Data for "Training the domestic ferret to discriminate odors associated with wildlife disease"

Metadata:
Identification_Information:
Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Golden, Glen J.
Originator: Opiekun, Maryanne
Originator: Martin-Taylor, Talia
Originator: Kimball, Bruce A.
Publication_Date: 2021
Title:
Data for "Training the domestic ferret to discriminate odors associated with wildlife disease"
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: spreadsheet
Series_Information:
Series_Name: Research Dataset Series
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Fort Collins, CO
Publisher: USDA, APHIS, WS National Wildlife Research Center
Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.2737/NWRC-RDS-2020-002
Description:
Abstract:
Recent avian influenza virus (AIV) infection outbreaks have resulted in global biosecurity and economic concerns. Mallards are asymptomatic for the disease and can potentially spread AI along migratory bird flyways. In a previous study, trained mice correctly discriminated the health status of individual ducks on the basis of fecal odors when feces from post-infection periods were paired with feces from pre-infection periods. Chemical analyses indicated that avian influenza infection was associated with a marked increase of acetoin (3-hydroxy-2-butanone) in feces. In this 2015 study, domesticated male ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) were trained to display a specific conditioned response (i.e. active scratch alert) in response to a marked increase of acetoin in a presentation of an acetoin:1-octen-3-ol solution. Ferrets rapidly generalized this learned response to the odor of irradiated feces from avian influenza infected mallards. The data included in this publication covers the training with acetoin/octenol ratios, testing with acetoin/octenol ratios, and generalization testing with irradiated fecal samples from ducks pre- and post-infection.
Purpose:
We hypothesized that the success of the mice in detecting AIV in mallard fecal samples could be repeated in a species that had a more malleable behavioral repertoire (i.e., a proposed canine AI biosensor program).
Supplemental_Information:
These data were published 04/01/2021. Minor metadata updates were made on 05/18/2023.

For more information about these data, see Golden et al. (2021, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0259415).
Time_Period_of_Content:
Time_Period_Information:
Range_of_Dates/Times:
Beginning_Date: 2013
Ending_Date: 2015
Currentness_Reference:
Ground condition
Status:
Progress: Complete
Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: As needed
Spatial_Domain:
Description_of_Geographic_Extent:
Animals were purchased from commercial breeders and housed in Philadelphia, PA. Data could represent entire United States.
Bounding_Coordinates:
West_Bounding_Coordinate: -75.193267
East_Bounding_Coordinate: -75.192876
North_Bounding_Coordinate: 39.955897
South_Bounding_Coordinate: 39.955605
Keywords:
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO 19115 Topic Category
Theme_Keyword: health
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: National Research & Development Taxonomy
Theme_Keyword: Wildlife (or Fauna)
Theme_Keyword: Mammals
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Theme_Keyword: associative learning
Theme_Keyword: olfaction
Theme_Keyword: odor discrimination
Theme_Keyword: operant behavior
Place:
Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Place_Keyword: Pennsylvania
Place_Keyword: Philadelphia
Taxonomy:
Taxonomic_System:
Classification_System/Authority:
Classification_System_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: ITIS
Publication_Date: 2020
Title:
Integrated Taxonomic Information System
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: database
Other_Citation_Details:
Retrieved [November, 4, 2020]
Online_Linkage: https://www.itis.gov
Taxonomic_Procedures:
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Kingdom
Taxon_Rank_Value: Animalia
Applicable_Common_Name: Animal
Applicable_Common_Name: animaux
Applicable_Common_Name: animals
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Subkingdom
Taxon_Rank_Value: Bilateria
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Infrakingdom
Taxon_Rank_Value: Deuterostomia
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Phylum
Taxon_Rank_Value: Chordata
Applicable_Common_Name: cordés
Applicable_Common_Name: cordado
Applicable_Common_Name: chordates
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Subphylum
Taxon_Rank_Value: Vertebrata
Applicable_Common_Name: vertebrado
Applicable_Common_Name: vertébrés
Applicable_Common_Name: vertebrates
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Infraphylum
Taxon_Rank_Value: Gnathostomata
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Superclass
Taxon_Rank_Value: Tetrapoda
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Class
Taxon_Rank_Value: Mammalia
Applicable_Common_Name: mammifères
Applicable_Common_Name: mamífero
Applicable_Common_Name: mammals
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Subclass
Taxon_Rank_Value: Theria
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Infraclass
Taxon_Rank_Value: Eutheria
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Order
Taxon_Rank_Value: Carnivora
Applicable_Common_Name: cachorro do mato
Applicable_Common_Name: carnívoro
Applicable_Common_Name: gato do mato
Applicable_Common_Name: lontra
Applicable_Common_Name: carnivores
Applicable_Common_Name: carnivores
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Suborder
Taxon_Rank_Value: Caniformia
Applicable_Common_Name: dog-like carnivores
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Family
Taxon_Rank_Value: Mustelidae
Applicable_Common_Name: mustelids
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Subfamily
Taxon_Rank_Value: Mustelinae
Applicable_Common_Name: wolverines
Applicable_Common_Name: martens
Applicable_Common_Name: weasels
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Genus
Taxon_Rank_Value: Mustela
Applicable_Common_Name: ermines
Applicable_Common_Name: ferrets
Applicable_Common_Name: minks
Applicable_Common_Name: weasels
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Species
Taxon_Rank_Value: Mustela putorius
Applicable_Common_Name: European Polecat
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Subspecies
Taxon_Rank_Value: Mustela putorius furo
Access_Constraints: None
Use_Constraints:
These data were collected using funding from the U.S. Government and can be used without additional permissions or fees. If you use these data in a publication, presentation, or other research product please use the following citation:

