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Orioles M, Fabbri D, Miani G, Pesaro S, Dorigo L, Bregoli M, Saccà E, Tomè P, Beraldo P. Double trouble: Co-infection of Angiostrongylus vasorum and Dirofilaria immitis in golden jackal ( Canis aureus) in Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2024; 24:100969. [PMID: 39165606 PMCID: PMC11334653 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.100969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2024] [Revised: 07/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/22/2024]
Abstract
This study reports the first co-infection of Angiostrongylus vasorum and Dirofilaria immitis, two nematodes affecting canid cardiopulmonary systems, in golden jackals (Canis aureus) in Italy. Data on golden jackal carcasses, recovered in Friuli Venezia Giulia (Italy) from 2020 to 2023, were recorded using InfoFaunaFVG wildlife monitoring network. Out of 60 necropsied golden jackals, 24 tested positive for either pathogen, with 3 animals displaying co-infection. Pathological findings included verminous pneumonia, abdominal and thoracic bleeding, and adult individuals in the heart and pulmonary arteries. The recent expansion of the golden jackal in northern Italy may favour the establishment and spread of these nematodes, posing challenges for disease containment and surveillance. Given the increasing prevalence of angiostrongylosis and cardiopulmonary dirofilariosis in Europe, health monitoring of wild canids is essential to reduce their potential impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimo Orioles
- Dipartimento di Scienze AgroAlimentari, Ambientali e Animali, Università degli Studi di Udine, Via Sondrio, 33100, Udine, Italy
| | - Daniele Fabbri
- Dipartimento di Scienze AgroAlimentari, Ambientali e Animali, Università degli Studi di Udine, Via Sondrio, 33100, Udine, Italy
| | - Giovanna Miani
- Dipartimento di Scienze AgroAlimentari, Ambientali e Animali, Università degli Studi di Udine, Via Sondrio, 33100, Udine, Italy
| | - Stefano Pesaro
- Dipartimento di Scienze AgroAlimentari, Ambientali e Animali, Università degli Studi di Udine, Via Sondrio, 33100, Udine, Italy
| | - Luca Dorigo
- Museo Friulano di Storia Naturale, Via C.G. Sabbadini, 33100, Udine, Italy
| | - Marco Bregoli
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell’Università, 35020, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Elena Saccà
- Dipartimento di Scienze AgroAlimentari, Ambientali e Animali, Università degli Studi di Udine, Via Sondrio, 33100, Udine, Italy
| | - Paolo Tomè
- Dipartimento di Scienze AgroAlimentari, Ambientali e Animali, Università degli Studi di Udine, Via Sondrio, 33100, Udine, Italy
| | - Paola Beraldo
- Dipartimento di Scienze AgroAlimentari, Ambientali e Animali, Università degli Studi di Udine, Via Sondrio, 33100, Udine, Italy
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Ninausz N, Fehér P, Csányi E, Heltai M, Szabó L, Barta E, Kemenszky P, Sándor G, Jánoska F, Horváth M, Kusza S, Frank K, Varga L, Stéger V. White and other fur colourations and hybridization in golden jackals (Canis aureus) in the Carpathian basin. Sci Rep 2023; 13:21969. [PMID: 38082037 PMCID: PMC10713657 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49265-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The golden jackal (Canis aureus) is a reoccurring species in the centre of the Carpathian basin, in Hungary. In total, 31 golden jackal tissue samples were collected, from 8 white-coated, 2 black-coated and one mottled animal across Hungary. Sequences and fragment length polymorphisms were studied for white colour (MC1R), and for black coat colouration (CBD103). In each white animal, the most widespread mutation causing white fur colour in dogs in homozygous form was detected. Three animals were found to carry the mutation in heterozygous form. The two black golden jackals were heterozygous for the 3 bp deletion in CBD103 that mutation for black coat colouration in dogs, and one of them also carried the mutation causing white fur. None of the white animals showed signs of hybridization, but both the black and the mottled coloured individuals were found to be hybrids based on genetic testing. Kinship was found three times, twice between white animals, and once between a white animal and an agouti animal carrying the mutation of white coat. Our results confirm the findings that golden jackal-dog hybrids may occur without human intervention, and the detected mutation causing white fur colour in golden jackals could possibly be due to an early hybridization event.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nóra Ninausz
- Department of Genetics and Genomics, Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Gödöllő, Hungary
| | - Péter Fehér
- Department of Genetics and Genomics, Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Gödöllő, Hungary
| | - Erika Csányi
- Faculty of Forestry, University of Sopron, Sopron, Hungary
| | - Miklós Heltai
- Department of Wildlife Biology and Management, Institute of Wildlife Management and Nature Conservation, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Gödöllő, Hungary
| | - László Szabó
- Department of Wildlife Biology and Management, Institute of Wildlife Management and Nature Conservation, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Gödöllő, Hungary
| | - Endre Barta
- Department of Genetics and Genomics, Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Gödöllő, Hungary
| | | | - Gyula Sándor
- Faculty of Forestry, University of Sopron, Sopron, Hungary
| | - Ferenc Jánoska
- Faculty of Forestry, University of Sopron, Sopron, Hungary
| | | | - Szilvia Kusza
- Centre for Agricultural Genomics and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | | | - László Varga
- Department of Genetics and Genomics, Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Gödöllő, Hungary
| | - Viktor Stéger
- Department of Genetics and Genomics, Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Gödöllő, Hungary.
