Differences in natural antibody titres comparing free-ranging guanacos (Lama guanicoe) and capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris)

Natural antibodies are an important component of innate humoral immunity but have not been investigated to any great extent in wild mammals. In the current study, serum natural antibody titres were measured by hemagglutination assay for two South American herbivores, the guanaco (Lama guanicoe) and the capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris). Results indicated that capybaras had antibody titres on average more than four times higher than guanacos (median titres 1:256 and 1:4, respectively), suggesting differences in investment in constitutive humoral immunity between the two species.     

Substrate use and postural behavior in free‐ranging snub‐nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus bieti) in Yunnan

Extant colobines represent a predominantly arboreal primate radiation, but there are outliers such as some species of snub‐nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus spp.) that utilize both arboreal and terrestrial substrates. We quantified the degree of terrestriality and the distribution of individuals across canopy levels, the extrinsic and intrinsic determinants and constraints of strata association as well as use of postures in relation to behavior and food sources in a wild population of Yunnan snub‐nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus bieti) in the Samage Forest, China. The subjects spent 80.5% of the observation time in the trees and 19.5% on the ground. Ground use occurred most frequently in the context of travelling (61%) and less often in the context of feeding and resting (30% combined). Adult males frequented the ground significantly more often than other age‐sex classes. Age‐sex differences were also apparent in substrate preferences, which likely reflect body weight constraints. Adult males were significantly more associated with solid substrates and less with terminal branches than adult females and juveniles. Juveniles were seen more often on unstable ground (i.e. on thin and oblique branches) and in the upper canopy. Substrate use also varied with behavior: feeding was much more common in the upper stratum, outer canopy, on highly inclined and thin branches, as compared to resting. Severe weather also influenced canopy use in that tree crowns were used less often during periods of snowfall. The most frequently exhibited resting and feeding postures was sitting. Standing and suspensory postures were most often used in the context of feeding on lichens.     

Hematology and serum clinical chemistry reference intervals for free‐ranging Scandinavian gray wolves (Canis lupus)

Background: Scandinavian free‐ranging wolves (Canis lupus) are endangered, such that laboratory data to assess their health status is increasingly important. Although wolves have been studied for decades, most biological information comes from captive animals. Objectives: The objective of the present study was to establish reference intervals for 30 clinical chemical and 8 hematologic analytes in Scandinavian free‐ranging wolves. Methods: All wolves were tracked and chemically immobilized from a helicopter before examination and blood sampling in the winter of 7 consecutive years (1998–2004). Seventy‐nine blood samples were collected from 57 gray wolves, including 24 juveniles (24 samples), 17 adult females (25 samples), and 16 adult males (30 samples). Whole blood and serum samples were stored at refrigeration temperature for 1–3 days before hematologic analyses and for 1–5 days before serum biochemical analyses. Reference intervals were calculated as 95% confidence intervals except for juveniles where the minimum and maximum values were used. Results: Significant differences were observed between adult and juvenile wolves for RBC parameters, alkaline phosphatase and amylase activities, and total protein, albumin, γ‐globulins, cholesterol, creatinine, calcium, chloride, magnesium, phosphate, and sodium concentrations. Conclusion: Compared with published reference values for captive wolves, reference intervals for free‐ranging wolves reflected exercise activity associated with capture (higher creatine kinase activity, higher glucose concentration), and differences in nutritional status (higher urea concentration).     

Serum chemistry reference values in free‐ranging North Atlantic male walruses (Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus) from the Svalbard archipelago

