Effects of faecal inorganic contents in accurate measures of stress and nutrition hormone in large felines: implications for physiological assessments in free-ranging animals

AbstractNon-invasive stress and nutritional hormones and their interactions are increasingly being used to monitor psychological and nutritional physiology in free-ranging animals at different ecological scales. However, a number of extrinsic and intrinsic factors including hormone-inert dietary materials, inorganic matters etc. are known to affect accurate hormone measures. Here we addressed the impacts of inorganic matter (IOM) on corticosterone and T3 measures in wild tiger (n=193 from Terai Arc landscape, India) and captive lion (n=120 from Sakkarbaug Zoological Garden, Gujarat, India) faeces and evaluated possible corrective measures. The wild tiger samples contained highly variable IOM content (9-98%, mostly with >40% IOM) compared to captive Asiatic lion (17-57%, majority with <40% IOM). We observed significant negative correlation between IOM content and tiger GC (r=−0.48, p=0.000) and T3 (r=−0.60, p=0.000) measures but not in captive lions (r=−0.05, p=0.579). Two corrective measures viz. removing samples with ≥80% IOM and subsequently expressing concentrations as per gram of organic dry matter (instead of total dry matter) reduced IOM influence on tiger GC and T3 measures without affecting lion GC results. The corrective measures bring out alterations in the tiger T3 results but no changes in GC results. As faecal IOM content is associated with specific behaviours of many carnivore species, our results emphasize the need to reduce IOM-driven hormone data variation for ecologically relevant interpretations for species conservation.

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Multi-species and multi-tissue methylation clocks for age estimation in toothed whales and dolphins

Communications Biology ◽

10.1038/s42003-021-02179-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Todd R. Robeck ◽

Zhe Fei ◽

Ake T. Lu ◽

Amin Haghani ◽

Eve Jourdain ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dna Methylation ◽

Age Estimation ◽

Species Conservation ◽

Genome Wide ◽

Epigenetic Aging ◽

Highly Correlated ◽

Methylation Patterns ◽

Cg Dinucleotides ◽

Free Ranging ◽

Unique Species

AbstractThe development of a precise blood or skin tissue DNA Epigenetic Aging Clock for Odontocete (OEAC) would solve current age estimation inaccuracies for wild odontocetes. Therefore, we determined genome-wide DNA methylation profiles using a custom array (HorvathMammalMethyl40) across skin and blood samples (n = 446) from known age animals representing nine odontocete species within 4 phylogenetic families to identify age associated CG dinucleotides (CpGs). The top CpGs were used to create a cross-validated OEAC clock which was highly correlated for individuals (r = 0.94) and for unique species (median r = 0.93). Finally, we applied the OEAC for estimating the age and sex of 22 wild Norwegian killer whales. DNA methylation patterns of age associated CpGs are highly conserved across odontocetes. These similarities allowed us to develop an odontocete epigenetic aging clock (OEAC) which can be used for species conservation efforts by provide a mechanism for estimating the age of free ranging odontocetes from either blood or skin samples.

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Using reliable predator identification to investigate feeding habits of Neotropical carnivores (Mammalia, Carnivora) in a deforestation frontier of the Brazilian Amazon

Mammalia ◽

10.1515/mammalia-2018-0106 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 83 (5) ◽

pp. 415-427 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Flávia P. Tirelli ◽

Thales R.O. de Freitas ◽

Fernanda Michalski ◽

Alexandre R. Percequillo ◽

Eduardo Eizirik

Keyword(s):

Feeding Habits ◽

Brazilian Amazon ◽

Ecological Studies ◽

Accurate Identification ◽

Predator Species ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Carnivore Species ◽

