First Isolation and Molecular Characterization of Pseudorabies Virus in a Hunting Dog in Sicily (Southern Italy)

Pseudorabies virus (PrV) is the etiological agent of Aujeszky’s disease, a viral infection that causes neurological lethal illness in mammals other than swine. Herein, we describe the occurrence of PrV infection in a hunting dog that had been bitten by an infected wild boar in Sicily, reporting for the first time genetic and phylogenetic data on the virus strain isolated in a dog in this Italian region. The dog was referred for severe neurological signs, respiratory distress, and intense itch around the muzzle. Death occurred within 48 h to the onset of clinical signs. On gross examination, self-induced skin lesions to the head due to intense itching and diffuse cerebral congestion were observed, whereas mild, aspecific, nonsuppurative meningitis was histologically diagnosed. Diffuse PrV positivity in neurons of the brainstem was observed by immunohistochemistry. PrV DNA was isolated and amplified from olfactory bulbs by nested PCR, targeting the viral glycoprotein G gene, and the sequence obtained matched with sequences of PrV isolates from dogs and wild boar. Isolation of PrV in the dog herein analysed denotes the spread of the virus in wild boar populations in Sicily and provides a proof of direct interspecies transmission. Thus, there is an urgent need to increase our understanding of the epidemiology of the PrV infection in wildlife to provide tools to trace possible spill over into domestic pigs or other livestock.

Wolf–Hunting Dog Interactions in a Biodiversity Hot Spot Area in Northern Greece: Preliminary Assessment and Implications for Conservation in the Dadia-Lefkimi-Soufli Forest National Park and Adjacent Areas

Hunting dog depredation by wolves triggers retaliatory killing, with negative impacts on wildlife conservation. In the wider area of the Dadia-Lefkimi-Soufli Forest National Park, reports on such incidents have increased lately. To investigate this conflict, we interviewed 56 affected hunters, conducted wolf trophic analysis, analyzed trends for 2010–2020, applied MAXENT models for risk-map creation, and GLMs to explore factors related to depredation levels. Losses averaged approximately one dog per decade and hunter showing a positive trend, while livestock depredations showed a negative trend. Wolves preyed mainly on wild prey, with dogs consisting of 5.1% of the winter diet. Low altitude areas, with low to medium livestock availability favoring wolf prey and game species, were the riskiest. Dogs were more vulnerable during hare hunting and attacks more frequent during wolf post-weaning season or in wolf territories with reproduction. Hunter experience and group hunting reduced losses. Wolves avoided larger breeds or older dogs. Making noise or closely keeping dogs reduced attack severity. Protective dog vests, risk maps, and enhancing wolf natural prey availability are further measures to be considered, along with a proper verification system to confirm and effectively separate wolf attacks from wild boar attacks, which were also common.

Serosurvey of anti-Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum antibodies in hunting dogs and hunters in Brazil

Background and Aim: Although wild boar hunting activities and the hunting dog trade in the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado biomes of Brazil overlap both with endemic and with non-endemic areas for visceral leishmaniasis, no study to date has focused on Leishmania spp. exposure among hunting dogs and hunters. The aim of the present study was to assess the presence of Leishmania spp. antibodies in hunting dogs and hunters in different anthropized areas of two Brazilian biomes. Materials and Methods: Blood samples were collected from 170 hunting dogs and 46 hunters between October 2016 and May 2018. The presence of antibodies against Leishmania spp. in hunting dogs was screened through a dual-path platform immunochromatographic test (DPP rapid test; Bio-Manguinhos/Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) and in hunters through an rK39-based rapid immunochromatographic test. Both tests were used in accordance with Brazilian Ministry of Health recommendations. Results: Overall, although antibodies were detected through the immunochromatographic test in 3/170 (0.02%) of these female asymptomatic hunting dogs, all living in anthropized areas of the Atlantic Forest biome in South Brazil, no sample was confirmed through the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. All the hunters were non-reactive in the rapid immunochromatographic test. Conclusion: Our study on three suspicious hunting dogs has suggested that Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum may circulate both in endemic and non-endemic areas in Brazil. In addition, a high rate of hunting dog replacement due to death and trade may have led to less chance of infection and transmission between animals and between animals and humans, which would corroborate the outcomes reported here. Further studies should be conducted to fully establish whether hunting dogs and hunters may be used as sentinels in other areas endemic for Leishmania spp.

