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Benarrós MSC, Salvarani FM. Candidiasis in Choloepus sp.-A Review of New Advances on the Disease. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:2092. [PMID: 39061554 PMCID: PMC11273393 DOI: 10.3390/ani14142092] [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: 07/03/2024] [Revised: 07/12/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Candidiasis is a significant fungal infection caused by various species of the genus Candida, posing health challenges to a wide range of animals, including Choloepus species (two-toed sloths). This review article aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of candidiasis in Choloepus sp., highlighting the etiology, epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention strategies. This article begins by examining the causative agents, primarily focusing on Candida albicans, which is the most commonly implicated species in candidiasis. The epidemiological aspects are discussed, emphasizing the prevalence of candidiasis in wild and captive Choloepus populations and identifying predisposing factors, such as immunosuppression, stress, poor nutrition, and environmental conditions. Pathogenesis is explored, detailing the mechanisms through which Candida species invade host tissues and evade immune responses. Clinical manifestations in Choloepus sp. are described, including oral thrush, cutaneous lesions, and gastrointestinal infections, and their impact on the health and behavior of affected individuals. Diagnostic methods, including culture techniques, histopathology, and molecular assays, are reviewed to highlight their roles in accurately identifying Candida infections. This article also covers treatment options, focusing on antifungal therapies and supportive care tailored to the unique physiology of Choloepus sp. Finally, prevention and management strategies are discussed, emphasizing the importance of maintaining optimal husbandry practices, regular health monitoring, and early intervention to reduce the incidence and impact of candidiasis in Choloepus populations. This review underscores the need for further research to enhance our understanding of candidiasis and improve health outcomes for these unique and vulnerable animals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Felipe Masiero Salvarani
- Instituto de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Pará, Castanhal 68740-970, PA, Brazil;
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dos Reis LL, de Souza LSS, Braga FCDO, Lima DCDS, Lima NADS, Padinha JDS, Nava AFD, Vicente ACP. Zoonotic Giardia duodenalis assemblage A in northern sloth from Brazilian Amazon. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2023; 118:e230088. [PMID: 37971095 PMCID: PMC10644951 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760230088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The parasite Giardia duodenalis infects a wide range of vertebrate hosts, including domestic and wild animals as well as humans. Giardia is genotyped into eight assemblages (A-H). Zoonotic assemblages A and B have already been identified in humans and wild and domestic animals (non-human primates and cats) from Brazilian Amazon and in the world. Due to its zoonotic/zooanthroponotic nature, surveillance initiatives and the definition of Giardia assemblages are important in order to characterise the epidemiological scenario and to implement further control measures. OBJECTIVES Determine assemblages of G. duodenalis in sloths from the Brazilian Amazon Region. METHODS Faecal parasitological examination of sloths from Amazonas State. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the beta giardin (BG), and genes from multilocus sequence typing (MLST) scheme, amplicon sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. FINDINGS Here, we identified, by microscopy, Giardia in two northern sloths (Bradypus tridactylus). These two samples were submitted to molecular assays and it was revealed that both were infected by G. duodenalis assemblage A. Phylogenetic analysis showed that they belong to assemblage A within sequences from humans and wild and domestic animals. CONCLUSION Therefore, besides showing, by the first time, the current presence of this parasite in sloths, our findings reveals that this wild animal species would be part of the zoonotic/zooanthroponotic scenario of this parasite in the Brazilian Amazon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisiane Lappe dos Reis
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Leônidas & Maria Deane, Laboratório de Diversidade Microbiana da Amazônia de Importância para a Saúde, Manaus, AM, Brasil
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Parasitária, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | - Lirna Salvioni Silva de Souza
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Leônidas & Maria Deane, Laboratório de Diversidade Microbiana da Amazônia de Importância para a Saúde, Manaus, AM, Brasil
| | - Francisco Carlos de Oliveira Braga
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Leônidas & Maria Deane, Laboratório de Diversidade Microbiana da Amazônia de Importância para a Saúde, Manaus, AM, Brasil
| | - Dayane Costa de Souza Lima
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Leônidas & Maria Deane, Laboratório de Diversidade Microbiana da Amazônia de Importância para a Saúde, Manaus, AM, Brasil
| | | | - Jessica da Silva Padinha
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Leônidas & Maria Deane, Laboratório de Diversidade Microbiana da Amazônia de Importância para a Saúde, Manaus, AM, Brasil
| | - Alessandra Ferreira Dales Nava
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Leônidas & Maria Deane, Laboratório de Ecologia de Doenças Transmissíveis na Amazônia, Manaus, AM, Brasil
| | - Ana Carolina Paulo Vicente
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Genética Molecular de Microrganismos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
