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Makii RL, Muñoz Gutiérrez J. Intramural coronary artery and myocardial pathology in captive tigers ( Panthera tigris) and African lions ( Panthera leo). Vet Pathol 2024:3009858241246984. [PMID: 38660755 DOI: 10.1177/03009858241246984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
There is limited published data regarding cardiovascular disease in nondomestic felid populations. To address this knowledge gap, necropsy cases of tigers and lions with representative myocardial samples submitted to a diagnostic laboratory were histologically assessed with hematoxylin and eosin and Sirius red stains. A total of 32 submissions (15 tigers, 17 lions) were identified in a 4-year period. All tigers and lions had some degree of coronary artery lesions in the left ventricle and/or interventricular septum. Major findings included moderate to marked arteriosclerosis in 8 tigers (53%) and 4 lions (24%) and moderate to marked perivascular fibrosis in 10 tigers (67%) and 9 lions (53%). Moreover, 10 tigers (67%) and 8 lions (47%) had coronary artery lesions with variable degrees of perivascular cardiomyocyte degeneration and/or loss. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing coronary artery pathology in captive tigers and lions.
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Seekings AH, Shipley R, Byrne AMP, Shukla S, Golding M, Amaya-Cuesta J, Goharriz H, Vitores AG, Lean FZX, James J, Núñez A, Breed A, Frost A, Balzer J, Brown IH, Brookes SM, McElhinney LM. Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Delta Variant (B.1.617.2) in Domestic Dogs and Zoo Tigers in England and Jersey during 2021. Viruses 2024; 16:617. [PMID: 38675958 PMCID: PMC11053977 DOI: 10.3390/v16040617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Reverse zoonotic transmission events of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have been described since the start of the pandemic, and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) designated the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in animals a reportable disease. Eighteen domestic and zoo animals in Great Britain and Jersey were tested by APHA for SARS-CoV-2 during 2020-2023. One domestic cat (Felis catus), three domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris), and three Amur tigers (Panthera tigris altaica) from a zoo were confirmed positive during 2020-2021 and reported to the WOAH. All seven positive animals were linked with known SARS-CoV-2 positive human contacts. Characterisation of the SARS-CoV-2 variants by genome sequencing indicated that the cat was infected with an early SARS-CoV-2 lineage. The three dogs and three tigers were infected with the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant of concern (B.1.617.2). The role of non-human species in the onward transmission and emergence of new variants of SARS-CoV-2 remain poorly defined. Continued surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in relevant domestic and captive animal species with high levels of human contact is important to monitor transmission at the human-animal interface and to assess their role as potential animal reservoirs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda H. Seekings
- Department of Virology, Animal and Plant Health Agency-Weybridge, Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK
- National Reference Laboratory for SARS-CoV-2 in Animals, Animal and Plant Health Agency-Weybridge, Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK
| | - Rebecca Shipley
- Department of Virology, Animal and Plant Health Agency-Weybridge, Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK
- National Reference Laboratory for SARS-CoV-2 in Animals, Animal and Plant Health Agency-Weybridge, Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK
| | - Alexander M. P. Byrne
- Department of Virology, Animal and Plant Health Agency-Weybridge, Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK
- Worldwide Influenza Centre, The Francis Crick Institute, Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Shweta Shukla
- Department of Virology, Animal and Plant Health Agency-Weybridge, Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK
- National Reference Laboratory for SARS-CoV-2 in Animals, Animal and Plant Health Agency-Weybridge, Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK
| | - Megan Golding
- Department of Virology, Animal and Plant Health Agency-Weybridge, Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK
| | - Joan Amaya-Cuesta
- Department of Virology, Animal and Plant Health Agency-Weybridge, Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK
| | - Hooman Goharriz
- Department of Virology, Animal and Plant Health Agency-Weybridge, Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK
- National Reference Laboratory for SARS-CoV-2 in Animals, Animal and Plant Health Agency-Weybridge, Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK
| | - Ana Gómez Vitores
- Department of Pathology and Animal Sciences, Animal and Plant Health Agency-Weybridge, Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK
| | - Fabian Z. X. Lean
- Department of Pathology and Animal Sciences, Animal and Plant Health Agency-Weybridge, Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK
| | - Joe James
- Department of Virology, Animal and Plant Health Agency-Weybridge, Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK
| | - Alejandro Núñez
- Department of Pathology and Animal Sciences, Animal and Plant Health Agency-Weybridge, Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK
| | - Alistair Breed
- Government of Jersey, Infrastructure Housing and Environment, Howard Davis Farm, La Route de la Trinité, Trinity, Jersey JE3 5JP, UK
| | - Andrew Frost
- One Health, Animal Health and Welfare Advice Team, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR, UK
| | - Jörg Balzer
- Vet Med Labor GmbH, Division of IDEXX Laboratories, Humboldtstraße 2, 70806 Kornwestheim, Germany
| | - Ian H. Brown
- Department of Virology, Animal and Plant Health Agency-Weybridge, Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK
| | - Sharon M. Brookes
- Department of Virology, Animal and Plant Health Agency-Weybridge, Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK
| | - Lorraine M. McElhinney
- Department of Virology, Animal and Plant Health Agency-Weybridge, Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK
- National Reference Laboratory for SARS-CoV-2 in Animals, Animal and Plant Health Agency-Weybridge, Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK
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Davies E, Knight A. Welfare Implications for Tigers in Travelling Circuses. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1053. [PMID: 38612292 PMCID: PMC11011084 DOI: 10.3390/ani14071053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
There are very few studies that have focused on species-specific welfare implications for tigers in a travelling circus. The absence of scientific evidence to inform nationwide legislation means that tigers are still commonly used in travelling circuses across the world. A systematic review of relevant published studies was conducted using the bibliographic databases Web of Science and Scopus, supplemented by a narrative search. In total, 42 relevant studies were identified that assessed the welfare of tigers in captivity, including circuses and zoos. Only eight papers assessed the welfare implications for tigers in circuses directly, evidencing the lack of research in this area. Given that circuses provide a sub-optimal environment compared to zoos, implications for tiger welfare were also inferred from zoo research, within the Five Domains framework. Collectively, these papers infer that the travelling nature of a circus often negatively impacts the welfare domains of nutrition, physical environment, health, and mental state. This is due to limitations in enclosure size, as well as in both environmental and behavioural enrichment. There is also often difficulty in sourcing appropriate food and specialised routine veterinary care. The literature is divided concerning behavioural interactions, specifically whether training can improve welfare by offering mental stimulation. However, circus performances are often associated with negative welfare due to noise disruption from spectators. The collective scientific evidence indicates that tigers are not well suited to circus living, due to the inability of a travelling circus to provide for their species-specific psychological, physiological, and behavioural needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Davies
- Representing Animals, 147 Station Road, London E4 6AG, UK
| | - Andrew Knight
- Representing Animals, 147 Station Road, London E4 6AG, UK
- School of Environment and Science, Nathan Campus, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Rd, Nathan, Brisbane, QLD 4111, Australia
- Faculty of Health and Wellbeing, University of Winchester, Sparkford Road, Winchester SO22 4NR, UK
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Dianis AE, Pinard CL, Pagliarani S, Susta L, Dutton CJ. Congenital glaucoma in a tiger (Panthera tigris). Vet Ophthalmol 2023. [PMID: 37232297 DOI: 10.1111/vop.13110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To describe a case of congenital glaucoma in atiger (Panthera tigris). ANIMAL STUDIED An 8-month-old intact female tiger wasreferred for suspected glaucoma of the right eye. The right eye was buphthalmicwith moderate episcleral injection, circumferential superficial cornealneovascularization, moderate corneal edema, and a fixed dilated pupil. Tapetalreflection was absent due to a mature cataract. Rebound tonometry under generalanesthesia revealed 70 mmHg and 21 mmHg in the right and left eye, respectively. PROCEDURE A trans-conjunctival enucleation was performedand the globe was submitted for histopathology. RESULTS Histopathology revealed a thin sclera, amorphousmaterial contouring an imperforate and hypoplastic iridocorneal angle, ahypoplastic lens with severe anterior-posterior compression, subcapsularepithelial hyperplasia, and Morganian globules, and segmental moderate retinalatrophy. Periodic acid-Schiff stain highlighted segmental dilations of theDescemet's membrane. Masson trichrome stain highlighted a pre-irido collagenmembrane. CONCLUSION The tiger's age and histopathologic findingsare consistent with congenital goniodysgenesis. This is the first known reportof congenital glaucoma in a tiger.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison E Dianis
- Health Sciences Centre (Dianis, Dutton), Department of Clinical Studies (Pinard), Department of Pathobiology (Pagliarani, Susta), Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Chantale L Pinard
- Health Sciences Centre (Dianis, Dutton), Department of Clinical Studies (Pinard), Department of Pathobiology (Pagliarani, Susta), Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sara Pagliarani
- Health Sciences Centre (Dianis, Dutton), Department of Clinical Studies (Pinard), Department of Pathobiology (Pagliarani, Susta), Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Leonardo Susta
- Health Sciences Centre (Dianis, Dutton), Department of Clinical Studies (Pinard), Department of Pathobiology (Pagliarani, Susta), Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Christopher J Dutton
- Health Sciences Centre (Dianis, Dutton), Department of Clinical Studies (Pinard), Department of Pathobiology (Pagliarani, Susta), Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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Arden R, Abdellaoui A, Li Q, Zheng Y, Wang D, Su Y. Majestic tigers: personality structure in the great Amur cat. R Soc Open Sci 2023; 10:220957. [PMID: 37035292 PMCID: PMC10073900 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.220957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
We explore individual differences in tiger personality. We first asked-is there evidence of personality dimensions (analogous to the Big Five in human personality research) in the Amur tiger? We then asked, are any discoverable personality dimensions associated with measured outcomes, including group status, health and mating frequency? 152 of our participating tigers live in the world's largest semi-wild tiger sanctuary in North Eastern China. Our second sample of 96 tigers also lives in a sanctuary. Having two samples allowed us to assess the replicability of the personality dimensions or factors reported in our first sample. We found that two factors (explaining 21% and 17% of the variance among items) which we call, for descriptive ease, Majesty and Steadiness, provide the best fit to the data. Tigers that score higher on Majesty are healthier, eat more live prey, have higher group status (among other tigers as assessed by human raters) and mate more often. We provide some ethological context to put flesh on the quantitative bones of our findings concerning these magnificent and charismatic animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosalind Arden
- Centre for the Philosophy of the Natural and Social Sciences, London School of Economics, London, UK
| | - Abdel Abdellaoui
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Qian Li
- School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences and Beijing Key Laboratory of Behaviour and Mental Health, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yao Zheng
- Department of Psychology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Dengfeng Wang
- School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences and Beijing Key Laboratory of Behaviour and Mental Health, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanjie Su
- School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences and Beijing Key Laboratory of Behaviour and Mental Health, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
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Bodgener J, Sadaula A, Thapa PJ, Shrestha BK, Gairhe KP, Subedi S, Rijal KR, Pandey P, Joshi JD, Kandel P, Lamichane BR, Pokheral CP, Subedi N, Kandel RC, Luitel H, Techakriengkrai N, Gilbert M. Canine Distemper Virus in Tigers (Panthera tigris) and Leopards (P. pardus) in Nepal. Pathogens 2023; 12. [PMID: 36839475 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12020203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
From wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) in the Serengeti to tigers (Panthera tigris altaica) in the Russian Far East, canine distemper virus (CDV) has been repeatedly identified as a threat to wild carnivores. Between 2020 and 2022, six Indian leopards (P. pardus fusca) presented to Nepali authorities with fatal neurological disease, consistent with CDV. Here, we report the findings of a serosurvey of wild felids from Nepal. A total of 48 serum samples were tested, comprising 28 Bengal tigers (P. t. tigris) and 20 Indian leopards. Neutralizing antibodies were identified in three tigers and six leopards, equating to seroprevalences of 11% (CI: 2.8-29.3%, n = 28) and 30% (CI: 12.8-54.3%, n = 20), respectively. More than one-third of seropositive animals were symptomatic, and three died within a week of being sampled. The predation of domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) has been posited as a potential route of infection. A comparison of existing diet studies revealed that while leopards in Nepal frequently predate on dogs, tigers do not, potentially supporting this hypothesis. However, further work, including molecular analyses, would be needed to confirm this.