Golden, Glen J.; Opiekun, Maryanne; Martin-Taylor, Talia; Kimball, Bruce A. 2021. Data for "Training the domestic ferret to discriminate odors associated with wildlife disease". Research Dataset Series. USDA, APHIS, WS National Wildlife Research Center. Ft. Collins, Colorado. https://doi.org/10.2737/NWRC-RDS-2020-002
Point_of_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Person_Primary:
Contact_Person: Glen J. Golden
Contact_Organization: Colorado State University ; USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Service, National Wildlife Research Center
Contact_Position: Research Scientist
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical
Address: Colorado State University
Address: 1683 Campus Delivery
City: Fort Collins
State_or_Province: CO
Postal_Code: 80523-1683
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 970-266-6082
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: glen.golden@colostate.edu
Data_Set_Credit:
This project was funded by 1) United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center.
Cross_Reference:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Golden, Glen J.
Originator: Opiekun, Maryanne
Originator: Martin-Taylor, Talia
Originator: Kimball, Bruce A.
Publication_Date: 2021
Title:
Training the domestic ferret to discriminate odors associated with wildlife disease
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: journal article
Series_Information:
Series_Name: PLOS One
Issue_Identification: 16(11): e0259415
Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0259415
Back to Top
Data_Quality_Information:
Attribute_Accuracy:
Attribute_Accuracy_Report:
The box handler, who was responsible for choosing samples, arranging the samples for presentation, and responded as to the accuracy of a ferret's box choice was also responsible for correctly recording the response onto a daily sheet. Also see details of the double-blind procedure in the methods section below.
Completeness_Report:
No data are missing or intentionally withheld.
Lineage:
Methodology:
Methodology_Type: Field
Methodology_Description:
Biosensors
Eight, male, castrated ferrets (Marshall BioResources, North Rose, NY, USA) born 8/19/2013-8/21/2013 arrived at Monell Chemical Senses Center located in Philadelphia, PA as juveniles at 15 weeks of age. Ferrets were housed in pairs in two level, 2.5 centimeters (cm) spaced 12 gram (g) wire cages (MidWest, Muncie, IN; 91.44 cm wide x 63.5 cm deep x 160.66 cm high) and maintained at 23° Celsius (C) on a 12-hour (h) light (12-h dark cycle). During food restriction feeding periods or in case of illness, the ramp that connected the upper and lower levels of the cage could be locked in a raised and closed position, allowing for each of the ferrets to be isolated. Environmental enrichment was provided both in the cages (blankets, hanging cubes, and hammocks) and during 60-minute free exercise periods daily on weekdays. Ferrets were given ad libitum access to tap water. Totally Ferret Complete diet (Performance Foods, Broomfield, CO, USA) was available ad libitum with the exception of food restriction periods during training and testing.