Marke as a 'Lochgucker' (hole peeper): The motif of the hound dog and the function of hunt in Gottfried's 'Tristan' Marke als Lochgucker: Zum Motiv des Jagdhundes und zur Funktion der Jagd in Gottfrieds 'Tristan'

Gottfried substantiates the episodes set in the minnegrotte with a multitude of astonishing and very specific knowledge of hunting. Because of this not only the minnegrotte can be read allegorically but especially King Marke can be understood as a hunting dog and leading hound (lymer) who – in contrast to Tristan – still has to be trained in the art of hunt and minne. The allegory of hound and hunter can be transferred to the process of reception. Die Minnegrotten-Episode unterlegt Gottfried mit einer verblüffenden Vielzahl spezieller Jagd-Kenntnisse. Daher ist nicht nur die Minnegrotte allegorisch ausgedeutet, sondern vor allem König Marke lässt sich allegorisch verstehen, nämlich als Jagd- und Leithund, der – anders als Tristan – die Jagd/Minne erst noch lernen muss. Die Allegorie von Hund und Jäger lässt sich übertragen auf den Rezeptionsprozess.

Survei Prevalensi Ektoparasit pada Populasi Anjing Pemburu (Canis Lupus familiaris) di Kecamatan Jagong Jeget Kabupaten Aceh Tengah

Dogs are one of the domestic animals that are much loved by humans as pets because of their relatively easy maintenance. The existence of dogs is becoming popular among the public, because for some people, dogs are kept as friends, guards, hunters, scouts or drug trackers.. On the other hand, to maintain their good body condition, then need to control their health.. One of the parameters for dog health disorders is the presence of ectoparasites in their body. This study was aimed to determine the prevalence of ectoparasites of hunting dogs that are kept in Jagong Jeget District, Central Aceh Regency. Research activities have been carried out from November 2019 to February 2020. The samples used in this study were 30 hunting dog samples that owned by the member of PORBI in Jagong Jeget subdistrict by manual ectoparasites examination. The Analysis of results were conducted descriptively. The results showed that the prevalence of ectoparasites in hunting dogs in Jagong Jeget District was 83.3%. In detail, this result comprised of the prevalence of ectoparasites of the Ctenocephalides canis group at 80%, followed by Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Boophilus sp. with a prevalence of 16.6% and Trichodectes canis with a prevalence of 3.3%. We concluded that there was ectoparasitic infection in hunting dogs that were kept in Jagong Jeget District and hunting dog maintenance management in Jagong Jeget District was still classified as poor.Abstrak Anjing merupakan salah satu hewan domestik yang banyak digemari manusia sebagai hewan kesayangan karena pemeliharaannya yang relatif mudah. Keberadaan anjing sangat populer dikalangan masyarakat tertentu, karena bagi mereka, anjing dipelihara sebagai teman, penjaga, pemburu, pengintai atau pelacak narkoba. Disisi lain, untuk menjaga kondisinya tetap stabil sesuai kebutuhan pemeliharaannya, maka kesehatannya perlu dirawat dengan baik. Salah satu parameter gangguan kesehatan anjing adalah keberadaan ektoparasit dalam tubuh. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui prevalensi pada ektoparasit pada anjing pemburu yang di pelihara di Kecamatan Jagong Jeget Kabupaten Aceh Tengah. Kegiatan penelitian telah dilaksanakan dari bulan November 2019 sampai bulan Februari 2020. Sampel yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah 30 sampel anjing pemburu yang diperiksa dari pemilik anjing pemburu anggota PORBI dari Kecamatan Jagong Jeget dengan pemeriksaan ektoparasit secara makroskopis. Data yang diperoleh dianalisis secara deskriptif. Hasil pemeriksaan menunjukkan bahwa prevalensi ektoparasit pada anjing pemburu yang di pelihara di Kecamatan Jagong Jeget adalah 83.3%. Secara rinci ektoparasit dari kelompok kelompok Ctenocephalides canis yaitu 80%. diikuti oleh Rhipicephalus sanguineus dan Boophilus sp. dengan prevalensi 16.6% dan Trichodectes canis dengan prevalensi 3.3%. Dapat disimpulan bahwa terdapat infeksi ektoparasit pada anjing pemburu yang dipelihara di Kecamatan Jagong Jeget dengan tingkat infestasi yang tergolong tinggi