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Orlandi M, Giglia G, Danesi P, Laricchiuta P, Abramo F. Eumycetoma Caused by Madurella pseudomycetomatis in a Captive Tiger (Panthera tigris). J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8. [PMID: 36547622 DOI: 10.3390/jof8121289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A captive-kept adult male tiger presented with a large cutaneous and subcutaneous mass on the thigh with a fistula. During sedation, multiple nodules were detected and samples for a histopathological exam were collected. Histologically, granulomatous panniculitis and dermatitis were seen around dense aggregates of pigmented fungal hyphae, and a diagnosis of phaeohyphomycosis was made; considering the clinical features, it was classified as a eumycotic mycetoma. This is a rarely reported subcutaneous fungal infection in humans and animals, caused by dematiaceous fungi. Clinically, it is characterized by tumefaction, fistulous sinus tracts, and the formation of macroscopically visible grains. In the literature, only a few infections in wild felids have been reported. In this case, Fontana-Masson staining better showed pigmentation and panfungal PCR and sequencing identified Madurella pseudomyectomatis (OP623507) as the causative agent. Systemic therapy with oral administration of itraconazole was planned, but the patient died during the first period of treatment. The animal was not submitted for post-mortem examination. Visceral dissemination of the agent cannot be excluded. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of eumycotic mycetoma by Madurella pseudomycetomatis in a captive tiger.
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Thapa K, Subba SA, Thapa GJ, Dewan K, Acharya BP, Bohara D, Subedi S, Karki MT, Gotame B, Paudel G, Bhatta SR, Jnawali SR, Malla S. Wildlife in climate refugia: Mammalian diversity, occupancy, and tiger distribution in the Western Himalayas, Nepal. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9600. [PMID: 36514544 PMCID: PMC9731921 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Anthropogenic land-use change continues to be predicated as a major driver of terrestrial biodiversity loss for the rest of this century. It has been determined that the effect of climate change on wildlife population will accelerate the rate and process of decline of global vertebrate populations. We investigated wildlife composition, occupancy, and activity pattern along the larger climate resilient forests that serve as microrefugia for a wide range of species under the escalating climate change. We used camera trap survey covering 250 km2 of climate microrefugia in Dadeldhura hills in far western region of Nepal. We used 62 trapping locations accumulating 1800 trap nights taking 98,916 photographs in 62 days-survey period during the summer season of 2020. We photographed 23 mammalian species with estimated species richness of 30 species (95% CI: 25-34) based on multi-species occupancy model. We estimated overall species occupancy ψ(SE(ψ)) to be 0.87 (0.09) in climatic microrefugia. While human activity predominated throughout the day, the majority of animals was found to exhibit nocturnal temporal patterns. Tiger and hyaena, two of the top predators, were newly discovered in the western Himalayan range of Nepal, with their discovery at the 34 highest elevations of 2511 meters and 2000m, respectively. In Nepal, high-altitude tiger range is characterized by tiger distribution above a 2000 m cutoff representing habitats in the physiographic zone of high mountains and above. Our findings establish a baseline and show that the climatic microrefugia that have been identified have high levels of species richness and occupancy, which characterize the Dadeldhura hill forest ranges as biologically varied and ecologically significant habitat. These areas identified as climatic microrefugia habitats should be the focus of conservation efforts, particularly efforts to reduce human disturbance and adapt to climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Suman Subedi
- Ministry of Forests and EnvironmentKathmanduNepal
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Gochenauer AE, Dreger DL, Davis BW, Cook S, Barber KE, Ekenstedt KJ. ABCG2 Polymorphisms and Predictive Fluoroquinolone Phototoxicity in Nondomestic Felids. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13. [PMID: 36553444 DOI: 10.3390/genes13122178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Fluoroquinolones are a widely used class of chemotherapeutics within veterinary medicine, prized for their broad-spectrum bactericidal activity. These drugs present a known risk of retinal phototoxicity in domestic cats (Felis catus); therefore, using lower doses and alternative antibiotic classes is encouraged in this species. This adverse drug effect of fluoroquinolones, and enrofloxacin specifically, has been determined to be species-specific in domestic felids. Four feline-specific missense variants in ABCG2 result in four amino acid changes (E159M, S279L, H283Q, and T644I) that are unique to the domestic cat compared with multiple other nonfeline mammalian species. These changes alter the ABCG2 protein involved with the cellular transmembrane transport of drugs, including fluoroquinolones, making the protein functionally defective in domestic cats. The predisposition to fluoroquinolone-mediated phototoxicity in nondomestic felids was explored in this study. At least eight nondomestic felids share the four ABCG2 missense variants with domestic cats, and eleven other felids shared at least three of the four domestic cat variants. Taken together, these results suggest the genetic potential for nondomestic felids to also experience fluoroquinolone-induced retinal phototoxicity; therefore, cautions similar to those for domestic cats should be followed for these drugs in the entire feline taxon.
