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Kowalska M, Kaczmarek P, Rupik W. Does the pancreas of gekkotans differentiate similarly? Developmental structural and 3D studies of the mourning gecko (Lepidodactylus lugubris) and the leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius). J Anat 2024; 245:303-323. [PMID: 38581181 PMCID: PMC11259754 DOI: 10.1111/joa.14038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024] Open
Abstract
This study investigated the pancreas differentiation of two species of gekkotan families-the mourning gecko Lepidodactylus lugubris (Gekkonidae) and the leopard gecko Eublepharis macularius (Eublepharidae)-based on two-dimensional (2D) histological samples and three-dimensional (3D) reconstructions of the position of the pancreatic buds and the surrounding organs. The results showed that at the moment of egg laying, the pancreas of L. lugubris is composed of three distinct primordia: one dorsal and two ventral. The dorsal primordium differentiates earlier than either ventral primordium. The right ventral primordium is more prominent and distinctive, starting to form earlier than the left one. Moreover, at this time, the pancreas of the leopard gecko is composed of the dorsal and right ventral primordium and the duct of the left ventral primordium. It means that the leopard gecko's left primordium is a transitional structure. These results indicate that the early development of the gekkotan pancreas is species specific. The pancreatic buds of the leopard and mourning gecko initially enter the duodenum by separate outlets, similar to the pancreas of other vertebrates. The pancreatic buds (3 of the mourning gecko and 2 of the leopard gecko) fuse quickly and form an embryonic pancreas. After that, the structure of this organ changes. After fusion, the pancreas of both gekkotans comprises four parts: the head of the pancreas (central region) and three lobes: upper, splenic, and lower. This organ develops gradually and is very well distinguished at hatching time. In both gekkotan species, cystic, hepatic, and pancreatic ducts enter the duodenum within the papilla. During gekkotan pancreas differentiation, the connection between the common bile duct and the dorsal pancreatic duct is associated with intestinal rotation, similar to other vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Kowalska
- Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
| | - Paweł Kaczmarek
- Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
| | - Weronika Rupik
- Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
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Lesku JA, Libourel PA, Kelly ML, Hemmi JM, Kerr CC, Collin SP, Radford CA. An electrophysiological correlate of sleep in a shark. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY. PART A, ECOLOGICAL AND INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY 2024. [PMID: 38957102 DOI: 10.1002/jez.2846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2024] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
Sleep is a prominent physiological state observed across the animal kingdom. Yet, for some animals, our ability to identify sleep can be masked by behaviors otherwise associated with being awake, such as for some sharks that must swim continuously to push oxygenated seawater over their gills to breathe. We know that sleep in buccal pumping sharks with clear rest/activity cycles, such as draughtsboard sharks (Cephaloscyllium isabellum, Bonnaterre, 1788), manifests as a behavioral shutdown, postural relaxation, reduced responsiveness, and a lowered metabolic rate. However, these features of sleep do not lend themselves well to animals that swim nonstop. In addition to video and accelerometry recordings, we tried to explore the electrophysiological correlates of sleep in draughtsboard sharks using electroencephalography (EEG), electromyography, and electrooculography, while monitoring brain temperature. The seven channels of EEG activity had a surprising level of (apparent) instability when animals were swimming, but also when sleeping. The amount of stable EEG signals was too low for replication within- and across individuals. Eye movements were not measurable, owing to instability of the reference electrode. Based on an established behavioral characterization of sleep in draughtsboard sharks, we offer the original finding that muscle tone was strongest during active wakefulness, lower in quietly awake sharks, and lowest in sleeping sharks. We also offer several critical suggestions on how to improve techniques for characterizing sleep electrophysiology in future studies on elasmobranchs, particularly for those that swim continuously. Ultimately, these approaches will provide important insights into the evolutionary confluence of behaviors typically associated with wakefulness and sleep.
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Affiliation(s)
- John A Lesku
- School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Paul-Antoine Libourel
- Center for Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, MAD Team, Montpellier, France
- Neuroscience Research Center of Lyon, Sleep Team, Bron, France
| | - Michael L Kelly
- School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jan M Hemmi
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Caroline C Kerr
- School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Shaun P Collin
- School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Craig A Radford
- Institute of Marine Science, Leigh Marine Laboratory, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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3
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Chávez-Reyes J, Saráchaga-Terrazas F, Colis-Arenas OA, López-Lariz CH, Villalón CM, Marichal-Cancino BA. Aminomethylphosphonic Acid (AMPA), a Glyphosate Metabolite, Decreases Plasma Cholinesterase Activity in Rats. J Xenobiot 2024; 14:604-612. [PMID: 38804288 PMCID: PMC11130852 DOI: 10.3390/jox14020035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Glyphosate, a widely used herbicide, is linked to a plethora of deleterious effects in both clinical and preclinical studies. Nevertheless, the effects of its main metabolite, aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), whose half-life in soil is even longer than that of glyphosate, have been little explored. On this basis, as a first approach, in this work, we report that intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of AMPA or glyphosate (at 10, 56, and 100 mg/kg) decreased, to a similar extent, plasma cholinesterase (ChE) activity in acutely exposed rats. Moreover, we designed an experimental protocol to analyze and compare the effects of AMPA and glyphosate on human plasma ChE activity; this protocol consisted of adding these compounds to human plasma to subsequently test the effects of this plasma on the contraction to acetylcholine (ACh) in the frog rectus abdominis muscle (an indirect estimate of ChE activity). Accordingly, this muscular contraction to ACh was evaluated before and after pre-incubation of ACh with (i) plasma alone, (ii) plasma with AMPA, and (iii) plasma with glyphosate. Our results indicate that AMPA, like glyphosate, decreased ChE activity in the plasma of rats (when given i.p.) and humans (when added in vitro), suggesting that both xenobiotics may exert similar toxicological effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesús Chávez-Reyes
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Centre of Basic Sciences, Autonomous University of Aguascalientes, Ciudad Universitaria 940, Aguascalientes 20100, Mexico; (J.C.-R.); (C.H.L.-L.)
| | - Fernando Saráchaga-Terrazas
- Department of Medicine, Centre of Health Sciences, Autonomous University of Aguascalientes, Ciudad Universitaria 940, Aguascalientes 20100, Mexico
| | - Oliver Alejandro Colis-Arenas
- Department of Medicine, Centre of Health Sciences, Autonomous University of Aguascalientes, Ciudad Universitaria 940, Aguascalientes 20100, Mexico
| | - Carlos H. López-Lariz
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Centre of Basic Sciences, Autonomous University of Aguascalientes, Ciudad Universitaria 940, Aguascalientes 20100, Mexico; (J.C.-R.); (C.H.L.-L.)
| | - Carlos M. Villalón
- Department of Pharmacobiology, Centre for Research and Advanced Studies, the National Polytechnic Institute (Cinvestav-Coapa), Czda. de los Tenorios 235, Col. Granjas-Coapa, Deleg. Tlalpan, Mexico City 14330, Mexico;
| | - Bruno A. Marichal-Cancino
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Centre of Basic Sciences, Autonomous University of Aguascalientes, Ciudad Universitaria 940, Aguascalientes 20100, Mexico; (J.C.-R.); (C.H.L.-L.)
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Schuman MJ, Snyder SL, Smoak CH, Schmid JR. Faunal Diet of Adult Cane Toads, Rhinella marina, in the Urban Landscape of Southwest Florida. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2898. [PMID: 37760298 PMCID: PMC10526063 DOI: 10.3390/ani13182898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
We investigated the diet of cane toads (Rhinella marina) inhabiting urbanized areas in southwest Florida to provide high taxonomic resolution of prey items, contrast toad diets between sampling seasons and sexes, and assess this invasive species' ecological role in the urban landscape. A pest control agency collected cane toads from two golf course communities in Naples, Florida, USA during November-December 2018 (early dry season) and June-July 2019 (early wet season), and faunal stomach contents were quantified from a random subsample of 240 adult toads (30 males and 30 females from each community and season). Yellow-banded millipedes (Anadenobolus monilicornis), big-headed ants (Pheidole spp.), and hunting billbugs (Sphenophorus venatus vestitus) were the most frequently consumed prey items and had the highest total numbers and/or volume with corresponding highest indices of relative importance. There was considerable overlap in the seasonal prey importance values for each golf course community and little if any difference in the importance values between toad sexes in each community. Nonetheless, big-headed ants were the most important prey in both communities during the wet season, while yellow-banded millipedes were the most important dry season prey in one community and hunting billbugs the most important in the other. Despite limited spatiotemporal sampling effort, our results indicated that cane toad was consuming arthropod taxa considered pests in the urban ecosystem. Further studies are needed to investigate the potential effects of human activities and environmental variability on the cane toad diet and to determine whether cane toads act as a biological control for pest populations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Jeffrey R. Schmid
- Conservancy of Southwest Florida, 1495 Smith Preserve Way, Naples, FL 34102, USA; (M.J.S.); (S.L.S.); (C.H.S.)