The early hunting dog from Dmanisi with comments on the social behaviour in Canidae and hominins

The renowned site of Dmanisi in Georgia, southern Caucasus (ca. 1.8 Ma) yielded the earliest direct evidence of hominin presence out of Africa. In this paper, we report on the first record of a large-sized canid from this site, namely dentognathic remains, referable to a young adult individual that displays hypercarnivorous features (e.g., the reduction of the m1 metaconid and entoconid) that allow us to include these specimens in the hypodigm of the late Early Pleistocene species Canis (Xenocyon) lycaonoides. Much fossil evidence suggests that this species was a cooperative pack-hunter that, unlike other large-sized canids, was capable of social care toward kin and non-kin members of its group. This rather derived hypercarnivorous canid, which has an East Asian origin, shows one of its earliest records at Dmanisi in the Caucasus, at the gates of Europe. Interestingly, its dispersal from Asia to Europe and Africa followed a parallel route to that of hominins, but in the opposite direction. Hominins and hunting dogs, both recorded in Dmanisi at the beginning of their dispersal across the Old World, are the only two Early Pleistocene mammal species with proved altruistic behaviour towards their group members, an issue discussed over more than one century in evolutionary biology.

Genomic analyses of the extinct Sardinian dhole (Cynotherium sardous) reveal its evolutionary history

SummaryThe Sardinian dhole (Cynotherium sardous)1 was an iconic and unique canid species of canid that was endemic of Sardinia and Corsica until it became extinct at the end of the Late Pleistocene2–5. Given its peculiar dental morphology, small body size and high level of endemism, several canids have been proposed as possible ancestors of the Sardinian dhole, including the Asian dhole and African hunting dog ancestor 3,6–9. Morphometric analyses3,6,8–12 have failed to clarify the evolutionary relationship with other canids.We sequenced the genome of a ca 21,100 year old Sardinian dhole in order to understand its genomic history and clarify its phylogenetic position. We found it represents a separate taxon from all other living canids from Eurasia, Africa and North America, and that the Sardinian and Asian dhole lineages diverged ca 885 ka. We additionally detected historical gene flow between the Sardinian and Asian dhole lineages, that ended approximately 500-300 ka, when the landbridge between Sardinia and mainland Italy was broken, severing their population connectivity. Our sample showed low genome-wide diversity compared to other extant canids - probably a result of the long-term isolation - that could have contributed to the subsequent extinction of the Sardinian dhole.

The first hunting dog from Dmanisi: comments of social behaviour in Canidae and hominins

The renowned site of Dmanisi in Georgia, southern Caucasus (ca. 1.8 Ma) yielded the earliest direct evidence of hominin presence out of Africa. In this paper, we report the first record of a large-sized canid from this site, namely dentognathic remains, referable to a young adult individual that displays hypercarnivorous features (e.g., the reduction of m1 metaconid and entoconid) that allow us to include these specimens in the hypodigm of the late Early Pleistocene European species Canis (Xenocyon) lycaonoides. Much fossil evidence suggests that this species was a cooperative pack-hunter that, unlike other large-sized canids, was capable of social care toward kin and non-kin members of its group. Interestingly, this rather derived hypercarnivorous canid attests to one of the earliest records in Dmanisi. Its dispersal from Asia to Europe and Africa followed a parallel route to that of hominins, but in the opposite direction. Hominins and hunting dogs, both recorded in Dmanisi at the beginning of their dispersal across the Old World, are the only two Early Pleistocene mammal species with proved altruistic behaviour towards their group members, an issue discussed over more than one century in evolutionary biology.