Faecal Samples ◽

Critical Requirement ◽

Better Than

Abstract Accurate identification of predator species is a critical requirement to investigate their diet using faecal samples. We used non-invasive sampling and two methods of predator identification to investigate the diets of sympatric carnivores in a highly deforested region of the Brazilian Amazon. Of 108 scats, 81 could be identified at the species level using DNA sequencing and/or trichology. The former performed better than the latter (81.5% vs. 54.3% of the identified samples), and results were quite congruent (89.7% concordance in the 29 samples that could be assessed with both approaches). Nine species were identified, out of which four (crab-eating fox, ocelot, puma and jaguar) presented a sufficient number of samples to allow dietary analyses. The crab-eating fox was the most generalist (BA=0.92); ocelots focused on small- to medium-sized prey; pumas fed mostly on medium-sized items; and jaguars mostly targeted large-sized prey. A considerable overlap was observed between ocelots and pumas in all estimations (O=0.47–0.83). The presence of jaguars in the same region could be driving pumas to select medium- and small-sized prey. The results of this study highlight the importance of reliable predator identification and the need for in-depth ecological studies in areas where carnivore species are sympatric.

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Practical infra-red illumination and observation techniques for wildlife studies using ICI-962 perspex

Australian Mammalogy ◽

10.1071/am03201 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 25 (2) ◽

pp. 201 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

C Marks ◽

F Busana ◽

F Gigliotti ◽

M Lindeman

Keyword(s):

Uv Light ◽

Ultra Violet ◽

Ir Radiation ◽

Long Wavelength ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Radiation Sources ◽

Infra Red ◽

Invaluable Tool ◽

Free Ranging ◽

Wavelength Light

MAMMALS do not normally visually perceive infrared (IR) or ultra-violet (UV) light that exists on either side of the visual spectrum from 390 to 760 nanometers (nm) (Wolken 1975). There is no evidence to suggest that nocturnal mammals have become more sensitive to long wavelength light as an adaptive response (Lythgoe 1979), although some reptiles can sense longer wavelength, thermal IR radiation (Barrett et al. 1970). Because it is not perceived, and is unlikely to affect animal behaviour, IR observation can be an invaluable tool for wildlife researchers. This paper describes the construction and use of simple IR radiation sources that can be used for non-invasive behavioural observations of captive and free-ranging mammals.

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Equine hair analysis: a non-invasive technique for identifying exposure to drugs and toxins

BSAP Occasional Publication ◽

10.1017/s0263967x00042567 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 35 ◽

pp. 29-49

Author(s):

M. Dunnett ◽

S. Tracy ◽

P. Lees

Keyword(s):

Drug Administration ◽

Growth Rates ◽

Hair Growth ◽

Hair Analysis ◽

Diagnostic Technique ◽

Invasive Technique ◽

Intrinsic Factors ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Potential Sources ◽

Extrinsic And Intrinsic Factors

AbstractHair analysis has been evaluated as a retrospective non-invasive diagnostic technique to identify and quantify drug administration and exposure to mycotoxins and plant toxins in horses. The purpose of this review is to describe and discuss in detail the development and application of this technique to equine hair, and to interpret data generated thus far. Particular attention is paid to both extrinsic and intrinsic factors, including pigmentation and hair growth-rates, that impinge on the conduct of hair analysis and which can be potential sources of error. In the absence of research specific to the horse, this review draws upon comparative data in humans and other species, on hair analysis and potential toxins of particular relevance to the horse.

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P835 Correlation between microbial markers and faecal calprotectin in IBD patients

Journal of Crohn s and Colitis ◽

10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjz203.963 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 14 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S648-S648

Author(s):

J Amoedo Cibeira ◽

S Ramió-Pujol ◽

M Serra-Pagès ◽

A Bahí ◽

C Puig-Amiel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Disease Activity ◽

Negative Correlation ◽

Inflammatory Disease ◽

Standard Technique ◽

Significant Negative Correlation ◽

Intestinal Lesion ◽

Faecal Calprotectin ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Stool Samples ◽