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Baral K, Bhandari S, Adhikari B, Kunwar RM, Sharma HP, Aryal A, Ji W. Anthropogenic mortality of large mammals and trends of conflict over two decades in Nepal. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9381. [PMID: 36225840 PMCID: PMC9530695 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Wildlife conservation in human-dominated landscapes faces increased challenges due to rising conflicts between humans and wildlife. We investigated the human and wildlife loss rates due to human-wildlife conflict between 2000 and 2020 in Nepal. We concentrated on Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), greater one-horned rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis), tiger (Panthera tigirs), and leopard (Panthera pardus) mortality, as well as human mortality caused by these species. Over the 21-year period, we recorded 1139 cases of wildlife mortality and 887 cases of human mortality. Leopard mortality was the highest, followed by that of greater one-horned rhinos, tigers, and Asian elephants. Overall, the rate of wildlife mortality has been increasing over the years. Asian elephants were found to be more responsible for crop damage than greater one-horned rhinos, while leopards were found to be more responsible for livestock depredation than tigers. The generalized linear model indicated that the mortality of wildlife in the districts is best predicted by the additive effect of human mortality, the proportion of agricultural land, and the literacy rate of the districts. Retaliatory wildlife mortality was the most challenging issue for wildlife conservation, especially for the large mammals. Findings from this study are important for mitigation of human-wildlife conflicts, controlling retaliatory killing, and conserving these threatened large mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kedar Baral
- School of Natural and Computational ScienceMassey UniversityAucklandNew Zealand,Division Forest OfficePokharaNepal
| | | | - Binaya Adhikari
- Tribhuvan UniversityInstitute of ForestryKaskiNepal,Pokhara Zoological Park and Wildlife Rescue CenterKaskiNepal
| | | | - Hari P. Sharma
- Central Department of ZoologyTribhuvan UniversityKathmanduNepal
| | - Achyut Aryal
- School of Natural and Computational ScienceMassey UniversityAucklandNew Zealand,Auckland College of Tertiary StudiesCC Training AcademyAucklandNew Zealand
| | - Weihong Ji
- School of Natural and Computational ScienceMassey UniversityAucklandNew Zealand
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Hu J, Westbury MV, Yuan J, Wang C, Xiao B, Chen S, Song S, Wang L, Lin H, Lai X, Sheng G. An extinct and deeply divergent tiger lineage from northeastern China recognized through palaeogenomics. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20220617. [PMID: 35892215 PMCID: PMC9326283 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.0617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Tigers (Panthera tigris) are flagship big cats and attract extensive public attention due to their charismatic features and endangered status. Despite this, little is known about their prehistoric lineages and detailed evolutionary histories. Through palaeogenomic analyses, we identified a Pleistocene tiger from northeastern China, dated to beyond the limits of radiocarbon dating (greater than 43 500 years ago). We used a simulated dataset and different reads processing pipelines to test the validity of our results and confirmed that, in both mitochondrial and nuclear phylogenies, this ancient individual belongs to a previously unknown lineage that diverged prior to modern tiger diversification. Based on the mitochondrial genome, the divergence time of this ancient lineage was estimated to be approximately 268 ka (95% CI: 187-353 ka), doubling the known age of tigers' maternal ancestor to around 125 ka (95% CI: 88-168 ka). Furthermore, by combining our findings with putative mechanisms underlying the discordant mito-nuclear phylogenetic placement for the South China tigers, we proposed a more complex scenario of tiger evolution that would otherwise be missed using data from modern tigers only. Our study provides the first glimpses of the genetic antiquity of tigers and demonstrates the utility of aDNA-based investigation for further understanding tiger evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaming Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430078, People's Republic of China,School of Earth Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, People's Republic of China
| | - Michael V. Westbury
- Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5-7, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Junxia Yuan
- Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430078, People's Republic of China
| | - Chunxue Wang
- School of Archaeology, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, People's Republic of China
| | - Bo Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430078, People's Republic of China,School of Earth Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, People's Republic of China
| | - Shungang Chen
- Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430078, People's Republic of China
| | - Shiwen Song
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430078, People's Republic of China
| | - Linying Wang
- Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430078, People's Republic of China
| | - Haifeng Lin
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430078, People's Republic of China
| | - Xulong Lai
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430078, People's Republic of China,School of Earth Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, People's Republic of China
| | - Guilian Sheng
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430078, People's Republic of China,School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430078, People's Republic of China
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12
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Carlson AK, Ramsay EC, Sun X, Chaffins D, Sula MJM. Endometrial hyperplasia and pyometra in captive lions ( Panthera leo) and tigers ( Panthera tigris). Vet Pathol 2022; 59:1003-1011. [PMID: 35787088 DOI: 10.1177/03009858221109094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Endometrial hyperplasia (EH) is a pathologic condition of the uterus with increased endometrial gland to stroma ratio compared to normal cyclic uterine proliferation. In domestic animals, EH often involves cystic distension of proliferating endometrial glands and may be concurrent with pyometra. In large captive nondomestic felids, an association between EH and pyometra is common; however, detailed species differences between the histological uterine findings in lions (Panthera leo) and tigers (Panthera tigris) and clinical manifestations have yet to be described. Uterine sections from 14 lions and 24 tigers with EH and/or pyometra were scored for several histological parameters and clinical histories were recorded. The percentage of endometrium affected by hyperplasia, endometrial gland to stroma ratio, and adenomyosis were significantly (P = .0385, P = .0008, and P = .0463, respectively) more severe in lions compared to tigers as univariate analytes. Although tubular complexity was not statistically significant (P = .3254), when combined as a proposed EH grading scheme, these 4 features confirmed lions had significantly (P = .0068) more severe EH compared to tigers. Endometrial hyperplasia severity significantly correlated with inflammation/pyometra severity when controlling for species (P = .0203). A significant correlation exists between pyometra-associated clinical sign severity and the presence of pyometra in tigers, (P = .0026) but not in lions (P = .1144). There was no statistical difference in the severity of clinical signs associated with pyometra between these species (P = .1986). This proposed grading scheme may have clinical utility in providing a more consistent and objective evaluation of EH in large captive felids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariel K Carlson
- University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, Knoxville, TN
| | - Edward C Ramsay
- University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, Knoxville, TN
| | | | | | - Mee-Ja M Sula
- University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, Knoxville, TN
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13
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van der Weyden L, Tibbs C, Knott C, Dobromylskyj M. Metastatic urothelial carcinoma of the urinary bladder in a Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sondaica). Vet Med Sci 2022; 8:1288-1293. [PMID: 35239258 PMCID: PMC9122391 DOI: 10.1002/vms3.771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
A 15-year-old spayed female Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sondaica) was presented with a short history of haematuria and dysuria, non-responsive to antibiotics, and a gradual decline to inappetence over a period of 2-3 months. Ultrasound examination showed a thickened urinary bladder wall and the renal pelvis of right kidney was dilated and cystic. A presumptive diagnosis of renal failure was made, and the tigress was euthanised due to deteriorating quality of life and pronounced weight loss. Histopathology revealed extensive erosion of the urinary bladder wall and marked congestion of the submucosal vasculature, a potential cause of the haematuria observed clinically. Numerous foci of neoplastic cells were also observed throughout the lung parenchyma as well as within lymphatic vessels of the lung, the liver and the kidney. A diagnosis of a metastatic non-papillary high-grade urothelial carcinoma (UC) of the urinary bladder was made. Consistent with this diagnosis, immunohistochemistry revealed the neoplastic cells were negative for uroplakin III, as has been reported for a subset of high-grade, infiltrative urinary bladder UCs of canines and humans. This is the first report of a primary tumour of the urinary bladder in a tiger and the first report of UC in a tiger.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Clare Tibbs
- Tibbs and Simmons Farm Animal Veterinary SurgeonsRedhillBristolUK
| | - Chris Knott
- Finn PathologistsHistopathology DepartmentDissNorfolkUK
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14
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Rotstein DS, Peloquin S, Proia K, Hart E, Lee J, Vyhnal KK, Sasaki E, Balamayooran G, Asin J, Southard T, Rothfeldt L, Venkat H, Mundschenk P, McDermott D, Crossley B, Ferro P, Gomez G, Henderson EH, Narayan P, Paulsen DB, Rekant S, Schroeder ME, Tell RM, Torchetti MK, Uzal FA, Carpenter A, Ghai R. Investigation of SARS-CoV-2 infection and associated lesions in exotic and companion animals. Vet Pathol 2022; 59:707-711. [PMID: 35038930 PMCID: PMC9207983 DOI: 10.1177/03009858211067467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Documented natural infections with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in exotic and companion animals following human exposures are uncommon. Those documented in animals are typically mild and self-limiting, and infected animals have only infrequently died or been euthanized. Through a coordinated One Health initiative, necropsies were conducted on 5 animals from different premises that were exposed to humans with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. The combination of epidemiologic evidence of exposure and confirmatory real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction testing confirmed infection in 3 cats and a tiger. A dog was a suspect case based on epidemiologic evidence of exposure but tested negative for SARS-CoV-2. Four animals had respiratory clinical signs that developed 2 to 12 days after exposure. The dog had bronchointerstitial pneumonia and the tiger had bronchopneumonia; both had syncytial-like cells with no detection of SARS-CoV-2. Individual findings in the 3 cats included metastatic mammary carcinoma, congenital renal disease, and myocardial disease. Based on the necropsy findings and a standardized algorithm, SARS-CoV-2 infection was not considered the cause of death in any of the cases. Continued surveillance and necropsy examination of animals with fatal outcomes will further our understanding of natural SARS-CoV-2 infection in animals and the potential role of the virus in development of lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- David S Rotstein
- US Food and Drug Administration, Center for Veterinary Medicine, Office of Surveillance and Compliance, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Sarah Peloquin
- US Food and Drug Administration, Center for Veterinary Medicine, Office of Research, Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network, Laurel, MD, USA
| | - Kathleen Proia
- US Food and Drug Administration, Center for Veterinary Medicine, Office of Research, Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network, Laurel, MD, USA
| | - Ellen Hart
- US Food and Drug Administration, Center for Veterinary Medicine, Office of Surveillance and Compliance, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Jeongha Lee
- Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | | | - Emi Sasaki
- Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | | | - Javier Asin
- University of California-Davis, San Bernardino, CA, USA
| | | | - Laura Rothfeldt
- Arkansas Department of Health, Zoonotic Disease Section, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Heather Venkat
- Center for Preparedness and Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Arizona Department of Health Services, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | | | - Darby McDermott
- New Jersey Department of Health, Communicable Disease Service, Trenton, NJ, USA
| | | | - Pamela Ferro
- Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Gabriel Gomez
- Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, College Station, TX, USA
| | | | - Paul Narayan
- Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, College Station, TX, USA
| | | | | | - Megan E Schroeder
- Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Rachel M Tell
- USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratories, Ames, IA, USA
| | | | | | - Ann Carpenter
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Ria Ghai
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
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15
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Sijapati RK, Sharma HP, Sharma S, Subedi JR, Belant JL. Livestock Depredation by Leopards and Tigers Near Bardia National Park, Nepal. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11071896. [PMID: 34202176 PMCID: PMC8300345 DOI: 10.3390/ani11071896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Revised: 05/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary People in rural Nepal are experiencing increased livestock depredations from large carnivores; however, limited information is available on factors influencing livestock depredations. We quantified potential factors influencing livestock depredations by leopards (Panthera pardus) and tigers (P. tigris) in and near Bardia National Park (BNP), Nepal. Drivers of carnivore depredations of livestock were influenced by carnivore species, animal husbandry practices, season, and deterrent technique. Leopards killed more livestock than tigers, and the likelihood of livestock depredations was not affected by the number of livestock owned or preventative measures used to reduce depredations. Abstract Wildlife attacks on livestock near human settlements are increasing due to the proximity of humans to protected areas. These attacks are often severe due to depredations of livestock adversely affecting the livelihoods of people. The nature of carnivore depredations on livestock can differ based on the carnivore species, animal husbandry practices, season, and deterrent technique. We surveyed people living near Bardia National Park (BNP), Nepal, to compare hoofed livestock depredations by leopards (Panthera pardus) and tigers (P. tigris) near (<1 km) and far (>1 km) from this protected area. Overall, 1476 hoofed livestock were reportedly depredated by leopards, and 209 by tigers, during 2015–2019. The number of hoofed livestock killed by leopards each season was, at least, 86% higher than the number killed by tigers. More livestock were killed at BNP irrespective of carnivore deterrent techniques used. Due to severe effects created by livestock depredations near BNP, we recommend using more efficacious deterrent techniques when practical, in addition to improved livestock husbandry practices such as night penning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raj Kumar Sijapati
- Central Department of Zoology, Institute of Science and Technology, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu 44618, Nepal; (R.K.S.); (J.R.S.)
| | - Hari Prasad Sharma
- Central Department of Zoology, Institute of Science and Technology, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu 44618, Nepal; (R.K.S.); (J.R.S.)