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Ujszegi J, Boros Z, Fodor A, Vajna B, Hettyey A. Metabolites of Xenorhabdus bacteria are potent candidates for mitigating amphibian chytridiomycosis. AMB Express 2023; 13:88. [PMID: 37615904 PMCID: PMC10449739 DOI: 10.1186/s13568-023-01585-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Chytridiomycosis, caused by the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), has caused extreme losses in amphibian biodiversity. Finding bacteria that produce metabolites with antifungal properties may turn out to be invaluable in the fight against this devastating disease. The entomopathogenic bacteria, Xenorhabdus szentirmaii and X. budapestensis produce secondary metabolites that are effective against a wide range of fungal plant pathogens. To assess whether they may also be effective against Bd, we extracted cell-free culture media (CFCM) from liquid cultures of X. szentirmaii and X. budapestensis and tested their ability to inhibit Bd growth in vitro. As a second step, using juvenile common toads (Bufo bufo) experimentally infected with Bd we also tested the in vivo antifungal efficacy of X. szentirmaii CFCM diluted to 2 and 10% (v/v), while also assessing possible malign side effects on amphibians. Results of the in vitro experiment documented highly effective growth inhibition by CFCMs of both Xenorhabdus species. The in vivo experiment showed that treatment with CFCM of X. szentirmaii applied at a dilution of 10% resulted in infection intensities reduced by ca. 73% compared to controls and to juvenile toads treated with CFCM applied at a dilution of 2%. At the same time, we detected no negative side effects of treatment with CFCM on toad survival and development. Our results clearly support the idea that metabolites of X. szentirmaii, and perhaps of several other Xenorhabdus species as well, may prove highly useful for the treatment of Bd infected amphibians.
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Affiliation(s)
- János Ujszegi
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Budapest, Hungary.
- Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Zsófia Boros
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Genetics, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Microbiology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - András Fodor
- Department of Genetics, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Balázs Vajna
- Department of Microbiology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Attila Hettyey
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
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6
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Olagbaju TT, Troan BV, Balko JA. Investigation of Potassium Chloride for Euthanasia of Anesthetized African Clawed Frogs ( Xenopus laevis). JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR LABORATORY ANIMAL SCIENCE : JAALAS 2023; 62:362-369. [PMID: 37308282 PMCID: PMC10434741 DOI: 10.30802/aalas-jaalas-22-000112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Euthanasia is frequently performed in amphibians, but techniques are currently limited in number and variable in effectiveness. The current study examined the use of potassium chloride (KCl) for euthanasia of anesthetized African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis). Twenty adult, female African clawed frogs were anesthetized by immersion in buffered tricaine methanesulfonate (MS-222) for 5 min beyond loss of righting reflex. Frogs were then randomly assigned to receive one of 4 treatments: KCl via intracardiac injection (10 mEq/kg; IC, n = 5), intracoelomic injection (100 mEq/kg; ICe, n = 5), immersion (4,500 mEq/L; IMS, n = 5), or no treatment (C, n = 5). After treatment, serial heart rate was measured via Doppler device until either the loss of Doppler sounds, a 60-min endpoint (IC, ICe, IMS), or recovery (C). Times to loss of righting reflex, loss of Doppler sounds, and/or recovery were recorded. Plasma potassium concentrations were measured immediately after Doppler sound cessation in frogs in IC (n = 1), ICe (n = 2), and IMS (n = 5). Injection failure occurred in 1 IC frog, and 1 Ice frog regained spontaneous movement 4 min after treatment administration. Data from these 2 frogs were not included in statistical analysis. Doppler sound cessation occurred in 4 of 4, 4 of 4, 0 of 5, and 0 of 5 frogs in IC, ICe, IMS, and C, respectively. Median (range) times to Doppler sound cessation in IC and ICe were 6 (0 to 16) s and 18 (10 to 25) min, respectively. Plasma potassium concentration was greater than 9.0 mmol/L in sampled frogs. Intracardiac KCl at 10 mEq/kg and intracoelomic KCl at 100 mEq/kg were effective for euthanasia of anesthetized African clawed frogs. Return to MS-222 solution after KCl administration may be warranted to prevent unintended, premature anesthetic recovery prior to death.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Julie A Balko
- Molecular Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina
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Kásler A, Holly D, Herczeg D, Ujszegi J, Hettyey A. Chytridiomycosis and climate change: exposure to
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis
and mild winter conditions do not increase mortality in juvenile agile frogs during hibernation. Anim Conserv 2023. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- A. Kásler
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology Centre for Agricultural Research, Plant Protection Institute, Eötvös Loránd Research Network Budapest Hungary
- Doctoral School of Biology Institute of Biology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University Budapest Hungary
| | - D. Holly
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology Centre for Agricultural Research, Plant Protection Institute, Eötvös Loránd Research Network Budapest Hungary
- Doctoral School of Biology Institute of Biology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University Budapest Hungary
| | - D. Herczeg
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology Centre for Agricultural Research, Plant Protection Institute, Eötvös Loránd Research Network Budapest Hungary
- ELKH‐ELTE‐MTM Integrative Ecology Research Group Budapest Hungary
| | - J. Ujszegi
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology Centre for Agricultural Research, Plant Protection Institute, Eötvös Loránd Research Network Budapest Hungary
- Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology ELTE Eötvös Loránd University Budapest Hungary
| | - A. Hettyey
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology Centre for Agricultural Research, Plant Protection Institute, Eötvös Loránd Research Network Budapest Hungary
- Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology ELTE Eötvös Loránd University Budapest Hungary
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8
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Maternal Provisioning of Alkaloid Defenses are Present in Obligate but not Facultative Egg Feeding Dendrobatids. J Chem Ecol 2022; 48:900-909. [PMID: 36564635 DOI: 10.1007/s10886-022-01394-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Poison frogs sequester alkaloid defenses from a diet of largely mites and ants. As a result, frogs are defended against certain predators and microbial infections. Frogs in the genus Oophaga exhibit complex maternal care, wherein mothers transport recently hatched tadpoles to nursery pools and return regularly to supply developing tadpoles with unfertilized (nutritive) eggs. Developing tadpoles are obligate egg feeders. Further, female O. pumilio and O. sylvatica maternally provision their nutritive eggs with alkaloid defenses, providing protection to their developing tadpoles at a vulnerable life-stage. In another genus of poison frog, Ranitomeya, tadpoles only receive and consume eggs facultatively, and it is currently unknown if mothers also provision these eggs (and thus their tadpoles) with alkaloid defenses. Here, we provide evidence that mother frogs of another species in the genus Oophaga (Oophaga granulifera) also provision alkaloid defenses to their tadpoles. We also provide evidence that Ranitomeya imitator and R. variabilis eggs and tadpoles do not contain alkaloids, suggesting that mother frogs in this genus do not provision alkaloid defenses to their offspring. Our findings suggest that among dendrobatid poison frogs, maternal provisioning of alkaloids may be restricted to the obligate egg-feeding members of Oophaga.
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Othman SN, Shin Y, Kim HT, Chuang MF, Bae Y, Hoti J, Zhang Y, Jang Y, Borzée A. Evaluating the efficiency of popular species identification analytical methods, and integrative workflow using morphometry and barcoding bioinformatics for taxonomy and origin of traded cryptic brown frogs. Glob Ecol Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022] Open
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10
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Messenger KR, Othman SN, Chuang MF, Yang Y, Borzée A. Description of a new Kurixalus species (Rhacophoridae, Anura) and a northwards range extension of the genus. Zookeys 2022; 1108:15-49. [PMID: 36760702 PMCID: PMC9848858 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1108.81725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Knowledge of biodiversity before species become extinct is paramount to conservation, especially when the relevant species are far from their expected distribution and, thus, likely overlooked. Here, we describe a new Kurixalus species corresponding to a range extension of Kurixalus on the Asian mainland, with the closest population in Taiwan. The species diverged from its closest relative during the Late Pliocene to Pleistocene, ca. 3.06 Mya (HPD 95%: 5.82-0.01), based on calibrations with a relaxed clock species tree of unlinked mtDNA 12S rRNA and nuclear DNA TYR. The status of the newly-described species is also supported by a divergence in call properties and morphometrics. We named the species described here as Kurixalusinexpectatus sp. nov. due to the nature of the discovery, as well as the adjunct distribution of the species relative to its closest congeners. The species was found in Zhejiang Province and it represents a range extension of 663 km for the Kurixalus genus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin R. Messenger
- Herpetology and Applied Conservation Lab, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, 159 Longpan Rd, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210037 China
| | - Siti N. Othman
- Herpetology and Applied Conservation Lab, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, 159 Longpan Rd, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210037 China
| | - Ming-Feng Chuang
- Laboratory of Animal Behaviour and Conservation, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, 159 Longpan Rd, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210037 China
| | - Yi Yang
- Herpetology and Applied Conservation Lab, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, 159 Longpan Rd, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210037 China
| | - Amaël Borzée
- Herpetology and Applied Conservation Lab, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, 159 Longpan Rd, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210037 China
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11
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Kaiser SW, Greenlees MJ, Shine R. Sex-based differences in the use of post-fire habitats by invasive cane toads (Rhinella marina). Sci Rep 2022; 12:10610. [PMID: 35739164 PMCID: PMC9226056 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-14697-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Wildfires can modify habitat attributes, and those changes may differentially affect males versus females within a species if there is pre-existing niche divergence between the sexes. We used radio-tracking and dissections to study invasive cane toads (Rhinella marina), and performed transect counts on native frogs and cane toads 12 months after extensive fires in forests of eastern Australia. Both toads and native frogs were encountered more frequently in burned sites than in unburned sites. Most microhabitat features were similar between burned versus unburned areas, but fire had differential impacts on the ecology of male versus female toads. In burned areas females were less numerous but were larger, in better body condition, and had consumed more prey (especially, coleopterans and myriapods). The impact of fire on attributes of retreat-sites (e.g., temperature, density of vegetation cover) also differed between the sexes. More generally, intraspecific divergence in ecological traits within a species (as a function of body size as well as sex) may translate into substantial divergences in the impacts of habitat change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon W Kaiser
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia.
