Assessment of a new Bacteroidales marker targeting North American beaver (Castor canadensis) fecal pollution by real-time PCR

ABSTRACTQuantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assays that target the human-associated HF183 bacterial cluster within members of the genusBacteroidesare among the most widely used methods for the characterization of human fecal pollution in ambient surface waters. In this study, we show that a current TaqMan HF183 qPCR assay (HF183/BFDrev) routinely forms nonspecific amplification products and introduce a modified TaqMan assay (HF183/BacR287) that alleviates this problem. The performance of each qPCR assay was compared in head-to-head experiments investigating limits of detection, analytical precision, predicted hybridization to 16S rRNA gene sequences from a reference database, and relative marker concentrations in fecal and sewage samples. The performance of the modified HF183/BacR287 assay is equal to or improves upon that of the original HF183/BFDrev assay. In addition, a qPCR chemistry designed to combat amplification inhibition and a multiplexed internal amplification control are included. In light of the expanding use of PCR-based methods that rely on the detection of extremely low concentrations of DNA template, such as qPCR and digital PCR, the new TaqMan HF183/BacR287 assay should provide more accurate estimations of human-derived fecal contaminants in ambient surface waters.

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Anatomy of the tail in the beaver (Castor canadensis)

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z81-057 ◽

1981 ◽

Vol 59 (3) ◽

pp. 390-399 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

J. M. Mahoney ◽

H. I. Rosenberg

Keyword(s):

North American ◽

Castor Canadensis ◽

Functional Studies ◽

The North ◽

American Beaver

A detailed description of the caudal muscles and a review of the bones in the tail of the North American beaver (Castor canadensis) are presented as a base for future functional studies. Differences between previous and present findings are noted and discussed. All the differences indicate that the arrangement of muscles and tendons is more complex than previously indicated.

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Factors influencing forage selection by the North American beaver (Castor canadensis)

Mammalian Biology ◽

10.1016/j.mambio.2012.07.157 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 78 (2) ◽

pp. 79-86 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Travis G. Gerwing ◽

Chris J. Johnson ◽

Cecilia Alström-Rapaport

Keyword(s):

North American ◽

Castor Canadensis ◽

The North ◽

Factors Influencing ◽

American Beaver

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Persistent paramesonephric ducts (masculine uterus) in the male North American beaver (Castor canadensis)

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z98-037 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 76 (6) ◽

pp. 1188-1193 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Christien Meier ◽

Gary D Partlow ◽

Kenneth R Fisher ◽

Bryan Rennie

Keyword(s):

Extracellular Matrix ◽

North American ◽

Castor Canadensis ◽

Geographic Location ◽

Normal Female ◽

Mullerian Ducts ◽

American Beaver

Remnants of the paramesonephric (Müllerian) ducts can be found in the male as a uterus-like structure. Historically, these have been known as a masculine uterus. We examined the reproductive tracts of 24 male North American beaver, Castor canadensis Kuhl, obtained from trappers between 1980 and 1997 from four areas extending across Ontario. Persistent paramesonephric ducts were found in 20 of these tracts. Prevalence was not related to geographic location. Grossly, the remnant appeared as one or two thin, uterus-like tubes medial to the ducti deferentes, with or without a medial corpus lying between the ampullae. Histologically, the paramesonephric remnants resembled a normal female uterus, but the endometrium consisted primarily of amorphous extracellular matrix. Previous descriptions of the prevalence of the paramesonephric duct remnants (male uterus) in C. canadensis were found to be contradictory.

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