Investigating the Welfare of Zoo-Housed Cryptoprocta ferox: Behavioral Observations and Hormonal Profiling.

The global decline of species necessitates intensive conservation efforts, including ex-situ breeding programs to safeguard endangered populations. However, managing welfare and reproduction in zoological gardens can present several challenges. This study aims to explore behaviors and endocrinological responses of two specimens of fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox) under human care.

Non-destructive real-time analysis of plant metabolite accumulation in radish microgreens under different LED light recipes.

Introduction: The future of human space missions relies on the ability to provide adequate food resources for astronauts and also to reduce stress due to the environment (microgravity and cosmic radiation). In this context, microgreens have been proposed for the astronaut diet because of their fast-growing time and their high levels of bioactive compounds and nutrients (vitamins, antioxidants, minerals, etc.), which are even higher than mature plants, and are usually consumed as ready-to-eat vegetables.

Physiological and genomic characterization of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum isolated from Indri indri in Madagascar.

Aims: Indri indri is a lemur of Madagascar which is critically endangered. The analysis of the microbial ecology of the intestine offers tools to improve conservation efforts. This study aimed to achieve a functional genomic analysis of three Lactiplantibacillus plantarum isolates from indris.

Faecal Microbiota Characterisation of Living in a Controlled Environment.

Intestinal bacteria establish a specific relationship with the host animal, which causes the acquisition of gut microbiota with a unique composition classified as the enterotype. As the name suggests, the Red River Hog is a wild member of the pig family living in Africa, in particular through the West and Central African rainforest. To date, very few studies have analysed the gut microbiota of Red River Hogs (RRHs) both housed under controlled conditions and in wild habitats.

Do not disturb: Visitors' effect on the behavior and welfare of female and male big cats in zoos.

The effect of visitor presence on animal behavior needs to be evaluated to ensure the welfare and improve the husbandry of the individuals in zoos. This study aims to assess the effect of visitor presence on the behavior and welfare of pairs of Amur tiger, snow leopard, and Eurasian lynx at Parco Natura Viva, Italy. The study was made of two periods: the baseline, in which the zoo was closed, and the visitor presence period, in which the zoo was opened.

LPHN2 inhibits vascular permeability by differential control of endothelial cell adhesion.

Dynamic modulation of endothelial cell-to-cell and cell-to-extracellular matrix (ECM) adhesion is essential for blood vessel patterning and functioning. Yet the molecular mechanisms involved in this process have not been completely deciphered. We identify the adhesion G protein-coupled receptor (ADGR) Latrophilin 2 (LPHN2) as a novel determinant of endothelial cell (EC) adhesion and barrier function.

Disentangling the Possible Drivers of Microbiome: A Threatened Lemur Species of Madagascar.

Research on the gut microbiome may help with increasing our understanding of primate health with species' ecology, evolution, and behavior. In particular, microbiome-related information has the potential to clarify ecology issues, providing knowledge in support of wild primates conservation and their associated habitats. Indri () is the largest extant living lemur of Madagascar.

The "right" side of sleeping: laterality in resting behaviour of Aldabra giant tortoises (Aldabrachelys gigantea).

Although some studies investigated lateralization in reptiles, little research has been done on chelonians, focusing only on few behaviours such as righting response and escape preference. The aim of this study was to investigate lateralization in Aldabra giant tortoises (Aldabrachelys gigantea), focusing on asymmetrical positioning of the limbs and the head during resting behaviour, called sleep-like behaviour, involving both wild tortoises and individuals under human care. Subjects of the study were 67 adult Aldabra tortoises (54 free ranging on Curieuse, 13 under human care in Mahè Botanical Garden).

I Like the Way You Eat It: Lemur (Indri indri) Gut Mycobiome and Geophagy.

Here, we investigated the possible linkages among geophagy, soil characteristics, and gut mycobiome of indri (Indri indri), an endangered lemur species able to survive only in wild conditions. The soil eaten by indri resulted in enriched secondary oxide-hydroxides and clays, together with a high concentration of specific essential micronutrients. This could partially explain the role of the soil in detoxification and as a nutrient supply.

Distinct retrograde microtubule motor sets drive early and late endosome transport.

Although subcellular positioning of endosomes significantly impacts on their functions, the molecular mechanisms governing the different steady-state distribution of early endosomes (EEs) and late endosomes (LEs)/lysosomes (LYs) in peripheral and perinuclear eukaryotic cell areas, respectively, are still unsolved. We unveil that such differences arise because, while LE retrograde transport depends on the dynein microtubule (MT) motor only, the one of EEs requires the cooperative antagonism of dynein and kinesin-14 KIFC1, a MT minus end-directed motor involved in cancer progression. Mechanistically, the Ser-x-Ile-Pro (SxIP) motif-mediated interaction of the endoplasmic reticulum transmembrane protein stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1) with the MT plus end-binding protein 1 (EB1) promotes its association with the p150Glued subunit of the dynein activator complex dynactin and the distinct location of EEs and LEs/LYs.