During food restriction periods, ferret weights were recorded every weekday prior to training, and their health was assessed every weekday (e.g., grooming, activity, visible signs of discomfort) before, during, and after training. Training or testing sessions lasted approximately 3.5 hours. Ferrets were also given ad libitum access to tap water during training or testing sessions. On days consisting of training or testing, food was provided after the session for 1 h while the ferrets were separated on different levels of the cage. Food bowls were weighed before and after the feeding session and the difference (i.e., mass of food assumed ingested) was recorded.

Stimuli
Odorant compounds: trans-cinnamic aldehyde (cinnamaldehyde; CAS: 14371-10-9), vanillin (CAS: 121-33-5), acetoin (CAS: 513-86-0) and 1-octen-3-ol, (octenol; CAS: 3391-86-4) were technical grade (> 96% or better; Sigma-Aldrich, USA). Odorant concentrations were diluted from stock with propylene glycol (PG; CAS: 57-55-6) and prepared weekly. Ratios of acetoin:1-octen-3-ol were initially chosen based on a previous study of fecal odorants (Kimball et al. 2013). Duck feces were prepared by reconstituting 1 g of dessicated feces for each donor with 1 milliter (ml) of distilled H2O in the glass training vial and the rehydrated fecal samples were stored a 4˚ C.

Irradiated Duck Feces
Feces collected from eight farm-raised mallards of mixed gender were used from a prior study. Briefly, in that study six ducks were infected with a low pathogenic strain of AIV (H5N2) in 2009. Eight pre-treatment and eight post-treatment samples were collected and stored frozen at -80˚ C. Samples from the six infected and two control mallards were inactivated by being subjected to 2.7 Mrad of cesium irradiation for 27 hours and lack of infectivity was confirmed prior to transport (see Kimball et al. 2013 for details). The samples had been stored in a -80˚ C freezer for six years prior to use in this study.

Ferret odor alert response and odor discrimination training
For an overall view of ferret training see Table 1 in Golden et al. (2021), which is also available in the data publication download (\Supplements\Ferret_Biosensor_Training_Flow_Chart.pdf). Ferrets were initially allowed a two-week acclimation period that included daily handling and daily 60-minute exercise periods. All eight ferrets were allowed loose on the testing room floor for interaction with each other, various toys, and the experimenters. To test the ferrets’ response to operant conditioning with the use of a hand-held “clicker”, ferrets were trained to stand on their hind limbs when presented with a hand signal (i.e., waving an outstretched hand from just above the heads of the ferret towards the ceiling) and a verbal cue (i.e., “Up”). A correct response was reinforced with the sound of the clicker and rewarded with a small amount of FerretVite (8 in 1, Spectrum Brands, USA), a high calorie vitamin supplement delivered from a 10-ml syringe fitted with modified stainless steel sipper tube. Incorrect responses were not rewarded and the experimenter turned away and walked to a new position in the room and another attempt was made. Once ferrets responded consistently (~100%) to this command (approximately 10 trials/ferret), shaping the ferrets’ odor alert response behavior was started.

