Sublingual papillomas of cheetahs in southern Africa.

Nine distinct papillomaviruses (Lambdapapillomavirus) have been described in domestic and nondomestic cats, but not in cheetahs. These viruses have been associated with cutaneous papillomas or plaques, bowenoid carcinomas, feline cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (SCC), feline sarcoids, and oral (often sublingual) papillomas. Fourteen cheetahs from the AfriCat foundation (Namibia) and one from the Ann van Dyk Cheetah center (South Africa) presented with sublingual lesions reminiscent of sublingual papillomas.

Prevalence and Diversity of the Rat-bite Fever Agent, in Three Invasive, Commensal Species from South Africa.

Rat-bite fever is an over-looked, global zoonotic disease that has a mortality rate of up to 13%, if untreated. Historically, this rat-borne disease has been attributed to one of two causative agents, or . Given the confirmed presence of multiple invasive host species, high rat densities in urban, informal human settlements and increasing reports of rat bites in South Africa, we undertook a retrospective assessment of in rats sampled from 16 urban sites, in Gauteng, the smallest but most populous Province in South Africa.

Canine parvovirus detected from a serval (Leptailurus serval) in South Africa.

Canine parvovirus first emerged in domestic dogs (Canis familiaris), most likely as a variant of the feline panleucopaenia virus. Relatively recently, canine parvovirus-2a and canine parvovirus-2b infections have been identified in both symptomatic and asymptomatic domestic cats, while canine parvovirus infections have also been demonstrated in wild felids. This report documents the first known case of canine parvovirus-2b detected in unvaccinated serval (Leptailurus serval) from South Africa.

Bartonella diversity and zoonotic potential in indigenous Tete Veld rats (Aethomys ineptus) from South Africa.

Bartonellosis is a vector-borne disease that is often misdiagnosed due to a broad range of clinical symptoms, compounded by a lack of awareness regarding the prevalence, diversity and public health impacts of regional strains. Despite recent PCR-based confirmation of Bartonella in 9.7% of non-malarial, acute febrile patients in South Africa, data regarding reservoirs of infection are limited.

Feline panleukopaenia virus in captive non-domestic felids in South Africa.

An outbreak of feline panleukopaenia virus (FPLV) infection was diagnosed by pathology, electron microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in vaccinated captive-bred subadult cheetahs in South Africa. Subsequent to this disease outbreak, 12 cases of FPLV diagnosed on histology were confirmed by PCR in captive African black-footed cat, caracal, cheetah, lion, ocelot and serval. Phylogenetic analyses of the viral capsid protein gene on PCR-positive samples, vaccine and National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) reference strains identified a previously unknown strain of FPLV, present since at least 2006, that differs from both the inactivated and the modified live vaccine strains.

The complete mitochondrial genome of temminck's ground pangolin (Smutsia temminckii; Smuts, 1832) and phylogenetic position of the Pholidota (Weber, 1904).

Temmincki's ground pangolin is primarily a nocturnal mammal belonging to the order Pholidota. The body is covered in hard overlapping scales and these animals find refuge in burrows, feeding only on termites and ants. In this study, the whole mtDNA of Temmincki's ground pangolin was sequenced and the phylogenetic position of Pholidota determined within Eutheria, using whole mtDNA sequences from various representative species.

Interspecific hybridization between greater kudu and nyala.

Hybridization of wildlife species, even in the absence of introgression, is of concern due to wasted reproductive effort and a reduction in productivity. In this study we detail an accidental mating between a female nyala (Tragelaphus angasii) and a male greater kudu (T. strepsiceros).

Habitat-specific shaping of proliferation and neuronal differentiation in adult hippocampal neurogenesis of wild rodents.

Daily life of wild mammals is characterized by a multitude of attractive and aversive stimuli. The hippocampus processes complex polymodal information associated with such stimuli and mediates adequate behavioral responses. How newly generated hippocampal neurons in wild animals contribute to hippocampal function is still a subject of debate.

A mathematical epidemiological model of gram-negative Bartonella bacteria: does differential ectoparasite load fully explain the differences in infection prevalence of Rattus rattus and Rattus norvegicus?

We postulate that the large difference in infection prevalence, 24% versus 5%, in R. norvegicus and R. rattus, respectively, between these two co-occurring host species may be due to differences in ectoparasite and potential vector infestation rates.

Bartonellae of the Namaqua rock mouse, Micaelamys namaquensis (Rodentia: Muridae) from South Africa.