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Barash A, Preiss-Bloom S, Machluf Y, Fabbri E, Malkinson D, Velli E, Mucci N, Barash A, Caniglia R, Dayan T, Dekel Y. Possible origins and implications of atypical morphologies and domestication-like traits in wild golden jackals (Canis aureus). Sci Rep 2023; 13:7388. [PMID: 37149712 PMCID: PMC10164184 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-34533-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Deciphering the origins of phenotypic variations in natural animal populations is a challenging topic for evolutionary and conservation biologists. Atypical morphologies in mammals are usually attributed to interspecific hybridisation or de-novo mutations. Here we report the case of four golden jackals (Canis aureus), that were observed during a camera-trapping wildlife survey in Northern Israel, displaying anomalous morphological traits, such as white patches, an upturned tail, and long thick fur which resemble features of domesticated mammals. Another individual was culled under permit and was genetically and morphologically examined. Paternal and nuclear genetic profiles, as well as geometric morphometric data, identified this individual as a golden jackal rather than a recent dog/wolf-jackal hybrid. Its maternal haplotype suggested past introgression of African wolf (Canis lupaster) mitochondrial DNA, as previously documented in other jackals from Israel. When viewed in the context of the jackal as an overabundant species in Israel, the rural nature of the surveyed area, the abundance of anthropogenic waste, and molecular and morphological findings, the possibility of an individual presenting incipient stages of domestication should also be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayelet Barash
- School of Zoology and The Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Unit of Agrigenomics, Shamir Research Institute, University of Haifa, 1290000, Kazerin, Israel
| | - Shlomo Preiss-Bloom
- School of Zoology and The Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Yossy Machluf
- Unit of Agrigenomics, Shamir Research Institute, University of Haifa, 1290000, Kazerin, Israel
| | - Elena Fabbri
- Unit for Conservation Genetics (BIO‑CGE), Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), Via Cà Fornacetta 9, Ozzano dell'Emilia, 40064, Bologna, Italy
| | - Dan Malkinson
- Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Haifa, 3498838, Haifa, Israel
| | - Edoardo Velli
- Unit for Conservation Genetics (BIO‑CGE), Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), Via Cà Fornacetta 9, Ozzano dell'Emilia, 40064, Bologna, Italy
| | - Nadia Mucci
- Unit for Conservation Genetics (BIO‑CGE), Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), Via Cà Fornacetta 9, Ozzano dell'Emilia, 40064, Bologna, Italy
| | - Alon Barash
- The Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar Ilan University, 8 Henrietta Szold St, Safed, Israel
| | - Romolo Caniglia
- Unit for Conservation Genetics (BIO‑CGE), Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), Via Cà Fornacetta 9, Ozzano dell'Emilia, 40064, Bologna, Italy.
| | - Tamar Dayan
- School of Zoology and The Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
| | - Yaron Dekel
- Unit of Agrigenomics, Shamir Research Institute, University of Haifa, 1290000, Kazerin, Israel.
- The Cheryl Spencer Department of Nursing and The Cheryl Spencer Institute of Nursing Research, University of Haifa, 3498838, Haifa, Israel.
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Sosale MS, Songsasen N, İbiş O, Edwards CW, Figueiró HV, Koepfli KP. The complete mitochondrial genome and phylogenetic characterization of two putative subspecies of golden jackal (Canis aureus cruesemanni and Canis aureus moreotica). Gene 2023; 866:147303. [PMID: 36854348 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2023.147303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2023]
Abstract
The golden jackal (Canis aureus) is a canid species found across southern Eurasia. Several subspecies of this animal have been genetically studied in regions such as Europe, the Middle East, and India. However, one subspecies that lacks current research is the Indochinese jackal (Canis aureus cruesemanni), which is primarily found in Southeast Asia. Using a genome skimming approach, we assembled the first complete mitochondrial genome for an Indochinese jackal from Thailand. To expand the number of available Canis aureus mitogenomes, we also assembled and sequenced the first complete mitochondrial genome of a golden jackal from Turkey, representing the C. a. moreotica subspecies. The mitogenomes contained 37 annotated genes and are 16,729 bps (C. a. cruesemanni) and 16,669 bps (C. a. moreotica) in length. Phylogenetic analysis with 26 additional canid mitogenomes and analyses of a cytochrome b gene-only data set together support the Indochinese jackal as a distinct and early-branching lineage among golden jackals, thereby supporting its recognition as a possible subspecies. These analyses also demonstrate that the golden jackal from Turkey is likely not a distinct lineage due to close genetic relationships with golden jackals from India and Israel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Medhini S Sosale
- Department of Bioengineering, Volgenau School of Engineering, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA; Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation, George Mason University, Front Royal, VA, USA.
| | - Nucharin Songsasen
- Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA, USA
| | - Osman İbiş
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey; Genome and Stem Cell Center (GENKOK), Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey; Vectors and Vector-Borne Diseases Implementation and Research Center, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Cody W Edwards
- Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation, George Mason University, Front Royal, VA, USA; Department of Biology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Henrique V Figueiró
- Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation, George Mason University, Front Royal, VA, USA
| | - Klaus-Peter Koepfli
- Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation, George Mason University, Front Royal, VA, USA; Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA, USA.
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First documentation of golden jackal (Canis aureus) reproduction in Germany. MAMMAL RES 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s13364-022-00666-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
AbstractThe golden jackal (Canis aureus), a mesocarnivore, is currently expanding from eastern towards western Europe. Reproduction of the species could be confirmed in several areas in central Europe in recent years. This study collects the first records of golden jackal reproduction in Germany in 2021 and 2022. A family group of at least five individuals could be confirmed using camera traps and scat surveys with a trained detection dog and subsequent genetic identification in 2021. In 2022, camera traps confirmed a second reproduction in the same area.