| | - Matthew J Greenlees
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Richard Shine
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
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12
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Jeckel AM, Bolton SK, Waters KR, Antoniazzi MM, Jared C, Matsumura K, Nishikawa K, Morimoto Y, Grant T, Saporito RA. Dose-dependent alkaloid sequestration and N-methylation of decahydroquinoline in poison frogs. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY. PART A, ECOLOGICAL AND INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 337:537-546. [PMID: 35201668 DOI: 10.1002/jez.2587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Sequestration of chemical defenses from dietary sources is dependent on the availability of compounds in the environment and the mechanism of sequestration. Previous experiments have shown that sequestration efficiency varies among alkaloids in poison frogs, but little is known about the underlying mechanism. The aim of this study was to quantify the extent to which alkaloid sequestration and modification are dependent on alkaloid availability and/or sequestration mechanism. To do this, we administered different doses of histrionicotoxin (HTX) 235A and decahydroquinoline (DHQ) to captive-bred Adelphobates galactonotus and measured alkaloid quantity in muscle, kidney, liver, and feces. HTX 235A and DHQ were detected in all organs, whereas only DHQ was present in trace amounts in feces. For both liver and skin, the quantity of alkaloid accumulated increased at higher doses for both alkaloids. Accumulation efficiency in the skin increased at higher doses for HTX 235A but remained constant for DHQ. In contrast, the efficiency of HTX 235A accumulation in the liver was inversely related to dose and a similar, albeit statistically nonsignificant, pattern was observed for DHQ. We identified and quantified the N-methylation of DHQ in A. galactonotus, which represents a previously unknown example of alkaloid modification in poison frogs. Our study suggests that variation in alkaloid composition among individuals and species can result from differences in sequestration efficiency related to the type and amount of alkaloids available in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana M Jeckel
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sarah K Bolton
- Department of Biology, Notre Dame College, South Euclid, Ohio, USA
| | - Katherine R Waters
- Department of Biology, John Carroll University, University Heights, Ohio, USA
| | - Marta M Antoniazzi
- Structural Biology Lab, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Carlos Jared
- Structural Biology Lab, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Kunihiro Matsumura
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Osaka City University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Keisuke Nishikawa
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Osaka City University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yoshiki Morimoto
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Osaka City University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Taran Grant
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ralph A Saporito
- Department of Biology, John Carroll University, University Heights, Ohio, USA
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13
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Marques V, Riaño G, Carretero MA, Silva‐Rocha I, Rato C. Sex determination and optimal development in the Moorish gecko,
Tarentola mauritanica. ACTA ZOOL-STOCKHOLM 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/azo.12427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Valéria Marques
- CIBIO – Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources Universidade do Porto Vila do Conde Portugal
| | - Gabriel Riaño
- CIBIO – Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources Universidade do Porto Vila do Conde Portugal
| | - Miguel A. Carretero
- CIBIO – Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources Universidade do Porto Vila do Conde Portugal
- Department of Biology Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto Porto Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning CIBIO Vairão Portugal
| | - Iolanda Silva‐Rocha
- CIBIO – Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources Universidade do Porto Vila do Conde Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning CIBIO Vairão Portugal
| | - Catarina Rato
- CIBIO – Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources Universidade do Porto Vila do Conde Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning CIBIO Vairão Portugal
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14
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Kásler A, Ujszegi J, Holly D, Üveges B, Móricz ÁM, Herczeg D, Hettyey A. Metamorphic common toads keep chytrid infection under control, but at a cost. J Zool (1987) 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- A. Kásler
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group Centre for Agricultural Research Plant Protection Institute Eötvös Loránd Research Network Budapest Hungary
- Doctoral School of Biology Institute of Biology ELTE Eötvös Loránd University Budapest Hungary
| | - J. Ujszegi
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group Centre for Agricultural Research Plant Protection Institute Eötvös Loránd Research Network Budapest Hungary
- Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology Institute of Biology ELTE Eötvös Loránd University Budapest Hungary
| | - D. Holly
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group Centre for Agricultural Research Plant Protection Institute Eötvös Loránd Research Network Budapest Hungary
- Doctoral School of Biology Institute of Biology ELTE Eötvös Loránd University Budapest Hungary
| | - B. Üveges
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group Centre for Agricultural Research Plant Protection Institute Eötvös Loránd Research Network Budapest Hungary
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution at Bangor School of Natural Sciences Bangor University Bangor UK
| | - Á. M. Móricz
- Department of Pathophysiology Centre for Agricultural Research Plant Protection Institute Eötvös Loránd Research Network Budapest Hungary
| | - D. Herczeg
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group Centre for Agricultural Research Plant Protection Institute Eötvös Loránd Research Network Budapest Hungary
| | - A. Hettyey
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group Centre for Agricultural Research Plant Protection Institute Eötvös Loránd Research Network Budapest Hungary
- Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology Institute of Biology ELTE Eötvös Loránd University Budapest Hungary
- Department of Ecology University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest Hungary
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15
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Drummond LDO, Meire RO, Braga C, Rezende CED, Malm O, Cerqueira R. Trophic position, altitudinal distribution, and water dependence as determining factors for mercury concentrations in tropical montane anurans. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 806:151356. [PMID: 34728193 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is a widespread and toxic contaminant with potential for long-range atmospheric transport. Previous work has shown that temperate and subtropical montane ecosystems have great potential for deposition of this element. However, little information exists regarding Hg dynamics in tropical mountains. In present study, we evaluated the influence of altitudinal distribution, size, trophic position, and degree of water dependence on Hg concentration in amphibians. For this purpose, we determined the mercury concentration in topsoil and amphibian samples collected at 32 points distributed between 327 and 2181 m above sea level in Serra dos Órgãos, a mountainous complex located in southeastern Brazil. We analyzed the concentration of mercury in whole body samples of 200 individuals of 30 amphibian species. Trophic position of the specimens was estimated by nitrogen stable isotope (δ15N) composition in muscle tissues. We observed a positive relationship between elevation and Hg concentration in topsoil samples from rainforest sites. However, in samples from nebular forest and campos de altitude (highland grasslands) sites, the concentration of Hg was considered lower than expected by the trend in rainforest points, indicating that the vegetation structure plays an important role in the deposition of atmospheric mercury. Mercury concentration in amphibians varies according to the functional characteristics of the species and the environment in which the individual is inserted. Elevation, trophic level and water dependence explained at least some degree of variation in Hg concentration in amphibian tissues. Thus, this community-level analysis suggests that mountainous areas in the tropical region, as recorded for temperate and subtropical mountains, act as regional convergence and deposition sites for atmospheric mercury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leandro de Oliveira Drummond
- Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, RJ CEP: 28013-602, Brazil; Laboratório de Vertebrados, Departamento de Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, C.P. 68020, CEP: 21941-902 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Rodrigo Ornellas Meire
- Laboratório de Radioisótopos Eduardo Penna-Franca, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, CEP: 21941-900 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Caryne Braga
- Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, RJ CEP: 28013-602, Brazil.
| | - Carlos Eduardo de Rezende
- Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, RJ CEP: 28013-602, Brazil.
