scholarly journals Interactions between reproductive biology and microbiomes in wild animal species

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre Comizzoli ◽  
Michael L. Power ◽  
Sally L. Bornbusch ◽  
Carly R. Muletz-Wolz
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Reproductive Biology ◽  
Wild Species ◽  
Animal Species ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Wild Animal ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Direct Role

AbstractMany parts of the animal body harbor microbial communities, known as animal-associated microbiomes, that affect the regulation of physiological functions. Studies in human and animal models have demonstrated that the reproductive biology and such microbiomes also interact. However, this concept is poorly studied in wild animal species and little is known about the implications to fertility, parental/offspring health, and survival in natural habitats. The objective of this review is to (1) specify the interactions between animals’ reproductive biology, including reproductive signaling, pregnancy, and offspring development, and their microbiomes, with an emphasis on wild species and (2) identify important research gaps as well as areas for further studies. While microbiomes present in the reproductive tract play the most direct role, other bodily microbiomes may also contribute to facilitating reproduction. In fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals, endogenous processes related to the host physiology and behavior (visual and olfactory reproductive signals, copulation) can both influence and be influenced by the structure and function of microbial communities. In addition, exposures to maternal microbiomes in mammals (through vagina, skin, and milk) shape the offspring microbiomes, which, in turn, affects health later in life. Importantly, for all wild animal species, host-associated microbiomes are also influenced by environmental variations. There is still limited literature on wild animals compared to the large body of research on model species and humans. However, the few studies in wild species clearly highlight the necessity of increased research in rare and endangered animals to optimize conservation efforts in situ and ex situ. Thus, the link between microbiomes and reproduction is an emerging and critical component in wild animal conservation.

DETECTION OF XENOBIOTIC SUBSTANCES IN MUTE SWANS’ (CYGNUS OLOR) BLOOD

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jolanta STANKEVIČIŪTĖ ◽  
Solveiga Marija BARKAUSKAITĖ ◽  
Gediminas BRAZAITIS
Keyword(s):  
Animal Species ◽  
Wild Animal ◽  
Wild Populations ◽  
New Methods ◽  
Negative Results ◽  
Cygnus Olor ◽  
Ecological Scale ◽  
Literature Reviews ◽  
Baseline Information ◽  
Mute Swans

During recent years the attention towards the effects of xenobiotic substances on wild nature has been steadily increasing. Literature reviews have revealed that active hormone-disintegrating substances might affect the reproduction of some wild animal species. Research shows anomalies of reproduction and development in various animal groups such as birds, fish, invertebrates and reptiles. Species inhabiting water and its surroundings cause the highest concern. Due to insufficient baseline information it is difficult to determine the extent of the problem in these wild populations on an ecological scale. The research described in this article is the first attempt to analyse xenobiotic substances and evaluate possible accumulation of pharmaceuticals in animals higher up in the food chain in Lithuania. This research tests new methods for to analyse for xenobiotics substances, which might be used in the future. Blood samples of 7 swans were examined using liquid chromatography, however, no xenobiotics were detected. Negative results do not eliminate the necessity for further investigate of larger samples, other species or to search for non-pharmaceutical xenobiotics.

scholarly journals Occurrence, antimicrobial susceptibility patterns and genotypic relatedness of Salmonella spp. isolates from captive wildlife, their caretakers, feed and water in India

2018 ◽  
Vol 146 (12) ◽  
pp. 1543-1549
Author(s):  
Arockiasamy Arun Prince Milton ◽  
Rajesh Kumar Agarwal ◽  
Govindarajan Bhuvana Priya ◽  
Cheruplackal Karunakaran Athira ◽  
Mani Saminathan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Susceptibility ◽  
Animal Species ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Wild Animal ◽  
Diffusion Method ◽  
Pcr Assay ◽  
Direct Pcr ◽  
Salmonella Spp ◽  
Culture Methods ◽  
Faecal Samples

