal foals: clinicopathological differences between Gram-positive and Gram-negative infections, and single organism and mixed infections. Equine Veterinary Journal. 2007; 39 (1):84-89.

Chicago/Turabian Style

K. T. T. Corley; G. Pearce; K. G. Magdesian; W. D. Wilson. 2007. "Bacteraemia in neonatal foals: clinicopathological differences between Gram-positive and Gram-negative infections, and single organism and mixed infections." Equine Veterinary Journal 39, no. 1: 84-89.

Papers and articles
Published: 25 February 2006 in Veterinary Record
Reads 0
Downloads 0

The prevalence and severity of gastric ulcers were investigated in a sample of 50 slaughter pigs from each of 16 commercial farms in the UK. The mean prevalence of ulcers was 19·1 per cent and the mean (se) severity score on the 16 farms was 2·2 (0·15) on a scale from 0 (normal) to 6 (severe). Multivariate regression analysis showed that the type of lying surface provided for the pigs during the finishing phase was the most important factor associated with the occurrence of gastric ulcers in the farms studied. Finisher pigs housed on slatted floors had a significantly higher mean ulcer severity score (P<0·001) than pigs housed on solid concrete floors, which had a significantly higher score (P<0·01) than pigs housed on straw bedding. Feeding a pelleted finisher ration was also associated with significant increase in ulcer severity (P<0·01) compared with feeding an unpelleted ration, but was of less importance than the type of floor. The detrimental influence of feeding pellets was ameliorated by the provision of straw bedding.

ACS Style

Jonathan Amory; A. M. Mackenzie; Gareth Pearce. Factors in the housing environment of finisher pigs associated with the development of gastric ulcers. Veterinary Record 2006, 158, 260 -264.

AMA Style

Jonathan Amory, A. M. Mackenzie, Gareth Pearce. Factors in the housing environment of finisher pigs associated with the development of gastric ulcers. Veterinary Record. 2006; 158 (8):260-264.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Jonathan Amory; A. M. Mackenzie; Gareth Pearce. 2006. "Factors in the housing environment of finisher pigs associated with the development of gastric ulcers." Veterinary Record 158, no. 8: 260-264.