| | - Olaf Malm
- Laboratório de Radioisótopos Eduardo Penna-Franca, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, CEP: 21941-900 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Rui Cerqueira
- Laboratório de Vertebrados, Departamento de Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, C.P. 68020, CEP: 21941-902 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
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16
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Nguyen TK, Nguyen LT, Chau TTH, Nguyen TT, Tran BN, Taniguchi T, Hayashidani H, Ly KTL. Prevalence and antibiotic resistance of Salmonella isolated from poultry and its environment in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Vet World 2021; 14:3216-3223. [PMID: 35153415 PMCID: PMC8829407 DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2021.3216-3223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Aim: Salmonella is one of the leading causes of zoonotic and foodborne infectious outbreaks in humans and poultry and its associated environment is a potential reservoir of Salmonella. In recent years, the antibiotic resistance of bacteria, including Salmonella, has been increasing. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and antibiotic resistance of Salmonella isolated from poultry, its environment, and the pest animals found at poultry farms and households of the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Materials and Methods: A total of 3,055 samples were collected from the broiler farms and households of the Mekong Delta from 2017 to 2020. Salmonella was isolated using conventional methods (culturing on selective agar – BPLS and biochemical test) and the isolates were examined for antibiotic resistance against 14 antibiotics using the disk diffusion method. Results: Salmonella was isolated from 181 samples (5.92%), which included chicken feces (7.67%), pest animals (5.98%), and environmental samples (4.33%). The environmental samples comprised bedding (5.88%), feed (5.48%), and drinking water (0.70%). The prevalence of Salmonella was the highest in rats (15.63%) and geckos (12.25%) followed by ants (2.83%) and cockroaches (2.44%); however, Salmonella was not isolated from any fly species. Most of the isolates exhibited resistance to 1-9 antibiotics. The isolates were relatively resistant to chloramphenicol (62.98%), tetracycline (55.80%), ampicillin (54.14%), and sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (53.04%). Sixty-two multiple resistance patterns were found in the isolates, with ampicillin-cefuroxime-chloramphenicol-tetracycline- sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim being the most frequent (7.18%). Conclusion: The chickens, husbandry environment, and pest animals at poultry farms and households were found to be important Salmonella sources in the Mekong Delta. Salmonella isolates from these sources also exhibited a wide-ranging resistance to antibiotics as well as several resistance patterns. Hence, biosecurity should be addressed in poultry farms and households to prevent cross-contamination and reduce the spread of Salmonella infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thuan K. Nguyen
- Department of Veterinary, College of Agriculture, Can Tho University, Campus II, 3/2 Street, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City, Vietnam
| | - Lam T. Nguyen
- Department of Veterinary, College of Agriculture, Can Tho University, Campus II, 3/2 Street, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City, Vietnam
| | - Trang T. H. Chau
- Department of Veterinary, College of Agriculture, Can Tho University, Campus II, 3/2 Street, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City, Vietnam
| | - Tam T. Nguyen
- Department of Veterinary, College of Agriculture, Can Tho University, Campus II, 3/2 Street, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City, Vietnam
| | - Bich N. Tran
- Department of Veterinary, College of Agriculture, Can Tho University, Campus II, 3/2 Street, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City, Vietnam
| | - Takahide Taniguchi
- Cooperative Department of Veterinary Medicine, Division of Animal Life Science, Institute of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan
| | - Hideki Hayashidani
- Cooperative Department of Veterinary Medicine, Division of Animal Life Science, Institute of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan
| | - Khai T. L. Ly
- Department of Veterinary, College of Agriculture, Can Tho University, Campus II, 3/2 Street, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City, Vietnam
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17
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Kaiser SW, Greenlees MJ, Shine R. Wildfires modify the parasite loads of invasive cane toads. Biol Lett 2021; 17:20210470. [PMID: 34932921 PMCID: PMC8692031 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2021.0470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The frequency and severity of wildfires are increasing due to anthropogenic modifications to habitats and to climate. Post-fire landscapes may advantage invasive species via multiple mechanisms, including changes to host-parasite interactions. We surveyed the incidence of endoparasitic lungworms (Rhabdias pseudosphaerocephala) in invasive cane toads (Rhinella marina) in near-coastal sites of eastern Australia, a year after extensive fires in this region. Both the prevalence of infection and number of worms in infected toads increased with toad body size in unburned areas. By contrast, parasite load decreased with toad body size in burned areas. By killing moisture-dependent free-living lungworm larvae, the intense fires may have liberated adult cane toads from a parasite that can substantially reduce the viability of its host. Smaller toads, which are restricted to moist environments, did not receive this benefit from fires.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon W. Kaiser
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia
| | | | - Richard Shine
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia
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18
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Lima MSCS, Santos-Sousa CA, Pederassi J, Barbosa DBS, Frazão-Sobrinho JM, Souza CAS, Amorim IA, Andrade JS, Abreu-Júnior ANG. Phallus eversion sexing in Phrynops geoffroanus (Testudines: Chelidae): a new non-invasive approach. BRAZ J BIOL 2021; 84:e249808. [PMID: 34705949 DOI: 10.1590/1519-6984.249808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The sexing of species is an important tool for population management. In tortoises and turtles, sexing is usually done according to secondary characteristics, such as plastron morphology or phallus eversion techniques. In this paper, we present the phallus eversion method and compare its efficiency to other existing techniques. This new method aims at shortening the management time and reducing the physical aftereffects on the animals, fostering the clinical and reproductive management of Geoffroy's side-necked turtle (Phrynops geoffroanus) and related species. A sample of fifty individuals was taken in the central region of Piauí state, Northeastern Brazil. The proposed method consisted of moving the head from its resting position. The methods achieving a success rate higher than 80% were compared to each other as for the stimulation time required for phallus eversion. The method as here proposed achieved 100% efficiency in the sex determination of specimens with a linear carapace length between 10 and 34 cm. Also, when compared to the second most efficient method, it substantially reduced the time needed for managing the specimens (91%), avoiding possible sequelae in the individuals handled.
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Affiliation(s)
- M S C S Lima
- Universidade Federal do Piauí - UFPI, Campus Amilcar Ferreira Sobral, Floriano, PI, Brasil
| | - C A Santos-Sousa
- Universidade Federal do Acre - UFAC, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Natureza, Rio Branco, AC, Brasil.,Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro - UFRRJ, Seropédica, RJ, Brasil
| | - J Pederassi
- Associação Educacional Dom Bosco - AEDB, Resende, RJ, Brasil
| | - D B S Barbosa
- Universidade Federal do Piauí - UFPI, Campus Amilcar Ferreira Sobral, Floriano, PI, Brasil
| | - J M Frazão-Sobrinho
- Universidade Federal do Piauí - UFPI, Campus Amilcar Ferreira Sobral, Floriano, PI, Brasil
| | - C A S Souza
- Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro - UFRRJ, Seropédica, RJ, Brasil
| | - I A Amorim
- Universidade Federal do Piauí - UFPI, Campus Amilcar Ferreira Sobral, Floriano, PI, Brasil
| | - J S Andrade
- Universidade Federal do Piauí - UFPI, Campus Amilcar Ferreira Sobral, Floriano, PI, Brasil
| | - A N G Abreu-Júnior
- Universidade Federal do Piauí - UFPI, Campus Amilcar Ferreira Sobral, Floriano, PI, Brasil
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19
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Kay WR, Mawson PR. An Efficient Method for the Euthanasia of Cane Toads ( Rhinella marina) under Northern Australian Field Conditions. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11082239. [PMID: 34438697 PMCID: PMC8388519 DOI: 10.3390/ani11082239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Cane toads are a highly invasive species that present a serious threat to most vertebrates that eat them. In Australia, their spread from the point of introduction in 1935 has seen them occupy any suitable habitat across the north of the country, with the potential to be transported to locations in southern Australia. Control and safe removal of unwanted toads presents ethical and occupational health risks to those engaged in such activities. This study describes an efficient method of control suitable for application under field conditions anywhere in Australia. Abstract The euthanasia of cane toads under field conditions presents a number of logistical and animal welfare challenges. One recommended method of control involves the use of carbon dioxide in plastic bags. This paper describes the minimum amount of time (4 h) required to efficiently euthanase toads with a carbon dioxide concentration of 4.96% under field conditions experienced in northern Australia. Discussion is also provided on the issues of safe disposal of biological and plastic waste associated with the application of this method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Winston R. Kay
- Species and Communities Branch, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, South Perth, WA 6151, Australia
| | - Peter R. Mawson
- Perth Zoo Science, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, South Perth, WA 6151, Australia
- Correspondence:
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20
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Ujszegi J, Ludányi K, Móricz ÁM, Krüzselyi D, Drahos L, Drexler T, Németh MZ, Vörös J, Garner TWJ, Hettyey A. Exposure to Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis affects chemical defences in two anuran amphibians, Rana dalmatina and Bufo bufo. BMC Ecol Evol 2021; 21:135. [PMID: 34217227 PMCID: PMC8254444 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-021-01867-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is the causative agent of chytridiomycosis, one of the major causes of worldwide amphibian biodiversity loss. Many amphibians exhibit skin-based chemical defences, which may play an important role against invading pathogens, but whether the synthesis of these chemical compounds is enhanced or suppressed in the presence of pathogens is largely unknown. Here we investigated direct and indirect effects of larval exposure to the globally distributed and highly virulent Bd-GPL strain on skin secreted chemical defences and life history traits during early ontogeny of agile frogs (Rana dalmatina) and common toads (Bufo bufo). Results Exposure to Bd during the larval stage did not result in enhanced synthesis of the antimicrobial peptide Brevinin-1 Da in R. dalmatina tadpoles or in increased production of bufadienolides in B. bufo tadpoles. However, exposure to Bd during the larval stage had a carry-over effect reaching beyond metamorphosis: both R. dalmatina and B. bufo froglets contained smaller quantities of defensive chemicals than their Bd-naïve conspecifics in the control treatment. Prevalence of Bd and infection intensities were very low in both larvae and metamorphs of R. dalmatina, while in B. bufo we observed high Bd prevalence and infection intensities, especially in metamorphs. At the same time, we did not find a significant effect of Bd-exposure on body mass or development rate in larvae or metamorphs in either species. Conclusions The lack of detrimental effect of Bd-exposure on life history traits, even parallel with high infection intensities in the case of B. bufo individuals, is surprising and suggests high tolerance of local populations of these two species against Bd. However, the lowered quantity of defensive chemicals may compromise antimicrobial and antipredatory defences of froglets, which may ultimately contribute to population declines also in the absence of conspicuous mass-mortality events.