Scratch Boxes
An aluminum “scratch” box (Ray Allen Manufacturing, Colorado Springs, CO, USA) was used to shape the odor alert response and for odor discrimination training and testing. The scratch box (14.6 cm x 5.7 cm x 3.8 cm) was equipped with a sliding, self-locking cover and over 100 drilled holes (2-millimeter [mm]) in the cover and ends of the base compartment to allow for the escape of volatile odors. Initially, tape was used to cover the drilled holes in order to prevent the small nails of the then still young ferrets from being caught and held in the hole. The tape was then punctured with an 18 G needle to conform to the drilled holes. This tape was removed and replaced during cleaning of the boxes. Use of the tape was discontinued following acetoin:octenol ratio training and testing as the nails of the ferrets had grown large enough that they could not catch in the drilled holes. A magnet was attached to the bottom of the base compartment allowing for attachment to a metal surface (recycled, metal panel; 94.6 cm L x 27.3 cm W with a 1.3 cm 45º lip bend on one of the long sides). Both the cover and base compartment were individually numbered with a permanent marker. The stimulus type or sample number was also written with a permanent marker on one end of the scratch box. In blind trials, this end was pointed away from the ferret handler so they were only visible to the box handler. The base compartment was fitted with a piece of egg crate lighting panel (cut to fit tightly) and customized to allow for the retention of a small 1 ml glass vial (Qorpak, Bridgeville, PA, USA). Vial caps (plastic septum-type screw caps with a 9 mm diameter opening) were fitted with 10 mm, Whatman qualitative filter paper, grade 1 (Sigma-Aldrich, USA) that allowed for the escape of volatiles, but prevented escape of samples placed in the vial. The scratch box was placed on the testing room floor during exercise and the ferrets were encouraged to investigate it thoroughly.

Odor alert response shaping
The odor alert response was defined as the ferret scratching with both fore paws at the box. This response was shaped in steps. The first step (i.e., approach) was shaped by responding with a click and a reward (i.e., FerretVite) each time they approached the box. The box was allowed to stand freely on the linoleum floor so the ferrets would not be frightened by the sound of metal and the movement of the box in case these events were to occur once the boxes were fixed to a metal panel. Once each ferret behaved consistently (~100%) when the box was present, the reward sequence was withheld until the approaching ferret placed a forepaw on the box. Once the ferrets were each performing this behavior consistently (~100%), the reward was once again withheld until each ferret would scratch with both fore paws at the box. When a consistent response (~100%) to the presence of the box was achieved, a single scratch box was attached by its magnet to a recycled, metal panel (94.6 cm L x 27.3 cm W with a 1.3 cm 45º lip bend on one of the long sides).

Five scratch boxes were attached to the metal panel approximately 15.9 cm apart and in the center of the board. One randomly positioned box of the five on the panel had ~1 ml of FerretVite (positive conditioned stimulus: CS+) on a plastic weigh boat (4.1 x 4.1 x 0.8 cm) attached with double sided tape to the egg crate inside. The remaining four boxes had the identical support system with no FerretVite in the weigh boat. Daily sessions consisted of 5 trials for each of the eight ferrets with the position of each box being pseudo-randomized for each trial. When an individual ferret was placed on the floor and alerted to the box with the reward inside, the sound of the clicker was presented and the box was opened by the experimenter to allow the ferret to lick the reward from the weigh boat. It is important to note that 20% was the level chance as only 1 of 5 boxes contained the reward. Food-restricted ferrets were able to perform this task at 80% accuracy or better (i.e., 83-100%) by day two of training. This training was performed for ~15 sessions to strengthen the odor alert response behavior. Following these sessions, the ferrets were given three sessions where the reward (i.e., FerretVite) was paired with a vial containing 1M cinnamaldehyde (CS+) in the same scratch box while the remaining 4 boxes remained empty. The position of each box was pseudo-randomized for each trial. Food-restricted ferrets were able to perform this task at 83% accuracy or better by day two of training.