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Nikitović J, Djan M, Ćirović D, Antić M, Šnjegota D. The first report on genetic variability and population structure in jackals from Bosnia and Herzegovina. MAMMAL RES 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s13364-022-00665-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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Marinković D, Gavrilović P, Vidanović D, Ćirović D, Kuručki M, Vasković N, Aničić M. First Report of Alveolar Hydatid Disease (Echinococcus multilocularis) in a Golden Jackal (Canis aureus). Acta Parasitol 2022; 67:1401-1406. [PMID: 35536425 DOI: 10.1007/s11686-022-00556-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alveolar hydatid disease caused by the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis is a parasitic disease present in the northern hemisphere. Echinococcus multilocularis is a parasite of canid and felid carnivores as definitive hosts, and small mammals, particularly rodents as intermediate hosts. Other animal species and humans can be aberrant intermediate hosts for this parasite. It is known that besides acting as definitive hosts, domestic dogs can rarely become infected with the larval form of E. multilocularis and develop alveolar echinococcosis; however, a role of wild canids as aberrant intermediate hosts has not been documented until now. To the best of our knowledge the present paper provides the first description of alveolar hydatid disease in a golden jackal (Canis aureus). CASE PRESENTATION Necropsy of the yearling female animal found a large, round, tumor-like mass, 20 cm in diameter, with a rough, multilobulated surface in the abdominal cavity, connected to the liver and omentum. On the cut surface this tumor-like lesion was multicystic, with a number of locular cavities filled with a clear yellowish to orange watery fluid and a large area of necrosis in the central part of the mass. Histopathology revealed multiple cystic spaces separated by fibrous sheaths and inflammatory cells-lymphocytes, plasma cells, neutrophil and eosinophil granulocytes. The cysts contained either pale, hyaline, eosinophilic laminar and occasionally amorphous, acellular, PAS-positive structures, or metacestodes with invaginated protoscolices. In several cysts round calcified bodies (calcareous corpuscles) were noted. Microscopic examination showed everted and inverted protoscolices which were attached to fragments of the brood capsule or free in hydatid fluid. By comparing consensus nucleotide sequence of 457 bp obtained by PCR reaction with sequences deposited in NCBI GenBank it is determined that it was 100% identical with E. multilocularis sequences under accession numbers MH259778.1, MH259776.1, AB668376.1, EU704124.1 and AB018440.2. CONCLUSIONS The present paper provides a proof that the golden jackal, besides being a definitive host, can also serve as the aberrant intermediate host for E. multilocularis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darko Marinković
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Oslobođenja 18, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Pavle Gavrilović
- Veterinary Specialised Institute "Pančevo", Novoseljanski put 33, 26000, Pančevo, Serbia.
| | - Dejan Vidanović
- Veterinary Specialised Institute "Kraljevo", Žička 34, 36000, Kraljevo, Serbia
| | - Duško Ćirović
- Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 16, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Milica Kuručki
- Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 16, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Nikola Vasković
- Veterinary Specialised Institute "Kraljevo", Žička 34, 36000, Kraljevo, Serbia
| | - Milan Aničić
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Oslobođenja 18, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia
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Rykov AM, Kuznetsova AS, Tirronen KF. The first record of the golden jackal (Canis aureus Linnaeus, 1758) in the Russian Subarctic. Polar Biol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-022-03037-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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A reduced SNP panel to trace gene flow across southern European wolf populations and detect hybridization with other Canis taxa. Sci Rep 2022; 12:4195. [PMID: 35264717 PMCID: PMC8907317 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-08132-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Intra- and inter-specific gene flow are natural evolutionary processes. However, human-induced hybridization is a global conservation concern across taxa, and the development of discriminant genetic markers to differentiate among gene flow processes is essential. Wolves (Canis lupus) are affected by hybridization, particularly in southern Europe, where ongoing recolonization of historic ranges is augmenting gene flow among divergent populations. Our aim was to provide diagnostic canid markers focused on the long-divergent Iberian, Italian and Dinaric wolf populations, based on existing genomic resources. We used 158 canid samples to select a panel of highly informative single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to (i) distinguish wolves in the three regions from domestic dogs (C. l. familiaris) and golden jackals (C. aureus), and (ii) identify their first two hybrid generations. The resulting 192 SNPs correctly identified the five canid groups, all simulated first-generation (F1) hybrids (0.482 ≤ Qi ≤ 0.512 between their respective parental groups) and all first backcross (BC1) individuals (0.723 ≤ Qi ≤ 0.827 to parental groups). An assay design and test with invasive and non-invasive canid samples performed successfully for 178 SNPs. By separating natural population admixture from inter-specific hybridization, our reduced panel can help advance evolutionary research, monitoring, and timely conservation management.
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Yusefi GH, Godinho R, Khalatbari L, Broomand S, Fahimi H, Martínez‐Freiría F, Alvares F. Habitat use and population genetics of golden jackals in Iran: Insights from a generalist species in a highly heterogeneous landscape. J ZOOL SYST EVOL RES 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/jzs.12519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Gholam Hosein Yusefi
- CIBIO/InBIO ‐ Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos University of PortoVairão Vairão Portugal
- Mohitban Society Tehran Iran
| | - Raquel Godinho
- CIBIO/InBIO ‐ Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos University of PortoVairão Vairão Portugal
- Department of Biology Faculty of Sciences University of Porto Porto Portugal
- Department of Zoology University of Johannesburg Johannesburg South Africa
| | - Leili Khalatbari
- CIBIO/InBIO ‐ Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos University of PortoVairão Vairão Portugal
- Mohitban Society Tehran Iran
- Department of Biology Faculty of Sciences University of Porto Porto Portugal
| | | | | | - Fernando Martínez‐Freiría
- CIBIO/InBIO ‐ Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos University of PortoVairão Vairão Portugal
| | - Francisco Alvares
- CIBIO/InBIO ‐ Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos University of PortoVairão Vairão Portugal
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Stronen AV, Konec M, Boljte B, Bošković I, Gačić D, Galov A, Heltai M, Jelenčič M, Kljun F, Kos I, Kovačič T, Lanszki J, Pintur K, Pokorny B, Skrbinšek T, Suchentrunk F, Szabó L, Šprem N, Tomljanović K, Potočnik H. Population genetic structure in a rapidly expanding mesocarnivore: golden jackals in the Dinaric-Pannonian region. Glob Ecol Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
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12
