Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) infection is considered one of the most serious disease threats for the endangered Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) Over 14 years (2008-2021), we investigated FeLV infection ...using point-of-care antigen test and quantitative real-time TaqMan qPCR for provirus detection in blood and tissues in lynxes from Andalusia (Southern Spain). A total of 776 samples from 586 individuals were included in this study. The overall prevalence for FeLV antigen in blood/serum samples was 1.4% (5/360) (95% CI: 0.2-2.6), FeLV proviral DNA prevalence in blood samples was 6.2% (31/503) (95% CI: 4.1-8.6), and FeLV proviral DNA in tissues samples was 10.2% (34/333) (95% CI: 7-13.5). From a subset of 129 longitudinally sampled individuals, 9.3% (12/129) PCR-converted during the study period. Our results suggest that FeLV infection in the Andalusian population is enzootic, with circulation of the virus at low levels in almost all the sampling years. Moreover, since only one viremic individual succumbed to the infection, this study suggests that lynxes may therefore control the infection decreasing the possibility of developing a more aggressive outcome. Although our results indicate that the FeLV infection in the Iberian lynx from Andalusia tends to stay within the regressive stage, continuous FeLV surveillance is paramount to predict potential outbreaks and ensure the survival of this population.
Resumen Objetivo Analizar el estado nutricional de pacientes mayores de 65 años incluidos en el programa de atención domiciliaria (PAD). Diseño Estudio observacional transversal. Emplazamiento Tres ...centros de salud. Participantes Un total de 218 pacientes del PAD. Método Se aplicó el cuestionario Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA). Se recogieron 57 variables: sociodemográficas, antropométricas, de dependencia, estados anímico y cognitivo y parámetros analíticos. Se analizaron asociaciones mediante la aplicación de la Chi-cuadrado y análisis de varianza. Se consideró un nivel de significación para p < 0,05. Resultados La edad media fue de 83,9 años (DT = 7,4); el 34,9% estaban institucionalizados y el 80,7% eran mujeres. El 21,2% de los pacientes presentaban malnutrición y el 40,1%, riesgo de la misma. Se estableció asociación significativa entre peor estado nutricional y mayor edad, menor IMC, mayor dependencia en actividades básicas e instrumentales de la vida diaria y mayor deterioro cognitivo. Las menores cifras medias de hemoglobina, albúmina y hierro también se asociaron a desnutrición y riesgo de la misma. Conclusiones Más de la mitad de los pacientes del PAD presentan desnutrición o riesgo de la misma, y en una proporción elevada, alteración en parámetros analíticos susceptibles de ser corregidos. La alteración cognitiva y dependencia funcional están relacionadas con la desnutrición, por lo que los pacientes con estas características deberían recibir una mayor atención desde el punto de vista nutricional.
An ambitious conservation programme to save the Iberian lynx from extinction conducted several reintroductions aiming to restore its historical range. The urgency due to the delicate conservation ...status prompted translocating captive-born and wild individuals, while preventing an early assessment of how both groups combined their space-use and differed in post-release movements. To address this issue, we conducted a comprehensive movement ecology analysis using GPS data of 161 Iberian lynxes from 9 populations. First, we classified five movement phases within individuals' trajectories: residence areas (stable and transient), excursions, post-release dispersals, and transitions between residences. Second, we used continuous-time movement models to estimate range size and daily speeds and measured the distance travelled during extra-territorial movements. Finally, we conducted comparative analyses to evaluate differences between captive-born, wild translocated, and wild non-translocated individuals across phases, sex, age-class and populations. Most individuals in all groups established home ranges, supporting the reintroduction main goal. Yet, contrary to the species' natural pattern, captive-born subadults did not show intersexual home range size differences, which emerged after experiencing free-ranging, when becoming adults. More differences emerged for non-residential behaviours. Captive-born lynxes were more prone to post-release dispersal, to slower post-release movements and to having smaller transient residences, indicating cautious behaviour. Our study supports using captive-born individuals for reintroductions, while prioritizing wild individuals for reinforcements in highly competitive populations. Further, we suggest relevant metrics for planning translocations and connectivity management, and we demonstrate how an integrated ex-situ and reintroduction initiative can substantially contribute to restoring an endangered species' distribution range.
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•Individual space-use behaviours shape population distributions.•As aimed, translocated wild and captive-born lynxes mostly established home ranges.•Captive subadults showed wild-like resident behaviour after free-range experience.•Captive-born lynxes showed post-release movements indicative of cautious behaviour.•Ex-situ conservation and translocations are effective to restore species ranges.
This study aimed to estimate the consumption of meat and products derived from hunting by the consumer population and, specifically, by hunters and their relatives. For this purpose, a survey was ...conducted on the frequency of consuming meat from the four most representative game species in Spain, two of big game, wild boar (Sus scrofa) and red deer (Cervus elaphus), and two of small game, rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and red partridge (Alectoris rufa), as well as of processed meat products (salami-type sausage) made from those big game species. The survey was carried out on 337 habitual consumers of these types of products (hunters and their relatives). The total mean game meat consumption, per capita in this population group, is 6.87 kg/person/year of meat and 8.57 kg/person/year if the processed meat products are also considered. Consumption of rabbit, red partridge, red deer and wild boar, individually, was 1.85, 0.82, 2.28 and 1.92 kg/person/year, respectively. It was observed that hunters generally registered a larger intake of game meat, this being statistically significant in the case of rabbit meat consumption. Using probabilistic methods, the meat consumption frequency distributions for each hunting species studied were estimated, as well as the products made from big game species and the total consumption both of meat by itself and that including the products made from it. The consumption frequency distributions were adjusted to exponential ones, verified by the test suitable for it according to Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC), the Chi-squared and Kolmogorov-Smirnov statistics. In addition, the consumption percentiles of the different distributions were obtained. The latter could be a good tool when making nutrition or contaminant studies since they permit the assessment of exposure to the compound in question.
