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Data from: Deer keds and blacklegged ticks infesting ungulates in the United States: molecular detection of Bartonella spp., Rickettsia spp., Anaplasma spp., and Borrelia spp.

    Deer keds are blood-feeding flies from which several human and animal pathogens have been detected, including the causative agent of Lyme Disease (Borrelia burgdorferi). Cervids, which are the primary hosts of deer keds, are not natural reservoirs of B. burgdorferi, and it has been suggested that deer keds may acquire bacterial pathogens by co-feeding near ticks that are infected with the bacteria. We tested this hypothesis by using a molecular assay to screen for presence of Anaplasma spp., Bartonella spp., Borrelia spp., and Rickettsia spp. in specimens of European deer keds (n=306) and blacklegged ticks (n=315) collected from 38 individual white-tailed deer in Pennsylvania. There was limited similarity in the bacterial DNA detected between these ectoparasites per host, suggesting that co-feeding may not be a mechanism by which deer keds acquire these bacteria.

    Data from: Genomic divergence of zebu and taurine cattle identified through high-density SNP genotyping

      The following is taken directly from the introduction of the paper. In this study, we used a pure drift FST model [11] which assumes all animals originated from the same ancestral population. This model was applied to taurine and zebu animals to identify loci under selection. These two groups correspond to the main (and most ancestral) separation of domestic cattle, which in most but not all cases corresponds to animals adapted to tropical and temperate environments. The identification of such loci can aid in the identification of genes and genomic variants that are related to environmental adaptation and/or selection derived from human agro-pastoral activities.

      Data from: Antigenic distance between North American swine and human seasonal H3N2 influenza A viruses as an indication of zoonotic risk to humans

        An investigation of antigenic relationships between North American swine H3N2 influenza A viruses (IAV) and human seasonal vaccine strains was conducted to assess the zoonotic risk to humans. Human seasonal vaccine strains were cultured on MDCK cells or eggs and the HA gene was verified by sequencing on a Sanger method at National Animal Disease Center (NADC). A consensus HA sequence was generated using Geneious Software.

        Human blood plasma oxylipins + endocannabinoids exercise patterns

          These data represent temporal changes in the concentrations of individual oxylipins (OxL) and endocannabinoids (eCB) in adult women during a sub-maximal aerobic exercise bout, and at recovery (20 min. post-cessation of exercise). Also depicted are statistical groupings of metabolites, as an Excel file.

          Data from: United States wildlife and wildlife product imports from 2000–2014

            Data are presented on 15 years of the importation of wildlife and their derived products into the United States (2000–2014), originally collected by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. These data include >2 million wildlife or wildlife product shipments, representing >60 biological classes and >3.2 billion live organisms. The data were curated and cleaned, and taxonomic information added to improve usability.

            Manuresheds: Redesigning crop-livestock agriculture for sustainable intensification

              The Long-Term Agroecosystem Research (LTAR) network is exploring the concept of the “manureshed,” the manure-spreadable land in the geographic, environmental, and social radius of a confined livestock operation. To better understand opportunities for expanding manuresheds in the United States, we identified the nationwide, county-level pattern of livestock distribution, manure excess, and crop assimilation of manure nutrients.