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Stefanović M, Ćirović D, Bogdanović N, Knauer F, Heltai M, Szabó L, Lanszki J, Zhelev CD, Schaschl H, Suchentrunk F. Positive selection on the MHC class II DLA-DQA1 gene in golden jackals (Canis aureus) from their recent expansion range in Europe and its effect on their body mass index. BMC Ecol Evol 2021; 21:122. [PMID: 34134625 PMCID: PMC8207625 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-021-01856-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In Europe, golden jackals (Canis aureus) have been expanding their range out of the southern and southeastern Balkans towards central Europe continually since the 1960s. Here, we investigated the level of functional diversity at the MHC class II DLA-DQA1 exon 2 in golden jackal populations from Bulgaria, Serbia, and Hungary. Specifically, we tested for positive selection on and geographic variation at that locus due to adaptation to supposedly regionally varying pathogenic landscapes. To test for potential fitness effects of different protein variants on individual body condition, we used linear modeling of individual body mass indexes (bmi) and accounted for possible age, sex, geographical, and climatic effects. The latter approach was performed, however, only on Serbian individuals with appropriate data. Results Only three different DLA-DQA1 alleles were detected, all coding for different amino-acid sequences. The neutrality tests revealed no significant but positive values; there was no signal of spatial structuring and no deviation from the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium across the studied range of expansion. However, we found a signal of trans-species polymorphism and significant test results for positive selection on three codons. Our information-theory based linear modeling results indicated an effect of ambient temperature on the occurrence of individual DLA-DQA1 genotypes in individuals from across the studied expansion range, independent from geographical position. Our linear modeling results of individual bmi values indicated that yearlings homozygous for DLA-DQA1*03001 reached values typical for adults contrary to yearlings carrying other genotypes (protein combinations). This suggested better growth rates and thus a possible fitness advantage of yearlings homozygous for DLA-DQA1*03001. Conclusions Our results indicate a demographic (stochastic) signal of reduced DLA-DQA1 exon 2 variation, in line with the documented historical demographic bottleneck. At the same time, however, allelic variation was also affected by positive selection and adaptation to varying ambient temperature, supposedly reflecting geographic variation in the pathogenic landscape. Moreover, an allele effect on body mass index values of yearlings suggested differential fitness associated with growth rates. Overall, a combination of a stochastic effect and positive selection has shaped and is still shaping the variation at the studied MHC locus. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12862-021-01856-z.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milomir Stefanović
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 2, 21000, Novi Sad, Serbia.,Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Savoyenstrasse 1, 1160, Vienna, Austria
| | - Duško Ćirović
- Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 16, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Neda Bogdanović
- Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 16, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Felix Knauer
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Savoyenstrasse 1, 1160, Vienna, Austria
| | - Miklós Heltai
- Institute for Wildlife Conservation, Szent István University, Páter Károly utca 1, Gödöllő, 2100, Hungary
| | - László Szabó
- Institute for Wildlife Conservation, Szent István University, Páter Károly utca 1, Gödöllő, 2100, Hungary
| | - József Lanszki
- Ecological Research Group, University of Kaposvár, PO Box 16, 7401, Kaposvár, Hungary
| | | | - Helmut Schaschl
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Franz Suchentrunk
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Savoyenstrasse 1, 1160, Vienna, Austria
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Jackal in hide: detection dogs show first success in the quest for golden jackal (Canis aureus) scats. MAMMAL RES 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s13364-020-00537-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
AbstractGolden jackal (Canis aureus) monitoring in central Europe generates more interest and becomes increasingly important with the species’ appearance in areas where it was previously unestablished. For genetic monitoring of golden jackals via scat collection, the distinction of jackal scats from those of related species such as the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is crucial: if done incorrectly, it can falsify diet studies or inflate costs of DNA analyses. In this study, we tested the potential benefits of using domestic dogs to specifically find jackal scats. We used trained scat detection dogs to locate and identify golden jackal scats in an area of dense shrubland, with the species’ presence previously confirmed via bioacoustic monitoring. On a total of 133 km of transects covering at least two golden jackal groups, two human-dog teams found 34 putative golden jackal scats. A total of 26 of these were successfully genetically analysed, of which 19 were attributed to 13 individual golden jackals, an accuracy rate of 73%. Our results show that detection dogs can successfully differentiate golden jackal scats from other species. This tool can be applied to detect golden jackal presence and establish more reliable estimates of group number and size than previously determined through bioacoustic stimulation. By combining both methods, questions about family structures and kinship, seasonal differences in habitat use and territory sizes can be answered. The regular use of detection dogs can present an efficient method to monitor golden jackals on a long-term basis and to learn more about their behaviour and population dynamics.
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Torretta E, Dondina O, Delfoco C, Riboldi L, Orioli V, Lapini L, Meriggi A. First assessment of habitat suitability and connectivity for the golden jackal in north-eastern Italy. Mamm Biol 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s42991-020-00069-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
AbstractCompared with the rapid expansion across Europe, the golden jackal colonization of Italy is still limited and slow. No study focused on the habitat selection or landscape connectivity for this species was performed in Italy; thus, the potential distribution and dispersal patterns in the country remain unknown. Our objectives were to evaluate the suitability of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region (north-eastern Italy) for the golden jackal, as well as to identify the ecological corridors connecting the areas currently occupied by the species. Corridors modelling allowed us both to hypothesize the dispersal dynamics occurring in the study region and to identify possible obstacles to future range expansion. We surveyed golden jackal presence in two study areas, covering an area of 500 km2, from March 2017 to February 2018. Using collected data, we modelled the species home-range scale habitat suitability based on an ensemble modelling approach. Subsequently, a habitat suitability prediction at a finer scale was used to estimate landscape resistance, starting from which, we modelled dispersal corridors among areas currently occupied by the species using a factorial least cost path and a cumulative resistant kernel approach. Our results indicated a moderate potential for large parts of the study region to support the occurrence of golden jackal family groups, whose presence seems to be mainly driven by the presence of wide areas covered by broadleaved forests and shrublands and by the absence of wide intensive agricultural areas. The predicted connectivity networks showed that three main permeable corridors are likely to connect golden jackal occurrence areas within the study region, while all the other corridors are characterized by a very low path density. Both the habitat selection and connectivity analyses showed a strong negative impact of the intensive cultivated plain on species stable presence and movement providing critical information for the conservation of the golden jackal in Italy.