AbstractOccurrence of Salmonella spp. in captive wild animal species in India is largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the occurrence of different Salmonella serotypes, antimicrobial resistance patterns and genotypic relatedness of recovered isolates. A total of 370 samples including faecal (n = 314), feed and water (n = 26) and caretakers stool swabs (n = 30) were collected from 40 different wild animal species in captivity, their caretakers, feed and water in four zoological gardens and wildlife enclosures in India. Salmonellae were isolated using conventional culture methods and tested for antimicrobial susceptibility with the Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion method. Salmonella isolates were serotyped and genotyping was performed using enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC) PCR and 16S rRNA sequencing. Animal faecal samples were also subjected to direct PCR assay. Salmonella was detected in 10 of 314 (3.1%) faecal samples by isolation and 18 of 314 (5.7%) samples by direct PCR assay; one of 26 (3.8%) feed and water samples and five of 30 (16.7%) caretakers stool swabs by isolation. Salmonella was more commonly isolated in faecal samples from golden pheasants (25%; 2/8) and leopard (10%; 2/20). Salmonella enterica serotypes of known public health significance including S. Typhimurium (37.5%; 6/14), S. Kentucky (28.5%; 4/14) and S. Enteritidis (14.3%; 2/14) were identified. While the majority of the Salmonella isolates were pan-susceptible to the commonly used antibiotics. Seven (43.7%; 7/16) of the isolates were resistant to at least one antibiotic and one isolate each among them exhibited penta and tetra multidrug-resistant types. Three S. Kentucky serotype were identified in a same golden pheasants cage, two from the birds and one from the feed. This serotype was also isolated from its caretaker. Similarly, one isolate each of S. Typhimurium were recovered from ostrich and its caretaker. These isolates were found to be clonally related suggesting that wildlife may serve as reservoir for infections to humans and vice versa. These results emphasise the transmission of Salmonella among hosts via environmental contamination of feces to workers, visitors and other wildlife.

scholarly journals Sex-specific median life expectancies from ex situ populations for 330 animal species

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Judy P. Che-Castaldo ◽  
Amy Byrne ◽  
Kaitlyn Perišin ◽  
Lisa J. Faust
Keyword(s):  
Animal Species ◽  
Ex Situ

Diversity, Distribution, Indigenous Uses and Conservation of Medicinal Plants in Nargu Wildlife Sanctuary, North Western Himalaya

2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 181-201
Author(s):  
Pankaj Sharma ◽  
Sher Samant ◽  
Lalit Tewari
Keyword(s):  
Medicinal Plants ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Gastrointestinal Disease ◽  
Himalayan Region ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Herbal Remedies ◽  
Poor People ◽  
Wildlife Sanctuary ◽  
Medicinal Species ◽  
Natural Habitats

In the Indian Himalayan Region, the use of medicinal plants is still a tradition continued by local people or ethnic communities and Traditional Medicine Systems play an important role in daily health care of poor people. The use of plants as medicine is slowly increasing in the developed world because they have minor or no side effects. The present study was conducted in Nargu Wildlife Sanctuary of Himachal Pradesh as the total dependency of the stakeholders on nearby forests for medicinal resources. In the present study, we reported 371 plant species that are used by the people in and around Nargu WLS as medicine. Distribution of maximum species (297 spp.) occurred between 1801-2800 m zone and only 40 species were present above 3800m. Of the total medicinal species recorded, 163 spp. were native to the Himalayan region and 24 spp. native to the Himalaya and other biogeographically regions. Rests (184 spp.) were non-native. The most frequently cured disease category (108 spp.) was gastrointestinal disease. Stakeholders of the Sanctuary and surrounding villages have rich indigenous knowledge of the use of medicinal plants to maintain their primary health. Traditional herbal remedies are important and effective because many traditional uses are scientifically proven through phytochemical and pharmacological studies. However, a large number of plant species remain untested for bio-efficacy and toxicity. Such tests may reveal novel remedies that have bioprospecting potential. Moreover, the study emphasizes the need for the conservation of such precious medicinal resource of the area by managing and conserving the natural habitats, checking unscientific exploitation and by applying in-situ and various ex-situ conservation methods.