Background: Information regarding health and disease is limited for walruses, a keystone species in arctic marine ecosystems. Serum chemistry analysis is a useful clinical tool for the health assessment of walruses, but only a few captive Pacific walruses have been evaluated. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine serum chemistry reference values for free‐ranging male Atlantic walruses (Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus) on Svalbard and to assess potential differences in animals with low and high tissue levels of organic pollutants. Methods: Blood samples were collected from 17 wild, adult, male Atlantic walruses chemically immobilized with etorphine at eastern Svalbard (Norway). Serum was obtained for routine biochemical analysis as well as nonesterified free fatty acids (NEFA) and cortisol tests. Serum protein concentration was also measured by agarose gel electrophoresis. Results: Reference values (ranges) included alanine aminotransferase (12–51 U/L), aspartate aminotransferase (54–137 U/L), alkaline phosphatase (42–243 U/L), creatine kinase (32–506 U/L), lactate dehydrogenase (480–1322 U/L), amylase (0–23 U/L), lipase (68–298 U/L), total protein (68–91 g/L), albumin (25.3–34.8 g/L), creatinine (84–137 μmol/L), urea (8.2–19.9 mmol/L), bilirubin (0–4 μmol/L), cholesterol (4.4–7.3 mmol/L), NEFA (0.1–0.4 mmol/L), triglycerides (0.6–2.2 mmol/L), calcium (2.0–2.7 mmol/L), phosphorus (1.7–2.8 mmol/L), sodium (147–162 mmol/L), potassium (4.7–7.4 mmol/L), chloride (102–115 mmol/L), and cortisol (<28–214 nmol/L). Walruses exposed to high levels of organic pollutants (n=6) had significantly lower (P=.022) phosphorus concentration than those with low levels of pollutants (n=6). Conclusions: The clinical chemistry reference values determined in this study can serve as baseline data for future health‐related studies of walruses in a changing Arctic and may also be helpful for health evaluations of walruses in captivity. Impacts of the exposure of marine mammals to organic pollutants should be further investigated.     

Morphological changes of physeal cartilage and secondary ossification centres in the developing femur of the house mouse (Mus musculus): A micro‐CT based study

In mammals, long bones are formed by ossification of a cartilaginous mould during early stages of development, through the formation of structures called the primary ossification centre, the secondary ossification centres (SOCs) and the physeal cartilages (PCs). The PC is responsible for long bone growth. The morphology of the PC and the SOCs varies during different stages of femoral growth. In this respect, several details involving the process of murine femoral development are lacking. In the present study, a morphological characterization of femur development from the embryonic period to adulthood in mice was studied using micro‐computed tomography (micro‐CT). To achieve this aim, femora were collected at embryonic day (E) 14.5, E16.5 and E18.5 and at postnatal day (P)1, P7, P14, P35, P46 and P52. CT images were obtained using a micro‐CT scanner (X‐SkyScan 1172; Micro Photonics) and analysed using the micro‐CT 3D visualization software Mimics (Materialise NV, Leuven, Belgium) and NRecon (Micro Photonics). The results of the present study revealed that the femur and its PCs and SOCs undergo morphological changes during different stages of development, including changes in their shape as well as position and thickness. These changes may be due to the response of the femur to mechanical loads imposed by muscle surrounding the bone during these stages of development. The result of the present study is important to improve our knowledge related to ossification and growth patterns of mouse femur during development.     

Annual survival and site fidelity of free‐ranging white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus): comparative demography before (1983–1992) and after (1993–2005) spatial confinement

Survival and movement are important demographic variables influencing the dynamics of large herbivores with implications for management and evolution of life‐history strategies. Management practices such as spatial confinement and harvest regulation attempt to control survival and movement for the sustainability of harvested deer populations, but a paucity of long‐term data exists on these management practices. We examined annual survival and site fidelity of free‐ranging white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) over 10 years (1983–1992) to compare demographic parameters after spatial confinement (1993–2005). We used capture records (n = 174; 104 females, 70 males), marked deer recaptures (n = 42), and dead recoveries (n = 68) to estimate sex‐specific, age‐specific and time‐specific parameters. We found that annual female survival was 50% from 1983–1987 during a period of intense harvest, but increased to 93.7% after intense harvesting was eliminated. Prior to spatial confinement, annual survival of marked male deer averaged 36.7%–42.5%. After spatial confinement, annual survival increased on average for males (58%–99%) and females (77%–98%). Females showed high levels of site fidelity (>99%) prior to spatial confinement, whereas males showed much less site fidelity (≤4.5% for the 2 top‐ranking models). During spatial confinement, the semi‐impermeable fence effectively increased site fidelity of males (≥56%). These results stem from long‐term study (23 years) of a large herbivore experiencing changes to life‐history, resulting from changes in management that were applied to the population and aimed at altering population demographics, for sustainability of a harvestable population of deer.     

