Prevalence of spp. infections and major histocompatibility complex class II diversity in Mongolian Bactrian camels ().

Introduction: The two-humped Bactrian camel () is a large, even-toed ungulate native to the steppes of Central Asia. Domestic Bactrian camels are economically important in Mongolia and other Central Asian countries. These animals are used for transport, milk and meat production, and camel racing which is a great culture of nomads.

Transboundary Monitoring of the Wolf Alpine Population over 21 Years and Seven Countries.

Wolves have large spatial requirements and their expansion in Europe is occurring over national boundaries, hence the need to develop monitoring programs at the population level. Wolves in the Alps are defined as a functional population and management unit. The range of this wolf Alpine population now covers seven countries: Italy, France, Austria, Switzerland, Slovenia, Liechtenstein and Germany, making the development of a joint and coordinated monitoring program particularly challenging.

Female scent accelerates growth of juvenile male mice.

Exposing female house mice (Mus musculus) to male urinary scent accelerates their sexual development (Vandenbergh effect). Here, we tested whether exposing juvenile male mice to females' urine similarly influences male growth and size of their sexual organs. We exposed three-week old male house mice to female urine or water (control) for ca.

Management of Suspected Cases of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus Infection in Eurasian Lynx () During an International Translocation Program.

The Eurasian lynx () population in Switzerland serves as a source for reintroductions in neighboring countries. In 2016-2017, three lynx from the same geographical area were found seropositive for feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) in the framework of an international translocation program. This novel finding raised questions about the virus origin and pathogenicity to lynx, the emerging character of the infection, and the interpretation of serological results in other lynx caught for translocation.

Positive selection on the MHC class II DLA-DQA1 gene in golden jackals (Canis aureus) from their recent expansion range in Europe and its effect on their body mass index.

Background: In Europe, golden jackals (Canis aureus) have been expanding their range out of the southern and southeastern Balkans towards central Europe continually since the 1960s. Here, we investigated the level of functional diversity at the MHC class II DLA-DQA1 exon 2 in golden jackal populations from Bulgaria, Serbia, and Hungary. Specifically, we tested for positive selection on and geographic variation at that locus due to adaptation to supposedly regionally varying pathogenic landscapes.

Positive selection on two mitochondrial coding genes and adaptation signals in hares (genus Lepus) from China.

Background: Animal mitochondria play a central role in energy production in the cells through the oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) pathway. Recent studies of selection on different mitochondrial OXPHOS genes have revealed the adaptive implications of amino acid changes in these subunits. In hares, climatic variation and/or introgression were suggested to be at the origin of such adaptation.

Rapid and Reliable Detection of Echinococcus multilocularis from Faeces Using Droplet Digital PCR.

Purpose: Alveolar echinococcosis is a severe helminthic disease in humans caused by larvae of the fox tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis. Austria is considered an endemic area with hotspots having up to 45% prevalence (Bagó et al. in Proceedings of the Zoo and Wildlife Health Conference 2019, Berlin, p.

Positive selection and climatic effects on MHC class II gene diversity in hares (Lepus capensis) from a steep ecological gradient.

In natural populations, allelic diversity of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is commonly interpreted as resulting from positive selection in varying spatiotemporal pathogenic landscapes. Composite pathogenic landscape data are, however, rarely available. We studied the spatial distribution of allelic diversity at two MHC class II loci (DQA, DQB) in hares, Lepus capensis, along a steep ecological gradient in North Africa and tested the role of climatic parameters for the spatial distribution of DQA and DQB proteins.

Seroprevalence of Francisella tularensis in Austrian Hunting Dogs.

Based on initial reports of infection with Francisella tularensis in dogs in northern Europe, a serological study in hunting dogs was conducted in Austria. Five (6.25%) tested positive.

Genes of the major histocompatibility complex highlight interactions of the innate and adaptive immune system.

Background: A well-functioning immune defence is crucial for fitness, but our knowledge about the immune system and its complex interactions is still limited. Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules are involved in T-cell mediated adaptive immune responses, but MHC is also highly upregulated during the initial innate immune response. The aim of our study was therefore to determine to what extent the highly polymorphic MHC is involved in interactions of the innate and adaptive immune defence and if specific functional MHC alleles (FA) or heterozygosity at the MHC are more important.