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15
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Shakarashvili M, Kopaliani N, Gurielidze Z, Dekanoidze D, Ninua L, Tarkhnishvili D. Population genetic structure and dispersal patterns of grey wolfs (
Canis lupus
) and golden jackals (
Canis aureus
) in Georgia, the Caucasus. J Zool (1987) 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - N. Kopaliani
- Institute of Ecology Ilia State University Tbilisi Georgia
| | - Z. Gurielidze
- Institute of Ecology Ilia State University Tbilisi Georgia
- Tbilisi Zoo Tbilisi Georgia
| | - D. Dekanoidze
- Institute of Ecology Ilia State University Tbilisi Georgia
| | - L. Ninua
- Institute of Ecology Ilia State University Tbilisi Georgia
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16
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Stoyanov S. Cranial variability and differentiation among golden jackals ( Canis aureus) in Europe, Asia Minor and Africa. Zookeys 2020; 917:141-164. [PMID: 32206023 PMCID: PMC7076067 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.917.39449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2019] [Accepted: 01/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Golden jackal (Canisaureus) expansion in the last decades has triggered research interest in Europe. However, jackal phylogeny and taxonomy are still controversial. Morphometric studies in Europe found differences between Dalmatian and the other European jackals. Recent genetic studies revealed that African and Eurasian golden jackals are distinct species. Moreover, large Canisaureuslupaster may be a cryptic subspecies of the African golden jackal. Although genetic studies suggest changes in Canisaureus taxonomy, morphological and morphometric studies are still needed. The present study proposes the first comprehensive analysis on a wide scale of golden jackal skull morphometry. Extensive morphometric data of jackal skulls from Europe (including a very large Bulgarian sample), Asia Minor, and North Africa were analysed, by applying recently developed statistical tools, to address the following questions: (i) is there geographic variation in skull size and shape among populations from Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus?, (ii) is the jackal population from the Dalmatian coast different?, and (iii) is there a clear distinction between the Eurasian golden jackal (Canisaureus) and the African wolf (Canislupaster sensu lato), and among populations of African wolves as well? Principal component analysis and linear discriminant analysis were applied on the standardized and log-transformed ratios of the original measurements to clearly separate specimens by shape and size. The results suggest that jackals from Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus belong to one subspecies: Canisaureusmoreotica (I. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1835), despite the differences in shape of Dalmatian specimens. The present study confirmed morphometrically that all jackals included so far in the taxon Canisaureus sensu lato may represent three taxa and supports the hypothesis that at least two different taxa (species?) of Canis occur in North Africa, indicating the need for further genetic, morphological, behavioural and ecological research to resolve the taxonomic uncertainty. The results are consistent with recent genetic and morphological studies and give further insights on golden jackal taxonomy. Understanding the species phylogeny and taxonomy is crucial for the conservation and management of the expanding golden jackal population in Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stoyan Stoyanov
- Wildlife Management Department, University of Forestry, Sofia, Bulgaria, 10 St. Kliment Ohridski Blvd., 1797, Sofia, Bulgaria University of Forestry Sofia Bulgaria
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17
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Spassov N, Acosta-Pankov I. Dispersal history of the golden jackal ( Canis aureus moreoticus Geoffroy, 1835) in Europe and possible causes of its recent population explosion. Biodivers Data J 2019; 7:e34825. [PMID: 31139003 PMCID: PMC6522460 DOI: 10.3897/bdj.7.e34825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2019] [Accepted: 04/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Data on the historical distribution of the golden jackal in Europe and its primary habitats are scarce. There are many new data on the population explosion and the rapid spread of the in Europe. However, the main factors for this expansion, the core population and its routes of dispersal, remain controversial or insufficiently studied. New information This study provides a profound analysis of the history of the jackal’s (Canisaureusmoreoticus Geoffroy, 1835) occurrence in Europe, the factors limiting or those triggering its expansion on the continent. The analysis shows that the timing of the species appearance in Europe still remains unclear. Historical data show that the species is a typical inhabitant of South-Eastern Europe, with some pulsations within its core area, as well as extensions to the north and west of it in favourable periods. Nowadays, the increase of the species range in Europe is the largest documented population explosion on the continent. We argue that this expansion originates from only three core populations, the Peri-Strandja area and the Dalmatian coast in the Balkans and the east parts of Western Transcaucasia in the Caucasus. This population explosion is largely due to a unique combination of factors of an anthropogenic nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolai Spassov
- National Museum of Natural History, Sofia, Bulgaria National Museum of Natural History Sofia Bulgaria
| | - Ilya Acosta-Pankov
- National Museum of Natural History, Sofia, Bulgaria National Museum of Natural History Sofia Bulgaria
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18
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Sindičić M, Bujanić M, Štimac I, Martinković F, Tuškan N, Špehar M, Konjević D. First identification of Echinococcus multilocularis in golden jackals in Croatia. Acta Parasitol 2018; 63:654-656. [PMID: 29975650 DOI: 10.1515/ap-2018-0076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2017] [Accepted: 05/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Alveolar echinococcosis, caused by the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis, is one of the world's most dangerous zoonosis and an emerging disease with growing incidence in humans. The disease has been reported in new areas and host species in the last two decades, and the primary hosts of the parasite - red fox, golden jackal and grey wolf - are expanding their distribution in Europe. Here we report the morphological and molecular identification of Echinococcus multilocularis tapeworms in one of 29 carcasses of adult golden jackals in Croatia, where the only previous report of the parasite was in red foxes in 2016. These results suggest that alveolar echinococcosis should be treated as an emerging disease in Croatia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magda Sindičić
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Miljenko Bujanić
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Iva Štimac
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Franjo Martinković
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Nikolina Tuškan
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Marina Špehar
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Dean Konjević
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
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19
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Kusza S, Nagy K, Lanszki J, Heltai M, Szabó C, Czarnomska SD. Moderate genetic variability and no genetic structure within the European golden jackal (Canis aureus) population in Hungary. MAMMAL RES 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s13364-018-0390-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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20
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Abstract