Genomic Characterization of the Istrian Shorthaired Hound

Istrian shorthaired hound is an old indigenous Croatian dog breed with historical traces of its origin, which date back to the 14th century. Due to its intelligence and great hunting abilities, it is considered an excellent hunting dog. Despite its ancient origin, there is no data on genetic diversity, population structure, and degree of inbreeding that could be used for advanced management and conservation of this breed. Our study aimed to provide a high-resolution population structure of the Istrian shorthaired hound using a 220K HD SNP array, to compare the obtained data with the genealogical records and to place the breed in a broader context of world dog populations. Relatively high population size and low inbreeding coefficient estimated from genealogical data indicate a preserved genetic diversity in this breed. The principle component analysis, the NeighborNet network, and TreeMix were used to determine the genetic relationship between the Istrian shorthaired hound and other breeds. The Istrian shorthaired hound was found to be genetically related to Italian hunting dogs sharing the same branch with the Segugio Italiano a Pelo Raso and Segugio Italiano a Pelo Forte. The ADMIXTURE analysis indicated that the Istrian shorthaired hound could be involved in the development of some other hunting dog breeds. The estimated effective population size (Ne) based on SNP data was similar to Ne calculated from genealogical data indicating the absence of bottlenecks and well-balanced use of breeding animals. The low genomic inbreeding coefficient, together with the higher number of short runs of homozygosity, observed in the Istrian shorthaired hound, confirms the ancient origin of the breed based on historical documents. The analysis of selective sweeps identified genomic regions with the strongest selection signals in the vicinity of the genes associated with cognitive performance and behavior. Genome analysis proved to be a useful tool for estimating population parameters and can be implemented in the conservation plan for this indigenous breed.

Hematological and Biochemical Reference Intervals for 5 Adult Hunting Dog Breeds Using a Blood Donor Database

Numerous studies have shown the importance of breed-related differences between hematological and biochemical results in veterinary medicine. The aim of this study is to determine hematologic and biochemical Reference Intervals (RIs) for 5 hunting dog breeds from a blood donor database, adopting an indirect sampling method, and to compare them with laboratory established and published RIs to identify possible breed and attitude-related differences. The study analyzed the blood parameters of 445 adults (222 females and 223 male, with age ranging from 2 to 8 years, mean age 5.3 years), client-owned, clinically healthy blood donor dogs of 5 breeds: 156 Ariégeois, 52 Bleu de Gascogne, 64 Bracco italiano, 123 Segugio italiano, and 50 Briquet Griffon Vandeen. Statistical analysis was performed as recommended by the American Society of Veterinary Clinical Pathology (ASVCP) guidelines. RIs for red blood cells (RBC), hematocrit (HCT), hemoglobin (HB), main corpuscular volume (MCV), main corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), main corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), red distribution widht (RDW), white blood cells (WBC), and differential leukocytes count, PLT, Albumin, Total Protein, Urea, Creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) for each of the 5 breeds were performed, and significant differences with the established RIs were detected. We found significant differences in 12 hematologic and serum biochemical analytes for which a breed-specific variation appears to be the most plausible explanation. New RIs for HCT, MCH, MCHC, RDW, PLT, Monocytes, Eosinophils, Albumin, Urea, Creatinine, AST, and ALT are provided for at least 1 breed. Breed-specific RIs for adult hunting dogs will help avoid misinterpretation of laboratory results in these breeds.