The aim of this study was to determine Bartonella prevalence and diversity in Namaqua rock mice, Micaelamys namaquensis, a species endemic to South Africa, which can attain pest status. A total of 100 heart samples collected monthly from March to December were screened for Bartonella genome presence using three primer sets targeting the citrate synthase (gltA) gene, the NADH dehydrogenase gamma subunit (nuoG) gene and the RNA polymerase β-subunit-encoding gene (rpoB). An overall prevalence of 44% was obtained, with no statistically significant differences or correlations between infection rates and rodent sex, month of capture or season of capture.

Genetic monitoring detects an overlooked cryptic species and reveals the diversity and distribution of three invasive Rattus congeners in South Africa.

Background: South Africa's long and extensive trade activity has ensured ample opportunities for exotic species introduction. Whereas the rich biodiversity of endemic southern African fauna has been the focus of many studies, invasive vertebrates are generally overlooked despite potential impacts on biodiversity, health and agriculture. Genetic monitoring of commensal rodents in South Africa which uncovered the presence of Rattus tanezumi, a South-East Asian endemic not previously known to occur in Africa, provided the impetus for expanded studies on all invasive Rattus species present.

Transferability of lipase titrimetric assays: deductions from an interlaboratory study.

Following the selection of the most appropriate method for emulsification and the optimization of the reaction medium, interlaboratory studies were conducted to check the effect of preparing substrates and measuring the catalytic concentration of lipase at different sites as well as the effect of transport on emulsion. The determinations of lipase activity in an abnormal chemistry control against emulsions prepared by two laboratories (and used by both laboratories) and, also, against five separate emulsions prepared by one laboratory (and used by five different laboratories) resulted in average enzyme activity values (2234 +/- 125 and 2263 +/- 204 U/l respectively) which are not statistically different. Standard preparations of lipase, control sera and reference materials can therefore be titrated according to the procedure followed by at least two laboratories for at least 3 days against two separate emulsions.

Interlaboratory study of the IFCC method for alanine aminotransferase performed with use of a partly purified reference material.

We present the results of a study on performance of a reference material for alanine aminotransferase (ALT, EC 2.6.1.

The effects of common matrices for assay standards on performance of 'ultra sensitive' immunometric assays for TSH. Report of a joint WHO/IFCC collaborative study.

This report describes the results of a collaborative study organized by a joint working group of IFCC and WHO and involving nine manufacturers of TSH immunometric assay kits. The study was designed to determine whether a calibrator with a common matrix gives better between-laboratory agreement for calibration of serum samples than the various kit calibrators, and to assess various materials for their suitability for use as common matrices. Kit calibrators or calibrators consisting of the IRP for TSH made up in two common matrices, (1) serum from patients with untreated thyrotoxicosis or (2) serum taken from subjects treated with suppressive doses of triiodothyronine, gave similar results for the between-laboratory variation of estimates of TSH concentration for a range of serum samples.

The effects of common matrices for assay standards on performance of 'ultra sensitive' immunometric assays for TSH: Report of a joint WHO/IFCC collaborative study.

This report describes the results of a collaborative study organized by a joint working group of the IFCC and WHO and involving nine manufacturers of TSH immunometric assay kits. The study was designed to determine whether a calibrator with a common matrix gives better between-laboratory agreement for calibration of serum samples than the various kit calibrators, and to assess various materials for their suitability for use as common matrices. Kit calibrators, or calibrators consisting of the IRP for TSH made up in two common matrices: (a) serum from patients with untreated thyrotoxicosis or (b) serum taken from subjects treated with suppressive doses of triiodothyronine, gave similar results for the between-laboratory variation of estimates of TSH concentration for a range of serum samples.

The effects of common matrices for assay standards on performance of "ultra sensitive" immunometric assays for TSH. Report of a joint WHO/IFCC collaborative study.

This report describes the results of a collaborative study organized by a joint working group of IFCC and WHO and involving nine manufacturers of TSH immunometric assay kits. The study was designed to determine whether a calibrator with a common matrix gives better between-laboratory agreement for calibration of serum samples than the various kit calibrators, and to assess various materials for their suitability for use as common matrices. Kit calibrators or calibrators consisting of the IRP for TSH made up in two common matrices, 1) serum from patients with untreated thyrotoxicosis or 2) serum taken from subjects treated with suppressive doses of triiodothyronine, gave similar results for the between-laboratory variation of estimates of TSH concentration for a range of serum samples.

The importance of a blind control in the establishment of assigned values in control sera. The establishment of assigned values in control sera, I.

We describe a study by which the establishment of assigned values of a control serum was simulated. The study covered two controls: The internal known control and a blind control. Seven constituents were analyzed in 10 or 11 laboratories, respectively, yielding a total of 72 sets of analytical values.