- Nepal Zoological Society, Kathmandu 44618, Nepal;
- Correspondence:
| | | | - Janak Raj Subedi
- Central Department of Zoology, Institute of Science and Technology, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu 44618, Nepal; (R.K.S.); (J.R.S.)
| | - Jerrold L. Belant
- Global Wildlife Conservation Center, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, New York, NY 13210, USA;
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16
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Beauvois H, Dufaure de Citres C, Gache V, Abitbol M. Siberian cats help in solving part of the mystery surrounding golden cats. Anim Genet 2021; 52:482-491. [PMID: 33970502 DOI: 10.1111/age.13076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Golden cats have been appreciated since the beginning of the cat fancy. Golden is a modification of the tabby coat. In the Siberian breed, a specific golden phenotype, named sunshine, has been described. Sunshine tabby cats exhibit a warm tone of tabby, a pink nose lacking the black lining and a large light cream area around the nose. Pedigree analyses revealed an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern. A single candidate region was identified by genome-wide association study (GWAS) and homozygosity mapping. Within that region, we identified CORIN (Corin, serine peptidase) as a strong candidate gene, since CORIN variants have been identified in mice and tigers with a golden phenotype and CORIN has been described as a modifier of the ASIP (Agouti Signaling Protein) pathway. A homozygous CORIN:c.2383C>T missense variant was identified in sunshine tabby cats. Segregation of the variant was consistent with recessive inheritance. The variant was also found in three Kurilian bobtail cats and in two ToyBob cats from the 99 Lives dataset but genotyping of 106 cats from 13 breeds failed to identify carriers in cats from other breeds. The CORIN:c.2383C>T variant was predicted to change an arginine to a cysteine at position 795 in the protein: CORIN:p.(Arg795Cys). Finally, hair observation in Siberian cats was consistent with elongated ASIP signaling as golden hair showed a large yellow band instead of the short subapical one usually observed in agouti hair. These results support an association of the Siberian sunshine modification with the CORIN:c.2383C>T variant. The Siberian cat has helped us to decipher one of the golden phenotypes observed in cats and we propose that the CORIN:c.2383C>T variant represents the wbSIB (Siberian recessive wideband) allele in the domestic cat.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Beauvois
- VetAgro Sup, Univ. Lyon, 1 avenue Bourgelat, 69280, Marcy-l'Etoile, France
| | | | - V Gache
- Institut NeuroMyoGène, CNRS UMR5310, INSERM U1217, Faculté de Médecine, Université Claude Bernard Lyon I, 8 avenue Rockefeller, 69008, Rockefeller, Lyon, France
| | - M Abitbol
- VetAgro Sup, Univ. Lyon, 1 avenue Bourgelat, 69280, Marcy-l'Etoile, France.,Institut NeuroMyoGène, CNRS UMR5310, INSERM U1217, Faculté de Médecine, Université Claude Bernard Lyon I, 8 avenue Rockefeller, 69008, Rockefeller, Lyon, France
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17
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Batista Linhares M, Whiteley HE, Samuelson JP, Hsiao SH, Stern AW, Sprandel IT, Roady PJ, Coleman DA, Rizzo R, Froderman SF, Terio KA. Sylvatic Canine Morbillivirus in Captive Panthera Highlights Viral Promiscuity and the Need for Better Prevention Strategies. Pathogens 2021; 10:544. [PMID: 33946447 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10050544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) is a multi-host morbillivirus that infects virtually all Carnivora and a few non-human primates. Here we describe a CDV outbreak in an exotic felid rescue center that led to the death of eight felids in the genus Panthera. Similar to domestic dogs and in contrast to previously described CDV cases in Panthera, severe pneumonia was the primary lesion and no viral antigens or CDV-like lesions were detected in the central nervous system. Four tigers succumbed to opportunistic infections. Viral hemagglutinin (H)-gene sequence was up to 99% similar to strains circulating contemporaneously in regional wildlife. CDV lesions in raccoons and skunk were primarily encephalitis. A few affected felids had at least one previous vaccination for CDV, while most felids at the center were vaccinated during the outbreak. Panthera sharing a fence or enclosure with infected conspecifics had significantly higher chances of getting sick or dying, suggesting tiger-tiger spread was more likely than recurrent spillover. Prior vaccination was incomplete and likely not protective. This outbreak highlights the need for further understanding of CDV epidemiology for species conservation and public health.
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18
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Di Cesare F, Cagnardi P, Villa R, Rabbogliatti V, Lucatello L, Capolongo F, Gioeni D, Capasso M, Magnone W, Ravasio G. Dexmedetomidine and ketamine simultaneous administration in tigers ( Panthera tigris): pharmacokinetics and clinical effects. Vet Rec Open 2020; 7:e000412. [PMID: 33178436 PMCID: PMC7640590 DOI: 10.1136/vetreco-2020-000412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Revised: 07/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The study determines the pharmacokinetic profiles of dexmedetomidine (DEX), ketamine (KET) and its active metabolite, norketamine (NORKET), after simultaneous administration. Moreover, the study evaluates the sedative effects of this protocol, its influence on the main physiological variables and the occurrence of adverse effects. Methods Eighteen captive tigers were initially administered with a mixture of DEX (10 µg/kg) and KET (2 mg/kg) by remote intramuscular injection. In case of individual and specific needs, the protocol was modified and tigers could receive general anaesthesia, propofol or additional doses of DEX and KET. Results Based on the immobilisation protocol, nine animals were assigned to the standard protocol group and the other nine to the non-standard protocol group. Higher area under the first moment curve (AUMC0-last) and longer mean residence time (MRT0-last) (P<0.05) were observed in the non-standard protocol group for DEX, KET and NORKET, and higher area under the concentration-time curve from administration to the last measurable concentration (AUC0-last) only for KET. The KET metabolisation rate was similar (P=0.296) between groups. No differences between groups were detected in terms of stages of sedation and recoveries. All physiological variables remained within normality ranges during the whole observation period. During the hospitalisation period, no severe adverse reactions and signs of resedation were observed. Conclusion The simultaneous administration of 10 µg/kg of DEX and 2 mg/kg of KET can be considered an effective protocol for chemical immobilisation of captive tigers, along with dosage adjusments or when other drugs are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Di Cesare
- Scienze Veterinarie per la Salute, la Produzione Animale e la Sicurezza Alimentare, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Lombardia, Italy
| | - Petra Cagnardi
- Medicina veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Lombardia, Italy
| | - Roberto Villa
- Scienze veterinarie per la salute, la produzione animale e la sicurezza alimentare, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Lombardia, Italy
| | - Vanessa Rabbogliatti
- Medicina veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Lombardia, Italy
| | - Lorena Lucatello
- Biomedicina Comparata ed Alimentazione, Università degli Studi di Padova, Legnaro (PD), Veneto, Italy
| | - Francesca Capolongo
- Biomedicina Comparata ed Alimentazione, Università degli Studi di Padova, Legnaro (PD), Veneto, Italy
| | - Daniela Gioeni
- Medicina veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Lombardia, Italy
| | - Michele Capasso
- Medicina Veterinaria e Produzioni Animali, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Napoli, Campania, Italy
| | | | - Giuliano Ravasio
- Medicina veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Lombardia, Italy
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19
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McAloose D, Laverack M, Wang L, Killian ML, Caserta LC, Yuan F, Mitchell PK, Queen K, Mauldin MR, Cronk BD, Bartlett SL, Sykes JM, Zec S, Stokol T, Ingerman K, Delaney MA, Fredrickson R, Ivančić M, Jenkins-Moore M, Mozingo K, Franzen K, Bergeson NH, Goodman L, Wang H, Fang Y, Olmstead C, McCann C, Thomas P, Goodrich E, Elvinger F, Smith DC, Tong S, Slavinski S, Calle PP, Terio K, Torchetti MK, Diel DG. From People to Panthera: Natural SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Tigers and Lions at the Bronx Zoo. mBio 2020; 11:mBio.02220-20. [PMID: 33051368 DOI: 10.1101/2020.07.22.213959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite numerous barriers to transmission, zoonoses are the major cause of emerging infectious diseases in humans. Among these, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), and ebolaviruses have killed thousands; the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has killed millions. Zoonoses and human-to-animal cross-species transmission are driven by human actions and have important management, conservation, and public health implications. The current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, which presumably originated from an animal reservoir, has killed more than half a million people around the world and cases continue to rise. In March 2020, New York City was a global epicenter for SARS-CoV-2 infections. During this time, four tigers and three lions at the Bronx Zoo, NY, developed mild, abnormal respiratory signs. We detected SARS-CoV-2 RNA in respiratory secretions and/or feces from all seven animals, live virus in three, and colocalized viral RNA with cellular damage in one. We produced nine whole SARS-CoV-2 genomes from the animals and keepers and identified different SARS-CoV-2 genotypes in the tigers and lions. Epidemiologic and genomic data indicated human-to-tiger transmission. These were the first confirmed cases of natural SARS-CoV-2 animal infections in the United States and the first in nondomestic species in the world. We highlight disease transmission at a nontraditional interface and provide information that contributes to understanding SARS-CoV-2 transmission across species.IMPORTANCE The human-animal-environment interface of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an important aspect of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic that requires robust One Health-based investigations. Despite this, few reports describe natural infections in animals or directly link them to human infections using genomic data. In the present study, we describe the first cases of natural SARS-CoV-2 infection in tigers and lions in the United States and provide epidemiological and genetic evidence for human-to-animal transmission of the virus. Our data show that tigers and lions were infected with different genotypes of SARS-CoV-2, indicating two independent transmission events to the animals. Importantly, infected animals shed infectious virus in respiratory secretions and feces. A better understanding of the susceptibility of animal species to SARS-CoV-2 may help to elucidate transmission mechanisms and identify potential reservoirs and sources of infection that are important in both animal and human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise McAloose
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx Zoo, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Melissa Laverack
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Animal Health Diagnostic Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Leyi Wang
- Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Mary Lea Killian
- National Veterinary Services Laboratories, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Leonardo C Caserta