The objective was to assess that potential health risk from Cd, Cu, and Pb, through the consumption of hunted red-legged partridge and wild rabbit meat, with special focus on the population of ...hunters and their relatives. Mineral content was analyzed by atomic absorption methods (F-AAS for Cu and GF-AAS for Cd and Pb) after microwave digestion of lyophilized samples. The average concentrations of these elements were 0.008 and 0.01 mg/kg for Cd; 1.41 and 1.63 mg/kg for Cu and 0.98 and 1.28 mg/kg for Pb in wild rabbit and red-legged partridge meat respectively. The dietary, risk assessment was performed by assuming two intake scenarios based on the obtained results of the survey on game meat consumption and the current maximum recommended intakes of Cd, Cu, and Pb, and then, the hazard quotients (THQ and TTHQ) were calculated. The data show that exposure to these metals from eating red-legged partridge and wild rabbit meat from a hunting provenance is relatively low and generally greater in the hunter population. The risk assessment revealed that moderate or low consumption of meat of these species does not offer a significant public health risk. Moreover, hazard quotients values for these metals of red-legged partridge and rabbit meat consumption in hunters and nonhunters are below 1. However, a high Pb content in the meat of these species and a high consumption may pose a greater health risk to hunters.
The presence of heavy metals in big game meat may pose a risk to human health. The main objective of this paper is to carry out a risk assessment study (using a probabilistic and point-estimate ...approach) of lead intake by consumption of red deer and wild boar meat in Southern Spain based on Spanish data collected in the period 2003–2006. In general, the concentration levels found for wild boar meat (mean = 1291 µg kg⁻¹) were much higher than those observed in red deer meat (mean = 326 µg kg⁻¹). The results from a point-estimate risk assessment showed that the estimated average intake of lead among different exposure scenarios varied from 0.1 to 6.5 and from 0.3 to 38 µg kg⁻¹ week⁻¹ for red deer and wild boar meat, respectively; and from 0.3 to 35 µg kg⁻¹ week⁻¹ for individuals consuming both red deer and wild boar meat, and that the estimated intake of lead by consumption of big game meat differed significantly between hunters and non-hunters, it being higher for hunters. Besides this, results from the probabilistic risk assessment study corroborated the fact that risk is greater in hunter populations, reaching a maximum in individuals consuming only wild boar and both types of meat, with 0.4% and 0.2% of the population above the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI), respectively. Likewise, the hunter populations consuming wild boar and both types of big game meat (red deer and wild boar meat) were exposed to the maximum lead level (56 µg kg⁻¹ week⁻¹), which corresponded approximately to 224% of the PTWI. Further data and studies will be needed to give a complete risk estimation in which it will be crucial to consider the contribution to the lead intake level of other foods in the diet of both population groups.
Scent-marking is a common behaviour among mammals with different functions including territory marking. However, this behaviour has high energy costs and thus a territory owner must select the most ...strategic sites to place its scent marks. We hypothesised that the scent-marking behaviour of the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus), an endangered feline and a food specialist, is positively related to the abundance and distribution of its main prey, the European wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). We predicted that the distribution of rabbits as a staple food resource could determine the patterns of scent-marking by the lynx using communication signals. We selected two areas of Sierra Morena (Andalucia, Spain) with different densities of rabbits. The most intensively used faecal-marking locations by the lynx were those of a high rabbit density (Χ
2
= 16.54, df = 1, P < 0.0001). Conversely, the lynx marked in other locations not associated with rabbit presence such as crossroads and sheltered locations dominated by shrubs and rocks wherever the rabbit was not a limiting resource and was distributed homogeneously. This behaviour suggests scent-marking might have other alternative functions such as increasing the likelihood of detection or marking key resources.
To analyse the nutritional status of patients older than 65 years included in the home care program (PAD).
Croos-sectional study.
3 urban health centers.
218 patients in the PAD.
Mini Nutritional ...Assessment questionnaire (MNA) was applied. Sociodemographic, anthropometric, dependency, emotional and cognitive status and analytical parameters: 57 variables were collected. Possible associations were analysed by applying the chi square and variance analysis. The level of significance was considered to be P<.05 was considered.
The mean age was 83.9 years (SD=7.4); 34.9% were institutionalized and 80.7% were women; 21.2% of patients were malnourished and 40.1% were at risk of it. A significant association was established between poorer nutritional status and older age, lower BMI, greater dependence on basic and instrumental activities of daily living and greater cognitive impairment. The lowest mean hemoglobin, albumin, and iron levels were also associated with malnutrition and risk of malnutrition.
More than half of PAD patients are malnourished or at risk for it, and a high proportion of them some laboratory abnormality susceptible to be corrected. Most cognitive impairment and functional dependence are closely related to malnutrition; so patients with these characteristics should receive more attention from the nutritional point of view.
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