Ecological role of the giant root‐rat (Tachyoryctes macrocephalus) in the Afroalpine ecosystem

Rodents with prevailing subterranean activity usually play an important role in the ecosystems of which they are a part due to the combined effect of herbivory and soil perturbation. This is the case for the giant root‐rat Tachyoryctes macrocephalus endemic to the Afroalpine ecosystem of the Bale Mountains, Ethiopia. We studied the impact of root‐rats on various ecosystem features within a 3.5‐ha study locality dominated by Alchemilla pasture, which represents an optimal habitat for this species, in 2 periods of a year. The root‐rats altered plant species composition, reducing the dominant forb, Alchemilla abyssinica, while enhancing Salvia merjame and a few other species, and reduced vegetation cover, but not the fresh plant biomass. Where burrows were abandoned by root‐rats, other rodents took them over and A. abyssinica increased again. Root‐rat burrowing created small‐scale heterogeneity in soil compactness due to the backfilling of some unused burrow segments. Less compacted soil tended to be rich in nutrients, including carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus, which likely affected the plant growth on sites where the vegetation has been reduced as a result of root‐rat foraging and burrowing.     

Comparison of plasma vitamin A and E,copper and zinc levels in free‐ranging and captive greater flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus) and their relation to pododermatitis

Pododermatitis is a worldwide problem in captive flamingos. Studies in domestic poultry showed that nutrition is a possible influencing factor for pododermatitis. Vitamin A and E, copper and zinc levels were analysed in two different diets (diet 1 = in‐house mix and diet 2 = commercial diet) and in plasma of captive greater flamingos fed these diets and compared to those of free‐ranging greater flamingos. Results were analysed with respect to type and severity of foot lesions of the individuals from the different groups. Juvenile and subadult/adult captive flamingos on diet 1 showed various types and severities of foot lesions, whereas no foot lesions were found at the time of blood sampling in juvenile captive flamingos on diet 2. Juvenile captive flamingos on diet 1 had significantly lower plasma zinc levels than juvenile captive flamingos on diet 2 and juvenile free‐ranging flamingos; data were also lower than reference ranges for flamingos, poultry and cranes. There were no significant differences in plasma vitamin A, vitamin E, copper or zinc levels between animals with different types of foot lesions or with different severity scores. Shortly after the change to diet 2 (fed to juvenile captive flamingos that did not show any foot lesion), the flooring of the outdoor water pools was covered with fine granular sand. Because both factors (nutrition and flooring) were changed during the same evaluation period, it cannot be concluded which factor contributed in what extent to the reduction of foot lesions. While it is assumed that low plasma zinc levels identified in the group of juvenile captive flamingos on diet 1 were not directly responsible for foot lesions observed in these animals, they may have played a role in altering the skin integrity of the feet and predisposing them to pododermatitis.     

Arterial distribution to the pelvic cavity and pelvic limb in the pampas deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus,Linnaeus 1758)

This research is a study about the arterial vascularization of pelvic cavity and pelvic limb in pampas deer. For this study, 25 dead animals were used. The vascularization of the organs was investigated using a latex injection technique. Two animals were injected in the common carotid artery with contrast to cardiac angiography, and then, radiographs were taken. The aorta showed the two external iliac arteries, and after a short course, the aorta ended in two internal iliac arteries. The median sacral artery was originated from the dorsal surface cranially to the emergence of the internal iliac arteries. The last one gave off parietal (iliolumbar, cranial and caudal gluteal arteries) and visceral (umbilical and internal pudendal arteries) branches. The external iliac artery gave as first branch the deep circumflex iliac artery which was divided into a cranial and a caudal branch. After a short distance from the external iliac artery, the femoral and deep femoral arteries were originated. The deep femoral artery gave origin to the pudendoepigastric trunk and to the medial femoral circumflex artery. Based on the arterial distribution of the pelvic cavity and pelvic limb in the pampas deer, it is concluded that the internal iliac artery has a pattern of intermediate development. In reference to the distribution of the external iliac artery and its branches, the pattern of development is the cranial tibial type.