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Animal Health Diagnostic Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Fangfeng Yuan
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Patrick K Mitchell
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Animal Health Diagnostic Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Krista Queen
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | | | - Brittany D Cronk
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Animal Health Diagnostic Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | | | - John M Sykes
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx Zoo, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Stephanie Zec
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx Zoo, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Tracy Stokol
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Animal Health Diagnostic Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Karen Ingerman
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx Zoo, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Martha A Delaney
- Zoological Pathology Program, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Brookfield, Illinois, USA
| | - Richard Fredrickson
- Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | | | - Melinda Jenkins-Moore
- National Veterinary Services Laboratories, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Katie Mozingo
- National Veterinary Services Laboratories, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Kerrie Franzen
- National Veterinary Services Laboratories, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Nichole Hines Bergeson
- National Veterinary Services Laboratories, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Laura Goodman
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Animal Health Diagnostic Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Haibin Wang
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Ying Fang
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Colleen Olmstead
- Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Colleen McCann
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx Zoo, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Patrick Thomas
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx Zoo, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Erin Goodrich
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Animal Health Diagnostic Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - François Elvinger
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Animal Health Diagnostic Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - David C Smith
- New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Suxiang Tong
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Sally Slavinski
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Queens, New York, USA
| | - Paul P Calle
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx Zoo, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Karen Terio
- Zoological Pathology Program, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Brookfield, Illinois, USA
| | - Mia Kim Torchetti
- National Veterinary Services Laboratories, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Diego G Diel
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Animal Health Diagnostic Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
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20
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McAloose D, Laverack M, Wang L, Killian ML, Caserta LC, Yuan F, Mitchell PK, Queen K, Mauldin MR, Cronk BD, Bartlett SL, Sykes JM, Zec S, Stokol T, Ingerman K, Delaney MA, Fredrickson R, Ivančić M, Jenkins-Moore M, Mozingo K, Franzen K, Bergeson NH, Goodman L, Wang H, Fang Y, Olmstead C, McCann C, Thomas P, Goodrich E, Elvinger F, Smith DC, Tong S, Slavinski S, Calle PP, Terio K, Torchetti MK, Diel DG. From People to Panthera: Natural SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Tigers and Lions at the Bronx Zoo. mBio 2020; 11:mBio.02220-20. [PMID: 33051368 PMCID: PMC7554670 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02220-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 240] [Impact Index Per Article: 60.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite numerous barriers to transmission, zoonoses are the major cause of emerging infectious diseases in humans. Among these, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), and ebolaviruses have killed thousands; the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has killed millions. Zoonoses and human-to-animal cross-species transmission are driven by human actions and have important management, conservation, and public health implications. The current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, which presumably originated from an animal reservoir, has killed more than half a million people around the world and cases continue to rise. In March 2020, New York City was a global epicenter for SARS-CoV-2 infections. During this time, four tigers and three lions at the Bronx Zoo, NY, developed mild, abnormal respiratory signs. We detected SARS-CoV-2 RNA in respiratory secretions and/or feces from all seven animals, live virus in three, and colocalized viral RNA with cellular damage in one. We produced nine whole SARS-CoV-2 genomes from the animals and keepers and identified different SARS-CoV-2 genotypes in the tigers and lions. Epidemiologic and genomic data indicated human-to-tiger transmission. These were the first confirmed cases of natural SARS-CoV-2 animal infections in the United States and the first in nondomestic species in the world. We highlight disease transmission at a nontraditional interface and provide information that contributes to understanding SARS-CoV-2 transmission across species.IMPORTANCE The human-animal-environment interface of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an important aspect of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic that requires robust One Health-based investigations. Despite this, few reports describe natural infections in animals or directly link them to human infections using genomic data. In the present study, we describe the first cases of natural SARS-CoV-2 infection in tigers and lions in the United States and provide epidemiological and genetic evidence for human-to-animal transmission of the virus. Our data show that tigers and lions were infected with different genotypes of SARS-CoV-2, indicating two independent transmission events to the animals. Importantly, infected animals shed infectious virus in respiratory secretions and feces. A better understanding of the susceptibility of animal species to SARS-CoV-2 may help to elucidate transmission mechanisms and identify potential reservoirs and sources of infection that are important in both animal and human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise McAloose
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx Zoo, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Melissa Laverack
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Animal Health Diagnostic Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Leyi Wang
- Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Mary Lea Killian
- National Veterinary Services Laboratories, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Leonardo C Caserta
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Animal Health Diagnostic Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Fangfeng Yuan
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Patrick K Mitchell
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Animal Health Diagnostic Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Krista Queen
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | | | - Brittany D Cronk
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Animal Health Diagnostic Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | | | - John M Sykes
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx Zoo, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Stephanie Zec
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx Zoo, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Tracy Stokol
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Animal Health Diagnostic Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Karen Ingerman
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx Zoo, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Martha A Delaney
- Zoological Pathology Program, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Brookfield, Illinois, USA
| | - Richard Fredrickson
- Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | | | - Melinda Jenkins-Moore
- National Veterinary Services Laboratories, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Katie Mozingo
- National Veterinary Services Laboratories, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Kerrie Franzen
- National Veterinary Services Laboratories, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Nichole Hines Bergeson
- National Veterinary Services Laboratories, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Laura Goodman
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Animal Health Diagnostic Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Haibin Wang
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Ying Fang
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Colleen Olmstead
- Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Colleen McCann
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx Zoo, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Patrick Thomas
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx Zoo, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Erin Goodrich
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Animal Health Diagnostic Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - François Elvinger
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Animal Health Diagnostic Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - David C Smith
- New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Suxiang Tong
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Sally Slavinski
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Queens, New York, USA
| | - Paul P Calle
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx Zoo, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Karen Terio
- Zoological Pathology Program, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Brookfield, Illinois, USA
| | - Mia Kim Torchetti
- National Veterinary Services Laboratories, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Diego G Diel
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Animal Health Diagnostic Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
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21
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Khaewphakdee S, Simcharoen A, Duangchantrasiri S, Chimchome V, Simcharoen S, Smith JLD. Weights of gaur ( Bos gaurus) and banteng ( Bos javanicus) killed by tigers in Thailand. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:5152-5159. [PMID: 32551089 PMCID: PMC7297748 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2019] [Revised: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The primary prey of tigers across much of South-East Asia has been depleted, reducing the ability of already limited habitat to support tigers. To better understand the extent to which two of the largest prey species, gaur (Bos gaurus) and banteng (Bos javanicus), contribute to the tiger's diet, we estimated the average size of these species killed by tigers. This information is needed to more accurately calculate biomass of these species in the tiger's diet and to devise strategies to increase tiger carrying capacity where habitat is fragmented and limited in west-central Thailand. We used temporally clumped locations of 24 satellite radio-collared tigers to identify their kill sites and obtained mandibles from 82 gaur and 79 banteng. Kills were aged by teeth eruption sequence, sectioning the M1 molar and counting cementum annuli. Of all gaur killed, 45.2% were adults; of all banteng killed, 55.7% were adults. The average weight of banteng killed was 423.9 kg, which was similar to the 397.9 kg average weight for gaur. The mean weight of both prey species is 3.5-4.5 times greater than the predicted 1:1 preferred prey to predator ratio. In the absence of medium-sized prey, killing these larger animals may be especially critical for female tigers provisioning nearly independent young when male offspring are already larger than the mother. This is the first study to present data on the average weights of gaur and banteng killed in South-East Asia, and these results suggest that these are key prey species to target in tiger prey recovery efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Supawat Khaewphakdee