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Affiliation(s)
- János Ujszegi
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Herman Ottó út 15, Budapest, 1022, Hungary.
| | - Krisztina Ludányi
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Semmelweis University, Hőgyes Endre utca 7, Budapest, 1092, Hungary
| | - Ágnes M Móricz
- Department of Pathophysiology, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Herman Ottó út 15, Budapest, 1022, Hungary
| | - Dániel Krüzselyi
- Department of Pathophysiology, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Herman Ottó út 15, Budapest, 1022, Hungary
| | - László Drahos
- MS Proteomics Research Group, Institute of Organic Chemistry, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Magyar tudósok körútja 2, Budapest, 1117, Hungary
| | - Tamás Drexler
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Herman Ottó út 15, Budapest, 1022, Hungary.,Department of Ecology, Institute for Biology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Rottenbiller utca 50, Budapest, 1077, Hungary
| | - Márk Z Németh
- Department of Plant Pathology, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Herman Ottó út 15, Budapest, 1022, Hungary
| | - Judit Vörös
- Department of Zoology, Hungarian Natural History Museum, Baross street 13, Budapest, 1088, Hungary
| | - Trenton W J Garner
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK.,Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa
| | - Attila Hettyey
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Herman Ottó út 15, Budapest, 1022, Hungary.,Department of Ecology, Institute for Biology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Rottenbiller utca 50, Budapest, 1077, Hungary
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21
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Nguyen KT, Hasegawa M, Vo TMT, Huynh TL, Nagata E, Ly TLK, Taniguchi T, Hayashidani H. Wild geckos considered as the natural reservoir of Salmonella Weltevreden in Southeast Asian countries. Zoonoses Public Health 2021; 68:815-822. [PMID: 34151522 DOI: 10.1111/zph.12873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
A total of 1,318 wild geckos were collected in Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam (Hue and the Mekong Delta) from 2012 to 2015 to determine the prevalence of Salmonella Weltevreden. Those geckos belong to three species: common house gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus), flat-tailed house gecko (Hemidactylus platyurus) and four-clawed gecko (Gehyra mutilata). Of 1,318 gecko samples, 293 (22.2%) samples were positive for Salmonella in this study. The prevalence of Salmonella in geckos was 46.0% in Thailand, 17.3% in Cambodia and 16.3% in Vietnam. Among the Salmonella isolates, S. Weltevreden was the most predominant serovar (32.1%) isolated from wild geckos in these countries. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of Salmonella among gecko species. All S. Weltevreden isolates (100%) were susceptible to the nine antibiotics examined in this study. The PFGE assay by XbaI enzyme identified 19 different patterns from 75 S. Weltevreden isolates. These isolates showed high genetic heterogenicity, and there were specific types prevalent in each region. Furthermore, S. Weltevreden has been prevalent since the ancient times in this region. The results indicate that wild gecko seems to be an important natural reservoir for S. Weltevreden as well as a source of Salmonella infections in humans in Southeast Asian countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khanh Thuan Nguyen
- Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, Japan.,Can Tho University, Can Tho City, Vietnam
| | - Mizuki Hasegawa
- Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Thi Minh Tam Vo
- Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, Japan.,University of Agriculture and Forestry, Hue University, Hue city, Vietnam
| | | | - Emi Nagata
- Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, Japan
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22
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Crossland MR, Salim AA, Capon RJ, Shine R. Chemical cues that attract cannibalistic cane toad (Rhinella marina) larvae to vulnerable embryos. Sci Rep 2021; 11:12527. [PMID: 34131171 PMCID: PMC8206116 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-90233-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemical cues produced by late-stage embryos of the cane toad (Rhinella marina) attract older conspecific larvae, which are highly cannibalistic and can consume an entire clutch. To clarify the molecular basis of this attraction response, we presented captive tadpoles with components present in toad eggs. As previously reported, attractivity arises from the distinctive toxins (bufadienolides) produced by cane toads, with some toxins (e.g., bufagenins) much stronger attractants than others (e.g., bufotoxins). Extracts of frozen toad parotoid glands (rich in bufagenins) were more attractive than were fresh MeOH extracts of the parotoid secretion (rich in bufotoxins), and purified marinobufagin was more effective than marinobufotoxin. Cardenolide aglycones (e.g., digitoxigenin) were active attractors, whereas C-3 glycosides (e.g., digoxin, oubain) were far less effective. A structure–activity relationship study revealed that tadpole attractant potency strongly correlated with Na+/K+ ATPase inhibitory activity, suggesting that tadpoles monitor and rapidly react to perturbations to Na+/K+ ATPase activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael R Crossland
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences A08, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Angela A Salim
- Division of Chemistry and Structural Biology, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Robert J Capon
- Division of Chemistry and Structural Biology, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Richard Shine
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences A08, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia. .,Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia.
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23
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Park JK, Kim JB, Do Y. Reference Intervals in Combined Veterinary Clinical Examinations of Male Black-Spotted Pond Frogs ( Pelophylax nigromaculatus). Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11051407. [PMID: 34069152 PMCID: PMC8155939 DOI: 10.3390/ani11051407] [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: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The reference intervals (RIs) of immunity, serum components, bone mineral density (BMD), and body composition in 151 males of Pelophylax nigromaculatus were established. These analyses are easily replicable and can safely and accurately diagnose the physiological condition of animals. The use of combined examination allows for the establishment of a successful conservation strategy through the identification of conservation problems in many vertebrate groups. Abstract In conservation physiology, analyzing the physiological response of an organism to understand its ability to adapt to environmental changes is a key technique in establishing a successful conservation strategy. Veterinary clinical examinations determine the physiological condition of animals accurately and safely, and this examination is synergistic when combined. The accuracy and safety of a clinical examination makes it advantageous for use in amphibians with high species diversity and numerous endangered species. However, it is necessary to establish a reference interval (RI) for precise interpretations and identification of animals with abnormalities through individual unit testing. We have established RIs for the immunity, serum components, bone mineral density (BMD), and body composition of black-spotted pond frogs (Pelophylax nigromaculatus). Black-spotted pond frogs are a common species and are widely distributed in East Asia, with suitable characteristics for environmental monitoring. Serum was extracted from 151 male frogs to establish the RI for bacterial killing ability in order to represent immunity. We also used the serum to establish an RI of ten additional serum components to determine the nutritional status, organ function status, body osmotic pressure, and homeostasis conditions. The BMD and three body composition measures for diagnosing food intake status and nutritional condition were measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. The RI was recorded as the mean ± standard deviation, median, first (25%) to third (75%) quantile range, 95% confidence interval of the mean and median, and the 95% percentile (2.5%–97.5% range) of all components. The use of combined clinical veterinary examinations aids our understanding of the physiological conditions of an individual according to biotic and abiotic factors on a complex spatiotemporal scale in an ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Kyu Park
- Department of Biological Science, Kongju National University, Gongju 32588, Korea;
| | - Jeong-Bae Kim
- Marine Environment Research Division, National Institute of Fisheries Science, Busan 46083, Korea;
| | - Yuno Do
- Department of Biological Science, Kongju National University, Gongju 32588, Korea;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-41-850-8501
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Silva JM, Navoni JA, Amaral VS, Freire EMX. Cytogenetic analysis of nuclear abnormalities in the erythrocytes of gecko lizards (Phyllopezus periosus) collected in a semi-arid region of northeast Brazil: Possible effects of natural background radioactivity. Mutat Res 2021; 865:503346. [PMID: 33865540 DOI: 10.1016/j.mrgentox.2021.503346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Revised: 02/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
High natural-background radioactivity levels occur in the semi-arid region of the State of Rio Grande do Norte, northeastern Brazil. We have studied the lizard Phyllopezus periosus, an endemic species of the Brazilian caatinga with saxicolous habitat, as a bioindicator of environmental quality. Specimens were collected in three areas, an environmental protection area and two areas recognized as having high natural background radiation, one of these being a mining area. Level of metals and gamma radiation emitters present in the water sources potentially used by the lizards were measured. The biological endpoints assessed were micronuclei and nuclear abnormalities in blood samples. Significant differences in background radioactivity levels were found among the assessed areas. Statistically significant differences in micronuclei and nuclear abnormality frequencies were seen, among the study areas and a relationship between radioactivity level and genetic damage was observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jadna Maria Silva
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Desenvolvimento e Meio, Ambiente da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | - Júlio Alejandro Navoni
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Desenvolvimento e Meio, Ambiente da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil; Programa de Pós-graduação em Uso Sustentável de Recursos Naturais do Instituto Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, IFRN, Brazil
| | - Viviane Souza Amaral
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Desenvolvimento e Meio, Ambiente da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil; Departamento de Biologia Celular e Genética, UFRN, Brazil
| | - Eliza Maria Xavier Freire
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Desenvolvimento e Meio, Ambiente da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil; Departamento de Botânica e Zoologia, UFRN, Brazil.