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Sánchez-Chavez ADP. Diet of Hoffmann’s two-toed sloth (Choloepus hoffmanni) in Andean forest. MAMMALIA 2021. [DOI: 10.1515/mammalia-2021-0016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The Hoffmann’s two-toed sloth (Choloepus hoffmanni) is a species which could potentially be evaluated as threatened, but data on its natural history in wild conditions are still insufficient. The diet in wildlife of C. hoffmanni was studied through of microhistological analysis of indigestible fragments of leaves found in 43 feces samples collected of the 47 samples found in an Andean forest reserve south of Bogotá, Colombia. Four samples were highly decomposed and were not collected. A reference collection was made of 29 tree species where the feces were found or two-toed sloth were observed, to compare with the plant fragments found in the feces. Seventeen species and six fragments of foliar epidermis of undetermined species were identified in sloth diet. Based on this analysis, C. hoffmanni is a generalist folivore, ingesting a wide variety of plant leaves. Based on frequency of occurrence, relative frequency, and percent cover by volume, Brunellia sibundoya, Cordia cylindrostachya, Citharexylum sp., Quercus humboldtii, and Clethra fagifolia made up most (74%) of the diet of C. hoffmanni in an Andean forest. Comparing the plant species found in the feces with the reference collection, C. hoffmanni appears to deposit feces at the base of the trees that it consumes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea del Pilar Sánchez-Chavez
- Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas , Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia , Tunja , Colombia
- Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Información Geográfica (CIAF) , Instituto Geográfico Agustín Codazzi (IGAC), Bogotá , Bogota , Colombia
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Jimenez IA, Makowski AJ, Scanlon LM, Childs-Sanford SE. Cutaneous concentrations of 7-dehydrocholesterol in Hoffmann's two-toed sloths (Choloepus hoffmanni) in managed care. Zoo Biol 2021; 41:20-25. [PMID: 34329484 DOI: 10.1002/zoo.21643] [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: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Hoffmann's two-toed sloths (Choloepus hoffmanni) are unique animals popular in zoological settings. The role of vitamin D in the maintenance of calcium homeostasis in this species is unexplored, although disorders of calcium homeostasis have been reported in managed sloths, including urolithiasis and soft tissue mineralization. This study assessed cutaneous concentrations of 7-dehydrocholesterol (7-DHC) in nine indoor-housed Hoffmann's two-toed sloths, as a means of evaluating the potential for cutaneous photobiosynthesis of vitamin D3 . Samples were obtained from both abdominal and lumbar regions of the skin to assess for regional variation in 7-DHC concentration. The average concentration of 7-DHC in the sloth skin was low (0.197 ± 0.02 nmol/cm2 ). Location had a significant effect on 7-DHC level only when concentrations were expressed based on the wet weight of the sample (ng/g), but levels were similar when values were normalized to biopsy surface area (nmol/cm2 ).
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel A Jimenez
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | | | - Lisa M Scanlon
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA.,Department of Clinical Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
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Cudney-Valenzuela SJ, Arroyo-Rodríguez V, Andresen E, Toledo-Aceves T, Mora-Ardila F, Andrade-Ponce G, Mandujano S. Does patch quality drive arboreal mammal assemblages in fragmented rainforests? Perspect Ecol Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pecon.2020.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
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Bowler M, Couceiro D, Martinez R, Orihuela G, Shoobridge JD, Nycander E, de Miranda EB, Tobler MW. Harpy eagles (Harpia harpyja) nesting at Refugio Amazonas, Tambopata, Peru feed on abundant disturbance-tolerant species. FOOD WEBS 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fooweb.2020.e00154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Moreira-Soto A, Arroyo-Murillo F, Sander AL, Rasche A, Corman V, Tegtmeyer B, Steinmann E, Corrales-Aguilar E, Wieseke N, Avey-Arroyo J, Drexler JF. Cross-order host switches of hepatitis C-related viruses illustrated by a novel hepacivirus from sloths. Virus Evol 2020; 6:veaa033. [PMID: 32704383 PMCID: PMC7368370 DOI: 10.1093/ve/veaa033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The genealogy of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) and the genus Hepacivirus remains elusive despite numerous recently discovered animal hepaciviruses (HVs). Viruses from evolutionarily ancient mammals might elucidate the HV macro-evolutionary patterns. Here, we investigated sixty-seven two-toed and nine three-toed sloths from Costa Rica for HVs using molecular and serological tools. A novel sloth HV was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in three-toed sloths (2/9, 22.2%; 95% confidence interval (CI), 5.3-55.7). Genomic characterization revealed typical HV features including overall polyprotein gene structure, a type 4 internal ribosomal entry site in the viral 5'-genome terminus, an A-U-rich region and X-tail structure in the viral 3'-genome terminus. Different from other animal HVs, HV seropositivity in two-toed sloths was low at 4.5 per cent (3/67; CI, 1.0-12.9), whereas the RT-PCR-positive three-toed sloths were seronegative. Limited cross-reactivity of the serological assay implied exposure of seropositive two-toed sloths to HVs of unknown origin and recent infections in RT-PCR-positive animals preceding seroconversion. Recent infections were consistent with only 9 nucleotide exchanges between the two sloth HVs, located predominantly within the E1/E2 encoding regions. Translated sequence