- Department of Forest BiologyFaculty of ForestryKasetsart UniversityBangkokThailand
| | - Achara Simcharoen
- Department of National ParksWildlife and Plant ConservationNakhonsawanThailand
| | | | - Vijak Chimchome
- Department of Forest BiologyFaculty of ForestryKasetsart UniversityBangkokThailand
| | - Saksit Simcharoen
- Department of National ParksWildlife and Plant ConservationNakhonsawanThailand
| | - James L. D. Smith
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation BiologyUniversity of MinnesotaMinneapolisMNUSA
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22
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Jiang H, Chen W, Su L, Huang M, Lin L, Su Q, Li G, Ahmad HI, Li L, Zhang X, Li H, Chen J. Impact of host intraspecies genetic variation, diet, and age on bacterial and fungal intestinal microbiota in tigers. Microbiologyopen 2020; 9:e1050. [PMID: 32395912 PMCID: PMC7349146 DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.1050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2019] [Revised: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The bacterial microbiota in the gut varies among species, as well as with habitat, diet, age, and other factors. Intestinal microbiota homeostasis allows a host to adjust metabolic and immune performances in response to environmental changes. Therefore, potential implications of the gut microbiota in sustaining the health of the host have gained increasing attention in the field of endangered animal conservation. However, the effect of host intraspecies genetic variation on the gut microbiota is unknown. Moreover, little is known about the complexity of the gut mycobiota. Tigers are listed as endangered species, raising worldwide concern. Potential influences of subspecies, diet, and age on the gut microbiota in tigers were investigated in this study to provide a better understanding of the response of the tiger gut microbiota to external changes. The results revealed that the impacts of the factors listed above on gut bacterial and fungal communities are versatile. Host intraspecies genetic variation significantly impacted only fungal alpha diversity of the gut microbiota. Differences in diet, on the other hand, had a significant impact on alpha diversity of the gut microbiota, but exerted different effects on beta diversity of gut bacterial and fungal communities. Host age had no significant impact on the diversity of the gut fungal communities, but significantly impacted beta diversity of gut bacterial communities. This comprehensive study of tiger gut microbiota is an essential reference for tiger conservation when considering feeding and management strategies, and will contribute to a better understanding of the mycobiota in wildlife.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiying Jiang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Guangdong Institute of Applied Biological Resources, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Wu Chen
- Guangzhou Zoo, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Li Su
- Guangzhou Zoo, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Mingwei Huang
- Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Libo Lin
- Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Qiao Su
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Guanyu Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Guangdong Institute of Applied Biological Resources, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Hafiz Ishfaq Ahmad
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Guangdong Institute of Applied Biological Resources, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Linmiao Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Guangdong Institute of Applied Biological Resources, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiujuan Zhang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Guangdong Institute of Applied Biological Resources, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Huiming Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Guangdong Institute of Applied Biological Resources, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jinping Chen
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Guangdong Institute of Applied Biological Resources, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
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23
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Abstract
Of all the big cats, or perhaps of all the endangered wildlife, the tiger may be both the most charismatic and most well-recognized flagship species in the world. The rapidly changing field of molecular genetics, particularly advances in genome sequencing technologies, has provided new tools to reconstruct what characterizes a tiger. Here we review how applications of molecular genomic tools have been used to depict the tiger's ancestral roots, phylogenetic hierarchy, demographic history, morphological diversity, and genetic patterns of diversification on both temporal and geographical scales. Tiger conservation, stabilization, and management are important areas that benefit from use of these genome resources for developing survival strategies for this charismatic megafauna both in situ and ex situ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu-Jin Luo
- The State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China;
| | - Yue-Chen Liu
- The State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China;
| | - Xiao Xu
- The State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China;
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24
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McEntire M, Ramsay EC, Kania S, Prestia P, Anis E, Cushing AC, Wilkes RP. TIGER ( PANTHERA TIGRIS) AND DOMESTIC CAT ( FELIS CATUS) IMMUNE RESPONSES TO CANARYPOX-VECTORED CANINE DISTEMPER VACCINATION. J Zoo Wildl Med 2020; 50:798-802. [PMID: 31926509 DOI: 10.1638/2019-0049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Two methods for delivering a canarypox-vectored canine distemper vaccine to tigers (Panthera tigris) and domestic cats (Felis catus) were investigated. Eight tigers were divided randomly into two vaccination groups: subcutaneous injection or topical tonsillar application. Each tiger received 2 ml of canine distemper virus (CDV) vaccine (Merial Ferret Distemper Vaccine). Blood was collected from tigers on days 0, 21, 35 or 37, and 112 post-initial vaccination (PIV). Domestic cats were divided randomly into four treatment groups: saline injection (negative controls), low- and high-dose oral, and subcutaneous vaccinates. Blood was collected from domestic cats on days 0, 7, 21, and 28 and 165 or 208 PIV. Sera were tested for CDV antibodies by virus neutralization. All individuals were seronegative at the beginning of the study. One tiger vaccinated subcutaneously developed a titer of 32 by day 35, which reduced to 16 by day 112. Another tiger vaccinated by tonsillar application developed a titer of 8 on day 112. All other tigers remained seronegative. Cats that received saline injection or oral vaccination remained seronegative at each sampling time. Domestic cats vaccinated subcutaneously developed titers ranging from 4 to >128 by day 28, and those re-bled at day 166 had titers of 16 or 64. The disparity in response between domestic cats and tigers may be due to species differences or it may represent a dose-dependent effect. Subcutaneous vaccination with canarypox-vectored Purevax Ferret Distemper® is safe and elicits persistent antibody titers in domestic cats vaccinated parenterally.
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25
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Yang Y, Dong H, Su R, Jiang N, Li T, Su C, Yuan Z, Zhang L. Direct evidence of an extra-intestinal cycle of Toxoplasma gondii in tigers ( Panthera tigris) by isolation of viable strains. Emerg Microbes Infect 2020; 8:1550-1552. [PMID: 31661400 PMCID: PMC6830256 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2019.1682471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is one of the most common zoonotic diseases in the world. Felines excrete environmentally resistant Toxoplasma gondii oocysts. However, there is no direct evidence to prove tigers are the intermediate host of T. gondii. Here, we show that, IgG antibodies to T. gondii in 80% (8/10) of captive tigers. Two viable T. gondii strains (ToxoDB genotype #9) were isolated by bioassay in mice using striated muscles of two tigers (Tiger#3 and Tiger#8). Additionally, mice were confirmed as T. gondii-positive by bioassay of feces #89–110, but no viable T. gondii strain was isolated successfully. The fecal samples from tigers may contain T. gondii oocysts. This is the first report of T. gondii isolation from tigers. These results provide direct evidence that an extra-intestinal cycle of T. gondii may develop in tigers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yurong Yang
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, PR People's Republic of China
| | - Hui Dong
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, PR People's Republic of China
| | - Ruijing Su
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, PR People's Republic of China
| | - Nan Jiang
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, PR People's Republic of China
| | - Tongyi Li
- Zhengzhou Zoo, Zhengzhou, PR People's Republic of China
| | - Chunlei Su
- Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Ziguo Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, PR People's Republic of China
| | - Longxian Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, PR People's Republic of China
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26
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Cushing AC, Ramsay EC, Newman SJ, Hespel AM, Sula MM. HYPERGAMMAGLOBULINEMIA AND MYELOMA IN FIVE TIGERS ( PANTHERA TIGRIS): CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS. J Zoo Wildl Med 2019; 50:219-24. [PMID: 31120681 DOI: 10.1638/2018-0068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Five adult tigers (Panthera tigris) presented with a range of clinical signs, including paresis (2/5), lameness (2/5), ataxia (3/5), anorexia (5/5), and lethargy (5/5). Each tiger demonstrated elevated plasma globulin levels (7.8-14.8 g/dl; [reference interval 2-5.1 g/dl]) on routine biochemistry, confirmed as a monoclonal gammopathy using protein electrophoresis. Serum gammaglobulin concentration ranged from 5 to 7.5 g/dl, or 45.1-63.4% of total protein concentration. Azotemia was present in three tigers. Diagnostics and management varied with the presenting signs but included magnetic resonance imaging, radiography, chemotherapy, supportive care, and euthanasia. In each case, necropsy revealed a neoplastic plasma cell proliferation in the bone marrow and one or more extramedullary sites. Lytic lesions in the thoraco-lumbar spine were found in three animals, and one lesion was associated with spinal cord compression. Splenomegaly was present in 4/5 cases. Histopathology confirmed a plasma cell neoplasm in each case, and immunohistochemistry staining with multiple myeloma oncogene 1 (MUM1) was positive in each case. CD20 staining was performed in two cases and was positive in one. CD3 staining was performed in the same two cases, and was negative in each. Based on the clinical, gross, microscopic, and immunohistochemical findings, myeloma was diagnosed in all five tigers.