Next, ferrets were asked to alert to the scratch box holding 1M cinnamaldehyde (CS+) alone while the remaining 4 boxes remained empty. Upon making a correct choice the ferrets received a reward delivered by the handler using a syringe. Again, daily sessions consisted of 5 trials for each of the eight ferrets with the position of each box being pseudo-randomized for each trial. Six individual ferrets were able to perform this task consistently at 80% or better after four sessions (or 20 trials) while two continued to struggle with the task as evidenced by their inability to choose the correct box. To see if contrast was needed for all ferrets to perform consistently, the remaining four boxes held 1 M vanillin for the next 5 sessions. By the third session, all ferrets were performing at accuracy rates of 80-100%. Finally, ferrets were asked to discriminate the box holding a lower concentration of cinnamaldehyde (0.1 M) from boxes holding 1 M vanillin over three sessions to determine if the ferrets would generalize their alert to a different concentration of the same learned odorant. Ferrets as a group performed at 90% or better from the first session for all three sessions.

Shaping the behavior for discrimination of differing ratios of acetoin:1-octen-3-ol
In a previous study from our laboratory, chemical analyses demonstrated that low pathogen avian influenza (LPAI) infection was associated with a marked increase of 3-hydroxy-2-butanone (acetoin) in relation to 1-octen-3-ol (octenol) in feces. The ratio of these compounds was significantly greater in feces of infected ducks (10-50:1) in comparison to ducks pre-infection (1-5:1). Having replicated that ferrets could perform single compound detection (Kellihir and Baum 2001), the ability to discriminate between single compounds was explored. Furthermore, we sought to determine if ferrets could discriminate among odor ratios and if they would generalize to novel ratios (differing from those with which they were trained). Eight ferrets given the opportunity to alert to a single scratch box holding a single vial of acetoin:octenol (randomly chosen from among 10:1, 20:1, 30:1, 40:1, or 50:1) presented in association with four scratch boxes holding vials of vehicle (i.e., PG). There were five trials (one of each ratio presented in pseudorandom order) for each session. After 8 sessions, the ferrets were performing at 80% accuracy as a group. The numbers of trials were then increased to determine if the ferrets could perform more trials within a single session. For two sessions, six ferrets were asked to alert during 10, rather than 5 trials. Two ferrets were also removed from the experiment, because they failed to meet the minimum criterion of 80%. The remaining six ferrets were performing at 90% accuracy by the second session. These six ferrets were used for the remainder of this study.

Next, the ferrets were asked to alert to a single, high acetoin:octenol ratio (10:1, 20:1, 30:1, 40:1, or 50:1) reflective of feces from LPAI infected ducks (CS+) in the presence of low acetoin:octenol ratios (1:1 or 2:1) reflective of feces from non-infected ducks (negative conditioned stimulus; CS-). Each panel presented to the ferrets consisted of one scratch box with a randomly selected high acetoin:octenol ratio solution vial (CS+), two 1:1 acetoin:octenol ratio solution vials, and two 2:1 acetoin:octenol ratio solution vials (all CS-). The position of each box was pseudo-randomized for each trial. After 5 sessions (50 trials for each ferret), each ferret had performed at 60% or better (as high as 90%) accuracy and were consistently performing at 60% or better as a group. Again, it is important to note that 20% was the level chance as only 1 of 5 boxes contained the CS+ ratio.

Double-blind procedure
To avoid the possibility of the handler inadvertently communicating the position of the CS+ to the ferret, a double-blind procedure was incorporated into the training regimen employing a separate “box handler” and “ferret handler”. The box handler designed the daily schedule, consisting of the position of the CS+ scratch boxes, the order (i.e., trial number) of CS+ ratio presentation, and the order the ferrets were to perform their individual sessions. The box handler positioned the CS+ and CS- scratch boxes on the board, placed the board on the ground to signal the start of a trial, confirmed or rejected the ferret handler’s call (described in the next sentence) and positioned the boxes on the board for the next trial. The ferret handler controlled when the ferrets were to start a trial and called out “Hit” when the ferret made a decision and alerted to one of the boxes. The box handler responded “correct” or “incorrect” (based on the box handler’s knowledge of CS+ location) so that the ferret handler could rapidly react appropriately to the ferret’s decision. For a correct response, the ferret handler clicked the clicker and provided a small amount of FerretVite with a modified syringe. When the box handler rejected the ferret handler’s call of the alert, the ferret handler picked up the ferret and faced away from the box handler as the box handler picked up the board and prepared it for the next trial. This method was used for all remaining sessions, including additional shaping of behavior, training, and experimental testing.