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Kaczmarek P, Metscher B, Rupik W. Embryology of the naso-palatal complex in Gekkota based on detailed 3D analysis in Lepidodactylus lugubris and Eublepharis macularius. J Anat 2021; 238:249-287. [PMID: 33169847 PMCID: PMC7812140 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The vomeronasal organ (VNO), nasal cavity, lacrimal duct, choanal groove, and associated parts of the superficial (soft tissue) palate are called the naso-palatal complex. Despite the morphological diversity of the squamate noses, little is known about the embryological basis of this variation. Moreover, developmental data might be especially interesting in light of the morpho-molecular discordance of squamate phylogeny, since a 'molecular scenario' implies an occurrence of unexpected scale of homoplasy also in olfactory systems. In this study, we used X-ray microtomography and light microscopy to describe morphogenesis of the naso-palatal complex in two gekkotans: Lepidodactylus lugubris (Gekkonidae) and Eublepharis macularius (Eublepharidae). Our embryological data confirmed recent findings about the nature of some developmental processes in squamates, for example, involvement of the lateral nasal prominence in the formation of the choanal groove. Moreover, our study revealed previously unknown differences between the studied gekkotans and allows us to propose redefinition of the anterior concha of Sphenodon. Interpretation of some described conditions might be problematic in the phylogenetic context, since they represent unknown: squamate, nonophidian squamate, or gekkotan features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paweł Kaczmarek
- Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental ProtectionFaculty of Natural SciencesUniversity of Silesia in KatowiceKatowicePoland
| | - Brian Metscher
- Department of Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Weronika Rupik
- Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental ProtectionFaculty of Natural SciencesUniversity of Silesia in KatowiceKatowicePoland
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Kaczmarek P, Rupik W. Structural and ultrastructural studies on the developing vomeronasal sensory epithelium in the grass snake Natrix natrix (Squamata: Colubroidea). J Morphol 2020; 282:378-407. [PMID: 33340145 DOI: 10.1002/jmor.21311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The sensory olfactory epithelium and the vomeronasal sensory epithelium (VSE) are characterized by continuous turnover of the receptor cells during postnatal life and are capable of regeneration after injury. The VSE, like the entire vomeronasal organ, is generally well developed in squamates and is crucial for detection of pheromones and prey odors. Despite the numerous studies on embryonic development of the VSE in squamates, especially in snakes, an ultrastructural analysis, as far as we know, has never been performed. Therefore, we investigated the embryology of the VSE of the grass snake (Natrix natrix) using electron microscopy (SEM and TEM) and light microscopy. As was shown for adult snakes, the hypertrophied ophidian VSE may provide great resolution of changes in neuron morphology located at various epithelial levels. The results of this study suggest that different populations of stem/progenitor cells occur at the base of the ophidian VSE during embryonic development. One of them may be radial glia-like cells, described previously in mouse. The various structure and ultrastructure of neurons located at different parts of the VSE provide evidence for neuronal maturation and aging. Based on these results, a few nonmutually exclusive hypotheses explaining the formation of the peculiar columnar organization of the VSE in snakes were proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paweł Kaczmarek
- Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
| | - Weronika Rupik
- Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
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Barros ADL, Lima AP, Fachin-Espinar MT, Nunez CV. Evaluation of benzocaine-based anesthetic gel in anuran skins extracts: A case study using the frog Lithodytes lineatus (Anura: Leptodactylidae). PLoS One 2020; 15:e0243654. [PMID: 33290419 PMCID: PMC7723253 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0243654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Extracts made from the skin of dead Lithodytes lineatus frog individuals with the application of the benzocaine-based anesthetic gel, introduced into the oral cavity, were analyzed by 1H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance to investigate whether the application of this product (oral) can make studies that use extracts from the skins of these animals unfeasible. For comparison, we used skins of another species of anuran following the same death protocol. No trace of the benzocaine substance was found in the 1H-NMR spectra of the skin extracts from any of the tested anuran species. Still, using the hierarchical clustering model, it was possible to observe the formation of well-defined groups between the skin extracts of anurans and the anesthetic used to kill these animals. Our results suggest that the lethal dose of benzocaine in gel used inside the mouth of frogs may have no influence on potential results regarding the chemical composition or even bioassays using extracts made from the skin of these animals killed under this protocol since there was no detection of this substance for the analyzed samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- André de Lima Barros
- Departamento de Ecologia, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia–INPA, Manaus, Amazonas, Brasil
- Laboratório de Bioprospecção e Biotecnologia—LABB, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia–INPA, Manaus, Amazonas, Brasil
- * E-mail:
| | - Albertina Pimentel Lima
- Departamento de Ecologia, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia–INPA, Manaus, Amazonas, Brasil
| | - Maria Teresa Fachin-Espinar
- Laboratório de Bioprospecção e Biotecnologia—LABB, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia–INPA, Manaus, Amazonas, Brasil
| | - Cecilia Veronica Nunez
- Laboratório de Bioprospecção e Biotecnologia—LABB, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia–INPA, Manaus, Amazonas, Brasil
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Baxter‐Gilbert J, Florens FBV, Baider C, Perianen YD, Citta DS, Appadoo C, Measey J. Toad‐kill: Prey diversity and preference of invasive guttural toads (
Sclerophrys gutturalis
) in Mauritius. Afr J Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/aje.12814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- James Baxter‐Gilbert
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology Stellenbosch University Stellenbosch South Africa
| | - F. B. Vincent Florens
- Tropical Island Biodiversity, Ecology and Conservation Pole of Research Faculty of Science University of Mauritius Réduit Mauritius
- Department of Biosciences University of Mauritius Réduit Mauritius
| | - Cláudia Baider
- The Mauritius Herbarium Agricultural Services Ministry of Agro‐Industry and Food Security Réduit Mauritius
| | - Yuvna Devi Perianen
- Department of Biosciences University of Mauritius Réduit Mauritius
- Ocean College Zhejiang University Zhoushan China
| | - Denzel Shane Citta
- Tropical Island Biodiversity, Ecology and Conservation Pole of Research Faculty of Science University of Mauritius Réduit Mauritius
- Department of Biosciences University of Mauritius Réduit Mauritius
| | - Chandani Appadoo
- Tropical Island Biodiversity, Ecology and Conservation Pole of Research Faculty of Science University of Mauritius Réduit Mauritius
- Department of Biosciences University of Mauritius Réduit Mauritius
| | - John Measey
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology Stellenbosch University Stellenbosch South Africa
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Natusch DJD, Aust PW, Khadiejah S, Ithnin H, Isa A, Zamzuri CK, Ganswindt A, DeNardo DF. Behavioral and corticosterone responses to carbon dioxide exposure in reptiles. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0240176. [PMID: 33022690 PMCID: PMC7538201 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of carbon dioxide (CO2) exposure as a means of animal euthanasia has received considerable attention in mammals and birds but remains virtually untested in reptiles. We measured the behavioral responses of four squamate reptile species (Homalopsis buccata, Malayopython reticulatus, Python bivitattus, and Varanus salvator) to exposure to 99.5% CO2 for durations of 15, 30, or 90 minutes. We also examined alterations in plasma corticosterone levels of M. reticulatus and V. salvator before and after 15 minutes of CO2 exposure relative to control individuals. The four reptile taxa showed consistent behavioral responses to CO2 exposure characterized by gaping and minor movements. The time taken to lose responsiveness to stimuli and cessation of movements varied between 240–4260 seconds (4–71 minutes), with considerable intra- and inter-specific variation. Duration of CO2 exposure influenced the likelihood of recovery, which also varied among species (e.g., from 0–100% recovery after 30-min exposure). Plasma corticosterone concentrations increased after CO2 exposure in both V. salvator (18%) and M. reticulatus (14%), but only significantly in the former species. Based on our results, CO2 appears to be a mild stressor for reptiles, but the relatively minor responses to CO2 suggest it may not cause considerable distress or pain. However, our results are preliminary, and further testing is required to understand optimal CO2 delivery mechanisms and interspecific responses to CO2 exposure before endorsing this method for reptile euthanasia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J. D. Natusch
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, Australia
- EPIC Biodiversity, Frogs Hollow, NSW, Australia
- * E-mail:
| | - Patrick W. Aust
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Bushtick Environmental Services, Grantham, Lincolnshire, United Kingdom
| | - Syarifah Khadiejah
- Department of Wildlife and National Parks, Peninsular Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Hartini Ithnin
- Department of Wildlife and National Parks, Peninsular Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Ain Isa
- Department of Wildlife and National Parks, Peninsular Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Che Ku Zamzuri
- Department of Wildlife and National Parks, Peninsular Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Andre Ganswindt
- Endocrine Research Laboratory, Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
- Centre of Veterinary Wildlife Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa
| | - Dale F. DeNardo
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