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27
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Tyagi A, Kumar V, Kittur S, Reddy M, Naidenko S, Ganswindt A, Umapathy G. Physiological stress responses of tigers due to anthropogenic disturbance especially tourism in two central Indian tiger reserves. Conserv Physiol 2019; 7:coz045. [PMID: 31321036 PMCID: PMC6626984 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coz045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2019] [Revised: 05/31/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Tigers continue to face unprecedented threats to their existence due to poaching, habitat loss, habitat fragmentation and anthropogenic disturbances. The present study examines the physiological stress response of tigers due to anthropogenic activities including wildlife tourism in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve and Kanha Tiger Reserve using faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM) measurement. We collected a total of 341 faecal samples from both reserves during tourism and non-tourism periods. Data on various anthropogenic disturbances including tourism activities like number of vehicles and visitors were also collected. We ascertained the species identity and sex of all the samples collected using genetic markers. fGCMs were extracted using a previously reported procedure, and fGCM concentrations were subsequently determined using an established enzyme immunoassay. There was no significant difference in overall mean fGCM concentrations between the two tiger reserves, but within each reserve, concentrations were significantly higher in tigers during the tourism period as compared to the non-tourism period. We also found that the number of tourist vehicles and disturbance level significantly correlated with fGCM concentrations. This study further supports the assumption that unbridled tourism associated with high anthropogenic disturbance can be related to perceived stress and consequently may have an impact on the reproductive fitness of tigers and long-term survival of isolated populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhinav Tyagi
- Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research—Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Vinod Kumar
- Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research—Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Sagar Kittur
- Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research—Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Mahender Reddy
- Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research—Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Sergey Naidenko
- A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Leninsky, pr. 33, Moscow, Russia
| | - Andre Ganswindt
- Mammal Research Institute, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, South Africa
| | - Govindhaswamy Umapathy
- Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research—Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
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28
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Duangchatrasiri S, Jornburom P, Jinamoy S, Pattanvibool A, Hines JE, Arnold TW, Fieberg J, Smith JLD. Impact of prey occupancy and other ecological and anthropogenic factors on tiger distribution in Thailand's western forest complex. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:2449-2458. [PMID: 30891192 PMCID: PMC6405490 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2018] [Revised: 10/20/2018] [Accepted: 11/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite conservation efforts, large mammals such as tigers (Panthera tigris) and their main prey, gaur (Bos gaurus), banteng (Bos javanicus), and sambar (Rusa unicolor), are highly threatened and declining across their entire range. The only large viable source population of tigers in mainland Southeast Asia occurs in Thailand's Western Forest Complex (WEFCOM), an approximately 19,000 km2 landscape of 17 contiguous protected areas.We used an occupancy modeling framework, which accounts for imperfect detection, to identify the factors that affect tiger distribution at the approximate scale of a female tiger's home range, 64 km2, and site use at a scale of 1-km2. At the larger scale, we estimated the proportion of sites at WEFCOM that were occupied by tigers; at the finer scale, we identified the key variables that influence site-use and developed a predictive distribution map. At both scales, we examined key anthropogenic and ecological factors that help explain tiger distribution and habitat use, including probabilities of gaur, banteng, and sambar occurrence from a companion study.Occupancy estimated at the 64-km2 scale was primarily influenced by the combined presence of all three large prey species, and 37% or 5,858 km2 of the landscape was predicted to be occupied by tigers. In contrast, site use estimated at the scale of 1 km2 was most strongly influenced by the presence of sambar.By modeling occupancy while accounting for imperfect probability of detection, we established reliable benchmark data on the distribution of tigers in WEFCOM. This study also identified factors that limit tiger distributions; which managers can then target to expand tiger distribution and guide recovery elsewhere in Southeast Asia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Somphot Duangchatrasiri
- Wildlife Research DivisionDepartment of National Parks, Plant, and Wildlife ConservationBangkokThailand
| | - Pornkamol Jornburom
- University of MinnesotaSaint PaulMinnesota
- Wildlife Conservation Society Thailand ProgramNonthaburiThailand
| | | | | | - James E. Hines
- Patuxent Wildlife Research CenterU.S. Geological SurveyLaurelMaryland
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29
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Rodriguez KT, Gompf RE, Smith CK, Price JM, Cushing AC. ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC PARAMETERS IN EIGHT ADULT TIGERS ( PANTHERA TIGRIS) DURING TWO PHASES OF AN ANESTHETIC PROTOCOL. J Zoo Wildl Med 2018; 49:875-80. [PMID: 30592938 DOI: 10.1638/2018-0017.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Eight adult tigers ( Panthera tigris) underwent a complete echocardiographic examination following sedation with medetomidine, midazolam, and induction of general anesthesia using ketamine and isoflurane (phase 1). Atipamezole was used to antagonize medetomidine (phase 2) and a second echocardiographic examination was performed. Physiologic tricuspid and pulmonic regurgitations were common findings in the sample population and one tiger was excluded from final analyses due to the finding of a ventricular septal defect. Measurements and mean arterial pressure were assessed for statistically significant differences between the two examination phases as well as gender and weight. There was a statistically significant difference between interventricular septum thickness at end systole, ejection fraction, and mean arterial pressure between anesthetic phases while fractional shortening and left ventricular internal dimension at end-systole approached, but did not reach, statistical significance between phases. Weight was found to be a statistically significant predictor of stroke volume and left ventricular internal dimension at end-diastole. The echocardiographic measurements obtained during this study can be used as guidelines for future examinations in adult tigers. The effects of medetomidine on these measurements and systolic function should be taken into account when performing echocardiograms and monitoring anesthetic events.
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Xiao W, Hebblewhite M, Robinson H, Feng L, Zhou B, Mou P, Wang T, Ge J. Relationships between humans and ungulate prey shape Amur tiger occurrence in a core protected area along the Sino-Russian border. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:11677-11693. [PMID: 30598766 PMCID: PMC6303753 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2018] [Revised: 08/02/2018] [Accepted: 09/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Large carnivore populations are globally threatened by human impacts. Better protection could benefit carnivores, co-occurring species, and the ecosystems they inhabit. The relationship between carnivores and humans, however, is not always consistent in areas of high human activities and is often mediated through the effects of humans on their ungulate prey. To test assumptions regarding how prey abundance and humans affect carnivore occurrence, density, and daily activity patterns, we assessed tiger-prey-human spatiotemporal patterns based on camera-trapping data in Hunchun Nature Reserve, a promising core area for tiger restoration in China. Our study area contained seasonally varying levels of human disturbance in summer and winter. We used N-mixture models to predict the relative abundance of ungulate prey considering human and environmental covariates. We estimated tiger spatial distribution using occupancy models and models of prey relative abundance from N-mixture models. Finally, we estimated temporal activity patterns of tigers and prey using kernel density estimates to test for temporal avoidance between tigers, prey, and humans. Our results show that human-related activities depressed the relative abundance of prey at different scales and in different ways, but across species, the relative abundance of prey directly increased tiger occupancy. Tiger occupancy was strongly positively associated with the relative abundance of sika deer in summer and winter. The crepuscular and nocturnal tigers also apparently synchronized their activity with that of wild boar and roe deer. However, tigers temporally avoided human activity without direct spatial avoidance. Our study supports the effects of humans on tigers through human impacts on prey populations. Conservation efforts may not only target human disturbance on predators, but also on prey to alleviate human-carnivore conflict.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenhong Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Engineering, College of Life SciencesBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
- Wildlife Biology Program, Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences, W.A. Franke College of Forestry and ConservationUniversity of MontanaMissoulaMontana
- Institute of ZoologyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Mark Hebblewhite
- Wildlife Biology Program, Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences, W.A. Franke College of Forestry and ConservationUniversity of MontanaMissoulaMontana
| | - Hugh Robinson
- Wildlife Biology Program, Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences, W.A. Franke College of Forestry and ConservationUniversity of MontanaMissoulaMontana
- PantheraNew YorkNew York
| | - Limin Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Engineering, College of Life SciencesBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Bo Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Engineering, College of Life SciencesBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Pu Mou
- State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Engineering, College of Life SciencesBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Tianming Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Engineering, College of Life SciencesBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Jianping Ge
- State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Engineering, College of Life SciencesBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
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Liu YC, Sun X, Driscoll C, Miquelle DG, Xu X, Martelli P, Uphyrkina O, Smith JLD, O'Brien SJ, Luo SJ. Genome-Wide Evolutionary Analysis of Natural History and Adaptation in the World's Tigers. Curr Biol 2018; 28:3840-3849.e6. [PMID: 30482605 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.09.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2018] [Revised: 07/01/2018] [Accepted: 09/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
No other species attracts more international resources, public attention, and protracted controversies over its intraspecific taxonomy than the tiger (Panthera tigris) [1, 2]. Today, fewer than 4,000 free-ranging tigers survive, covering only 7% of their historical range, and debates persist over whether they comprise six, five, or two subspecies [3-6]. The lack of consensus over the number of tiger subspecies has partially hindered the global effort to recover the species from the brink of extinction, as both captive breeding and landscape intervention of wild populations increasingly require an explicit delineation of the conservation management units [7]. The recent coalescence to a late Pleistocene bottleneck (circa 110 kya) [5, 8, 9] poses challenges for detecting tiger subspecific morphological traits, suggesting that elucidating intraspecific evolution in the tiger requires analyses at the genomic scale. Here, we present whole-genome sequencing analyses from 32 voucher specimens that resolve six statistically robust monophyletic clades corresponding to extant subspecies, including the recently recognized Malayan tiger (P. tigris jacksoni). The intersubspecies gene flow is very low, corroborating the recognized phylogeographic units. We identified multiple genomic regions that are candidates for identifying the adaptive divergence of subspecies. The body-size-related gene ADH7 appears to have been strongly selected in the Sumatran tiger, perhaps in association with adaptation to the tropical Sunda Islands. The identified genomic signatures provide a solid basis for recognizing appropriate conservation management units in the tiger and can benefit global conservation strategic planning for this charismatic megafauna icon.