Active Inflammation

Abstract Background Crohn disease (CD) and Ulcerative colitis (UC) are characterised by episodes of exacerbations and remissions. Monitoring disease activity based on intestinal lesion is mandatory prior to any change in the therapeutic strategy. Colonoscopy is the gold standard technique to monitor the disease activity in IBD patients, but it is usually discarded because of costs and risk issues. The concentration of Faecal Calprotectin (FC) is widely used as a non-invasive marker of inflammation of the intestinal mucosa, allowing the assessment of the disease activity. Recently, different studies have demonstrated that certain microbial species, part of intestinal microbiota which can be detected in stool samples, are capable of correlating with disease activity in CD and UC patients. The purpose of this study was to analyse the correlation between these microbial indicators and the FC to monitor the disease activity in CD and UC patients. Methods FC levels were used to define inflammatory disease activity, the predetermined cut-off of 250 μg/g of faeces was used, higher values indicated an active inflammation and lower values indicated disease in remission. Two cohorts consisting of 61 patients of CD (25 with active inflammation and 36 with remission) and 90 of UC (42 with active inflammation and 48 with remission) were recruited by the Gastroenterology department of 4 Catalan hospitals. A sample of faeces was collected from each patient. FC and the following markers were quantified by qPCR: Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (Fpra), Escherichia coli (Eco), Akkermansia muciniphila (Akk), Ruminococcus sp. (Rum), Bacteroidetes (Bac) and Methanobrevibacter smithii (Msm) for each sample. Results The bacterial markers presented different behaviour depending on the disease analysed. The abundances of Eco and Bac were higher in CD with active inflammation compared with CD with remission. In contrast, no significant differences were found for Fpra, Akk, Rum, and Msm. Besides, a significant positive correlation between Eco abundance and FC levels (0.280, p = 0.029) and a significant negative correlation between Msm and FC levels (−0.299, p = 0.021) were observed. According UC patients, while the abundance of Eco was higher in patients with active inflammation, the abundance of Rum was significantly less abundant. No significant differences were found for Fpra, Akk, Bac, and Msm. Moreover, we also observed a significant negative correlation between Rum and FC levels (−0.308, p = 0.003, respectively). Conclusion The abundance of Eco and Msm in CD patients and the abundance of Rum in UC patients correlate to FC in order to determine inflammatory disease activity. So, these markers can also be an accurate discriminator of active disease in CD and UC patients.

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Hemoplasmas Are Endemic and Cause Asymptomatic Infection in the Endangered Darwin’s Fox (Lycalopex fulvipes)

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.00779-20 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 86 (12) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sophia Di Cataldo ◽

Ezequiel Hidalgo-Hermoso ◽

Irene Sacristán ◽

Aitor Cevidanes ◽

Constanza Napolitano ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Asymptomatic Infection ◽

Content Type ◽

Network Analyses ◽

Carnivore Species ◽

Conservation Actions ◽

Free Ranging ◽

Hematological Alterations ◽

Prevalent Pathogen ◽

Darwin’S Fox

ABSTRACT Mycoplasma haemocanis is prevalent in the endangered Darwin’s fox (Lycalopex fulvipes) in its main stronghold, Chiloé Island (Chile). The origin of the infection, its dynamics, its presence in other fox populations and the potential consequences for fox health remain unexplored. For 8 years, hemoplasmal DNA was screened and characterized in blood from 82 foxes in Chiloé and two other fox populations and in 250 free-ranging dogs from Chiloé. The prevalence of M. haemocanis in foxes was constant during the study years, and coinfection with “Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum” was confirmed in 30% of the foxes. Both hemoplasma species were detected in the two mainland fox populations and in Chiloé dogs. M. haemocanis was significantly more prevalent and more genetically diverse in foxes than in dogs. Two of the seven M. haemocanis haplotypes identified were shared between these species. Network analyses did not show genetic structure by species (foxes versus dogs), geographic (island versus mainland populations), or temporal (years of study) factors. The probability of infection with M. haemocanis increased with fox age but was not associated with sex, season, or degree of anthropization of individual fox habitats. Some foxes recaptured years apart were infected with the same haplotype in both events, and no hematological alterations were associated with hemoplasma infection, suggesting tolerance to the infection. Altogether, our results indicate that M. haemocanis is enzootic in the Darwin’s fox and that intraspecific transmission is predominant. Nevertheless, such a prevalent pathogen in a threatened species represents a concern that must be considered in conservation actions. IMPORTANCE Mycoplasma haemocanis is enzootic in Darwin’s foxes. There is a higher M. haemocanis genetic diversity and prevalence in foxes than in sympatric dogs, although haplotypes are shared between the two carnivore species. There is an apparent tolerance of Darwin’s foxes to Mycoplasma haemocanis.