distances of NS3 and NS5 proteins and host comparisons suggested that the sloth HV represents a novel HV species. Event- and sequence distance-based reconciliations of phylogenies of HVs and of their hosts revealed complex macro-evolutionary patterns, including both long-term evolutionary associations and host switches, most strikingly from rodents into sloths. Ancestral state reconstructions corroborated rodents as predominant sources of HV host switches during the genealogy of extant HVs. Sequence distance comparisons, partial conservation of critical amino acid residues associated with HV entry and selection pressure signatures of host genes encoding entry and antiviral protein orthologs were consistent with HV host switches between genetically divergent mammals, including the projected host switch from rodents into sloths. Structural comparison of HCV and sloth HV E2 proteins suggested conserved modes of hepaciviral entry. Our data corroborate complex macro-evolutionary patterns shaping the genus Hepacivirus, highlight that host switches are possible across highly diverse host taxa, and elucidate a prominent role of rodent hosts during the Hepacivirus genealogy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andres Moreira-Soto
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Virology, Berlin 10117, Germany.,Virology-CIET, Faculty of Microbiology, University of Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | | | - Anna-Lena Sander
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Virology, Berlin 10117, Germany
| | - Andrea Rasche
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Virology, Berlin 10117, Germany
| | - Victor Corman
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Virology, Berlin 10117, Germany
| | - Birthe Tegtmeyer
- Institute for Experimental Virology, TWINCORE Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, a Joint Venture Between the Medical School Hannover (MHH) and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Hannover 30625, Germany
| | - Eike Steinmann
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum 44801, Germany
| | | | - Nicolas Wieseke
- Swarm Intelligence and Complex Systems Group, Department of Computer Science, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | | | - Jan Felix Drexler
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Virology, Berlin 10117, Germany.,German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Germany
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Gibb GC, Condamine FL, Kuch M, Enk J, Moraes-Barros N, Superina M, Poinar HN, Delsuc F. Shotgun Mitogenomics Provides a Reference Phylogenetic Framework and Timescale for Living Xenarthrans. Mol Biol Evol 2015; 33:621-42. [PMID: 26556496 PMCID: PMC4760074 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msv250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Xenarthra (armadillos, sloths, and anteaters) constitutes one of the four major clades of placental mammals. Despite their phylogenetic distinctiveness in mammals, a reference phylogeny is still lacking for the 31 described species. Here we used Illumina shotgun sequencing to assemble 33 new complete mitochondrial genomes, establishing Xenarthra as the first major placental clade to be fully sequenced at the species level for mitogenomes. The resulting data set allowed the reconstruction of a robust phylogenetic framework and timescale that are consistent with previous studies conducted at the genus level using nuclear genes. Incorporating the full species diversity of extant xenarthrans points to a number of inconsistencies in xenarthran systematics and species definition. We propose to split armadillos into two distinct families Dasypodidae (dasypodines) and Chlamyphoridae (euphractines, chlamyphorines, and tolypeutines) to better reflect their ancient divergence, estimated around 42 Ma. Species delimitation within long-nosed armadillos (genus Dasypus) appeared more complex than anticipated, with the discovery of a divergent lineage in French Guiana. Diversification analyses showed Xenarthra to be an ancient clade with a constant diversification rate through time with a species turnover driven by high but constant extinction. We also detected a significant negative correlation between speciation rate and past temperature fluctuations with an increase in speciation rate corresponding to the general cooling observed during the last 15 My. Biogeographic reconstructions identified the tropical rainforest biome of Amazonia and the Guiana Shield as the cradle of xenarthran evolutionary history with subsequent dispersions into more open and dry habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gillian C Gibb
- Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution, UMR 5554, CNRS, IRD, EPHE, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France Ecology Group, Institute of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Fabien L Condamine
- Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution, UMR 5554, CNRS, IRD, EPHE, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AL, Canada
| | - Melanie Kuch
- McMaster Ancient DNA Centre, Department of Anthropology and Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Jacob Enk
- McMaster Ancient DNA Centre, Department of Anthropology and Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Nadia Moraes-Barros
- Cibio/Inbio, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal Laboratório de Biologia Evolutiva e Conservação de Vertebrados (Labec), Departamento de Genética e Biologia Evolutiva, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mariella Superina
- Laboratorio de Endocrinología de la Fauna Silvestre, IMBECU, CCT CONICET Mendoza, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Hendrik N Poinar
- McMaster Ancient DNA Centre, Department of Anthropology and Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Frédéric Delsuc
- Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution, UMR 5554, CNRS, IRD, EPHE, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