Blind discrimination of differing ratios of acetoin:1-octen-3-ol
Blind discrimination was performed as described above. After 14 sessions (140 trials for each ferret), each ferret had performed at 80% or better in at least one session (as high as 100%) accuracy and were consistently performing at 60% or better (as high as 73%) as a group, but this seemed to be the maximum accuracy they would attain. To improve individual accuracy, extinction trials were introduced into each session. We define an extinction trial as a trial consisting of CS+ and CS- samples that are familiar to the ferret (i.e., in terms of the quality, intensity, or donor identity) but is not rewarded or acknowledged in any way. The board was simply picked up immediately after a box selection, regardless if it was a correct or incorrect choice. We incorporated 3 random extinction trials during each session with the following conditions: extinction trials could not occur during the first or last trials and could not occur in two consecutive trials. Each ferret performed at 80% or better (as high as 100%) accuracy and as a group were consistently performing at 80% by the fourth session and 87% by the fifth session. We then added an additional extinction trial for a total of four per session out of 10 trials for three sessions with similar accuracy results.

Number of box sets
Up to this point, we employed one set of CS- scratch boxes and a different scratch box for each of the CS+ stimuli. To control for the possibility that the ferrets were alerting to the box itself, we began to use three sets of scratch boxes for the CS- stimuli and continued using different scratch boxes for each CS+ stimulus. At this point we also increased the number of trials from 10 per session to 12 per session in order to better accommodate the four extinction trials in each session. There was an immediate drop in accuracy to 53% as a group. While this was still above chance, it did suggest that the identity of the box or the increased number of trials was, in some way, contributing to the choice being made by the ferrets. Scratch boxes were not dedicated to a particular valence and the valence of a particular box was changed frequently (i.e., boxes used the positive conditioned stimulus [CS+] were later used for the negative conditioned stimulus [CS-] and vice versa after washing). Thus, it was unlikely for CS+ boxes to “acquire a definitive signal” over time because these same boxes had the same chance of being a CS- over the sessions. By the 9th session, the ferrets were performing at 81% accuracy as a group and between 58-92% accuracy as individuals. To ensure that scratch box identity was no longer being used (or at least, its importance greatly diminished) as a component of the odor discrimination, we began using a new set of boxes for every trial in a session.

Blind discrimination of novel ratios of acetoin:1-octen-3-ol
To determine if the ferrets would be able to generalize to ratios they had not experienced previously, we introduced non-rewarded generalization trials. We define non-rewarded generalization trials here as trials conducted with CS+ stimuli unique in quality, intensity, or donor identity but having the same consequences as an extinction trial (i.e., the panel and boxes are picked up from the floor with no behavioral consequence for the ferret). Because the ferrets experienced a neutral response from the handler immediately following a generalization trial, it was assumed that little or no learning occurred during a non-rewarded generalization trial. Two novel ratios (25:1 and 35:1 acetoin:octenol) were randomly presented during the four non-rewarded generalization trials.