Canis aureus (Linnaeus, 1758), the golden jackal, is a medium-sized, wide spread, terrestrial carnivore. It is 1 of 7 species found in the genus Canis. It ranges from Africa to Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia. Due to its tolerance of dry habitats and its omnivorous diet, C. aureus can live in a wide variety of habitats. It normally lives in open grassland habitat but also occurs in deserts, woodlands, mangroves, and agricultural and rural habitats in India and Bangladesh. It ranges from sea level in Eritrea to 3,500 m in the Bale Mountains of Ethiopia and 2,000 m in India. C. aureus is listed as “Least Concern” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Red List of Threatened Species version 2016.1.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Virginia Hayssen
- Department of Biological Sciences, Smith College, Northampton, MA, USA
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21
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Thapa K, Manandhar S, Bista M, Shakya J, Sah G, Dhakal M, Sharma N, Llewellyn B, Wultsch C, Waits LP, Kelly MJ, Hero JM, Hughes J, Karmacharya D. Assessment of genetic diversity, population structure, and gene flow of tigers (Panthera tigris tigris) across Nepal's Terai Arc Landscape. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0193495. [PMID: 29561865 PMCID: PMC5862458 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0193495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2017] [Accepted: 02/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
With fewer than 200 tigers (Panthera tigris tigris) left in Nepal, that are generally confined to five protected areas across the Terai Arc Landscape, genetic studies are needed to provide crucial information on diversity and connectivity for devising an effective country-wide tiger conservation strategy. As part of the Nepal Tiger Genome Project, we studied landscape change, genetic variation, population structure, and gene flow of tigers across the Terai Arc Landscape by conducting Nepal’s first comprehensive and systematic scat-based, non-invasive genetic survey. Of the 770 scat samples collected opportunistically from five protected areas and six presumed corridors, 412 were tiger (57%). Out of ten microsatellite loci, we retain eight markers that were used in identifying 78 individual tigers. We used this dataset to examine population structure, genetic variation, contemporary gene flow, and potential population bottlenecks of tigers in Nepal. We detected three genetic clusters consistent with three demographic sub-populations and found moderate levels of genetic variation (He = 0.61, AR = 3.51) and genetic differentiation (FST = 0.14) across the landscape. We detected 3–7 migrants, confirming the potential for dispersal-mediated gene flow across the landscape. We found evidence of a bottleneck signature likely caused by large-scale land-use change documented in the last two centuries in the Terai forest. Securing tiger habitat including functional forest corridors is essential to enhance gene flow across the landscape and ensure long-term tiger survival. This requires cooperation among multiple stakeholders and careful conservation planning to prevent detrimental effects of anthropogenic activities on tigers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanchan Thapa
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States of America
| | | | - Manisha Bista
- Center for Molecular Dynamics Nepal, Thapathali-11, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Jivan Shakya
- Center for Molecular Dynamics Nepal, Thapathali-11, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Govind Sah
- Center for Molecular Dynamics Nepal, Thapathali-11, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Maheshwar Dhakal
- Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Netra Sharma
- Environment Team, U.S. Agency for International Development, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Bronwyn Llewellyn
- Environment Team, U.S. Agency for International Development, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Claudia Wultsch
- American Natural History Museum, New York City, New York, United States of America
| | - Lisette P. Waits
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, United States of America
| | - Marcella J. Kelly
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Jean-Marc Hero
- School of Environment, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jane Hughes
- School of Environment, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia
| | - Dibesh Karmacharya
- Center for Molecular Dynamics Nepal, Thapathali-11, Kathmandu, Nepal
- School of Environment, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia
- * E-mail:
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22
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Markov G, Heltai M, Nikolov I, Penezić A, Lanszki J, Ćirović D. Phenetic similarity of European golden jackal (Canis aureus moreoticus) populations from southeastern Europe based on craniometric data. Biologia (Bratisl) 2017. [DOI: 10.1515/biolog-2017-0148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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23
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Hulva P, Černá Bolfíková B, Woznicová V, Jindřichová M, Benešová M, Mysłajek RW, Nowak S, Szewczyk M, Niedźwiecka N, Figura M, Hájková A, Sándor AD, Zyka V, Romportl D, Kutal M, Finďo S, Antal V. Wolves at the crossroad: Fission-fusion range biogeography in the Western Carpathians and Central Europe. DIVERS DISTRIB 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.12676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Pavel Hulva
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science; Charles University; Prague Czech Republic
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science; University of Ostrava; Ostrava Czech Republic
| | - Barbora Černá Bolfíková
- Department of Animal Science and Food Processing, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences; Czech University of Life Sciences Prague; Prague Czech Republic
| | - Vendula Woznicová
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science; University of Ostrava; Ostrava Czech Republic
| | - Milena Jindřichová
- Department of Animal Science and Food Processing, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences; Czech University of Life Sciences Prague; Prague Czech Republic
| | - Markéta Benešová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science; Charles University; Prague Czech Republic
| | - Robert W. Mysłajek
- Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology; University of Warsaw; Warszaw Poland
| | | | - Maciej Szewczyk
- Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology; University of Warsaw; Warszaw Poland
| | - Natalia Niedźwiecka
- Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology; University of Warsaw; Warszaw Poland
- Association for Nature “Wolf”; Lipowa Poland
| | | | - Andrea Hájková
- State Nature Conservancy of Slovak Republic; Banská Bystrica Slovakia
| | - Atilla D. Sándor
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine; University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca; Cluj-Napoca Romania
| | - Vladimír Zyka
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science; Charles University; Prague Czech Republic
| | - Dušan Romportl
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science; Charles University; Prague Czech Republic
| | - Miroslav Kutal
- Friends of the Earth Czech Republic; Olomouc Branch; Olomouc Czech Republic
- Institute of Forest Ecology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology; Mendel University in Brno; Brno Czech Republic
| | - Slavomír Finďo
- Forest Protection and Wildlife Management; National Forest Centre; Zvolen Slovakia
| | - Vladimír Antal
- State Nature Conservancy of Slovak Republic; Banská Bystrica Slovakia
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24
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Substantial functional diversity accompanies limited major histocompatibility complex class II variability in golden jackal (Canis aureus): A comparison between two wild Canis species in Croatia. Mamm Biol 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mambio.2016.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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25