Fecal Microbiota Characterization of Seychelles Giant Tortoises () Living in Both Wild and Controlled Environments.

A microbiome is defined as a complex collection of microorganisms and their genetic material. Studies regarding gut microbiomes of different animals have provided ecological and evolutionary information showing a strong link between health and disease. Very few studies have compared the gut microbiota of animals housed under controlled conditions and those in wild habitats.

Phylogenetic characterization of two novel species of the genus Bifidobacterium: Bifidobacterium saimiriisciurei sp. nov. and Bifidobacterium platyrrhinorum sp. nov.

Three bifidobacterial Gram-stain-positive, non-spore forming and fructose-6-phosphate phosphoketolase-positive strains, SMA1, SMB2 and SMA15 were isolated from the faeces of two adult males of the squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus). On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities, the type strain of Bifidobacterium primatium DSM 100687 (99.3%; similarity) was the closest neighbour to strains SMA1 and SMB2, whereas the type strain of Bifidobacterium stellenboschense DSM 23968 (96.

Colorimetric analysis of images in the follow-up of infantile hemangiomas.

Background/objectives: Infantile hemangiomas (IH) are common vascular tumors that appear early in life, have a rapid proliferative phase and slowly involute. There are no standardized ways to evaluate the regression of these lesions. We propose a colorimetric analysis of photographs to allow a more precise determination of IH treatment response and involution.

Characterization of Bifidobacterium species in feaces of the Egyptian fruit bat: Description of B. vespertilionis sp. nov. and B. rousetti sp. nov.

Fifteen bifidobacterial strains were obtained from faeces of Rousettus aegyptiacus; after grouping them by RAPD PCR only eight were selected and characterized. Analysis of 16S rRNA and of five housekeeping (hsp60, rpoB, clpC, dnaJ, dna G) genes revealed that these eight strains were classified into five clusters: Cluster I (RST 8 and RST 16), Cluster II (RST 9 and RST 27), Cluster III (RST 7 and RST 11), Cluster IV (RST 19), Cluster V (RST 17) were closest to Bifidobacterium avesanii DSM 100685 (96.3%), Bifidobacterium callitrichos DSM 23973 (99.

sp. nov., isolated from the faeces of gelada baboon, the 'bleeding heart' monkey ().

A novel irregularly shaped and slightly curved rod bacterial strain, GLDI4/2, showing activity of fructose 6-phosphate phosphoketolase was isolated from a faecal sample of an adult gelada baboon (). Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA genes as well as multilocus sequences (representing , and genes) and the core genome revealed that GLDI4/2 exhibited phylogenetic relatedness to DSM 21503 and to DSM 24762. Comparative analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences confirmed the phylogenetic results showing the highest gene sequence identity with strain DSM 21503 (96.

Investigating individual and social behaviour of the Northern bald ibis (): behavioural variety and welfare.

The Northern bald ibis () (NBI) is one of the most threatened birds in the world. Intense conservation efforts have been undertaken and several research projects on the species are being done in Morocco and in Europe. Observing animal behaviour has been proved to be an efficient and non-invasive technique to assess the animal welfare, with the performance of a wide array of natural behaviours being one of the mostly used indicators of good mental and physical well-being.

Bifidobacterium primatium sp. nov., Bifidobacterium scaligerum sp. nov., Bifidobacterium felsineum sp. nov. and Bifidobacterium simiarum sp. nov.: Four novel taxa isolated from the faeces of the cotton top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus) and the emperor tamarin (Saguinus imperator).

Four novel Gram-stain-positive, non spore forming and fructose-6-phosphate phosphoketolase-positive strains were isolated from the faeces of a cotton top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus) and an emperor tamarin (Saguinus imperator). Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA revealed that bifidobacterial strains TRE 1 exhibit close phylogenetic relatedness to Bifidobacterium catulorum DSM 103154 (96.0%) and Bifidobacterium tissieri DSM 100201 (96.

Investigating parental care behaviour in same-sex pairing of zoo greater flamingo ().

Same-sex pair bonds have been documented in several animal species and they are widespread in birds. However, little is known about the evolutionary origin and the adaptive value of such behaviour. The aim of this study was to investigate the parental behaviour of four zoo female greater flamingos involved in two breeding pairs, housed in a flock at Parco Natura Viva, Italy.