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Sula MJM, Frank LA, Ramsay EC. Lymphocytic Mural Folliculitis Resembling Epitheliotropic Lymphoma in Tigers ( Panthera tigris). Vet Pathol 2018; 55:731-735. [PMID: 29661122 DOI: 10.1177/0300985818766213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
A striking form of lymphocytic mural folliculitis is described in 6 tigers ( Panthera tigris). Clinically, all tigers exhibited regionally extensive chronic, variably waxing and waning alopecia with minimal scaling and crusting most pronounced over the head, neck, and shoulders. More severely affected tigers exhibited marked hyperpigmentation and lichenification. Pruritus was not a feature. Tigers generally lacked signs of systemic illness and clinical pathology findings were unremarkable. Histologic examination of skin biopsies revealed infiltrative lymphocytic mural folliculitis extending the length of the hair follicle. Mild epidermal lymphocytic infiltrates were frequent. The surrounding dermis was histologically unremarkable in 4 of 6 tigers or associated with mild perifollicular and periadnexal mixed inflammation in 2 of 6 tigers. The cause of the mural folliculitis was not identified, and tigers responded poorly to immunomodulatory therapy. Lymphocytic mural folliculitis might be a nonspecific hypersensitivity reaction pattern in tigers, and care should be taken to differentiate this reaction pattern from epitheliotropic T-cell lymphoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mee-Ja M Sula
- 1 Department of Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Linda A Frank
- 2 Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Edward C Ramsay
- 2 Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
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Thengchaisri N, Sinthusingha C, Arthitwong S, Sattasathuchana P. Comparative serological investigation between cat and tiger blood for transfusion. J Vet Med Sci 2017; 79:1081-1085. [PMID: 28450662 PMCID: PMC5487787 DOI: 10.1292/jvms.16-0630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Evidence suggests that non-domesticated felids inherited the same AB-erythrocyte antigens
as domestic cats. To study the possible compatibility of tiger blood with that of other
endangered felidae, blood samples from captive tigers and domestic cats were subjected to
an in vitro study. The objectives of this study were to (1) identify
whether the captive tigers had blood type AB and (2) determine the compatibility between
the blood of captive tigers and that of domestic cats with a similar blood type. The
anti-coagulated blood with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid of 30 tigers was examined to
determine blood type, and a crossmatching test was performed between tiger and cat blood.
All 30 tigers had blood type A. Tube agglutination tests using tiger plasma with cat
erythrocytes resulted in 100% agglutination (n=30) with type B cat erythrocytes and 76.7%
agglutination (n=23) with type A cat erythrocytes. The 80% of major and 60% of minor
compatibilities between blood from 10 tigers and 10 domestic cats with blood type A were
found to pass compatibility tests. Interestingly, 3/10 of the tigers’ red blood cell
samples were fully compatible with all cat plasmas, and 1/10 of the tiger plasma samples
were fully compatible with the type A red cells of domestic cats. Although the result of
present findings revealed type-A blood group in the surveyed tigers, the reaction of tiger
plasma with Type-A red cell from cats suggested a possibility of other blood type in
tigers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naris Thengchaisri
- Department of Companion Animal Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
| | - Chayakrit Sinthusingha
- Department of Companion Animal Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
| | - Surapong Arthitwong
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
| | - Panpicha Sattasathuchana
- Department of Companion Animal Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
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Sadler RA, Ramsay E, McAloose D, Rush R, Wilkes RP. EVALUATION OF TWO CANINE DISTEMPER VIRUS VACCINES IN CAPTIVE TIGERS (PANTHERA TIGRIS). J Zoo Wildl Med 2016; 47:558-63. [PMID: 27468029 DOI: 10.1638/2015-0223.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Canine distemper virus (CDV) has caused clinical disease and death in nondomestic felids in both captive settings and in the wild. Outbreaks resulting in high mortality rates in tigers (Panthera tigris) have prompted some zoos to vaccinate tigers for CDV. In this study, six tigers received a recombinant canarypox-vectored CDV vaccine (1 ml s.c.) and were revaccinated with 3 ml s.c. (mean) 39 days later. Blood collection for CDV antibody detection via serum neutralization was performed on (mean) days 0, 26, and 66 post-initial vaccination. No tigers had detectable antibodies at days 0 or 26, and only two tigers had low (16 and 32) antibody titers at day 66. Eight additional tigers received a live, attenuated CDV vaccine (1 ml s.c.) on day 0 and were revaccinated with 1 ml s.c. (mean) 171 days later. Blood collection for CDV antibody detection via serum neutralization was performed on (mean) days 0, 26, 171, and 196. Seven of eight tigers receiving the live, attenuated vaccine had no detectable titers prior to vaccination, but all animals had titers of >128 (range 128-1,024) at day 26. At 171 days, all tigers still had detectable titers (geometric mean 69.8, range 16-256), and at 196 days (2 wk post-revaccination) all but two showed an increase to >128 (range 32-512). To determine safety, an additional 41 tigers were vaccinated with 2 ml of a recombinant vaccine containing only CDV components, and an additional 38 tigers received 1 ml of the live, attenuated vaccine, administered either subcutaneously or intramuscularly; no serious adverse effects were noted. Although both vaccines appear safe, the live, attenuated vaccine produced a stronger and more consistent serologic response in tigers.
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Clark-Price SC, Lascola KM, Schaeffer DJ. Physiological and biochemical variables in captive tigers (Panthera tigris) immobilised with dexmedetomidine and ketamine or dexmedetomidine, midazolam and ketamine. Vet Rec 2015; 177:570. [PMID: 26626504 DOI: 10.1136/vr.103526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Physiological and biochemical variables in captive tigers (Panthera tigris) immobilised with dexmedetomidine and ketamine or dexmedetomidine, midazolam and ketamine were evaluated. Thirty tigers received either dexmedetomidine (0.025 mg/kg) and ketamine (3 mg/kg) (group DK) or dexmedetomidine (0.0125 mg/kg), midazolam (0.1 mg/kg) and ketamine (3 mg/kg) (group DMK). Heart rate, SPO2 and blood pressure were measured at five-minute intervals. Arterial pH, PO2, PCO2, glucose, K+ and arterial and venous lactate were measured at 15 and 45 minutes after immobilisation. A generalised linear mixed model was used for statistical comparison. There was no difference within or between groups at any time point for any measured variable. Measured PO2 was 73.2±17.5 mm Hg and SPO2 was 88.9±10.8 per cent. Systolic, mean and diastolic blood pressures were 170.5±48.4, 138.9±41.8 and 121.8±37.2 mm Hg, respectively. Venous lactate was higher than arterial lactate within groups at each time point. Seizure-like behaviour was observed in 25 per cent of tigers in group DK but not in group DMK. The addition of midazolam into a protocol for immobilisation of tigers did not result in a difference in any of the measured variables but may have prevented the development of seizure-like behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- S C Clark-Price
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, 1008 W Hazelwood Drive, MC-004, Urbana, Illinois, 61802, USA
| | - K M Lascola
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, 1008 W Hazelwood Drive, MC-004, Urbana, Illinois, 61802, USA
| | - D J Schaeffer
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, 1008 W Hazelwood Drive, MC-004, Urbana, Illinois, 61802, USA
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Christian Rutz
- School of Biology University of St Andrews St Andrews UK
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Segura J, Ferretti L, Ramos-Onsins S, Capilla L, Farré M, Reis F, Oliver-Bonet M, Fernández-Bellón H, Garcia F, Garcia-Caldés M, Robinson TJ, Ruiz-Herrera A. Evolution of recombination in eutherian mammals: insights into mechanisms that affect recombination rates and crossover interference. Proc Biol Sci 2013; 280:20131945. [PMID: 24068360 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2013.1945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Recombination allows faithful chromosomal segregation during meiosis and contributes to the production of new heritable allelic variants that are essential for the maintenance of genetic diversity. Therefore, an appreciation of how this variation is created and maintained is of critical importance to our understanding of biodiversity and evolutionary change. Here, we analysed the recombination features from species representing the major eutherian taxonomic groups Afrotheria, Rodentia, Primates and Carnivora to better understand the dynamics of mammalian recombination. Our results suggest a phylogenetic component in recombination rates (RRs), which appears to be directional, strongly punctuated and subject to selection. Species that diversified earlier in the evolutionary tree have lower RRs than those from more derived phylogenetic branches. Furthermore, chromosome-specific recombination maps in distantly related taxa show that crossover interference is especially weak in the species with highest RRs detected thus far, the tiger. This is the first example of a mammalian species exhibiting such low levels of crossover interference, highlighting the uniqueness of this species and its relevance for the study of the mechanisms controlling crossover formation, distribution and resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Segura
- Genome Integrity and Instability Group, Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina (IBB), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, , Barcelona, Spain, Center for Research in Agricultural Genomics CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, , Barcelona, Spain, Departament de Biologia Cel·lular, Fisiologia i Immunologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, , Barcelona, Spain, Servei de Cultius Cel·lulars (SCC, SCAC), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, , Barcelona, Spain, Parc Zoològic de Barcelona, Parc de la Ciutadella s/n, 08003 Barcelona, Spain, Evolutionary Genomics Group, Department of Botany and Zoology, University of Stellenbosch, , Matieland, South Africa
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Sharma S, Dutta T, Maldonado JE, Wood TC, Panwar HS, Seidensticker J. Spatial genetic analysis reveals high connectivity of tiger (Panthera tigris) populations in the Satpura-Maikal landscape of Central India. Ecol Evol 2012; 3:48-60. [PMID: 23403813 PMCID: PMC3568842 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2012] [Revised: 10/21/2012] [Accepted: 10/29/2012] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
We investigated the spatial genetic structure of the tiger meta-population in the Satpura–Maikal landscape of central India using population- and individual-based genetic clustering methods on multilocus genotypic data from 273 individuals. The Satpura–Maikal landscape is classified as a global-priority Tiger Conservation Landscape (TCL) due to its potential for providing sufficient habitat that will allow the long-term persistence of tigers. We found that the tiger meta-population in the Satpura–Maikal landscape has high genetic variation and very low genetic subdivision. Individual-based Bayesian clustering algorithms reveal two highly admixed genetic populations. We attribute this to forest connectivity and high gene flow in this landscape. However, deforestation, road widening, and mining may sever this connectivity, impede gene exchange, and further exacerbate the genetic division of tigers in central India.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandeep Sharma
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park Washington, District of Columbia, 20013-7012 ; Environmental Science & Policy Department, George Mason University Fairfax, Virginia, 22030-4444
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