Next, the ferrets’ responses to 3:1 and 5:1 acetoin:octenol ratio solutions (twice each) were randomly presented in four non-rewarded generalization trials. These acetoin concentrations represent borderline ratios very near the critical ratio delineating LPAI infected and non-infected conditions (see Table 5 in Kimball et al. 2013).
Methodology_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Golden, Glen J.
Originator: Opiekun, Maryanne
Originator: Martin-Taylor, Talia
Originator: Kimball, Bruce A.
Publication_Date: 2021
Title:
Training the domestic ferret to discriminate odors associated with wildlife disease
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: journal article
Series_Information:
Series_Name: PLOS One
Issue_Identification: 16(11): e0259415
Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0259415
Methodology_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Kimball, Bruce A.
Originator: Yamazaki, Kunio
Originator: Kohler, Dennis
Originator: Bowen, Richard A.
Originator: Muth, Jack P.
Originator: Opiekun, Maryanne
Originator: Beauchamp, Gary K.
Publication_Date: 2013
Title:
Avian influenza infection alters fecal odor in mallards
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: journal article
Series_Information:
Series_Name: PLOS One
Issue_Identification: 8(10): e75411
Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0075411
Methodology_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Kelliher, Kevin R.
Originator: Baum, Michael J.
Publication_Date: 2001
Title:
Nares occlusion eliminates heterosexual partner selection without disrupting coitus in ferrets of both sexes
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: journal article
Series_Information:
Series_Name: The Journal of Neuroscience
Issue_Identification: 21(15): 5832-5840
Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.1523/jneurosci.21-15-05832.2001
Process_Step:
Process_Description:
Data sheets were scanned and then data were entered into spreadsheets for analysis.
Process_Date: Unknown
Back to Top
Entity_and_Attribute_Information:
Overview_Description:
Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
Below you will find a list and description of the files available in this data publication.

DATA FILES (3)
(Blue text is used to help denote columns that contain formulas.)

1) \Data\Ferret_10-50to1_vs_1-2to1_3-5to1.xlsx: Microsoft Excel Open XML spreadsheet file containing the results from testing the ferrets response to five different acetoin/octenol ratios (10:1, 20:1, 30:1, 40:1, 50:1) and two generalizations (3:1, 5:1) in unrewarded trials. Data include animal identification number, date of test, double-blind status, trial number, rewarded trial or non-rewarded trial (generalization), high acetoin/octenol ratio location, four low acetoin/octenol ratio locations, acetoin/octenol ratio, and the box responded to by the ferret (correct or incorrect). This file contains 2 worksheets, which are described below.

Worksheet 'Variable Descriptions' contains a list and description of the variables provded in this data file.

Worksheet '3 and 5 testing' contains:
Hit = correct choice of box containing the high acetoin/octenol ratio.
Miss = box chosen by ferret while alerting to low acetoin/octenol ratio.
Generalizations = testing the response of ferrets to 3:1 and 5:1 acetoin/octenol ratios in unrewarded trials.


2) \Data\Ferret_10-50to1_vs_1-2to1_OD_25-35.xlsx: Microsoft Excel Open XML spreadsheet file containing the results from testing the ferrets response to five different acetoin/octenol ratios (10:1, 20:1, 30:1, 40:1, 50:1) and two generalizations (25:1, 35:1) in unrewarded trials, as well as results from extinction testing. Data include animal identification number, date of test, double-blind status, trial number, rewarded trial or non-rewarded trial (generalization), high acetoin/octenol ratio location, four low acetoin/octenol ratio locations, acetoin/octenol ratio, and the box responded to by the ferret (correct or incorrect). This file contains 3 worksheets, which are described below.

Worksheet 'Variable Descriptions' contains a list and description of the variables provded in this data file.

Worksheet 'Ratio discrimination' contains:
Hit = correct choice of box containing the high acetoin/octenol ratio.
Miss = box chosen by ferret while alerting to low acetoin/octenol ratio.
Choice = box number alerted to by ferret (hit or miss)
Extinctions (G) = testing the response of ferrets to unrewarded trials

Worksheet '25:1, 35:1 test' contains:
Hit = correct choice of box containing the high acetoin/octenol ratio.
Miss = box chosen by ferret while alerting to low acetoin/octenol ratio.
Choice = box number alerted to by ferret (hit or miss)
Generalizations (G) = testing the response of ferrets to 25:1 and 35:1 acetoin/octenol ratios in unrewarded trials


3) \Data\Ferret_irrad_virus_testing_data.xlsx: Microsoft Excel Open XML spreadsheet file containing the results from training and testing the response of the ferrets to novel and familiar fecal samples of infected ducks in unrewarded trials. Data include animal identification number, date of test, double-blind status, trial number, rewarded trial or non-rewarded trial (generalization), irradiated fecal sample from infected duck location, locations of four irradiated fecal sample from non-infected ducks, sample ID, donor ID number alone, collection day, box responded to by the ferret (correct or incorrect), the result (hit or miss), donor ID of sample in box ferret alerted to, and infection status. This file contains 3 worksheets, which are described below.