Genetic diversity among and within populations of Raphanus raphanistrum and Brassica tournefortii (Brassicaceae) in Israel: a case study for planning ex situ conservation program of crop wild relatives

2018 ◽  
Vol 65 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 153-160
Author(s):  
Oz Barazani ◽  
Nir Hanin ◽  
Prabodh Kumar Bajpai ◽  
Yoni Waitz ◽  
Michal Barzilai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Reproductive Biology ◽  
Ex Situ Conservation ◽  
Diversity Indices ◽  
Crop Wild Relatives ◽  
Genetic Distances ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Raphanus Raphanistrum ◽  
Brassica Tournefortii

The winter annuals Brassica tournefortii and Raphanus raphanistrum (Brassicaceae) share similar habitats and life-history traits, but differ in their reproduction system (self-compatibility vs. self-incompatibility, respectively). The two phylogenetically close species offer means to assess the effect of reproductive biology on genetic diversity between and within populations. In general, genetic diversity between populations of B. tournefortii was higher than that found between populations of R. raphanistrum, while higher genetic diversity indices were evident within populations of R. raphanistrum. In addition, the results of pairwise genetic distances indicated that the genetic distances between populations can be associated to the species’ reproductive biology and not to the population’s distribution pattern. We discuss whether knowledge of reproductive and habitat characteristics can be used to predict genetic diversity when planning sampling scheme for ex situ conservation.

Land for Food & Land for Nature?

Daedalus ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 144 (4) ◽  
pp. 57-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Balmford ◽  
Rhys Green ◽  
Ben Phalan
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Wild Species ◽  
Unit Area ◽  
Environmental Externalities ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Land Sparing ◽  
Yield Production ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Coupling Yield

Opinions on how to limit the immense impact of agriculture on wild species are divided. Some think it best to retain as much wildlife as possible on farms, even at the cost of lowering yield (production per unit area). Others advocate the opposite: increasing yield so as to limit the area needed for farming, and then retaining larger areas under natural habitats. Still others support a mixture of the two extremes, or an intermediate approach. Here we summarize a model designed to resolve this disagreement, and review the empirical evidence available to date. We conclude that this evidence largely supports the second, so-called land-sparing approach to reconciling agriculture and biodiversity conservation, but that important questions remain over the generality of these findings for different biota and for ecosystem services, how best to increase yields while limiting environmental externalities, and whether there are effective, socially just, and practical mechanisms for coupling yield growth to habitat retention and restoration.

scholarly journals Thyroid hormone and retinoic acid induce the synthesis of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-4 in prepubertal pig sertoli cells

1999 ◽  
pp. 637-643 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Bardi ◽  
C Bottazzi ◽  
I Demori ◽  
S Palmero
Keyword(s):  
Retinoic Acid ◽  
Sertoli Cells ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Transcriptional Response ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Direct Role ◽  
Igf System ◽  
Dose Dependent Increase

A large body of evidence suggests the existence of an intratesticular IGF system complete with ligands, receptors and binding proteins (IGFBPs); the aim of the present study was to evaluate tri-iodothyronine (T(3)) and retinoic acid (RA) effects on IGFBP production by Sertoli cells. A significant dose-dependent increase in IGFBP-4 mRNA levels was observed in Sertoli cells cultured in the presence of physiological concentrations of T(3) or RA. This response was inhibited by cycloheximide, indicating that de novo protein synthesis is required, as well as by actinomycin D, suggesting that the increase in mRNA levels requires transcriptional activation. As shown by ligand blot assays the stimulatory effects of both agents on IGFBP-4 mRNA expression appears to be consistent with an enhanced synthesis and secretion of IGFBP-4, thus suggesting that the transcriptional response is transduced to the protein level. Our data establish an important direct role for T(3) and RA in regulating IGFBP-4 expression and consequently IGF activity at the testis level.

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