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Kaczmarek P, Janiszewska K, Metscher B, Rupik W. Development of the squamate naso-palatal complex: detailed 3D analysis of the vomeronasal organ and nasal cavity in the brown anole Anolis sagrei (Squamata: Iguania). Front Zool 2020; 17:28. [PMID: 32983242 PMCID: PMC7507828 DOI: 10.1186/s12983-020-00369-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Despite the diverse morphology of the adult squamate naso-palatal complex - consisting of the nasal cavity, vomeronasal organ (VNO), choanal groove, lacrimal duct and superficial palate - little is known about the embryology of these structures. Moreover, there are no comprehensive studies concerning development of the nasal cavity and VNO in relation to the superficial palate. In this investigation, we used X-ray microtomography and histological sections to describe embryonic development of the naso-palatal complex of iguanian lizard, the brown anole (Anolis sagrei). The purpose of the study was to describe the mechanism of formation of adult morphology in this species, which combines the peculiar anole features with typical iguanian conditions. Considering the uncertain phylogenetic position of the Iguania within Squamata, embryological data and future comparative studies may shed new light on the evolution of this large squamate clade. Results Development of the naso-palatal complex was divided into three phases: early, middle and late. In the early developmental phase, the vomeronasal pit originates from medial outpocketing of the nasal pit, when the facial prominences are weakly developed. In the middle developmental phase, the following events can be noted: the formation of the frontonasal mass, separation of the vestibulum, appearance of the lacrimal duct, and formation of the choanal groove, which leads to separation of the VNO from the nasal cavity. In late development, the nasal cavity and the VNO attain their adult morphology. The lacrimal duct establishes an extensive connection with the choanal groove, which eventually becomes largely separated from the oral cavity. Conclusions Unlike in other tetrapods, the primordium of the lacrimal duct in the brown anole develops largely beyond the nasolacrimal groove. In contrast to previous studies on squamates, the maxillary prominence is found to participate in the initial fusion with the frontonasal mass. Moreover, formation of the choanal groove occurs due to the fusion of the vomerine cushion to the subconchal fold, rather than to the choanal fold. The loss or significant reduction of the lateral nasal concha is secondary. Some features of anole adult morphology, such as the closure of the choanal groove, may constitute adaptations to vomeronasal chemoreception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paweł Kaczmarek
- Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, Bankowa 9, 40-007 Katowice, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Janiszewska
- Institute of Paleobiology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda 51/55, 00-818 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Brian Metscher
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Weronika Rupik
- Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, Bankowa 9, 40-007 Katowice, Poland
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31
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Greenlees M, Brown GP, Shine R. Pest control by the public: Impact of hand-collecting on the abundance and demography of cane toads (Rhinella marina) at their southern invasion front in Australia. Glob Ecol Conserv 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e01120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
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Rodríguez-Ruiz G, Ortega J, Cuervo JJ, López P, Salvador A, Martín J. Male rock lizards may compensate reproductive costs of an immune challenge affecting sexual signals. Behav Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/araa047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Sexual signals can be evolutionarily stable if they are condition dependent or costly to the signaler. One of these costs may be the trade-off between maintaining the immune system and the elaboration of ornaments. Experimental immune challenges in captivity show a reduction in the expression of sexual signals, but it is not clear whether these detrimental effects are important in nature and, more importantly, whether they have reproductive consequences. We designed a field experiment to challenge the immune system of wild male Carpetan rock lizards, Iberolacerta cyreni, with a bacterial antigen (lipopolysaccharide). The immune challenge decreased relative reflectance of ultraviolet structural and melanin-dependent sexual coloration in the throat and the lateral ocelli, whereas the carotenoid-dependent dorsal green coloration was not affected. Immune activation also decreased proportions of ergosterol and cholesta-5,7-dien-3-ol in femoral secretions. These results support a trade-off between the immune system and both visual and chemical sexual ornaments. Moreover, the reproductive success of males, estimated with DNA microsatellites, depended on the expression of some color and chemical traits. However, the immune challenge did not cause overall differences in reproductive success, although it increased with body size/age in control but not in challenged males. This suggests the use of alternative reproductive strategies (e.g., forced matings) in challenged males, particularly in smaller ones. These males might consider that their survival probabilities are low and increase reproductive effort as a form of terminal investment in spite of their “low-quality” sexual signals and potential survival costs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gonzalo Rodríguez-Ruiz
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesús Ortega
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, Madrid, Spain
| | - José Javier Cuervo
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, Madrid, Spain
| | - Pilar López
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alfredo Salvador
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, Madrid, Spain
| | - José Martín
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, Madrid, Spain
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Shine R, Lesku JA, Lillywhite HB. Assessment of the cooling-then-freezing method for euthanasia of amphibians and reptiles. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2020; 255:48-50. [PMID: 31194656 DOI: 10.2460/javma.255.1.48] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Hermyt M, Janiszewska K, Rupik W. Squamate egg tooth development revisited using three-dimensional reconstructions of brown anole (Anolis sagrei, Squamata, Dactyloidae) dentition. J Anat 2020; 236:1004-1020. [PMID: 32056203 PMCID: PMC7219623 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2019] [Revised: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The egg tooth is a hatching adaptation, characteristic of all squamates. In brown anole embryos, the first tooth that starts differentiating is the egg tooth. It develops from a single tooth germ and, similar to the regular dentition of all the other vertebrates, the differentiating egg tooth of the brown anole passes through classic morphological and developmental stages named according to the shape of the dental epithelium: epithelial thickening, dental lamina, tooth bud, cap and bell stages. The differentiating egg tooth consists of three parts: the enamel organ, hard tissues and dental pulp. Shortly before hatching, the egg tooth connects with the premaxilla. Attachment tissue of the egg tooth does not undergo mineralization, which makes it different from the other teeth of most squamates. After hatching, odontoclasts are involved in resorption of the egg tooth's remains. This study shows that the brown anole egg tooth does not completely conform to previous reports describing iguanomorph egg teeth and reveals a need to investigate its development in the context of squamate phylogeny.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mateusz Hermyt
- Faculty of Natural SciencesInstitute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental ProtectionUniversity of Silesia in KatowiceKatowicePoland
| | | | - Weronika Rupik
- Faculty of Natural SciencesInstitute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental ProtectionUniversity of Silesia in KatowiceKatowicePoland
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36
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Salinity Tolerance and Brackish Habitat Utilization in the Common Australian Frog Crinia signifera. J HERPETOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1670/19-048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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Galex IA, Gallant CM, D'Avignon N, Kuchenbrod LM, Fletcher CA, Rogala AR. Evaluation of Effective and Practical Euthanasia Methods for Larval African Clawed Frogs ( Xenopus laevis). JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR LABORATORY ANIMAL SCIENCE 2020; 59:269-274. [PMID: 32164797 DOI: 10.30802/aalas-jaalas-19-000141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Larval, or tadpole-stage Xenopus laevis frogs are a popular research model for developmental biology and disease studies. Existing euthanasia guidance documents offer recommendations for both eggs and adult stages, yet do not specifically address the larval stage. Data evaluating effective euthanasia methods for groups of X. laevis tadpoles would therefore be useful. The goal of the current study was to evaluate the efficacy of various immersion euthanasia procedures on tadpoles: tricaine methanesulfonate (MS222) at 6 g/L, eugenol at 800 μL/L and rapid chilling (2 to 4 °C). We also evaluated tadpoles at various developmental stages (NF stages 46, 47 and 49). Tadpoles (n = 70) were exposed to euthanasia solution for 15 min, and controls (n = 40) were placed in housing tank water for 15 min. All animals were then placed in recovery tanks containing housing tank water for 4 h to confirm irreversibility of each agent. Cessation of the heartbeat was assessed at the end of euthanasia solution exposure and at each hour thereafter. We found that immersion in a 6 g/L solution of MS222 resulted in 100% euthanasia of all larval stages tested. Conversely, eugenol produced variable euthanasia rates that were affected by both age group and batches of stock solutions. Rapid chilling was completely ineffective as a euthanasia method in our study. Based on our findings, we recommend MS222 as an effective and practical means of euthanizing large numbers of X. laevis tadpoles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilana A Galex
- Division of Comparative Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Cameron M Gallant
- Division of Comparative Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Nicole D'Avignon
- Division of Comparative Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Lauren M Kuchenbrod
- Division of Comparative Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Craig A Fletcher
- Division of Comparative Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Allison R Rogala
- Division of Comparative Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolinal,
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Mankad A, Kennedy U, Carter L. Biological control of pests and a social model of animal welfare. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2019; 247:313-322. [PMID: 31252230 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.06.080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2018] [Revised: 02/13/2019] [Accepted: 06/15/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
This paper considers the sociocultural implications of biological pest control that sit at the cusp of managing an invasive species for conservation or productivity (i.e. a 'natural enemy') and socially driven 'manipulating life' arguments. We consider the role of perceived humaneness or, more accurately, animal welfare as it relates to managing invasive species from a scientific and social perspective. In order to highlight and articulate particular nuances and standards across different pest control contexts, we use three case examples (feral cats, wild rabbits, and invasive cane toads) and explore where biological pest control and animal welfare interests intersect. The paper summarises key scientific welfare concerns and then extends the literature to also examine key social characteristics of each pest management scenario, including lay perceptions of animal welfare, the sociocultural context that pests exist within, and overarching psychological factors contributing to public sentiment, including perceived risks. The subsequent descriptive model presented is useful in articulating core sociocultural beliefs relative to each case and how these antecedent associations and attitudes about an animal influence subsequent beliefs about a pest management strategy and ultimately acceptance of the management approach. The model can inform invasive species management policies and highlight key sociocultural factors likely to influence public responses. The model also informs interdisciplinary science designed to develop acceptable and socially responsible biocontrol strategies that consider public perceptions of animal welfare and cultural appropriateness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditi Mankad
- CSIRO Land & Water, GPO Box 2583, Brisbane, QLD, 4001, Australia; Synthetic Biology Future Science Platform, CSIRO Land & Water, Brisbane, QLD, 4001, Australia.