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10
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Moraes-Barros N, Arteaga MC. Genetic diversity in Xenarthra and its relevance to patterns of neotropical biodiversity. J Mammal 2015. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyv077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Voirin B, Scriba MF, Martinez-Gonzalez D, Vyssotski AL, Wikelski M, Rattenborg NC. Ecology and neurophysiology of sleep in two wild sloth species. Sleep 2014; 37:753-61. [PMID: 24899764 DOI: 10.5665/sleep.3584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVES Interspecific variation in sleep measured in captivity correlates with various physiological and environmental factors, including estimates of predation risk in the wild. However, it remains unclear whether prior comparative studies have been confounded by the captive recording environment. Herein we examine the effect of predation pressure on sleep in sloths living in the wild. DESIGN Comparison of two closely related sloth species, one exposed to predation and one free from predation. SETTING Panamanian mainland rainforest (predators present) and island mangrove (predators absent). PARTICIPANTS Mainland (Bradypus variegatus, five males and four females) and island (Bradypus pygmaeus, six males) sloths. INTERVENTIONS None. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS Electroencephalographic (EEG) and electromyographic (EMG) activity was recorded using a miniature data logger. Although both species spent between 9 and 10 h per day sleeping, the mainland sloths showed a preference for sleeping at night, whereas island sloths showed no preference for sleeping during the day or night. Standardized EEG activity during nonrapid eye movement (NREM) sleep showed lower low-frequency power, and increased spindle and higher frequency power in island sloths when compared to mainland sloths. CONCLUSIONS In sloths sleeping in the wild, predation pressure influenced the timing of sleep, but not the amount of time spent asleep. The preference for sleeping at night in mainland sloths may be a strategy to avoid detection by nocturnal cats. The pronounced differences in the NREM sleep EEG spectrum remain unexplained, but might be related to genetic or environmental factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryson Voirin
- Avian Sleep Group, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology - Seewiesen, Seewiesen, Germany ; Department of Migration and Immuno-Ecology, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology - Radolfzell, Radolfzell, Germany ; Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute - Panama, Balboa, Ancón, Panama
| | - Madeleine F Scriba
- Avian Sleep Group, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology - Seewiesen, Seewiesen, Germany ; Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Alexei L Vyssotski
- Institute of Neuroinformatics, University of Zurich and Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Martin Wikelski
- Department of Migration and Immuno-Ecology, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology - Radolfzell, Radolfzell, Germany ; Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Niels C Rattenborg
- Avian Sleep Group, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology - Seewiesen, Seewiesen, Germany
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Straehl FR, Scheyer TM, Forasiepi AM, MacPhee RD, Sánchez-Villagra MR. Evolutionary patterns of bone histology and bone compactness in xenarthran mammal long bones. PLoS One 2013; 8:e69275. [PMID: 23874932 PMCID: PMC3706384 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0069275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2013] [Accepted: 06/06/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Bone microstructure reflects physiological characteristics and has been shown to contain phylogenetic and ecological signals. Although mammalian long bone histology is receiving increasing attention, systematic examination of the main clades has not yet been performed. Here we describe the long bone microstructure of Xenarthra based on thin sections representing twenty-two species. Additionally, patterns in bone compactness of humeri and femora are investigated. The primary bone tissue of xenarthran long bones is composed of a mixture of woven, parallel-fibered and lamellar bone. The vascular canals have a longitudinal, reticular or radial orientation and are mostly arranged in an irregular manner. Concentric rows of vascular canals and laminar organization of the tissue are only found in anteater bones. The long bones of adult specimens are marked by dense Haversian bone, a feature that has been noted for most groups of mammals. In the long bones of armadillos, secondary osteons have an oblique orientation within the three-dimensional bone tissue, thus resulting in their irregular shape when the bones are sectioned transversely. Secondary remodeling is generally more extensive in large taxa than in small taxa, and this could be caused by increased loading. Lines of arrested growth are assumed to be present in all specimens, but they are restricted to the outermost layer in bones of armadillos and are often masked by secondary remodeling in large taxa. Parameters of bone compactness show a pattern in the femur that separates Cingulata and Pilosa (Folivora and Vermilingua), with cingulates having a lower compactness than pilosans. In addition, cingulates show an allometric relationship between humeral and femoral bone compactness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiona R. Straehl
- Paläontologisches Institut und Museum, Universität Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Torsten M. Scheyer
- Paläontologisches Institut und Museum, Universität Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | | | - Ross D. MacPhee
- Vertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York, United States of America
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