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Aksöyek E, İbiş O, Özcan S, Moradi M, Tez C. DNA barcoding of three species (Canis aureus, Canis lupus and Vulpes vulpes) of Canidae. Mitochondrial DNA A DNA Mapp Seq Anal 2016; 28:747-755. [PMID: 27180732 DOI: 10.1080/24701394.2016.1180512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene have been used for DNA barcoding and determining the genetic diversity of mammal species. In the current study, our intention was to test the validity of COI barcodes for detecting genetic divergence and to reveal whether or not there is a genetic variation at this marker within canids. Three species (Canis aureus, Canis lupus and Vulpes vulpes) from the family Canidae were selected for DNA barcoding using samples collected from Iran and Turkey. All three species had unique barcoding sequences and none of the sequences were shared among these species. The mean sequence divergences within and among the species were 0.61% and 12.32%, respectively, which fell into the mean divergence ranges found in some mammal groups. The genetic diversity of these three canid species was relatively higher than that found in previously reported studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eren Aksöyek
- a Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences , Erciyes University , Kayseri , Turkey
| | - Osman İbiş
- b Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture , Erciyes University , Kayseri , Turkey.,c Genome and Stem Cell Center, GENKOK, Erciyes University , Kayseri , Turkey
| | - Servet Özcan
- c Genome and Stem Cell Center, GENKOK, Erciyes University , Kayseri , Turkey.,d Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences , Erciyes University , Kayseri , Turkey
| | - Mohammad Moradi
- e Department of Biology, Faculty of Science , University of Zanjan , Zanjan , Iran
| | - Coşkun Tez
- d Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences , Erciyes University , Kayseri , Turkey
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26
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Porobić J, Ćirović D, Jojić V. Cranial variability of the Serbian golden jackal: Geographic variation, sexual dimorphism and allometry. ZOOL ANZ 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcz.2016.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
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27
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Galov A, Fabbri E, Caniglia R, Arbanasić H, Lapalombella S, Florijančić T, Bošković I, Galaverni M, Randi E. First evidence of hybridization between golden jackal (Canis aureus) and domestic dog (Canis familiaris) as revealed by genetic markers. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2015; 2:150450. [PMID: 27019731 PMCID: PMC4807452 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.150450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2015] [Accepted: 11/03/2015] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Interspecific hybridization is relatively frequent in nature and numerous cases of hybridization between wild canids and domestic dogs have been recorded. However, hybrids between golden jackals (Canis aureus) and other canids have not been described before. In this study, we combined the use of biparental (15 autosomal microsatellites and three major histocompatibility complex (MHC) loci) and uniparental (mtDNA control region and a Y-linked Zfy intron) genetic markers to assess the admixed origin of three wild-living canids showing anomalous phenotypic traits. Results indicated that these canids were hybrids between golden jackals and domestic dogs. One of them was a backcross to jackal and another one was a backcross to dog, confirming that golden jackal-domestic dog hybrids are fertile. The uniparental markers showed that the direction of hybridization, namely females of the wild species hybridizing with male domestic dogs, was common to most cases of canid hybridization. A melanistic 3bp-deletion at the K locus (β-defensin CDB103 gene), that was absent in reference golden jackal samples, but was found in a backcross to jackal with anomalous black coat, suggested its introgression from dogs via hybridization. Moreover, we demonstrated that MHC sequences, although rarely used as markers of hybridization, can be also suitable for the identification of hybrids, as long as haplotypes are exclusive for the parental species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Galov
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, Zagreb 10000, Croatia
- Author for correspondence: Ana Galov e-mail:
| | - Elena Fabbri
- Laboratorio di Genetica, Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), Ozzano dell’Emilia (BO) 40064, Italy
| | - Romolo Caniglia
- Laboratorio di Genetica, Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), Ozzano dell’Emilia (BO) 40064, Italy
| | - Haidi Arbanasić
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, Zagreb 10000, Croatia
| | - Silvana Lapalombella
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences University of Bologna, Via Selmi 3, Bologna 40126, Italy
| | - Tihomir Florijančić
- Department for Hunting, Fishery and Beekeeping, Faculty of Agriculture in Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Kralja Petra Svačića 1d, Osijek 31000, Croatia
| | - Ivica Bošković
- Department for Hunting, Fishery and Beekeeping, Faculty of Agriculture in Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Kralja Petra Svačića 1d, Osijek 31000, Croatia
| | - Marco Galaverni
- Laboratorio di Genetica, Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), Ozzano dell’Emilia (BO) 40064, Italy
| | - Ettore Randi
- Laboratorio di Genetica, Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), Ozzano dell’Emilia (BO) 40064, Italy
- Department 18/Section of Environmental Engineering, Aalborg University, Sohngårdsholmsvej 57, Aalborg 9000, Denmark
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28
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Rutkowski R, Krofel M, Giannatos G, Ćirović D, Männil P, Volokh AM, Lanszki J, Heltai M, Szabó L, Banea OC, Yavruyan E, Hayrapetyan V, Kopaliani N, Miliou A, Tryfonopoulos GA, Lymberakis P, Penezić A, Pakeltytė G, Suchecka E, Bogdanowicz W. A European Concern? Genetic Structure and Expansion of Golden Jackals (Canis aureus) in Europe and the Caucasus. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0141236. [PMID: 26540195 PMCID: PMC4634961 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0141236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2015] [Accepted: 10/05/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In the first continent-wide study of the golden jackal (Canis aureus), we characterised its population genetic structure and attempted to identify the origin of European populations. This provided a unique insight into genetic characteristics of a native carnivore population with rapid large-scale expansion. We analysed 15 microsatellite markers and a 406 base-pair fragment of the mitochondrial control region. Bayesian-based and principal components methods were applied to evaluate whether the geographical grouping of samples corresponded with genetic groups. Our analysis revealed low levels of genetic diversity, reflecting the unique history of the golden jackal among Europe’s native carnivores. The results suggest ongoing gene flow between south-eastern Europe and the Caucasus, with both contributing to the Baltic population, which appeared only recently. The population from the Peloponnese Peninsula in southern Greece forms a common genetic cluster with samples from south-eastern Europe (ΔK approach in STRUCTURE, Principal Components Analysis [PCA]), although the results based on BAPS and the estimated likelihood in STRUCTURE indicate that Peloponnesian jackals may represent a distinct population. Moreover, analyses of population structure also suggest either genetic distinctiveness of the island population from Samos near the coast of Asia Minor (BAPS, most STRUCTURE, PCA), or possibly its connection with the Caucasus population (one analysis in STRUCTURE). We speculate from our results that ancient Mediterranean jackal populations have persisted to the present day, and have merged with jackals colonising from Asia. These data also suggest that new populations of the golden jackal may be founded by long-distance dispersal, and thus should not be treated as an invasive alien species, i.e. an organism that is “non-native to an ecosystem, and which may cause economic or environmental harm or adversely affect human health”. These insights into the genetic structure and ancestry of Baltic jackals have important implications for management and conservation of jackals in Europe. The golden jackal is listed as an Annex V species in the EU Habitats Directive and as such, considering also the results presented here, should be legally protected in all EU member states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Rutkowski
- Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warszawa, Poland
| | - Miha Krofel
- Wildlife Ecology Research Group, Department of Forestry, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Giorgos Giannatos
- Department of Zoology - Marine Biology, School of Biology, University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, Athens, Greece
| | - Duško Ćirović
- Institute of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | | | | | - József Lanszki
- Department of Nature Conservation, University of Kaposvár, Kaposvár, Hungary
| | - Miklós Heltai
- Institute for Wildlife Conservation, Szent István University, Gödöllő, Hungary
| | - László Szabó
- Institute for Wildlife Conservation, Szent István University, Gödöllő, Hungary
| | | | - Eduard Yavruyan
- Scientific Centre of Zoology and Hydroecology, National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Vahram Hayrapetyan
- Stepanakert Branch of the Armenian National Agrarian University, Stepanakert, Armenia
| | - Natia Kopaliani
- Institute of Ecology, Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - Anastasia Miliou
- Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation, Mesokampos, Pythagorio, Samos, Greece
| | | | - Petros Lymberakis
- Natural History Museum of Crete, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Aleksandra Penezić
- Institute of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | | | - Ewa Suchecka
- Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warszawa, Poland
| | - Wiesław Bogdanowicz
- Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warszawa, Poland
- * E-mail:
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Phylogeography of the Golden Jackal (Canis aureus) in India. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0138497. [PMID: 26414163 PMCID: PMC4586146 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0138497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2015] [Accepted: 08/31/2015] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The golden jackal (Canis aureus) is one of the most common and widely distributed carnivores in India but phylogeographic studies on the species have been limited across its range. Recent studies have observed absence of mitochondrial (mt) DNA diversity in European populations while some North African populations of golden jackal were found to carry gray wolf (Canis lupus lupaster) mtDNA lineages. In the present study, we sequenced 440 basepairs (bp) of control region (CR) and 412 bp of cytochrome b (cyt b) gene of mtDNA from 62 golden jackals sampled from India (n = 55), Israel (n = 2) and Bulgaria (n = 5), to obtain a total of eighteen haplotypes, comprising sixteen from India and one each from Israel and Bulgaria. Except for three previously described haplotypes represented by one cyt b and one CR haplotype both from India, and one CR haplotype from Bulgaria, all haplotypes identified in this study are new. Genetic diversity was high in golden jackals compared to that reported for other canids in India. Unlike the paraphyletic status of African conspecifics with the gray wolf, the Indian (and other Eurasian) golden jackal clustered in a distinct but shallow monophyletic clade, displaying no evidence of admixture with sympatric and related gray wolf and domestic dog clades in the region. Phylogeographic analyses indicated no clear pattern of genetic structuring of the golden jackal haplotypes and the median joining network revealed a star-shaped polytomy indicative of recent expansion of the species from India. Indian haplotypes were observed to be interior and thus ancestral compared to haplotypes from Europe and Israel, which were peripheral and hence more derived. Molecular tests for demographic expansion confirmed a recent event of expansion of golden jackals in the Indian subcontinent, which can be traced back ~ 37,000 years ago during the late Pleistocene. Our results suggest that golden jackals have had a potentially longer evolutionary history in India than in other parts of the world, although further sampling from Africa, the Middle East and south-east Asia is needed to test this hypothesis.
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Wei F, Hu Y, Yan L, Nie Y, Wu Q, Zhang Z. Giant pandas are not an evolutionary cul-de-sac: evidence from multidisciplinary research. Mol Biol Evol 2014; 32:4-12. [PMID: 25274274 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msu278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is one of the world's most endangered mammals and remains threatened by environmental and anthropogenic pressure. It is commonly argued that giant pandas are an evolutionary cul-de-sac because of their specialized bamboo diet, phylogenetic changes in body size, small population, low genetic diversity, and low reproductive rate. This notion is incorrect, arose from a poor understanding or appreciation of giant panda biology, and is in need of correction. In this review, we summarize research across morphology, ecology, and genetics to dispel the idea, once and for all, that giant pandas are evolutionary dead-end. The latest and most advanced research shows that giant pandas are successful animals highly adapted to a specialized bamboo diet via morphological, ecological, and genetic adaptations and coadaptation of gut microbiota. We also debunk misconceptions around population size, population growth rate, and genetic variation. During their evolutionary history spanning 8 My, giant pandas have survived diet specialization, massive bamboo flowering and die off, and rapid climate oscillations. Now, they are suffering from enormous human interference. Fortunately, continued conservation effort is greatly reducing impacts from anthropogenic interference and allowing giant panda populations and habitat to recover. Previous ideas of a giant panda evolutionary cul-de-sac resulted from an unsystematic and unsophisticated understanding of their biology and it is time to shed this baggage and focus on the survival and maintenance of this high-profile species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuwen Wei
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yibo Hu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Li Yan
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yonggang Nie
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qi Wu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zejun Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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Genetic variability of the grey wolf Canis lupus in the Caucasus in comparison with Europe and the Middle East: distinct or intermediary population? PLoS One 2014; 9:e93828. [PMID: 24714198 PMCID: PMC3979716 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0093828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2013] [Accepted: 03/07/2014] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite continuous historical distribution of the grey wolf (Canis lupus) throughout Eurasia, the species displays considerable morphological differentiation that resulted in delimitation of a number of subspecies. However, these morphological discontinuities are not always consistent with patterns of genetic differentiation. Here we assess genetic distinctiveness of grey wolves from the Caucasus (a region at the border between Europe and West Asia) that have been classified as a distinct subspecies C. l. cubanensis. We analysed their genetic variability based on mtDNA control region, microsatellite loci and genome-wide SNP genotypes (obtained for a subset of the samples), and found similar or higher levels of genetic diversity at all these types of loci as compared with other Eurasian populations. Although we found no evidence for a recent genetic bottleneck, genome-wide linkage disequilibrium patterns suggest a long-term demographic decline in the Caucasian population--a trend consistent with other Eurasian populations. Caucasian wolves share mtDNA haplotypes with both Eastern European and West Asian wolves, suggesting past or ongoing gene flow. Microsatellite data also suggest gene flow between the Caucasus and Eastern Europe. We found evidence for moderate admixture between the Caucasian wolves and domestic dogs, at a level comparable with other Eurasian populations. Taken together, our results show that Caucasian wolves are not genetically isolated from other Eurasian populations, share with them the same demographic trends, and are affected by similar conservation problems.
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