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Validating a non-invasive technique for monitoring physiological stress in the samango monkey

Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research ◽

10.4102/ojvr.v87i1.1720 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 87 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Juan Scheun ◽

Adrian S.W. Tordiffe ◽

Kirsten Wimberger ◽

Andre Ganswindt

Keyword(s):

Psychological Health ◽

Physiological Stress ◽

Biological Response ◽

Invasive Technique ◽

Mean Deviation ◽

Male And Female ◽

Non Invasive ◽

General Welfare ◽

Samango Monkey ◽

Free Ranging

The non-invasive monitoring of physiological stress can provide conservation and wildlife managers with an invaluable tool for assessing animal welfare and psychological health of captive and free-ranging populations. A significant decrease in free-ranging primate populations globally and an increase in captive-housed primates have led to a need to monitor the stress and general welfare of these animals. We examined the suitability of three enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) for monitoring stress-related physiological responses in the samango monkey, Cercopithecus albogularis erythrarchus. We conducted an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) challenge on a male and female at the National Zoological Garden, Pretoria, South Africa. Individual faecal samples were collected 8 days pre- and post-ACTH administration and subsequently analysed for faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM) concentrations. During the study, biological stressors occurred for both the male and female. Two of the three EIAs tested (11-oxoetiocholanolone I and II) were able to reliably monitor fGCM alterations throughout the study period in both sexes. The 11-oxoetiocholanolone I EIA, however, had the lowest mean deviation from the calculated baseline value and was thus chosen as the preferred assay. Both the physiological activation of the stress response and the biological response to a stressor could be monitored with the chosen assay. The successful establishment of a reliable, non-invasive method for monitoring adrenocortical activity in C. albogularis erythrarchus will now allow conservationists, scientific researchers and wildlife managers to evaluate the level of stress experienced, and general welfare, by animals in captivity as well as free-ranging populations.

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Studies on Determination of Critical Growing Degree Days, Base Temperature (Tb) and Response of Temperature Variations on Flowering and Yield per se in Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.]

Legume Research - An International Journal ◽

10.18805/lr-4262 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Venkatesh Bondade ◽

Sanjeev K Deshpande

Keyword(s):

Dry Matter ◽

Significant Negative Correlation ◽

Growing Degree Days ◽

Base Temperature ◽

Degree Days ◽

Temperature Variations ◽

Days To Flowering ◽

Matter Production ◽

Flowering Initiation

Growing degree days (GDD) or heat units accumulation is the major factor that affects the dry matter production in the plants. In the present investigation eleven genotypes were used to screen for temperature insensitivity through staggered plantings across the seasons in a year. Days to flowering initiation was recorded and base temperature (Tb) was determined using mean daily air temperature (MAT). GDD of individual genotypes was estimated using base temperatures of particular genotypes. It was observed that the GDD, days to flowering initiation and yield were exhibited high variation across the seasons, the flowering time from days to planting (FTDAP) registered significant negative correlation with GDD and MAT and positively correlated with yield. Whereas GDD is positively correlated with MAT and negatively correlated with yield. Here three genotypes namely, IC202926, IC198326 and IC257428 were identified as temperature insensitive genotypes as their performances were comparable across the seasons without much fluctuations.