| | - Uttara Kennedy
- RSPCA Queensland, Locked Bag 3000, Archerfield BH QLD 4108, Australia
| | - Lucy Carter
- CSIRO Land & Water, GPO Box 2583, Brisbane, QLD, 4001, Australia; Synthetic Biology Future Science Platform, CSIRO Land & Water, Brisbane, QLD, 4001, Australia
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Zhang Y, Song T, Jin Q, Huang Y, Tang X, Sun X, Liu F, Zhang Z, Bao W. Status of an alien turtle in city park waters and its potential threats to local biodiversity: the red-eared slider in Beijing. Urban Ecosyst 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-019-00897-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Drinkwater E, Robinson EJH, Hart AG. Keeping invertebrate research ethical in a landscape of shifting public opinion. Methods Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.13208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Adam G. Hart
- School of Natural and Social Science University of Gloucestershire Cheltenham UK
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41
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McCann S, Crossland M, Greenlees M, Shine R. Invader control: factors influencing the attraction of cane toad (Rhinella marina) larvae to adult parotoid exudate. Biol Invasions 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-019-01969-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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42
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Warwick C, Bates G, Arena PC, Steedman C. Reevaluating the use of hypothermia for anesthetizing and euthanizing amphibians and reptiles. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2019; 253:1536-1539. [PMID: 30668251 DOI: 10.2460/javma.253.12.1536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Medler S. Anesthetic MS-222 eliminates nerve and muscle activity in frogs used for physiology teaching laboratories. ADVANCES IN PHYSIOLOGY EDUCATION 2019; 43:69-75. [PMID: 30694709 DOI: 10.1152/advan.00114.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Frogs are routinely used in physiology teaching laboratories to demonstrate important physiological processes. There have been recent directives that promote the use of the anesthetic MS-222 (tricaine methanesulfonate), rather than lowering body temperature with a cold water bath to prepare reptiles and amphibians for physiological experiments or euthanasia. Indeed, the most recent edition of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals proclaims that chilling in water is not an appropriate method and advocates for the usage of MS-222 or other anesthetics. However, prominent researchers have responded to this position by highlighting evidence that cooling ectothermic vertebrates is, in fact, an effective and appropriate method. Furthermore, MS-222 is a known voltage-gated Na+ channel blocker, and this anesthetic's impact on the physiology of excitable tissues suggests that its use might be incompatible with experiments on nerve and muscle tissues. In the present study, I examined the effects of MS-222 at a concentration of 1.5 g/l on nerve, skeletal muscle, and cardiac muscle physiology of frogs. I found that immersion of frogs in this anesthetic blocked basic nerve and muscle physiology, making the frogs unsuitable for laboratory experiments. Applying MS-222 directly to the sciatic nerve dramatically blocked normal excitation-contraction coupling in skeletal muscle preparations, and direct application to the heart caused the organs to stop contracting. Based on these results, I conclude that MS-222 at the concentration studied may be incompatible with physiological preparations that rely on electrically excitable tissues for their normal function. Physiology educators who must use MS-222 with frogs should empirically determine an appropriate dosage and recovery time before using the anesthetic in the teaching laboratory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott Medler
- Department of Biology, State University of New York at Fredonia, Fredonia, New York
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Taylor CM, Keppel G, O'Sullivan S, Peters S, Kerr GD, Williams CR. Indiscriminate feeding by an alien population of the spotted-thighed frog (Litoria cyclorhyncha) in southern Australia and potential impacts on native biodiversity. AUST J ZOOL 2019. [DOI: 10.1071/zo19042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Litoria cyclorhyncha (Hylidae) is native to southern Western Australia, but a naturalised population has established on the Eyre Peninsula, South Australia. We investigated the diet of this exotic population to assess potential impacts on biodiversity and ecosystems. Seventy-six frogs were collected from three different habitats and their diet items assigned to parataxonomic units (PU) within orders. Stomach contents were diverse, containing 467 prey items from 19 orders and 135 PU, with extrapolation suggesting a diet of ~200 PU. Shannon diversity estimates of prey items consumed produced different rankings for the three habitats at the PU and order level. Therefore, estimates at the order level may not be representative of the actual diversity of prey items. L. cyclorhyncha consumed mainly arthropods and low numbers of conspecific young frogs, geckos and a juvenile house mouse. This generalist, indiscriminate predatory diet is similar to that of other hylids and implies that the species poses a risk to native biodiversity and ecosystem processes by predation and competition. Therefore, further spread of this species needs to be prevented. Our findings can inform effective policies and management actions to mitigate future impacts of L. cyclorhyncha.
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Greenlees MJ, Harris S, White AW, Shine R. The establishment and eradication of an extra-limital population of invasive cane toads. Biol Invasions 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-018-1681-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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47
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Saporito RA, Grant T. Comment on Amézquita et al. (2017) "Conspicuousness, color resemblance, and toxicity in geographically diverging mimicry: The pan-Amazonian frog Allobates femoralis". Evolution 2018. [PMID: 29524217 DOI: 10.1111/evo.13468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Amézquita et al. (2017) recently concluded that species of the Allobates femoralis group are toxic to mice at levels equivalent to syntopic alkaloid-containing poison frogs, which they attributed to the presence of alkaloids in skin secretions. However, the chemical composition of skin secretions was not analyzed, and here we present additional data supporting the absence of alkaloids in skin secretions of the Allobates femoralis group. Instead, we suggest the observed toxicity was caused by the anesthetic benzocaine, which was applied to the buccal cavity to euthanize frogs prior to skin removal. We show that orally administered benzocaine is rapidly incorporated into the skin of species that sequester and do not sequester alkaloids, which casts doubt on the conclusion that Allobates femoralis group skin secretions are toxic and makes the results of experiments with alkaloid-containing species of Adelphobates and Ameerega uninterpretable. To prevent experimental errors and misinterpretations in studies of amphibian chemical defense, we encourage researchers to test the chemical composition of samples prior to experimentation, include all necessary controls to detect false positives, conduct small pilot studies for new methods, and consider the limitations of particular methods and their ability to address the intended research questions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ralph A Saporito
- Department of Biology, John Carroll University, University Heights, Ohio 44118
| | - Taran Grant
- Department de Zoology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, 05508, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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More S, Bøtner A, Butterworth A, Calistri P, Depner K, Edwards S, Garin-Bastuji B, Good M, Gortázar Schmidt C, Michel V, Miranda MA, Nielsen SS, Raj M, Sihvonen L, Spoolder H, Stegeman JA, Thulke HH, Velarde A, Willeberg P, Winckler C, Baldinelli F, Broglia A, Candiani D, Fabris C, Georgiadis M, Zancanaro G, Beltrán-Beck B, Kohnle L, Bicout D. Assessment of listing and categorisation of animal diseases within the framework of the Animal Health Law (Regulation (EU) No 2016/429): Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans ( Bsal). EFSA J 2017; 15:e05071. [PMID: 32625359 PMCID: PMC7010176 DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2017.5071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) has been assessed according to the criteria of the Animal Health Law (AHL), in particular criteria of Article 7 on disease profile and impacts, Article 5 on the eligibility of Bsal to be listed, Article 9 for the categorisation of Bsal according to disease prevention and control rules as in Annex IV, and Article 8 on the list of animal species related to Bsal. The assessment has been performed following a methodology composed of information collection and compilation, expert judgement on each criterion at individual and, if no consensus was reached before, also at collective level. The output is composed of the categorical answer, and for the questions where no consensus was reached, the different supporting views are reported. Details on the methodology used for this assessment are explained in a separate opinion. According to the assessment performed, Bsal can be considered eligible to be listed for Union intervention as laid down in Article 5(3) of the AHL. The disease would comply with the criteria as in sections 4 and 5 of Annex IV of the AHL, for the application of the disease prevention and control rules referred to in points (d) and (e) of Article 9(1). The assessment here performed on compliance with the criteria as in Section 1 of Annex IV referred to in point (a) of Article 9(1) is inconclusive. The animal species to be listed for Bsal according to Article 8(3) criteria are species of the families Salamandridae and Plethodontidae as susceptible and Salamandridae and Hynobiidae as reservoirs.
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Keifer J, Zheng Z. Cold block of in vitro eyeblink reflexes: evidence supporting the use of hypothermia as an anesthetic in pond turtles. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017; 220:4370-4373. [PMID: 28982970 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.168427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2017] [Accepted: 10/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Use of hypothermia as a means of anesthesia for amphibians and reptiles is prohibited by agencies that establish veterinary guidelines. This has recently been called into question by members of the scientific community based on reviews of published literature. Using pond turtles (Trachemys scripta elegans), hypothermia as a method for anesthesia to precede euthanasia by decapitation was assessed. Turtles were subjected to hypothermia using a cooling followed by freezing protocol. Body temperature measurements ranged between -1 and -2°C while core body temperature was -1°C. Ice crystal formation was never observed. A protective reflex to noxious stimuli, the eyeblink response, was recorded from in vitro brainstem preparations subjected to cold. At 5-6°C, reflex responses were suppressed, demonstrating minimal synaptic transmission in brain circuits above temperatures used for hypothermia induction. These and previous data indicate that a re-evaluation of the use of hypothermia as an anesthetic in amphibians and reptiles is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joyce Keifer
- Neuroscience Group, Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, University of South Dakota, Sanford School of Medicine, Vermillion, SD 57069, USA
| | - Zhaoqing Zheng
- Neuroscience Group, Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, University of South Dakota, Sanford School of Medicine, Vermillion, SD 57069, USA
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Kelehear C, Hudson CM, Mertins JW, Shine R. First report of exotic ticks (Amblyomma rotundatum) parasitizing invasive cane toads (Rhinella marina) on the Island of Hawai‘i. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2017; 8:330-333. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2016.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2016] [Revised: 12/07/2016] [Accepted: 12/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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