@ucalgary.ca
PhD Student, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
University of Calgary
Master of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, University of California - Davis, 2022
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, 2019
Bachelor of Science - Poultry Science, North Carolina State University, 2015
Bachelor of Science - Animal Science, North Carolina State University, 2015
Veterinary, Epidemiology, Animal Science and Zoology, Infectious Diseases
Scopus Publications
Scholar Citations
Scholar h-index
McCaide T. Wooten, Carmel Witte, Meg Sutherland-Smith, Patricia M. Gaffney, and Kathryn C. Conlon
American Association of Zoo Veterinarians
The Rhynonyssid mesostigmatic mite, Sternostoma tracheacolum, is a well-documented endoparasitic hematophagous arthropod of the respiratory tracts of multiple avian species, particularly Estrildid finches and canaries. In this retrospective study, 175 medical and 278 pathology records for the Gouldian finch (Chloebia gouldiae) population (N = 377) at the San Diego Zoo between 2013 and 2021 were analyzed to evaluate the effectiveness of ivermectin-based prophylaxis. A multivariable negative binomial regression model was constructed to evaluate the population effects of monthly treatments on morbidity or mortality associated with respiratory mites. While controlling for other factors in the model, the prophylactic treatment did not significantly reduce the monthly rate of mite-associated morbidity or mortality (IRR = 1.017, 95% CI: 0.997-1.036, P = 0.0759); however, low proportions of the population were prophylactically treated over time. Different factors were significant when separately evaluating adjusted associations with respiratory morbidity and mortality. The findings suggest increased rates of respiratory morbidity for each successive year of the study period (IRR = 1.180, 95% CI: 1.046-1.342, P = 0.0090) and increased rates of mite-associated mortality occurring annually between May and October (IRR = 1.697, 95% CI: 1.034-2.855, P = 0.0404) compared to the wet winter season. Our findings highlight the need to continually evaluate and optimize treatment regimens in zoological collections. Further investigations into this host-parasite relationship and potential treatments and preventive therapies are warranted.
Rebeca Scalco, Gabriela Novo de Oliveira, Bruna da Rosa Curcio, McCaide Wooten, K. Gary Magdesian, Stephanie Takako Hidai, Pranav Pandit, and Monica Aleman
Wiley
AbstractBackgroundRapid and accurate markers to aid diagnosis of sepsis are needed in neonatal foals. The CBC variable red blood cell distribution width (RDW) to platelet ratio (RPR) is associated with inflammatory response and linked to poor outcomes of sepsis in human patients.HypothesisExplore the correlation of RPR with sepsis in neonatal foals and evaluate RPR predictive and prognostic value.AnimalsThree hundred seventeen hospitalized neonatal foals ≤7 days of age that had a CBC and physical exam performed at admission between 2012 and 2021.MethodsRetrospective case‐control study. Clinical records were used to calculate sepsis scores and define groups. Red blood cell distribution width to platelet ratio was calculated and compared between groups (septic vs nonseptic) based on Kruskal‐Wallis and Wilcoxon signed‐rank tests. A multivariate logistic regression model to predict sepsis was created. The cutoff for RPR was obtained based on the maximal Youden Index. The Kaplan‐Meier method and the log‐rank test were used to estimate survival curves and compare survival rates based on RPR.ResultsRed blood cell distribution width to platelet ratio was significantly higher in septic foals (Median = 0.099, confidence interval [CI] [0.093; 0.108]) than in sick nonseptic (0.085, CI [0.083; 0.089]) and healthy foals (0.081, CI [0.077; 0.086]; P < .0001). Red blood cell distribution width to platelet ratio was able to predict sepsis with high accuracy (AUC = 82.1%). The optimal RPR cutoff for sepsis was 0.09.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceRed blood cell distribution width to platelet ratio calculation is practical, inexpensive, and based on CBC‐derived data. Calculation of RPR along with CBC can aid in the diagnosis of sepsis and estimation of outcome.
McCaide T. Wooten and Timothy A. Snider
Wiley
AbstractA 3‐year‐old, male, entire African pygmy hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) was presented for a 10‐day history of hyporexia, mucoid green faeces and lethargy. Survey radiographs revealed a left caudal abdominal mass effect with cranial displacement and gas distension of the intestinal loops. During exploratory laparotomy, the cause of the mass effect was revealed to be grossly enlarged seminal vesicles, which were excised. Histopathology revealed uniform polycystic glandular architecture, consistent with benign cystic hyperplasia. The patient recovered and was clinically healthy at the last follow‐up examination. This is the first detailed report describing the antemortem diagnosis of benign seminal vesicular cystic hyperplasia resulting in presumptive clinical gastrointestinal disease in an African pygmy hedgehog.
Zachary S. Lowman, McCaide T. Wooten, Christopher M. Ashwell, Kenneth E. Anderso, and H. John Barne
Science Alert
Zachary S. Lowman, Carmen R. Parkhurst, and McCaide T. Wooten
Science Alert