The Continued Research in Determining The
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INTEGUMENTARY LESIONS KNOWN AS “PIX” IN THE AMERICAN ALLIGATOR (ALLIGATOR MISSISSIPPIENSIS) By HEATHER MARIE TOWNSEND A DISSERTATION PRESENTED TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA 2008 1 © 2008 Heather Marie Townsend 2 To my husband, Dr. Forrest Townsend, III. He has given me such inspiration over the years that I owe everything to him. He is the most kind, patient, and loving person that I know. 3 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS An assorted collection of people had integral parts in helping with the completion of this project. The many hurdles I encountered could not have been overcome without the help of everyone. I came to the University of Florida in 2000 to pursue what I thought would be a 3 year graduate career; 8 years later, I am still dedicating myself to aquatic animal research. The person I would like to thank fully and humbly is my mentor Dr. Paul Cardeilhac. I consider him someone to look up to and a close and personal friend, whom at times I think of as a third grandfather. I have learned many life lessons through him, and I owe everything that I have accomplished to him. I have had many opportunities working with him on various projects and I am grateful to have come to his laboratory. Whether it was alligators, manatees, or bass, he always included me in his projects and I thank him for that. My committee members each have done so much for me over the years and I consider them each dear mentors and friends. Dr. Roger Reep and Dr. Don Samuelson have been helpful in teaching me the great world of histology. I was a teaching assistant in histology for Dr. Reep for over 5 years, and I can say that it is one of my favorite aspects of this project. Dr. Samuelson was an integral part in the laboratory preparation of my samples; the electron microscopy of this project would not have been possible without him. Dr. Peter McGuire is a molecular expert, and I thank him for all of his insight on the molecular aspects of this project and for our many office brainstorming sessions. Dr. James Kimbrough is the leading expert in the field of mycology; he personally took me under his wing and taught me all about the wonderful world of fungi. I would not have such a strong interest in this aspect if it weren’t for him. Pat Lewis, who in 2007 was named histotechnologist of the year, has been my right hand woman in all of my years at UF. There is not a single stain that she cannot do. She has been a great source of help and support for me and I do not think that I would have left with as much 4 sanity if she was not there for me. Ann Marie Clark was key in developing the PCR protocol for the detection of Hortaea werneckii within alligator integument. The virology portion of this project would not have been possible without the help of Maureen Long and Carlos Romero. Pam Ginn provided the pathological reading of the slides, and I thank her so much for her insight and help. Shasta McClenahan and Rebecca Grant helped tremendously with the virology portion of this project. They were also my “lunch buddies” for many years, and I have had countless laughs with them by my side. Maggie Kellogg and Kim Pause were integral with portions of my laboratory work, and I thank them for always helping me when I needed it. I made four great and everlasting friends out of this degree. The whole reason that I even remotely know anything about alligators is because of Allen Register. I completed an internship with him in 1998 at his alligator farm in Palmdale, Florida and since then I have worked many years with him collecting alligator eggs every summer in Florida. I would not have as much love and appreciation for the species if it were not for him. I would not be where I am at today if I did not have him to guide me through most of my beginnings. I thank Allen for taking a “yankee girl” in and showing her the ways and for making me a part of his family. Financial support was provided through both the Florida Aquaculture Review Council and the Louisiana Department of Fisheries. Noel Kinler and Ruth Elsey had integral parts in helping me with data collection and communication. Numerous travel grants were awarded through the University of Florida. I would not have had as many samples over the 7 year period if not for the alligator farmers in Florida and Louisiana. I thank them for their sacrifice. My family had an important part in my finishing my PhD through their emotional and financial support through my many years in college. My mother Marie, father Ronald, and 5 brother Cameron, along with my grandparents Kay, Ernie, and Donald; I thank them for their support. All of my fellow graduate students: Ann, Anne, and Katie; I would not have been able to complete portions of my degree if it weren’t for them. Last, but certainly not least, none of this could be possible without the love that I receive daily from my husband, Forrest “Trey” Townsend. Not only has he shown support through his love, but pushed me when I needed pushing. I am thankful that he is also a veterinarian, for when it was late at night and I needed help and did not want to wake up any of my committee members, I could always turn to him for advice. I thank him for always planning things when I was starting to get overstressed, and for taking the dogs out when I was too busy to notice them whining at the door. I owe my heart and soul to him. 6 TABLE OF CONTENTS page ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ...............................................................................................................4 LIST OF TABLES.........................................................................................................................11 LIST OF FIGURES .......................................................................................................................12 ABSTRACT...................................................................................................................................15 CHAPTER 1 LITERATURE REVIEW .......................................................................................................17 Introduction.............................................................................................................................17 Overview of the Integument ...................................................................................................18 Physiology of the Integument..........................................................................................18 Protection .................................................................................................................19 Thermoregulation .....................................................................................................19 Excretion ..................................................................................................................20 Reception..................................................................................................................20 Absorption................................................................................................................20 Water Loss................................................................................................................21 Immunity ..................................................................................................................21 Movement.................................................................................................................21 Macroanatomy of the Integument ...................................................................................22 Microanatomy of the Integument ....................................................................................24 Epidermis .................................................................................................................29 Epidermal cell types.................................................................................................32 Dermis ......................................................................................................................35 Dermal cell types......................................................................................................37 Development of the Integument .............................................................................................38 Processes in Reptilian Development ...............................................................................43 Crocodilian Development................................................................................................44 Post-hatching Crocodilian Integument.....................................................................51 Comparisons.............................................................................................................51 Conclusions ..............................................................................................................55 Diagnostic Testing in the Identification of Pathogens............................................................56 Visual Identification ........................................................................................................56 Environmental Testing ....................................................................................................57 Microbiology ...................................................................................................................57 Histology .........................................................................................................................58