Worksheet 'Variable Descriptions' contains a list and description of the variables provded in this data file.

Worksheet 'Irradiated virus training' contains:
Hit = correct choice of box containing irradiated fecal sample from infected duck.
Miss = incorrect choice of box containing irradiated fecal sample from non-infected duck.
Result = box number alerted to by ferret (hit or miss)

Worksheet 'Irradiated virus testing' contains:
Hit = correct choice of box containing irradiated fecal sample from infected duck.
Miss = incorrect choice of box containing irradiated fecal sample from non-infected duck.
Result = box number alerted to by ferret (hit or miss)
Generalizations (G) = testing the response of the ferrets to novel and familiar fecal samples of infected ducks in unrewarded trials.


SUPPLEMENTAL FILES (1)

4) \Supplements\Ferret_Biosensor_Training_Flow_Chart.pdf: Portable Document Format file containing a flow chart showing overall view of training the ferrets from introducing clicker training to testing in-between ratios of acetoin:octenol. (This chart is table 1 in Golden et al. 2021.)
Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:
Golden, Glen J.; Opiekun, Maryanne; Martin-Taylor, Talia; Kimball, Bruce A. 2021. Training the domestic ferret to discriminate odors associated with wildlife disease. PLOS One. 16(11): e0259415. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0259415
Back to Top
Distribution_Information:
Distributor:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Organization_Primary:
Contact_Organization: USDA Forest Service, Research and Development
Contact_Position: Research Data Archivist
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical
Address: 240 West Prospect Road
City: Fort Collins
State_or_Province: CO
Postal_Code: 80526
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: see Contact Instructions
Contact Instructions: This contact information was current as of May 2023. For current information see Contact Us page on: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS.
Resource_Description: NWRC-RDS-2020-002
Distribution_Liability:
Metadata documents have been reviewed for accuracy and completeness. Unless otherwise stated, all data and related materials are considered to satisfy the quality standards relative to the purpose for which the data were collected. However, neither the author, the Archive, nor any part of the federal government can assure the reliability or suitability of these data for a particular purpose. The act of distribution shall not constitute any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed for a user's application of these data or related materials.

The metadata, data, or related materials may be updated without notification. If a user believes errors are present in the metadata, data or related materials, please use the information in (1) Identification Information: Point of Contact, (2) Metadata Reference: Metadata Contact, or (3) Distribution Information: Distributor to notify the author or the Archive of the issues.
Standard_Order_Process:
Digital_Form:
Digital_Transfer_Information:
Format_Name: XLSX
Format_Version_Number: see Format Specification
Format_Specification:
Microsoft Excel Open XML spreadsheet file
File_Decompression_Technique: Files zipped with 7-Zip 19.0
Digital_Transfer_Option:
Online_Option:
Computer_Contact_Information:
Network_Address:
Network_Resource_Name: https://doi.org/10.2737/NWRC-RDS-2020-002
Fees: None
Back to Top
Metadata_Reference_Information:
Metadata_Date: 20230518
Metadata_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Person_Primary:
Contact_Person: Glen J. Golden
Contact_Organization: Colorado State University ; USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Service, National Wildlife Research Center
Contact_Position: Research Scientist
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical
Address: Colorado State University
Address: 1683 Campus Delivery
City: Fort Collins
State_or_Province: CO
Postal_Code: 80523-1683
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 970-266-6082
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: glen.golden@colostate.edu
Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Biological Data Profile of the Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata
Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001.1-1999
Back to Top