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Genetic characterization of feline parvovirus sequences from various carnivores

Microbiology ◽

10.1099/0022-1317-81-2-345 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 81 (2) ◽

pp. 345-350 ◽

Cited By ~ 80

Author(s):

A. Steinel ◽

L. Munson ◽

M. van Vuuren ◽

U. Truyen

Keyword(s):

Interspecies Transmission ◽

Panthera Tigris ◽

Acinonyx Jubatus ◽

Feline Panleukopenia Virus ◽

Siberian Tiger ◽

Carnivore Species ◽

Feline Parvovirus ◽

Enteritis Virus ◽

Free Ranging ◽

First Time

Infections with viruses of the feline parvovirus subgroup such as feline panleukopenia virus (FPV), mink enteritis virus (MEV) and canine parvovirus (CPV-2) [together with its new antigenic types (CPV-2a, CPV-2b)] have been reported from several wild carnivore species. To examine the susceptibility of different species to the various parvoviruses and their antigenic types, samples from wild carnivores with acute parvovirus infections were collected. Viral DNA was amplified, and subsequently analysed, from faeces or formalin-fixed small intestines from an orphaned bat-eared fox (Otocyon megalotis), a free-ranging honey badger (Mellivora capensis), six captive cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus), a captive Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) and a free-ranging African wild cat (Felis lybica). Parvovirus infection in bat-eared fox and honey badger was demonstrated for the first time. FPV-sequences were detected in tissues of the African wild cat and in faeces of one cheetah and the honey badger, whereas CPV-2b sequences were found in five cheetahs and the bat-eared fox. The Siberian tiger (from a German zoo) was infected with a CPV-type 2a virus. This distribution of feline parvovirus antigenic types in captive large cats suggests an interspecies transmission from domestic dogs. CPV-2 sequences were not detected in any of the specimens and no sequences with features intermediate between FPV and CPV were found in any of the animals examined.

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Resting peripheral blood flow in normal pregnancy and in pre-eclampsia

Clinical Science ◽

10.1042/cs0990505 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 99 (6) ◽

pp. 505-510 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

N. ANIM-NYAME ◽

S. R. SOORANNA ◽

M. R. JOHNSON ◽

J. GAMBLE ◽

P. J. STEER

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Blood Flow ◽

Organ Failure ◽

Significant Negative Correlation ◽

Normal Pregnancy ◽

Multiple Organ ◽

Peripheral Blood Flow ◽

Multiple Organ Dysfunction ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Calf Blood Flow

Multiple organ dysfunction followed by end organ failure occurs in pre-eclampsia. While one would intuitively reason that one of the factors contributing to the end organ failure is poor nutritional blood flow, this has yet to be demonstrated. The aim of the present study was to determine whether changes in resting nutritional blood flow occur in pre-eclampsia. We used strain-gauge plethysmography to study calf blood flow in 19 women with pre-eclampsia, 13 normal pregnant women and 17 non-pregnant controls. We reasoned that, since the calf comprises mostly skeletal muscle, without anastomotic channels, blood flowing through this region would primarily reflect nutritive flow. Calf blood flow was significantly reduced in women with pre-eclampsia (1.95±0.9 ml·min-1·100 ml-1) compared with normal pregnant (3.9±1.4 ml·min-1·100 ml-1) and non-pregnant (3.8±1.0 ml·min-1·100 ml-1) women (P = 0.0004 and P = 0.0005 respectively; ANOVA). Blood flow in pre-eclampsia was also correlated significantly with platelet count as an index of disease severity. In addition, there was a significant negative correlation between blood flow and systolic blood pressure (r = -0.69, P = 0.004) in the women with pre-eclampsia. These findings support the hypothesis that nutritional blood flow is reduced in pre-eclampsia. We suggest that measurement of resting calf blood flow could give a non-invasive index of deterioration of nutritive blood flow to vital organs in pre-eclampsia.

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