Selection on the mitochondrial ATP synthase 6 and the NADH dehydrogenase 2 genes in hares (Lepus capensis L., 1758) from a steep ecological gradient in North Africa.

Background: Recent studies of selection on mitochondrial (mt) OXPHOS genes suggest adaptation due mainly to environmental variation. In this context, Tunisian hares that display several external phenotypes with phylogenetically rather homogenous gene pool and shallow population structure provide a good precondition to detect positive selection on mt genes related to environmental/climatic variation, specifically ambient temperature and precipitation.

Results: We used codon-based methods along with population genetic data to test for positive selection on ATPase synthase 6 (ATP6) and NADH dehydrogenase 2 (ND2) of cape hares (Lepus capensis) collected along a steep ecological gradient in Tunisia.

Two methods to adapt the human haemoglobin-oxygen dissociation algorithm to the blood of white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) and to determine the accuracy of pulse oximetry.

Objectives: To adapt the algorithm for the calculation of oxygen saturation to the blood characteristics of the white rhinoceros by two different methods and to determine the accuracy of conventional pulse oximetry measurements.

Study Design: Adaptation of two mathematical models of the oxygen dissociation curve (ODC).

Animals: Twenty-five captive white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum), including 12 males and 13 females, aged 6-32 years.

Recovery of large carnivores in Europe's modern human-dominated landscapes.

The conservation of large carnivores is a formidable challenge for biodiversity conservation. Using a data set on the past and current status of brown bears (Ursus arctos), Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), gray wolves (Canis lupus), and wolverines (Gulo gulo) in European countries, we show that roughly one-third of mainland Europe hosts at least one large carnivore species, with stable or increasing abundance in most cases in 21st-century records. The reasons for this overall conservation success include protective legislation, supportive public opinion, and a variety of practices making coexistence between large carnivores and people possible.

Social isolation shortens telomeres in African Grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus erithacus).

Telomeres, the caps of eukaryotic chromosomes, control chromosome stability and cellular senescence, but aging and exposure to chronic stress are suspected to cause attrition of telomere length. We investigated the effect of social isolation on telomere length in the highly social and intelligent African Grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus erithacus). Our study population consisted of single-housed (n = 26) and pair-housed (n = 19) captive individuals between 0.

Comparison of ESBL--and AmpC producing Enterobacteriaceae and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolated from migratory and resident population of rooks (Corvus frugilegus) in Austria.

In order to test whether rooks (Corvus frugilegus) represent good indicators for the potential circulation of antibiotics in their native habitat, two populations with different migratory behavior were tested for the presence of beta-lactamase producing Enterobacteriaceae and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). In all, 54 and 102 samples of fresh feces of a migratory and a resident population were investigated. A total of 24 and 3 cefotaxime-resistant enterobacterial isolates were obtained from the migratory and resident population, respectively.

Comparison of S(+)-ketamine and ketamine, with medetomidine, for field anaesthesia in the European brown hare (Lepus europaeus).

Objective: To compare anaesthesia and recovery parameters of racemic ketamine or S(+)-ketamine in combination with medetomidine for intramuscular (IM) field anaesthesia in the European brown hare (EBH) (Lepus europaeus).

Study Design: Randomized, prospective, blinded clinical trial.

Animals: 20 adult EBH (eight male, 12 female), mean ± SD weight 3360 341).

Use of a medetomidine-ketamine combination for anesthesia in captive common hippopotami (Hippopotamus amphibius).

Objective: To establish an anesthetic protocol suitable for surgical interventions in hippopotami (Hippopotamus amphibius).

Design: Prospective case series.

Animals: 10 adult male hippopotami undergoing castration.

Finding the Missing Link between Landscape Structure and Population Dynamics: A Spatially Explicit Perspective.

We construct and explore a general modeling framework that allows for a systematic investigation of the impact of changes in landscape structure on population dynamics. The essential parts of the framework are a landscape generator with independent control over landscape composition and physiognomy, an individual-based spatially explicit population model that simulates population dynamics within heterogeneous landscapes, and scale-dependent landscape indices that depict the essential aspects of landscape that interact with dispersal and demographic processes. Landscape maps are represented by a grid of [Formula: see text] cells and consist of good-quality, poor-quality, or uninhabitable matrix habitat cells.